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| Image Source: Lounging at the Waldorf |
I’ve got a few $64,000 questions for you. To begin, what
will a science fiction romance story be like in the far future? Meaning at
least two hundred years or more. I wonder about these things. I really do. Here
are the other questions that have been running through my head lately:
* What will be the popular tropes and character/relationship
dynamics? For example, will Alpha heroes still dominate? Virginal/innocent/pure
heroines? What about kinky alien sex? Starship captains? Invasion-themed SFRs? Which
tropes will stand the test of time, or, conversely, diminish in popularity?
* Will the heteronormative/patriarchal viewpoint dominate or
will diversity come to define the subgenre?
* How will SFR need to adapt in order to remain relevant,
especially assuming future technological changes/advances in real life? Keep in
mind that would also include advances in psychology, medicine, genetic
engineering, and the like—changes that would impact romantic relationships.
* Will cultural attitudes toward sex and intimacy alter
significantly by that time and thus influence the types of stories we enjoy?
* How will people
read sci-fi romance? Will the distribution system/medium change the way they’re
perceived and consumed?
Furthermore, what if the stigma attached to romance became
insignificant? Imagine a time when the genre would be valued by men and women
of all genders and orientations. Under those circumstances, what would be the
nature of a sci-fi romance story? Might the idea of a joint couple-as-hero
become more popular among mainstream audiences?
I also started speculating about the type of sci-fi romances
that fictional characters in a far
future setting might be reading. (They will be voracious readers in the subgenre,
of course. J).
I think it’d be interesting to read a story wherein a character reflects upon
his/her entertainment choices, especially as it relates to their own romance. Which
story elements of the future would be similar to current, real-life trends, and
which ones might change?
Then I realized—going
on a slightly different tangent—that I've rarely encountered a sci-fi romance with
a futuristic setting in which pop culture entertainment is a significant part
of the story. That kind of meta social commentary would be really cool. And a
variety of such stories could explore the concept from different angles, yes
indeed. Sign me up!
What are your predictions and/or hopes for science fiction
romance in the far future?
Joyfully yours,
Heather