 Fantasy: May 19, 2010 Issue [#3738] |
  Fantasy
This week: Why Romantic Sci/fi is King/Queen Edited by: shaara
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As one of your Fantasy editors, my goal is to challenge you to think outside the KNOWN and to help you inject your tales with fascinating facts while jagging left and right through troublesome frolics and teethe-writhing dilemmas.
Perhaps we can help each other to safely jog through these twisty turns of radical thought, alternate viewpoint, and dynamic detail. Come! Let's head down the Path of Dimensions, untextured by any earthly array.
In other words,
let's drop out of reality for awhile.
Shall we?
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An Analysis on Why Romantic Sci/fi is King/Queen
(And Other Odd Thoughts)
I was thoroughly intrigued by Robert Waltz  's research about the newest and most popular genre - the sci/fi romance.
Of course, the subject didn't really surprise me. LOL
I definitely agree that what the future needs now is love, sweet love . . .
(Even among creatures green, blue, yellow, or polka-dotted.)
But why all the interest in sci/fi connected with LOVE ?
What's the draw, the attraction?
Why do people want to write about Love in outerspace?
I can scarcely imagine romance on a spaceship. Remember, most ships are NOT gravity-free. Most of them are confining, cramped, and populated by people one must see daily.
(But -- first things first. Have you ever seen the size of the private quarters of a noncaptain - or even the captain's quarters? Ack! Not much of a destination for romance, if you ask me.)
And let's ponder the realities of such a romance.
Space ships have extremely SMALL populations. How would one avoid the crisis that follows after the breakup? It would literally be impossible to get away from such a failed partnership. Read that scene as:
Space ship romance = Disaster!
Every mosey around the bend or corridor would be like a mirror staring back at you, a mirror of failure. Talk about nightmarish situations! No chance to take a brief trip to the Bahamas to get away. No opportunity to move to another apartment, another city, another state.
Doomed for all eternity -- or at least until the ship comes into another port -- years later.
However, such sparcity of population rarely prevents the office romance. Hope is always an excuse for rationalization.
Thus, romances in offices, elevators, ships, islands, cottages or other places continue to flare and wither publically. Cruise ships still offer a Russian roulette type of musical "partners." Hollywood knows that. On Gilligan's Island, romance blossomed and withered in front of millions of people.
And as to the smallness of location, I really can't imagine a place where someone couldn't find true romance (or make accomodations -- pun intended) . . .
It is possible that even Superman who was quite fond of the telephone booth, met Lois there a time or two.
Why even the airlines carry their own tales of "friendly" midair collisions -- between people, I mean.
So space is not an impossible destination for romance; in fact, it's an inevitable one.
However, my preference as a writer is much more narrow. I've been writing for years about the romantic acquaintances of nonhuman and Terran. (And Moulder, I am not alone in this endeavor. The world asks not only are others out there, but are they romantically inclined?)
Yes, I know such a thing is scientifically impossible - probably -- but Spock's parents didn't know that, and . . . {That's Star Trek for all those too young to recognize Spock's name . . . those in the pre Star Trek Generation - not the mutations of Star Trek, but the original series, of course.}
But back to my hypothesis, one that really opens up new vistas . . . romance with an alien --- Ah!
Just think -- humans could go to a faraway planet and see if sparks fly in the same manner as they do so frequently on Earth.
Do hearts throb on other planets?
Do feet dance with the joy of reomance?
Do alien voices sing romance songs?
Perhaps humans could locate an alien cupid - maybe a bee-type critter that flies about while shooting arrows of love???
One gets to imagine staring into an alien's eyes. (Where are his/her eyes located again?)
Or just to wrap arm in arm in arm in arm until we end up rather twisted and out of shape.
(Say, that sounds like what happens in divorce court. Oops!)
Oh, but it's not just aliens we'd like to enter into monopolizing relationships with.
(Whoops, wrong word. That's when the partner you partnered takes over and won't let you issue an opinion. . . )
The term I mean is monotonous relationships!
No, that doesn't sound right either, although I bet we've all had that kind of relationship as well.
What is it again?
I know -- monogamous relationships -- where each lover is supposed to be true for always and always until the secretary winks or the golf instructor whistles or the neighborhood attorney offers a special rate for divorce - cheaper by the dozen, I think the ad reads. . .
My, I do get side-tracked easily.
As I was saying, people seem enamored with vampires, elves, and hobbits, thrilled with extra-sensory characters, enchanted with wizards, warlocks, and witches. Why?
Because those nonhumans MIGHT offer something different in the production of a real romantic relationship.
Those creatures (or aliens) just might really do the 100% forever part
Unless they cast a spell on you and turn you into a frog, a ring, or a building or something . . .
But, despite all that -- if the truth be told,
all of us are suckers for H O P E.
We want the part about LOVE ---
and if we could turn nonhuman critters into humanoids and make them different enough, you know, formfit them into the perfect husband, wife, lover. . ..
Ah, the joy of it!
Who doesn't relate to that?
With a fantasy creature or alien, we wouldn't have to talk about things that are supposed to be important --- weather, politics/governing bodies, philosophy/religion.
We could talk about the stuff that REALLY matters ---
 LOVE!
We could call it, quite diplomatically,
interspecies collaboration
After all, remember all those people who say that
LOVE
makes the world go round.
Why not the universe?
Why not ELF WORLD, HOBBIT LAND, and WEARWOLF WARREN?
And isn't the act of love a perfect device for communication?
Think about that.
Oh, dear. Not those kinds of thoughts.
I mean. PURE communication.
If I can't talk the language of some alien species, surely we could kiss the same way (or not.)
And all that other stuff, which I won't go into -- maybe that would work, too.
A goal? A shared activity? A method of bonding?
Relationships on Earth are impossible.
I know some people many people have long-term relationships. But the odds are that a relationship is not going to be permanent. Face it, the odds are against any marriage lasting for a super LONG. Ten years is tops, right?
(Okay, we all know the happily married exception. The president should award them.They should be given trophies as the historic
Super Marrieds!
(Note: Awarded only to those couples who remain in the same continent and continue talking throughout that period.)
After several long sessions of deep thought on this matter, I have discovered that the main problem is that people are just too unpredictable.
They get grouchy. They value their independence and their right to their own drawers and clothes closets.
(This 24 hour/7 days a week viewpoint of marriage - whose idea was that, anyway?)
But there is a solution:
With an alien one could meet the exotic specimen of a creature, fall in love, experience some attempt at romance, and then watch his/her ship blast off into space.
No shared closet.
No demand for equal rights on the shared seven goldfish.
No discussion about whether spaghetti should have garlic in the sauce or not.
Marriage between aliens just might work. In fact, it just might be the most inspiring romantic ballad since Frank Sinatra's "I Did It My Way,"
So I understand perfectly the draw of this new genre.
It is no wonder Robert Waltz tells us that
The Romantic Science Fiction Genre
has become so popular.
It's obvious that it's the solution to the future of true romance!
True Love is Galactical
Or
Have You Reached Out to an Alien Today?
Or
Loving an Alien Brings Peace to the Cosmos.
P.S.
This editorial is be taken with a grain of alien space dust. The comments and opinions stated are purely imaginative and do not reflect either humanoid or nonhumanoid beliefs.
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Fondly Featured
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What could be cuter than a story about a fairy who has the fairy flu?
Sarah stared in awe. She always wondered what it would be like to meet a fairy, even though she didn't think they were real.
"Do you know what happened to our tree?" Sarah asked.
Tish sneezed a few more times. She took out a very tiny kerchief and wiped her nose. "I can't stop sneezing," said Tish. "Every time I sneeze, leaves turn pink."
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The following piece started me to thinking about the wisdom of trees. Oh, how I wish I could tap into their thoughts. Imagine standing there for thousands of years in reflection. Wouldn't you have to be mighty smart after all that time?
This old tree waited patiently
for when the spring would come.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When a knight, his overly talkative sword, and an old, old dragon prepare to wage an attack, things just don't happen the way they were supposed to.
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Edgar took off his helmet and wheezed a bit, smacking his chest to make sure his heart was still working like it was supposed to. He spit up something nasty. "Yar. It's me alright."
When the sword finished laughing it said, "Been awhile, old man. What we doing way up yonder?"
"Retirements over. We're hunting dragons."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is a fabulous poem. Please, please take a look. I think it will one day be a classic!
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For years the search continued
But would always end in vain
No leprechaun, no pot of gold -
Much pain without the gain.
Then, the legend tells us,
He vanished in thin air,
And left behind his pot of coins
Still no one quite knew where.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I've often wondered why dogs serve on the police force but no cats have ever done so. This story is a major breakthrough in the rethinking of that subject. LOL
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Hey, for all you folks who think those drooling, poop-eating mutts out there are the superior species, you need to think again! They ain't got nothing on us felines. My name's Gracie and I'm a pedigreed Siamese, as well as a card-carrying member of the LAPD. (That's like being right up there with the Queen of England stature-wise.) And just to set the story straight, it was me, not any member of that hapless k-9 crew that saved the city of Pasadena last weekend.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The following piece has that touch of eerie that draws a reader in and captivates. I wanted more. I wanted details, but it certainly does wet the appetite and leave the reader saying, "Wow!"
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His mechanical frame leaned forward and he spoke in nearly a whisper. "Life is a clockwork. An intricate conglomeration of dials, and springs and cogs that all must work in sync else doom awaits.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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A dialogue with readers:
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LJPC - the tortoise 
Comment:
What a feast for the eyes! Your newsletters always make me smile. Thanks for prodding us to see things in a new colorful way. -- Laura
Thank you so much for saying that. It is so nice to hear something positive. Thank you, thank you!
Joy 
Comment:
Witch hues? Well now, that's something to really think about, Shaara. This made me think. Since you discovered the secret of the witch outfits, I might go back to wearing black hooded cape, grimy teeth, and black nails. No one will suspect. You think?
Great newsletter and I love the art.
Thank you for your comments. They made me giggle.
A black hooded cape sounds interesting, but black nails will make folks think you've been smoking - okay, if you have a pet dragon, but otherwise a no-no.
Black teeth are not fashionable right now. Neither are lime green ones. I suppose you could try mini diamonds on your front canines. That might start a new trend.
Thanks for your comments. I really, really appreciate the dialogue!
Phoenix
Comment:
Thank you so much for featuring my story "Rose Petals" [13+]. This was a fun one to write . I love your call to authors to write about how witches and warlocks look, act, and appear in the modern era, hmm....
It was my delight to include your story. Thanks so much for your comments. It is so nice to know that I've written something that was appreciated.
Although I've had an average of fifty readers a day on my portfolio, I've had zero reviews. Interesting -- yes? Is this a new trend? Anyone else finding the same thing?
Anyway, off-topic again. Thanks again for the comments. It's nice to know there are LIVE people out there in cyber space.
anand 
Comment:
I loved the play of words for the fantasy. Fantasy has been always fascinating.. just a shade difficult for me to express. I'm learning new ways... thanks a lot all of you.
Ah, I am so grateful to hear that. The teacher in me is thrilled to find that I'm helping a reader to write!
You're the only one who commented on my play of words. Thank you for noticing!
I know you're off on an adventure of creativity now. Don't worry about whether it's difficult to express or not. Just write, write, write! Best of luck to you, Shaara
That's all, folks.
Wouldn't you like to see your name in lights on the Fantasy Newsletter?
Wouldn't you like to comment and make me dance with happiness?
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SAY SOMETHING!
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