We’ve had some in-house chatting this week, wondering if the label “futuristic,” ironically enough, has become outdated. There’s definitely been a drop in submissions and a resulting drop in published books. Has it become passe, eclipsed by urban fantasy? Or is it just time to refresh and revamp?
It seems as though some publishers are labeling the spines paranormal, hoping to capitalize on the bigger market, I’m sure. But obviously future-set romances have a very loyal following, and we want to make sure we’re still reaching that core market.
So what to do? Call it sci-fi romance? Stellar romance? Just throw it under the paranormal umbrella and trust readers to find it? Figure it’s a trend that’s on the downward dip right now but will come back up as soon as a buzz-worthy author captures the spotlight?
Tell us what you think. One lucky commenter will receive Autumn Dawn’s brand new futuristic, WHEN SPARKS FLY, and some backlist goodies by Susan Grant and C.J. Barry. The winner will be drawn on Friday, June 5 at 5 p.m. ET.
May 29, 2009 at 1:04 pm
There have been a few other romances that have subject matter dealing with aliens and other planets. I usually think of them as paranormal romance. That’s also the section I always find them in when I’m at a bookstore. It’s not a very accurate assessment if there is science-based information in the book (and in this case it looks like there is). (Paranormal means scientifically unexplainable.)
Sci-fi romance seems like the way to go except that it’s kind of clunky. I kind of like stellar romance. Except for stellar also being a slang term. Maybe that fits.
Is space romance too.. blah?
May 29, 2009 at 1:29 pm
I must be hanging in the wrong spots ’cause futuristic isn’t a term I’ve heard much of lately. I can see how it’d be a turn-off to some, but I *like* SciFi. Always have. I’ve been craving some of these style of novels lately — I’d like to hear it buzzing a bit more loudly (especially over paranormal, which I, too, am burning out on a bit).
In response to Parisa, maybe Interstellar Romance?
May 29, 2009 at 1:47 pm
Personally, I like them labeled as Sci-Fi Romance.
May 29, 2009 at 1:48 pm
I like the term futuristic personally because that term applies not only to aliens/space romance but also ones taking place on Earth but in the future (ex: Eve Kenin’s Driven).
But I also like the term sci-fi romance. For me it’s not too clunky and it truthfully represents what it is. I think labelling it paranormal is misleading. If I were someone that didn’t like sci-fi but loved paranormal I’d be mad that it said paranormal. Of course I would hope that a reader would read the back blurb and realize it’s really sci-fi, but they don’t always.
May 29, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Someone called my wip sci-fi romance. I was calling it paranormal, but like sci fi romance better. The term makes me smile.
May 29, 2009 at 3:29 pm
I’m a big fan of this sub-genre, whatever it’s called
I’m so glad Dorchester is one of the houses that continue to publish book for us space-romance junkies!
May 29, 2009 at 4:55 pm
Personally I’m a fan of this genre, too. I like the term futuristic because it tells me the story takes place in Earth’s future. It might be set on Earth or it might be on a different planet. I think either futuristic or sci-fi with romance tagged on works well. I like romance in my reads and sometimes a straight sci-fi label means no romance. I have to do homework first to make sure it’s a romance!
May 29, 2009 at 5:26 pm
I love the term futuristic as well. I’ve read many books in the genre in the past and would love to see more books published in the future.
May 29, 2009 at 6:19 pm
When I see the term sci-fi I tend to think it will be heavy on the science (like an Azimov novel!), even if the romance tag is added. I like ‘futuristic romance’ better, since it frees the author from having to make the science technologically “possible”, and readers will have a better idea what to expect.
May 29, 2009 at 7:21 pm
I like them no matter what you call them, too. Maybe Sci-Fi Futuristic Romances? Covers a variety, those about outer space, and those set here on earth (also thinking of Kenin).
May 29, 2009 at 7:38 pm
I think the last futuristic I read was Dara Joy’s Matrix of Destiny series.
“Futuristic” works better for me than SF romance because with the latter I expect something incredibly mind-blowingly wonderful world-building and cool new futuristic concepts / societies, not just beautiful romance. (That is the point of SF anyway, and look at some awesome stuff like MINORITY REPORT and so on.)
May 30, 2009 at 12:56 am
I LOVE the term “futuristic”. If I say I’d like to attempt writing science fiction…I’d feel like I should actually know a lot about science. The pressure!
Actually, agent Robert Brown mentioned “urban sci-fi” on his blog sometime, and that sums thinks up perfectly. If there can be urban fantasy, there’s no reason why there can’t be urban sci-fi.
By the way, I noticed Amy Rench’s cover on your sidebar here yesterday – looking good!
May 30, 2009 at 6:57 am
I like futuristic or sci fi romance (SciFiRom). I’ve missed this subgenre far more than I can tell you.
May 30, 2009 at 8:46 pm
Currently my favorite category to read. I tend to lean toward sci fi romance (SFR when tagging). As long as the plot description lets me know if it’s a futuristic earth and/or rest of the universe or a current earth and aliens etc, then I’m happy.
When shopping I look through both the SF & romance shelves anyway, but don’t really look at the “label” on spine when choosing a book. Author, title, blurb, cover…often tell me more than the label.
Would like it if more titles in this category were released.
May 30, 2009 at 10:06 pm
I love this genre, whatever it’s called! Futuristic, sci-fi, space opera.
‘Urban sci-fi’ sounds cool
The term ‘urban’ is used pretty loosely for UF anyway, so it wouldn’t necessarily exclude the ones set in outer space.
A lot of futuristics (most of them, even) seem to involve psychic powers these days, so labelling them ‘paranormal’ isn’t so strange, and presumably increases the cross-genre appeal?
May 30, 2009 at 11:31 pm
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June 1, 2009 at 11:43 am
Personally, I prefer “Futuristics”. I agree that the name “Paranormal Romance” can be confusing. I also think that Urban Sci Fi might be confusing, too. I tend to think of “Terminator” or “I am Legend” or something when I hear “Urban Sci Fi”. “Sci Fi Romance” is also a good name. I like how it emphasizes the romance part.
I also agree that there isn’t enough of these stories in teh public domain. I would definately read them more if I could find them :/
June 1, 2009 at 7:45 pm
“Futuristic” works for me, since it’s simple and descriptive of the setting. “Paranormal” would be confusing when the books don’t necessarily have “paranormal” elements, unless you count advanced technology as such (which I don’t). And I usually pick a futuristic romance because of the setting (future and/or space), not because of the possible paranormal elements. I think labeling them under “paranormal” would make it harder to pick them out from the rest of the books under that umbrella.
I’ve understood that “sci-fi romance” or “SF romance” is used for stories less heavy on romance compared to “futuristic romance”. Although it’s hard to say where the line can be drawn. I think “futuristic” is still more descriptive to a wider audience and comes without the baggage of the “sci-fi” term.
“Urban SF”? I don’t know what Robert Brown wanted to label with that, but it doesn’t tell me much. “Urban fantasy” works because it’s, well, fantasy in an urban/modern setting. To me, SF (or sci-fi) already includes the “urban” part.
June 3, 2009 at 6:27 pm
I prefer sci/fi.when I want paranormal I look for vamps,weres,ghosts,etc.there have been some really great sci/fi books published.
June 3, 2009 at 10:51 pm
Futuristic is my favourite genre, and I prefer the term futuristic, which to me implies either Earth future, or any space romance. Love Paranormal too, but that tends to imply to me that it is set on Earth, contempory time, with ghosts, vampires, ESP Powers, ect, not aliens or space travel. And SciFi Romance, though an appropriate term, also would imply more science in it, maybe not as much romance.
The advantage of SciFi is that, as wrong as it is, the general concenses amoung non-romance readers is that SciFi is “better” than Romance.
As long as I can find the books, I really don’t care what they call it.
June 4, 2009 at 1:15 am
I know I would take a second look in they were labeled Sci-Fi Romance. I personally don’t read a lot of sci-fi, have my one or two favorite authors, so I’m thinking I might check more out if I knew they were romance. I have to have that!
June 4, 2009 at 2:52 pm
I agree with everyone that says Futuristic. Frankly, I cut my reader and writer teeth on Dorchester’s futuristics back in the 80s (man, I LOVED them and bought each and every one – many still on my bookshelf, well read and very well-loved) and that is the term I look for when I want a futuristic.
Paranormal just means otherworldly elements where futuristic means cool world-building and a romance with spacey elements – or near Earth future.
If you wonder why you don’t get many futuristics it’s because we rarely hear of debut authors in futuristics (I found Autumn Dawn’s first one and loved it) but that is more rare in the romance side (except for TOR which is just too sexed up for my futuristic tastes).
I like to be immersed in the space or future world and have a great romance but these would never be SciFi Romances for me. On the other hand, I’d still buy them.
The term is really very nostalgic for me and brings back great memories.
I actually have a couple of futuristics written but since there just doesn’t seem to be a market for newbies for them, I haven’t submitted them.
Sorry for the ramble but this is a topic near and dear to my heart and I really, really miss futuristics.
June 5, 2009 at 1:36 am
While I admit I have not gotten to read many scfi/futuristic romances, I like this genre.
I have always been a scifi fan and when you through in the romance that just makes it more appealing to me. (I tend to think Star Wars, Star Trek etc. when its mentioned.)
I have come across some really good ones and this romance genre does seem to be growing.
I like romance in general though and open to all genres.