Alpha Alien Romances

[cherrystark]

I've been seeing a lot of sci-fi alien romance promos on other sites and grr.... It really kettles my corn. I have nothing against the idea of a human/alien pairing, Star Trek does it all the time. But the difference, to me, is that sci-fi that involves a romance subplot 1. treats the romance as a subplot 2. uses the differences to address topics like racisim or cultural clashes. Theses stories are looking just like any other Alpha romance, just set in space.

I really hope alien romances doesn't become trendy...

[darthmongoose]

If the Romance is generally a subplot, I doubt it'll become that trendy, since Romance is the biggest genre of novels and the Romance needs to be the main plot to qualify as a Romance.

Aliens don't tend to take off in the same way like the never-ending cycle of Vampires, Werewolves and Angels, because aliens don't have any kind of unified set of rules, expected tropes or aesthetics. Like if you like vampires, you can read another vampire romance and come across the same tropes: dark, gothic aesthetic, hanging out in moonlit graveyards, love interest looks mostly like a pale or ashen-skinned person with fangs, there'll probably be the struggle with the urge for blood drinking, the concept of a short lived human with an immortal etc. With aliens though... no two stories will necessarily supply specific expected tropes, so while you'll always get occasional odd successes, it's pretty rare to see one get a bunch of copycats to create a trend.

[cherrystark]

If the Romance is generally a subplot, I doubt it'll become that trendy

I was referring to mainstream sci-fi. They might pair a human and alien together but their romance in general, isn't the main focus of the series.

Aliens don't tend to take off in the same way like the never-ending cycle of Vampires, Werewolves and Angels, because aliens don't have any kind of unified set of rules, expected tropes or aesthetics. Like if you like vampires, you can read another vampire romance and come across the same tropes: dark, gothic aesthetic, hanging out in moonlit graveyards, love interest looks mostly like a pale or ashen-skinned person with fangs, there'll probably be the struggle with the urge for blood drinking, the concept of a short lived human with an immortal etc. With aliens though... no two stories will necessarily supply specific expected tropes, so while you'll always get occasional odd successes, it's pretty rare to see one get a bunch of copycats to create a trend.

In general, I agree with you. There are a lot of expected tropes that go along with the old standards: werewolves, vampires, etc. I am in a bunch of sci-fi/fantasy groups and have noticed an uptick in sci-fi alien romances. They seem to be hitting the same boxes as the alpha stories.

[lomcia]

I like alien romances :3 and I make them too xd
Depend which comic u talking about, because they are good alien comics with small dose of romance and they aren't like U describe them.
So hopefully U will find a good scifi comic.
I'm working on mine now :3 good luck love

[cherrystark]

It's all about presentation for me. There is a lot of potential in sci-fi and I don't mind a romance element - the romance just needs to be healthy and balanced with the other key sci-fi elements.

[lomcia]

I understand it and I do agree, I know some scifi with romances which could even not be there. or its just silly. so I understand your point of view. I hope when I finish mine (hopefully next year) you will read it and like it :3
I need more scifi with aliens, like aliens as a main characters, all around aliens. and if u do alien race make them culture etc. not humanize there culture. If they live among humans I understand but if not, just to be more creative. Good sample of it it's Avatar and Na'vi. They were big blue cats BUT there culture and religion! That is something also which inspired me.
So I can complain about this xD

[cherrystark]

Yes!!!!!! For me, sci-fi, especially space sci-fi is built with layers. Explore character relationships sure, but let's see characters grapple with trying to understand other civilizations' cultures and NOT fix it. I remember an episode of Star Trek Voyager - the character was mixed race (human/Klingon) and she struggled with discrimination and self-loathing because of her background. She had to come to terms with her own identity to be able to rescue her friends. It was a great episode.

Sci-fi can be super inspiring when done right. It's not a wash and wear genre.

[DesiredUsernameTaken]

Dom alpha/sub beta elements invade every genre to a degree. I say this because the trademark "we were destined" and "we just can't keep our hands off each other" thing werewolves go through is common in romance in general, but instead is reworded as "love at first sight" in many instances. Some have supernatural touches, some of them don't. I've seen it in General Fiction, Paranormal, and Mystery, and more. I'm so used to it that I don't even really question its new appearance or increased popularity in a different genre anymore.

Since the publishing world, both digital and non-digital, is such a difficult industry I think it only makes sense that alpha/beta romance elements are combined with other settings, to give the illusion of being "fresh" when it's the same dynamics, but the aesthetics have changed. You get your sales, and the reader gets more of the dynamic they love but with enough differences they enjoy the story as a whole. It's just like how "the fae" were SUCH a big thing (are they still...?) what with the whole Court of Thorns of Roses series, or The Cruel Prince. No werewolves, but the fae men act the exact same, some of which, depending on the series, also have a fated one built into what being a fae even is.

I feel there's growing interest in Sci-fi, and more acceptance of it in general. People are much more open about the things that they'd formerly be teased for being "nerds and geeks" about (anime and manga, for one, is something many openly express loving and habitually investing in these days). There's more sci-fi shows, movies, books, there's stuff about exploring space or coming back to Earth after X amount of times. There's growing interest outside of the fiction world about space travel, Mars, and so on. I think the whole sci-fi thing and the idea of it as a whole right now is, in general, a trend. As it gets more popular, what else will find it's way there? Another dynamic, or element, that's really popular: abusive romance. Wooooo!

I don't study the publishing world to any meaningful degree so this is all very anecdotal. But I'd fully expect abusive alien romance show in a positive steamy light to become trendy

[cherrystark]

Well said.

I also think there is an element of trying to subvert tropes. There are videos talking about all the terrible tropes in werewolf fiction and how "alphas" aren't natural to wolves. Alphas might not be natural to wolves, but they can be natural to aliens.

Then I think there is a "fear" attached with publishing that could limit an author's desire/drive to create more extensive worlds. Paranormal romance sells and if you want to sell your work, you recycle "sellable" tropes. I think a story about wolf shifters living in a semi-isolated, self-sufficient community could be interesting, the key is world-building. It could be as steamy as the writer liked but there would be a stronger focus on world-building and character development.

[indagold]

Maybe its just me but I find it weird how alien/monster romances just happen like you met another human you mesh with and not a literal humanoid creature thats not even your same species from a whole other environment or world and is never addressed how massive that difference is. It's too subtle.

Worse is when its lgbt cause authors make a really good effort to avoid addressing how an alien or creature would perceive something like that because it would mean conflict in the story/with the readers so they just default to the alien knowing everything and is immediately supportive. I'm sorry but it breaks any form of believability.

I want more stories where there's actual conflict with these things lol

[cherrystark]

I agree. I think it ties (again) back to world-building. If it's established in your story's universe that two different species ARE biologically compatiable, what about cultural differences? What about differences in language and how they raise children? Religion? These are real things in human society, why wouldn't they be issues in human/humanoid relationships? I agree that it really does break any form of believability for the series.