“Isn’t Ann Aguirre more female-focused Science Fiction than SFR?”
SFR = sci-fi romance, in case you didn’t know.
That question comes from a comment in this blog post. It’s from an article talking about SFR covers. My Wanderlust cover is compared to a Lois McMaster Bujold one (which is pretty cool). It’s amazing that a cover done seventeen years ago could have elements in common with one designed recently.
But you know what’s funny? From one end of the spectrum, I get people telling me I don’t write “real” science fiction. It’s all girlie, full of relationships and such. It should come with a warning label! “Run away, herein lies girl cooties and coitus!” This quote comes from a review of Grimspace, found here:
Grimspace by Ann Aguirre is one of those novels that you thoroughly enjoy reading. You wouldn’t tell serious fans of speculative fiction that you did, but you would spend an entire evening devouring it anyway.
I’ve bolded the significant bit. It’s a nice review and it seems for that reader, my books qualify as a guilty pleasure. But it amuses me to be dismissed from both sides of the spectrum. I don’t write real science fiction. But apparently I don’t write real romance either. I fall into this nebulous gray space, where my science fiction is soft, squishy and romantic, but maybe… not a romance, according to some.
Is Grimspace just female-centric science fiction? Or is it nothing more than a romance in space (as real spec fic fans allege)? I’m going to go out on a limb and say it depends on your frame of reference.
I know what I think — and what I intended — but I’d like to ask those who read the book. What is Grimspace? Did it have a “real” romance? Is it “real” SF? Could it, ever, in any known universe, be …both?
Why’s it gotta be either? Other than having a five minute route in and out of the bookstore, that is.
Categorically: yes, it is both.
I intended it to be both, Az. I tried to balance the adventure with the relationship equally so that you couldn’t strip away either element and come away with the story intact.
Lorelie, I’m not sure, really. I’m not all too hung up on labels, except that bookstores have to shelve it somewhere. Right now the series goes under SF, but I think a lot of romance readers go over there to get it.
Well, speaking from an admittedly biased viewpoint, I consider GRIMSPACE to be science fiction romance. In my mind, it was pretty close to a 50-50 split. Or 60-SF, 40- romance. However, that’s just me.
Ann, despite having gone through your Web site with a fine toothed comb, if asked I couldn’t have told anyone how *you* define the book. But because it fit my need for SFR, that’s how I perceived the story. So selfish of me, I know!
Regarding the covers, when I found the BARRAYAR cover, it immediately reminded me of WANDERLUST—in a good way. It gave me hope that there will continue to be a variety of creative, exciting covers to showcase SFR stories. I just think that publishers should have more fun with it. Fun does not always necessarily equal higher cost.
I must say that I think the *issue* behind the bolded part of the review is scandalous. It dismays me to think that anyone, anywhere, has to feel apologetic or embarrassed about his/her reading material, whether that be genre fiction or erotica or literary or romance or the backs of cereal boxes (srsly, please do not knock cereal boxes. They come with all kinds of scrumptious recipes and health tips. And mazes).
I’m also the one who requested the GRIMSPACE ARC for my book review blog, Enduring Romance. However, Sara J. (Jumpdrive and Cantrips blog) is the one who reviewed it there a month or so back. It was probably her review which made me wonder where it fit into SFR, if at all. So much of SFR has erotic cover art now that GRIMSPACE threw me. I do remember speed-reading a few pages and thinking the love scene at the end was so well-done that I hoped it was SFR, because we need more authors who write that well!
Geez – in my mind you fit in there like S.L. Viehl & Star Doc. When I first read about Grimspace and then read it I thought science fiction that was well rounded. In other words it had all elements of life woven through out it. I did not specifically think romance. Does that make sense? But, I suppose SFR would fit the bill if we have to label.
Does that make sense?
JaimeK, yes, exactly!
Grimspace is more rounded–more realistic, if that can make sense for speculative fictions–because it doesn’t shun the human interaction/romantic relationship side of life the way many “hard” science fiction books do.
What’s so terrible about redefining a few genres and carving out your own niche? In a few years, there’ll be a ton of writers who cite you as an influence. “Ann wasn’t afraid to break boundaries,” they’ll say. “I’m glad to follow.”
I think it is a wonderful mixture of both and that is a great thing! :)
I love Grimspace because it is both. I like some romance, but I heavily prefer it being part of a larger story. I do not tend to like books where the romance is the plot, particularly because there is no surprise, you know they’re going to end up together at the end, and that makes it feel (to me) like there’s no tension, or worse, fake tension. If it helps I’m getting that ways with horror too. I’m liking straight horror less and less and horror/horror elements as part of something else better.
But if you were romance you wouldn’t see people saying they won’t read Grimspace because of the violence. Female-oriented SF is fine with me and I’d also like to add it’s about damn time someone wrote it. I’m tired of feeling like I’m not supposed to like SF because it’s for boys.
i’m still trying to figure out basic genre definitions – the first time i heard the term ‘speculative fiction’ during an rwa chapter meeting, i thought ‘ok, speculation. so that means, what? love between philosophers? stockbrokers?’
>In a few years, there’ll be a ton of writers who cite you as an influence. “Ann wasn’t afraid to break boundaries,” they’ll say. “I’m glad to follow.”
I’d wager there are many aspiring authors (the group at Take It To The Stars comes to mind) who have been trying to break boundaries even before GRIMSPACE was released.
But of course, someone needs to get there first.
Michele, that is my preference as well, although I must admit sometimes I keep reading a futuristic/SFR just to see how little of a plot there is. That’s a feat in and of itself!
Sci-fi snobs just kill me; they don’t seem to have any knowledge of how s-f was regarded by the literati in its infancy. Your work, or at least the part of it that I am familiar with, is at least as deserving of inclusion in the s-f genre as that of Ray Bradbury, George Orwell, and Yevgenyi Zamyatin.
What is s-f, after all, but examining how a change in technology – as an example -might affect society as a whole, a subset of a society, an individual, or a couple?
I think I classified Grimspace as SFR when I reviewed it, but it’s the kind of SFR that I like, with a strong story to go with the romance. I agree it’s very well-rounded whatever it is, and I, too, am amused by SF snobs, who seem to delight in being very elitist. :P
Ann, how dare you write such girlie sci fi books! Sex in space? Romance? Egads! :P
I wonder if these SF snobs love the Star Wars movies?
Heather, what you observed is what I intended. I was trying for a 50-50 split, or as reasonably close as I could manage. How well I succeed obviously depends on the individual reader.
Kimber, I meant it to be a balance of SF and romance, so SFR is a fair name for my intentions. I’m glad you liked the sex scene; it can tricky to get it right in first person!
Yes, Jaime, it does. And I’m glad the book has found readers for whom it strikes the balance. I’ve read where romance readers found the romance rushed because there wasn’t 400 pages devoted to it alone, and I’ve read where SF readers complained that the book was borderline pornographic because of the sex scenes.
*blush* Thank you, Az. I don’t know how “realistic” it is, but I do pay close attention to my characters.
Susan, I would be totally blown away if you’re right. It shocks me to think anyone might someday say that about me.
Thanks, Jambrea.
Michele, I feel more or less the same way. I want a romance subplot in anything I read, but I don’t necessarily want that to be the only focus. I find I’m happier when the book has more going on than “boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy and girl get back together 4-ever.” Amen to the last thing! I want more women to go for my SF because it’s not all technical. Not that there’s anything wrong with loving the hard stuff, I just don’t write it.
Maya, I think people came up with “speculative fiction” because science fiction was tarnished by its pulpy antecedents. I take it to mean any story that isn’t really rooted in our current consensual reality, which is a seriously long, broad range.
Heather, I’ve long felt there is a market for adventure romances, no matter where they’re set. I used to looooooooove the Rambo-romances from the 80s? Survivalist hero meets up with do-gooder female, and they fall in love while running through the jungle? Man, I wish those would get hot again. I would SO write one.
Wow, Patrick, I’m totally blushing. That’s some august company. I’ll be the first to say I’m not wedging morals or issues in my books. They are for entertainment purposes. I just want people to get lost in my world for a while and slip their cares for an hour or two.
I’m so quoting you on that, Shannon! “A well-rounded whatever it is.” I lurves it!
Katiebabs, I know — I should so hang my head in shame. I’m corrupting the purity of space with girl cooties.
YAY for girl cooties in space!
That would make a great title for a nice, pulpy SFR, doncha think?
>I wonder if these SF snobs love the Star Wars movies?
Katie(babs), that thought has crossed my mind many times. But you know, probably as many like it as dislike it.
GIRL COOTIES IN SPACE–coming to a megaplex near you!
btw i just found out about an 80′s Italian film that rips off STAR WARS. Talk about sweet SFR!! I am so going to blog about it as soon as I see it. Life is good!
Was surprised reading this post. I read Grimspace and was impressed that you balanced the romatic relationship and the sci fi so well. Neither side overwhelmed the other. Technology and the jumps were wonderfully described but you also made the relationship between Jax and March develop in a compelling and realistic way.
eh? There’s actually controversy about where to slot this? Seriously?
I consider it to be Urban Fantasy in Space or maybe Futuristic Urban Fantasy. That’s what it “felt” like to me anyway (and, yes, I WILL get my review written someday, Ann). Which means it had the in-depth world-building expected in “speculative fiction”, the not unexpected romantic element which was not the main focus of the story, and it had a kick-butt heroine. Add in the fact that the story continues in subsequent books with the same central (and memorable) characters and, for me, that is the very definition of Urban Fantasy… only it just so happens it takes place in space.
So maybe, like Laurell Hamilton and Tanya Huff before you, you are about to be the godmother of a whole new sub-genre, Ann! Cool, huh?
Oops, meant to include this:
“With the caveat that this is a romance novel in every sense of what that genre has come to mean”
Huh? Spoken like someone that doesn’t read many (or ANY) Romance novels. In a Romance novel, the romance is the main purpose and focus of the story. In Grimspace the romantic elements were just one part of the character’s lives and just one element of the story.
Heather, if you want another Star Wars ripoff, go looking for Cyber Ninja.
Oooooh, Bev, I sooo want to use that phrase you’ve coined. So in your view, I write Urban Fantasy (Corine Solomon series) and Futuristic Urban Fantasy (Jax series). I love it!!!
What BevQB said! On its own, I think GRIMSPACE could be called an SFR, but because it’s part of a series that focuses on the same character, it’s by definition not a romance (i.e., no HEA). If the second book took place in the same world but dealt with a different hero/heroine, with March and Jax hanging around in the background being stagnantly blissful, it would be an SFR.
So I think futuristic romantic urban fantasy (FRUF??) works pretty well. But I think we need new definitions because the old categories are shattering.
To which I say YAYYY!!
Either way, GRIMSPACE rocks.
I know as always…I am a day late, but as a true blue happily ever after romance girl…I have to say that Grimspace totally rocks! It does not fall into my general type of book I read which is why when I was so lucky to win the copy of Wanderlust…I had to reorder a second copy of Grimspace because I could not find it in my overwhelming tbr pile. I bought it the first time when it first came out because I heard so many good things about it.
I have since read and absolutely loved everything about Grimspace and am very eagerly awaiting Wanderlust…the postman is getting sick of seeing me and if I am at work the kids are getting sick of hearing did it come, did it come?
So, the things that held me back from reading it in the first place are the things that loved aout it and I do have to agree with BevQB…who describes it perfectly!!
I know this really does not answer the question, but I just had to share how amazing I thought this book was!
“Oooooh, Bev, I sooo want to use that phrase you’ve coined. So in your view, I write Urban Fantasy (Corine Solomon series) and Futuristic Urban Fantasy (Jax series). I love it!!!”
I can’t think of a more succinct way of describing Grimspace. Futuristic Urban Fantasy paints a picture with just 3 words. And since Urban Fantasy may or may not have a romantic element, that description should also stop the debate whether this is Sci-fi Romance (I don’t consider it so).
Actually, I don’t understand why the SF/F purists are so confused. As far as I know, no one had a problem labeling Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel series (at least the first three that I’ve read) as SF/F instead of Romance, and there is most definitely a romantic element and sex in that series.
But, yeah, feel free to use Futuristic Urban Fantasy. Hopefully, the next time someone asks you what the Sarantha Jax series is (and we do like our “labels” don’t we?), you’ll use that phrase and they’ll say “Ah, okay, NOW I get it”.
I think genres should be expanded on and shakened up – if they dont – they get stagnant and boring.
I loved the fact that that Grimspace was set in the future and there was a strong romantic subplot. I love science fiction shows but I cant get into the hard sci fi books because of the technobabble. I’d rather read a book that has a strong emotional resonance rather than sci fi facts but thats not to say that I like the setting – I think you set the tone perfectly and I cant wait to read more. And I agree with BevQB its definitely Futuristic Urban Fantasy.
>>I can’t think of a more succinct way of describing Grimspace. Futuristic Urban Fantasy paints a picture with just 3 words.
I like it. I already use Historical Urban Fantasy, so why not Futuristic?
Grimspace was a dang good book… had a great heroine, a tormented hero, a fantastic story.
Did it have romance? Yes.
Was it SF? Yes.
Can the two mix happily….yes.
;) And I think they did so very well in GS.
I loved reading “Grimspace” but it did take a while to get used to the sassy attitude. I enjoy reading science fiction from women writers since they offer a different perspective. I remember the bad old days of science fiction when it was all written by men, and some of the better stuff was written by women using male names.
If the romance is too hot and heavy, I just breeze through it. (As a guy, I don’t read fiction to get turned on.) If a cover is tilted too far into the romance aspect of the story (i.e., the revised covers for Linnea Sinclair’s books), I might skip it unless the book description is very compelling or I read the author’s previous works.
I consider Grimspace to be character-oriented science fiction rather than female-centric, a term which bothers me a little because I don’t think I’ve ever heard a book with a male protagonist described as “male-centric.” It also seems to me that a novel is more likely to be labeled a “romance” rather than a “love story” if the author’s name is female. But maybe that’s just me.
Anyway, in my opinion Grimspace has less romance in it than Sharon Shinn’s books (which I also enjoy), and they are shelved in science fiction.
Having said all that, when I posted a review of Grimspace on Good Reads, a male friend of mine added it to his TBR list and I immediately thought “Oh, I hope it’s not too girlie for him.” It wasn’t; he gave it 4 stars and added “Wanderlust” to his TBR list. So I think this series has greater appeal than the “female-centric” label would suggest.
A little late to the fold here, sorry about that.
Before I did my review of Grimspace for fantasyliterature.net, I had my fiance read it. I know nothing about sci fi except that I usually don’t have the patience for it, and I wanted to see how someone who does read sci fi would feel about it.
He enjoyed it, and he didn’t think that classifying it was “romantic” sci fi was at all necessary. He actually has his own copy, because he damaged mine, which is now his, and I have a lovely new copy.
I just finished Grimspace, found it very entertaining stuff, will recommend to my friends.
It has no more romance than average for that kind of novel, I would’ve said. It’s Firefly style, or Blake’s 7 style, not very “sci” space opera to me – the novel version of the outlaws in space genre (which I’ve always liked, and there aren’t enough of them – I still fondly remember Panglor, I read that one over and over, and the Witches of Karres, the Rissa Kerguelen series – probably more I can’t think up so instantly).
You know, Kimberly, I would have to agree with you. I don’t understand why SF with a female lead gets a special label. Nobody ever does that if there’s a male protagonist. I mean, you could argue that there are now more female leads in urban fantasy, right? It’s very hot for us womenfolk right now.
But nobody calls Jim Butcher’s work “male-centric urban fantasy” do they? It’s just urban fantasy.
B, I’m glad you enjoyed Grimspace.
Dana, I will definitely check out some of those books you mentioned. And I’m so happy you liked Grimspace. Thank you for telling your friends! Word of mouth is very powerful for an author.
[...] something more, something else, something different. We could, perhaps, paraphrase a reader’s expression *waving to Bev(QB)*, and say that this book is historical urban fantasy, for, while it is set in [...]