Pop Quiz: What do the following films have in common?
2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY
THUNDERBIRDS 2086
YAMATO 2520
DEATH RACE 3000
STARGATE SG-3000
The answer? Uh, no, not Kevin Bacon.
Seriously, there’s something about the use of dates in science fiction titles that immediately lends a sense of epic grandeur to the story. It’s almost as though past a certain date, life on Earth will change so drastically that it becomes an uber exotic wonderland. (Kubrick masterpieces aside, just make sure it's set far enough into the future. Somehow THE CLASS OF 1999--a title released in 1990--doesn't quite have the same kapow anymore!)
In the spirit of this grandeur, science fiction romance author Susan Grant initiated an ambitious book project known as “the 2176 series.” Beginning with Grant’s THE LEGEND OF BANZAI MAGUIRE, a hand-picked league of writers penned this five book series featuring an assortment of stories about kick-butt heroines and their high octane adventures in a shared setting. Susan Grant wrote about its origin here (please note for future reference where she states the first book “doesn't follow the traditional plot-structure of most romance books”).
Click away on the title links below for story summaries/excerpts:
Susan Grant – THE LEGEND OF BANZAI MAGUIRE
Kathleen Nance – DAY OF FIRE
Liz Maverick – THE SHADOW RUNNERS
Patti O’Shea – THE POWER OF TWO
Susan Grant – THE SCARLET EMPRESS
This endeavor is an amazing achievement for the science fiction romance genre. That such experimentation can happen is the beauty of a niche market. Makes me wonder about what other kinds of collaborations could materialize.
Now stay tuned, because I’m not done with this topic yet. While researching for this post I made a very interesting discovery, and I’d like to discuss it with you next time as we hurtle through the sea of stars aboard The Galaxy Express....
Joyfully yours,
Heather