Sci-Fi Romance discussion

I didn't see a topic like this yet. Share with us the SFR you're reading and your opinions on them, so we can discover some new titles!

Right now, I'm reading "In Enemy Hands" by KS Augustin. It's an ebook. So far, I haven't read enough to give an informed opinion.

Just finished Wanderlust, which is the sequel to Ann Aguirre's Grimspace. Loved the overall book, but the hero didn't quite work for me (he didn't in the last book either. I think it's 'personal type' thing, rather than March being badly written.) The full review is at my Goodreads page. :)

Ah, yes, I read your review. I think I got tired of Jax's and March's problems. If just the hero's troubled, I mind less. In duplicate it just becomes too much, too depressing and angst-ridden (never thought I'd say), and it takes away from the action, etc. I was really annoyed with Doubleblind because Jax becomes impotent. I liked Wanderlust, but Grimspace was really the one I enjoyed.

Yes, that's it exactly! There wasn't one moment where the couple seemed happy in each other's presence. Either March was having emotional trauma, or Jax was. I do love the storyline, aside from the romance, so I'll stick with it. But really, I haven't gotten one clue on why these two people would be good for each other.

LOL! They're both so dysfunctional, and they seem to believe that makes them an ideal couple. o.O Let me know what you think of the third book. It's a little slower than the others.

I just finished Unmasked by CJ Barry. I gave it 3 stars. The sci fi was decent but not quite "hard" enough for me. I did post a review if anyone wants to read it. I liked it well enough I might give another by her a try.

Good to know because I've been thinking of trying her myself.

:-) I'm reading Grimspace now so I understand what you're saying! LOL.

I read Unmasked, so I understand that review too. Just finished reading Unraveled by CJ Barry and, it too, is sf light. It felt more like Indiana Jones in space to me, but I still enjoyed it more than I have the 2176 series--which is also very sf light.

Since I tend to leave a book in the car and therefore read two simultaneously, I am also reading Dushau by Jacqueline Litchenberg. It reads more like an SF story.

Grimspace reads like an SF with a bit of romance in it. So far I like it, but it is darker than any other SFR I've read.

Yeah, it's pretty dark, LOL.

I just finished Grimspace. I understand why it's called GRIM space. LOL. Still I've always liked the rain so the ending was good to me. I liked the bounty hunter and how loyal the crew was.

Velith? He's darling. *sniff*

:-) I agree. I was surprised by how he turned out.

I was surprised too. She saved all the nobility for him, looks like. LOL.

Yeah. Well, I thought there was a little in the others. Maybe that'll happen in the rest of the series. I don't know.

Is the rest of the series considered SFR too?

Has anyone read Dushau? Many of us seem to have come over from SF and this one reads like the SF I grew up on.

new_user wrote: "Velith? He's darling. *sniff*"

He is! I almost think, species issues aside, he'd be better for Jax in the long run--if such a thing were possible.

I think Jax might not be good enough for him, actually! LOL. He's a dream. Adele is perfect for him. If anyone's interested, there's a short story on her site about him:

http://www.annaguirre.com/extras/free...

The rest of the series... Hm, I don't know if you can call it SFR. It follows March and Jax's relationship though.

Thanks, new_user! I didn't know there was a short story. That'll hold me over until I can buy the rest of the series.

I'm not sure of the exact definition either. Ah, well, I'll still count it because, to me, technically Grimspace had a Happy For Now while the last book of the series *might* give them a Happily Ever After. At least, I hope it's not the death of the pair. That would just stink no matter how likely the pair's personalities make it. LOL.

LOL! Well, it's lucky you're coming into the series now because books two and three are gloomy for them. I think four may be better.

i found GRIMESPACE a bit too grim, too, though the story telling was top notch. If you like darker, DARKSHIP THIEVES by Sarah Hoyt is quite the ride.

Right now, reading HAPPY SNAK. Can't remember who wrote it.

I liked Grimspace better than Darkship Thieves. I even called it a poor man's Grimspace at one point because March and Jax also have a navigator-pilot bond but Grimspace delivers on everything that is only touched upon in Darkship Thieves.

its been a while since i read grimspace. i can see the connection, now that you mention it. i guess i like the happier ending? not sure.

I can see the appeal. I like my HEAs too. :)

i'm a sucker for the HEA. if i go all the way through a book and there isn't even hope...lol IF it has that R. I'm reading a John Rosenman book that I heard doesn't have a typical HEA. If I know going in, then its better. probably. lol

LOL. Same here. At least if I'm forewarned, I won't be so disappointed.

i will admit it, it won't stop me from wanting it if i get invested in the characters. There was a discussion at The Galaxy Express -- Parallel Universe -- conference about this. I think guys in particular get frustrated with us about our liking the HEA. I pointed out, that when a writer makes their characters come alive, I can feel haunted if their story ending doesn't go well. I still remember this historical I read years ago. Ended with the heroine dead and the hero sailing back to England holding their baby. It so sucked! When I got the end, I thought, "you have to be kidding." Yes, it was true to the period and probably true to the story, but I hated it. lol

Even worse, if I really invest in the story, then I'll "rewrite" the ending in my head, which is annoying. I like a kind of mental "sailing off into the happy sunset" so I can move on to next book.

Maybe that's yet another way women are different from me, or I'm just different. lol. the guy i was commenting to seem startled and intrigued by the idea. And it is a compliment to the author, imho. if i like your characters that much. lol

Just finished reading Dushau. The worldbuilding was very detailed, the ending HFN and satisfying to me. My two favorite characters weren't the hero and heroine, but the ship's Sentient, Arlai, and the pet piol, Imp, who looks like a koala bear on the cover.

All in all it was good. Very far over toward SF on the SFR rainbow.

Lots of action, believable aliens, politics, betrayals, deep thought, space battles, plus some torture, perverts, and an attempted rape.

There isn't a lot of romance in it though it's hinted that unrecognized love is what motivates both h/h. As the first in a trilogy, the relationship is surely explored more in the other books.

Edited to add: I just started Star Shadows by Colby Hodge.

LOL, Pauline. I don't think it's that men are different than women as much as it is some people want a satisfying ending, whether that's the hero winning over a tricky villain or getting the girl, etc., while others may not. My brother himself prefers an HEA in a film, for example, even though he may not be that interested in romance as a main plot. Who doesn't want the hero to win, I ask you? LOL. ;)

I think they forget that. LOL!

Just this minute got a copy of Beloved Enemy by Janet Miller in the mail. I'm dieing to dive in but I've got to get some weaving done first. I'm going to use this book to reward myself. It came very highly recommended so I hope it lives up to its hype.

how weird. there seems to be two kindle editions of Beloved Enemy, one a dollar cheaper. i guess the 2010 one could be recently updated.

I bought a hard copy. It's from 2006 so I hope I won't be missing anything.

its just kind of odd to have two editions in kindle. usually amazon pulls one before they post same.

LOL, Jacqueline. A good book is the best reward-- and a great motivator too, I've found, LOL.

I'm a reading a fantasy by Raelynn Blue "A Healer's Bond." It's a nice story, keeping me interested.

Chaeya

I'm not sure if its considered sci-fi or not, but right now I'm reading The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.

The Hunger Games is considered Dystopian, which is a sub genre of sci-fi.

Thanks Stacia! I've never gone so far as to break down sci-fi into sub-genre's. This is one of the main reasons, why I love goodreads :)

It's amazing what you can find out if you hang around this place long enough. I really enjoy Dystopian and Post-Apocalyptic type reads, and I'm just now starting to find myself interested in Steampunk. This is another sub genre of Sci-Fi - something that I've learned more about from Goodreads.

Stacia wrote: "It's amazing what you can find out if you hang around this place long enough. I really enjoy Dystopian and Post-Apocalyptic type reads, and I'm just now starting to find myself interested in Steam..."

Wow, I think I'll take some time to reorganize my goodreads shelves. I like post-apocalyptic reads too. So feel free to send any and all recommendations my way!

I've been exploring steampunk, in my reading and my writing. It's a fun, often whacky mix of SF and the past.

Pauline wrote: "I've been exploring steampunk, in my reading and my writing. It's a fun, often whacky mix of SF and the past."

I think Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate series is a great mix of steampunk, sci-fi, paranormal, and romance.

Read her first one, now trying a bunch of first books by other steampunk authors. have to create a list. I like her first book a lot but it was steampunk lite, I think?

Hmmm. Myself, I tend to consider steampunk in the historical genre, but I know people usually group it with SF.

I think it depends on how fantastical the steampunk elements are. Steampunk can also be alternate history, but I like think SFR readers like the quirkiness and the imagination. Mine is definitely SFR/steampunk, because the Victorian character comes to our time. And there's definitely SF elements.

Im all for this new ERA post-apocalptic settings! I recommendJoss Wareand her books Abandon the Night Beyond the Night Night BetrayedEmbrace the Night Eternalalso S.M. Stirling Dies the Fireis the first book in the series.and Michelle MaddoxCountdownanybody have other recommends?

Hm. That's a tough one...

I've been hearing about the end of the world as we know it since I sat under my desk in school for missile drills during the Cuban Missile crisis. Not sure I believe in it anymore. (grin) I mean, I read 1984 before it WAS 1984. lol Maybe its my age that has me drawn toward more optimistic types of SFR fiction.

Ok so maybe its my age...whats steampunk? :(

From Wikipedia, since my description would be awful :

Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction and speculative fiction, that came into prominence during the 1980s and early 1990s. The term denotes fictional works set in an era or world where steam power is still widely used—usually the 19th century, and often Victorian era Britain—but with prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy, often featuring futuristic technology as the people of this historical period would have envisioned it to look like, i.e. based on a Victorian perspective on fashion, culture, architectural style, art, etc. This technology may include fictional machines like those found in the works of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne, or real technological developments like the computer, but occurring at an earlier date.