Sex In Space by Misa Buckley
Special guest Misa Buckley is here today talking adding romance to science fiction.
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Sex In Space
Or, Adding Romance to Science Fiction
Does Science Fiction need Romance? Well, it doesn’t need it, I suppose. You’ve got your spaceships and hyperspace or ion engines and alien species. What more does it need? After all, it’s all about the adventure, right?
But how do we experience the adventure? I don’t know about you, but I experience it by recognising myself in one or two of the characters. Putting myself in their place, in their skin, I can see the universe through their eyes. That is why the Doctor’s companion is often human. That’s why Arthur Dent was an ordinary man. Those characters are meant to represent us, and the human condition. And there are two things common to the human condition: dying, and falling in love.
Love is a strong theme for any genre, and it comes in a variety of flavours. Love can be found, lost, and found again. It can cross space and time and species. Heroes can be fools for it, while villains can find themselves redeemed. It can be the love of friends or the passion of lovers. You can’t argue that love has no place in sci fi (well, I guess you could, but I’m not going to listen)
I love characters that fall in love, especially when they do so reluctantly. Or against the odds. I prefer following their fall right to the bedroom. Not everyone does, that I understand, but I like to have a pay out for rooting for their relationship. I like to witness that final step towards a rounded relationship, though sex is neither a beginning nor an end. It just moves things up a level.
Perhaps that’s not the most persuasive argument for sex in space, but it’s the best I’ve got 😀
Bio: Misa Buckley is a sci fi geek who escapes the crazy of raising five children by creating imaginary characters who experience adventure, romance and really hot sex on their way to a happily-ever-after. You can keep up to date with Misa’s latest news by following her on Twitter (@MisaBuckley) or at her website (www.misabuckley.com)
Thanks for having me, Lisa 🙂
It’s great to have you over, Misa. Thanks for hanging out with me today!
Totally agree about death & love being part of the human condition. Sexuality is a huge part of the ADULT human condition (from gender identity to physical intimacy to dysfunction etc.) so stories that confront sex (anywhere between a brief mention to explicit detail) while including elements of speculative fiction are among my favorites. Which is why I find adult-rated sci fi fanfic so addicting!