Books We Love (Or Not)

This futuristic romance is set in the year 2176 in a penal colony that’s a cross between a toxic-waste dump and a Regency London ballroom. Escaped convict Jenny Red swore nothing would ever take her back inside the notorious prison colony of Newgate, Australia, until prince-turned-rebel Deck Han Valoren makes her an offer she literally can’t refuse. Deck will pay any price to bring revolution to the corrupt aristocracy that rules Newgate—until his choices put Jenny’s life on the line. Now Jenny the confirmed loner must learn to look beyond her own needs to see the big picture, and Deck the idealist must look beyond the collective good to recognize the value in one very special individual—Jenny—or neither will leave Newgate alive.

This book is a great example of the futuristic “action romance” that has become part of the Dorchester brand and Liz Maverick’s calling card: fast-paced, smart, sexy, imaginative romance starring a tough-as-nails yet still vulnerable heroine. Both the publisher and the author tackle a sub-genre that’s a relatively recent arrival on the romance stage—futuristic romance—and pull it off very nicely. This book would make a great introduction for any curious newcomer to both the genre and prolific author Maverick’s work.

I’m curious to know how other readers feel about the relatively new science fiction and futuristic romance hybrid. I like the opportunity for world-building and creativity the genre provides, and I find that the quite manageable page count (usually around 300-350 pages) means a fast pace and lots of action, while some fat sci-fi sagas demand hundreds of pages of patience until the real action commences. In futuristic romance, there’s a nice splash of science but not too much, and the degree of focus on the romance itself may vary. Usually the romance is still the spine of the story, but it tends to be presented in a franker, less frilly style than in some historical romances, which I also adore for different reasons. Really curious to know how readers who classify themselves as soft sci-fi fans would react to a futuristic romance like this one, or others discussed on the blog.

In this sci-fi novel set on near-future Mars, American biologist Julia Barth and her Russian astronaut husband Viktor are among the lucky few sent on a risky first-ever expedition to Mars. In the profit-fuelled race to explore the red planet and return before their German/Chinese competitors to win the $30 billion prize, corners are cut, and suddenly the planet turns deadly. Only by working together can the remnants of both teams hope to survive, and make it back to Earth before their food and water run out.

As I’ve mentioned before on this blog, I enjoy sci-fi, but I have to be in exactly the right mood to read it, and it has to be exactly the right book. Enough action and a pretty brisk pace, some science but definitely not too much (I don’t want Mitchener when I’m in this mood), but also complex and sympathetic characterization, some depth to the plot, and a good love story with a happy ending certainly doesn’t hurt.

This one turned out to be such a story. This is the second Benford book I’ve read, after HEART OF THE COMET (the Halley’s Comet story I recently reviewed), which was one hell of a good read. One aspect I loved about both books, speaking as someone who lived in Russia for years, is that both stories have strong Russian characters who are absolutely on the mark. I’ve read so many books (written by non-Russians) where the Russian characters are just not right—even basic goofs like male-gendered last names on female characters are frequent errors, and often the Russian characters just don’t “sound right” when they speak. Benford gets it SO right, and it makes me believe in his authorial credibility throughout.

I’m still in that sci-fi mood though, still looking for another good Mars book. For some reason, I seem to have a craving…perhaps because I’m writing a dark medieval at the moment. Does anyone have a good suggestion?

Those of you lovely readers who’ve checked out my website know that I’m an enormous fan of Marion Zimmer Bradley (The Mists of Avalon, The Firebrand, the lush and lovely Darkover books, which are absolute classics in the fantasy genre.) Sadly, MZB passed away a few years ago, after publishing an enormous volume of work. I have SO missed her, and have read those gorgeous Darkover books until they’re dog-eared and peeling.

Imagine my utter delight to find this reissue of her very first ever published novel (originally released in 1961), and then to find that it’s an early snapshot of what would BECOME the world of Darkover. And that, nearly fifty years after it was written, the story is still so utterly readable, compelling, absorbing, relevant. All I can say is that if you’re an MZB fan like I am, and you’ve missed her work, you are in for a delicious treat! It’s a nice short read at 204 pages, and would have been compelling even at twice the length. LOTS of action, culture clash, sensuality, psychic powers, and just plain good writing. Do yourself the enormous favor of reading this one, which will take you all of four hours. You won’t regret it!

In this futuristic paranormal romance, set in post-apocalyptic New York, Frontier action heroine Lilia Desjardins hunts mutants (known as “shades") in order to protect them from slavery and abuse by the totalitarian Republic whose eyes are everywhere. When Lilia arrives in New Gotham to investigate her husband’s mysterious death in the radioactive “hot zone,” she quickly collides with the law, and is rescued by handsome detective Adam Montgomery. Unbeknownst to Lilia, Montgomery is close to a mutant himself—a fallen angel who surrendered his wings in order to save humanity from another nuclear holocaust. Only by working together can the pair discover who really triggered the last global war and why, and prevent that powerful entity from its scheme to repeat this abominable act.

This was an interesting and unusual read. I took the time to check out the book’s reviews on Amazon, and found a fascinating dichotomy between sci-fi readers who picked up the book for its futuristic setting and tolerated the romantic element, and romance readers who picked up the book for the romance, but sometimes found the intricate futuristic world-building a distraction. I like both types of story, and I considered this book to be 75% futuristic, and 25% romance, with a unique and appealing hero. The paranormal element comes from the fallen angels, of which there are several in the story, and which struck me as exceptionally well done, like other elements of this futuristic world. The book opens with a riveting scene of the hero losing his wings, and there are a number of surprising twists that keep the story fresh and interesting until the end. Lilia’s steamy encounters with Montgomery heat up the page, so this is not a read to share with your kiddies at bedtime!

I’d recommend this book for fans of futuristic/sci-fi who don’t mind a bit of romance with their action, and for romance readers who enjoy futuristic stories and don’t mind the world-building that accompanies good science fiction.

Happy reading from your
Xenia

In this futuristic outer-space romance, cool and controlled Coalition starship admiral Brit Bandar hides a tragic past behind her professional persona, and lives for war against the Drakken Horde that slaughtered her family. She’s furious when peace is declared, Drakken and Coalition forces are united, and Drakken Warleader Finn Rorkken is named her second-in-command for a diplomatic mission she despises. Despite the hostility between their races, the two starship officers fall in love, but their feelings are challenged when hidden prejudices jeopardize their peoples’ fragile alliance. Can Brit overcome a lifetime of grief and hatred to see past an ally’s disguise, or will racial prejudice burst into open warfare, and destroy her love with Finn?

This book is certain to delight any reader who appreciates a truly strong, smart, powerful heroine, sound world-building, and a dash of political intrigue to spice up the romantic conflict. Brit is an exceptional heroine, vulnerable yet thoroughly competent and confident, while Finn makes a likable and attractive hero. The racial tension and their personal history of combat and pursuit across the galaxy bring a believable conflict and obstacles to this romance. A secondary romantic subplot adds further interest, and the loose ends are tied up nicely for a satisfying conclusion.

There’s a great deal to applaud in this futuristic romance, which strikes exactly the right balance between sensuality, personal and galactic conflict. Very well done, and a nice introduction to the genre for anyone curious about futuristic/sci-fi romance, with an emphasis on the romance.