Sci-Fi Romance discussion

Hi, folks--

I'm not sure where to put this. Does anyone have any recommendations for books that focus on both the world building and the romance? I like Sci-Fi and Space Opera a lot, but I find that a lot of Sci-Fi romance that I've read focuses on the romance and the conflict is sort of...painted on.

Sometimes I like that type of book! :) But sometimes I want a little depth to the world.

Any recommendations? I've enjoyed Linnea Sinclair's Games of Command, Elizabeth Bonesteel's books, Lois McMaster Bujold, The Liaden novels.

Have you read Ruby Lionsdrake's Mandrake Company books? I like her balance between the world of her mercenaries and the romance at the core of the story.

Try Susan Grant's Star series. Lots of great conflict in those, and some very cool worldbuilding. Also, I liked the 2176 series. It's a multi author series that starts with Susan Grant's "Legend of Banzai Maguire." It's from 2004, and I think the titles have mostly reverted to the authors now, so it may be hit or miss on acquiring all of them. I know SG has reissued her two books.

You should try Veronica Scott's books. And pardon me for tooting my own horn, but that's what I write scifi erotic romance where the story and characters are the important part of the book. The romance evolves from the events of the story and what the characters bring to what is happening to them. Note: if you don't like BDSM then my Sons of Tallav series is not for you. Try my novella, It Takes a Cat Burglar. If I crossed a line by mentioning my books, I apologize.

I will second all three recommended authors do far as they are among my favourites!

Ruby Lionsdrake (Mandrake Company series) also has a new series out -- I think the first book is called Orion, which is also good. Lionsdrake is a pen name for Lindsay Buroker. as Buroker she's written the Fallen Empire series which is one of my favourite series. The romance is a slow build and not very graphic, so it might be considered more of SF with romance, but I highly recommend.

Susan Grant was my intro to SFR! Love her! But Banzai Maguire is not part of the Star series. Banzai and it's sequel The Scarlet Empress are their own series. They were originally part of a multi-author compilation but work together without the other authors' stories. Grant has tweaked them a bit since she got their right back. I think they are called the Freedom series now. The Star series begins with Star King. Grant got these rights back and has tweaked them a bit, too, and I think some have new titles (Star Princess is now Star Rogue, Star Queen was a novella that has been expanded, etc.) so you might want to look at her website for the latest. This series leads into her followup Star World Series which starts wth Champion of Baresh (she may be combining these series, she's been doing a lot of tweaking and resorting since she got rights back.) she did not get rights to her Otherworldly Men series, unfortunately, as it's another of my favourites, if you can find it! It this series leads into the Borderlands series, which I reread a lot.

Oh another series where I really love the world building and romance is The Endurance series by Tracey Cooper-Posey. The first is Greyson's Doom. It's about life on a multi-generational starship -- basically a 1000-year journey to colonize a new world with a lot of cultural development over the years.

Jadetyger - I LOVE this question and will follow this thread avidly. Comments so far have already added to my extensive TBR list.

Here are some SFR books (in no particular order) that I felt matched strong sci-fi world building with great romance.

. I thought the descriptions of the world they crash landed on were particularly vivid.

. This series links between Mars and Earth in a futuristic world that latches on to true science for a very exciting story.

. This novella linked space colonization, terra forming and hybrid genetics with high adventure.

. Politics - and relevant sub-context - abound in this novel with a woman captain on a cool ship filled with gadgets.

. This series has some of the most intricate and complex societal world building I've read. The sci-fi components become more prevalent in subsequent books.

. This is the first book of a series that I think does an excellent job of combining an original, detailed matriarchal society that embraces low-tech at home and yet has outstanding inter-stellar capability. Great love stories and action scenes.

. Given the strong erotic content and the novella length, I was amazed at the detail devoted to a society that embraces corporate structure and gambling and tosses in bio weapons and genetic testing.

. Cool tech mixes with cool characters in a fomenting rebellion on a space station.

. More people should be reading these Syn-En books filled with synth characters, really cool space travel and jaunts to scary planets.

. Heavy, scary sci-fi with a detachment sent from Earth to intercept a "dead" spaceship. Toss in some huzzah between two team members, and you have some romance, too.

. With a convoluted plot and melodramatic in the best space opera way, this series also had a very strong romance angle with compelling leads from opposite sides of the galaxy.

. The Corwint Central Agent files combine techy sci-fi with great adventure and complex political machinations. Prejudicial overtones make for more tension and drama throughout the series.

. I read this book ages ago, but the brainy math/physics-genuises who fall in love and the "restart" theme have always stayed with me. Super descriptive settings run the gamut from laboratory to desert to underground tunnels.

. This series tracks a revolution in an autocratic, future society that relies on tech for literally everything. The tech is truly a character and "big brother" is always watching.

For somewhat tamer (i.e. PG-rated) romance, but really strong sci-fi, take a look at the books by Aubrie Dionne.

Enjoy!

I would throw in Donna S. Frelick's Interstellar Rescue series and two books by Sharon Lynn Fisher - Ghost Planet and Echo 8. Also Pauline Baird Jones' Project Enterprise series.

Oh I love those by Fisher! She also has one called The Ophelia Prophecy which is really good too. I find all of her worlds fairly unique.

I could go through my kindle and make a ton of other suggestions -- like series by Catherine Spangler, Cathryn Cade, Marie Andreas, and one of my top favourites Anna Hackett! Then there's the more well known authors like Jayne Castle (aka Jayne Krentz) and Sherrilyn Kenyon (her League series is space not paranormal like her Dark Hunters).

Monette Michaels' Prime Chronicles
https://www.goodreads.com/series/5692...

Marie Harte's Talsons
https://www.goodreads.com/series/5797...

Jayne Castle's Harmony books
https://www.goodreads.com/series/4062...

And her other 'Curtain' series of St Helens:
https://www.goodreads.com/series/4062...

Jayne Ann Krentz did 3 SFR [before it was popular] - Shield's Lady is my favorite
Sweet Starfire
Crystal Flame
Shield's Lady

Alexis Morgan's Paladins
https://www.goodreads.com/series/4184...

And OF COURSE Linnea Sinclair [Finder's Keepers is my favorite] and Lee & Miller's Liaden books. I started with the originals back when they were first released and they are still one of my favorite rereads: Conflict Of Honors, Agent of Change, and Carpe Diem

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

https://www.goodreads.com/series/4187...

FYI Linnea Sinclair participated in a free anthology called Tales From The SFR Brigade which is still available and still free as of this writing. The Marcella Burnard story is another favorite.

Catherine Asaro's Skolian series are a favourite of mine. More space opera with romantic elements, and totally addictive. I think it's best to start with the first book.

One of my favorite sci-fi series is and . No aliens here, it's more of a dystopian/post-apocalyptic story, but what a story!

Milena- These books sound so interesting and haven't hit my radar before despite the fact that they received high ratings from my goodreads friends.

Celestine wrote: "Milena- These books sound so interesting and haven't hit my radar before despite the fact that they received high ratings from my goodreads friends."

Celestine, hope you'll give them a chance, they are worth reading!

Look very interesting. Going to give these a try as well.

Thanks for all the book suggestions so far. I'll be adding to my ever-growing TBR pile, but sci-fi is one of the genres I'm lacking in knowledge of who are good authors. I'm a big romance fan too, so the knowledge that there are more books that combine the two elements is always a good thing. :)

Just finished Archetype and Prototype. They're amazing. Thanks for the recommendation Milena!

Elsa wrote: "Just finished Archetype and Prototype. They're amazing. Thanks for the recommendation Milena!"

Elsa, I am very happy you loved these books. I think they are underrated :(