Comments on: Future of futuristics

By: Pam S

Pam S — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 06:36:47 +0000

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.

By: Kim W

Kim W — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 19:52:43 +0000

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.

By: Sandy M

Sandy M — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 06:15:27 +0000

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!

By: Leslie Jane Fahrney

Leslie Jane Fahrney — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 03:51:41 +0000

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.

By: char

char — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 23:27:09 +0000

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.

By: Paula

Paula — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:45:10 +0000

“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.

By: Suzanne Rock

Suzanne Rock — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:43:19 +0000

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 :/

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» Romancing the Novel Carnival — Sun, 31 May 2009 04:31:37 +0000

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By: Erica Hayes

Erica Hayes — Sun, 31 May 2009 03:06:16 +0000

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?

By: ElizabethN

ElizabethN — Sun, 31 May 2009 01:46:13 +0000

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.