Comments on alien romances: Forbidden Relationships

I too was one of the lucky ARC readers and I can a...

2008-01-23T15:05:00.000-05:00

I too was one of the lucky ARC readers and I can agree with all that Jacqualine and Linnea said about it. I enjoyed it so much I am going to be buying a copy in May when it comes out because I expect to read it to shreds :D
If the rest of the series follows the excellent story started here I am hooked for years to come.

Susan:I just watched a FLASH GORDON episode where ...

2008-01-23T11:32:00.000-05:00

Susan:

I just watched a FLASH GORDON episode where Ming's daughter and successor (who hates her father, but she may just be worse) finds out that she has a brother. Her father sent that baby brother to be killed for genetic abberation, and his nurse stole him away and raised him. He is now leader of a group of genetic deviants living in peace - and the ep ends with Ming bombing their home city, but the brother survives.

You are right on target with this discussion, this topic.

Yes, it's one of the oldest cliches, but it's new again, timely, topical, and in the headlines (and on Oprah).

Jacqueline Lichtenberg
http://www.simegen.com/jl/

Kimber AnAs Linnea commented, MOONSTRUCK has the m...

2008-01-23T11:28:00.000-05:00

Kimber An

As Linnea commented, MOONSTRUCK has the makings of an "important" book.

It does tackle transgressing the forbidden without the appeal being in fact that it is forbidden. However, because it's a powerful narrative well focused on the prime characters, that very focus raises the questions I laid out.

The reason MOONSTRUCK may be a AR field defining book is simply that it raises questions OTHER authors must tackle in answering this challenge.

Remember, I have always said that the fiction field is a big room party with everyone talking at once, and dozens of conversations shouted over the noise. These are questions, answers, topics, and well woven conversations.

Susan has picked up on a thread of the conversation in Star Trek fandom and taken it one step further, then placed it in a complex background more fitting for a novel than a TV series.

That particular conversation is one I find "fascinating."

To do worldbuilding well enough to create another world as suitable for this conversation as MOONSTRUCK, you have to go "up" to the meta levels, way into the abstract, and ask Folklore questions and anthropology questions, such as "Why do human societies develop taboos at all?"

The whole concept of the Taboo is that it is advice from your ancestors plainly saying that NOTHING you could possibly gain could ever be worth the price you will (definitely -- not a risk, but a definite) have to pay.

This is a B&W absolute passed down from ancient times.

There is a segment of any young human population that will never, ever challenge that -- and another that will always challenge. Then there's the rest of us in the middle.

Linnea has accurately nailed it. This is a conversation our current civilization must have.

Jacqueline Lichtenberg
http://www.simegen.com/jl/

Sounds good, Susan. I like stories in which the c...

2008-01-23T08:51:00.000-05:00

Sounds good, Susan. I like stories in which the couple go for each other *not* because it's forbidden, but in spite of it being forbidden. The potential for happiness is worth the risk involved. That shows incredible courage, I think.

I was also one of the blessed who got to read this...

2008-01-22T22:53:00.000-05:00

I was also one of the blessed who got to read this book in its early stages and it's just phenomenal. If SFR has been waiting for a break-out book that will draw readers in, I truly think MOONSTRUCK will be it. Because in addition to being a gutsy book and one with deep messages...it's just damned fun. It's fast and sexy and fun. And it's not always easy to combine the two. Sometimes books get preachy. Sometimes they're all fun. It's a joy to find one that's deeply moving, well-thought out AND edge of your seat. ~Linnea

Jacqueline, I can’t even begin to express how mean...

2008-01-22T22:14:00.000-05:00

Jacqueline, I can’t even begin to express how meaningful it is for me for someone of your caliber to comment so favorably on my book, this book in particular. Many times we read books about wars and epic battles, but what happens AFTER the war ends, especially a devastating war fraught with political was well as religious conflict, has long been a fascinating topic to ponder. I couldn’t help thinking that when the Otherworldly Men trilogy ended and the treaty was signed, the real work was ahead of them all. That’s when I decided to take out some of the comedy and probe some darker issues, creating a spin-off series. I love that you raised the subject of Israel and Iraq. Yes. I thought of Yugoslavia as well as I wrote Moonstruck, the mass atrocities, ethnic cleansing, and the like, and Israel with settlers moving into contested territory. These were all in my mind as I wrote Moonstruck, and as I am writing the next book this series, The Warlord’s Daughter (4/09) (yes, THAT warlord, think: Hitler’s daughter, if he had had one, would she grow up fearing her own genes?). I am very deep in deadline and must return to the writing, but I wanted to make sure I commented on your amazingly insightful blog post, as well as your uplifting and definitely motivational words on the story itself. Knowing your background and experience level, I can say that it means a tremendous amount to me.

Thank you.

Kimber, the forbidden aspect of the love the heroine discovers isn't what entices her--at all. It repulses her. However, forbidden makes for strong conflict, and perhaps that is what is attractive to readers. I do know there will be several scenes in this book that you as a mother will find hard to read. I know I as a mother found it hard to write. Nothing graphic, just emotional.

Thank you everyone for your comments!

I can't relate to the idea of the Forbidden being ...

2008-01-22T19:04:00.000-05:00

I can't relate to the idea of the Forbidden being enticing in any way. It's just not in my personality.

I think the appeal of MOONSTRUCK will be in the Heroine's journey back to herself, the reconstruction itself. I will also be interested to see how she reconciles her responsibilites as commander with that journey. I think the reader who leans more to the Sci-Fi side of SFR might worry that reconciliation won't be believable. Considering Susan's experience in the military and as an author, however, I'm not worried.
;)

The wait will be worth it. I read the unproofed A...

2008-01-22T16:24:00.000-05:00

The wait will be worth it. I read the unproofed ARC. Susan is a really good writer, but everyone needs editing.

Live Long and Prosper,
Jacqueline Lichtenberg
http://www.simegen.com/jl/

Man, I'm so looking forward to this book! For som...

2008-01-22T16:01:00.000-05:00

Man, I'm so looking forward to this book! For some reason I got it into my head that it came out in January and was very disappointed when I realized the real date is May.