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https://lithub.com/literal-star-crossed-lovers-a-reading-list-of-space-operas-with-romance-subplots/>
"I have loved reading science fiction since age ten, when my school librarian
handed me a copy of Jill Patton Walsh’s
The Green Book. I fell in love with
romance after reading
Jane Eyre, which my uncle gave me. When I became a
writer, my focus was on the former, but my stories often include a romantic
relationship, sometimes at its start but just as often in its later stages.
When I sat down to write my latest novel,
Meru, I knew I wanted to write an
interstellar epic but I didn’t have a plot, so I drew upon one of my favorite
Indian mythological stories, “Nala and Damayanti.” Unlike many love stories,
this one is about a couple whose adventures begin mostly after they get
married. The central question isn’t, “Will they or won’t they,” but rather,
“How will they find their way back to each other?”
When most people hear “space opera,” they probably think of
Dune or
Star
Wars rather than romance, but I’ve discovered that many books blend these two
genres. Here are some of my favorites. They range from older works to some that
came out in the last few years.
A common theme across all of these is that the two leads not only cross the
vast distances between stars; they also bridge the treacherous gaps between
cultures. My own novel is no exception. Space travel creates worlds with varied
societies and life forms. It provides a fertile soil in which to explore
romantic relationships, taking the subgenre beyond wormholes and laser
battles."
Share and enjoy,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
