tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post6478636350381289475..comments2024-03-28T18:54:13.800-04:00Comments on alien romances: Big Love Sci-Fi Part I - Sex Without BordersRowena Cherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11839386556697211986noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-44239195228191025802011-06-22T16:33:15.611-04:002011-06-22T16:33:15.611-04:00Oh, I meant literally "starts," i.e., th...Oh, I meant literally "starts," i.e., they are having intercourse or in the midst of foreplay at the very opening of the book.<br /><br />"Did you notice Laurell K. Hamilton's book #20 HIT LIST in the Anita Blake series has only one sex scene and it's the exact MIDDLE of the book!"<br /><br />Really? Then maybe I should read HIT LIST. I have mostly given up on her (even though I write some erotic romance myself). The only one of her recent works I've read is an Anita Blake novella for the Kindle, back to Anita's zombie-raising roots. Funny, in the early books I got tired of all the violence and wished she would get sensually involved with Jean-Claude. A few books after that happened, I began to feel "enough already." I'm not sure whether it's mainly the multiple partners (whom I started being unable to keep track of) that turned me off or just the feeling that there wasn't enough plot in proportion to the pages devoted to the sex.Margaret Carterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08293021955480708191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-64246166868615176032011-06-22T15:16:12.415-04:002011-06-22T15:16:12.415-04:00Margaret: I absolutely agree that the e-book mark...Margaret: I absolutely agree that the e-book market is forging way beyond and ahead of print.<br /><br />However, this last year I've read a plethora of (forgettable and reviewable both) PNR's or Fantasies that start with hot-heavy sex scene.<br /><br />In fact, if you recall, FOREVER KNIGHT (and other TV shows of the era) likewise started with sex scenes or if not actual intercourse, then some sort of sexy-presentation.<br /><br />(Forever Knight wasn't PNR? hmmm?)<br /><br />It's still extemely common from Manhattan publishers -- I can hope it goes away because I prefer that rationale first! <br /><br />Also, I consider "starts with a sex scene" if there's actual sex in the first 8,000 words or so, the first chapter. If Chapter One ends in a sex scene, the whole beginning has to be the setup for it, and the only way to do that is in TELL rather than SHOW. <br /><br />Ultimately, the marketplace will determine which is better.<br /><br />Did you notice Laurell K. Hamilton's book #20 HIT LIST in the Anita Blake series has only one sex scene and it's the exact MIDDLE of the book! <br /><br />The trend is shifting. Maybe my "borders" concept here is actually also out there!<br /><br />Jacqueline Lichtenberg<br />http://jacquelinelichtenberg.comJacqueline Lichtenberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01613040740264804278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-51344017214322228542011-06-22T14:38:13.362-04:002011-06-22T14:38:13.362-04:00Fascinating, as usual. At least one reservation, t...Fascinating, as usual. At least one reservation, though: I have not seen that the "typical PNR" starts with a sex scene. Judging from the novels I've read, that sort of opening is rather rare in paranormal romance. It isn't even all that common in erotic romance (such as produced by Ellora's Cave, one of my publishers). There have been discussions among erotic romance authors about how early the first sex scene should appear, and the prevailing consensus seems to be that sex in the first scene without a very good rationale turns off many readers. They expect at least some familiarity with the characters first and some indication of emotional involvement between the potential lovers.Margaret Carterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08293021955480708191noreply@blogger.com