Group avatar

Science Fiction Romance

Dedicated to readers and writers of Science Fiction and Futuristic Romance!
  • Category: General | Started Tuesday, July 17 2007

« more discussions

  • Linda Ambrosia

    Futuristic Heroes

    Hi everybody. I'm Linda Ambrosia and I'm a new author whose first book, "Liberation," was just released last month by Lavender Isis Press. That one is a Contemporary, but I also have another in manuscript, a Futuristic. I haven't submitted it to anyone yet, so before I do thought I'd get some feedback from this discussion group. I'm concerned because, from what I've on the Web, my book's lead character may be unorthodox compared to the normal Futuristic hero.

    My novel is called "Barbarian From Space," but the title is an irony. My hero, Jacob Lum, is actually the most civilized character in the story. He's a kind-hearted nice guy from an ultra-civilized planet, who lands on a world where the inhabitants are all warlike and aggressive. But Jacob has the build of an athlete (which he was on his own world) and superior strength and agility. The only reason the warrior people consider him a "barbarian" is because none of them can defeat him. As the heroine, Rose, exclaims at one point, "You defeat armed men with your bare hands!" She also finds his courteous, courtly behavior toward her a refreshing change from the crude manners of her own kind. You might call Jacob a "super Beta man."

    What I hoped to achieve with this story was to promote the old fashioned idea that civilized men aren't weaklings. But I realize that's just my own tastes, and that may differ from the mainstream Futuristic Alpha hero. Please understand I'm not criticizing anybody's personal tastes. I firmly respect that everyone has different likes and dislikes. I simply want to try out something different. I did that with my first book also, which has a number of elements that are outside the norm. So I invite other folks to discuss their own favorite Futuristic heroes, and if my "Barbarian" would or would not fit in with the current genre.
    Linda Ambrosia started this discussion 1 year ago. ( reply )

5

replies
expand replies 
Sign in to participate in this discussion.
  • Ruth D. Kerce

    Ruth D. Kerce 

    Hi Linda,

    My favorite futuristic heroes to read/write are all Alpha types - hehehe. Love those tough guys with a heart. I don't recall reading any Beta types in futuristics. But then, there are probably a bunch out there that I just don't know about. :-) Best of success to you! If he fits your story, then go for it.
    posted 1 year ago. ( reply )
  • Patti_OShea

    Patti_OShea 

    Linda,

    I have read futuristic/fantasy romances where I don't think the hero is alpha, but even if I hadn't, I'd still recommend telling your story your way. That said, I've written nice guy alpha heroes in my two futuristics. I don't believe alpha means overbearing jerk. My definition of alpha is a natural leader who takes care of those weaker than he is and is protective of women and children. :-) My futuristics have all had Special Forces heroes--alpha to the core--but they've all been protective and considerate of the heroine, as well as respecting her strengths. So to sum up my long post, I say go for it!

    Patti
    posted 1 year ago. ( reply )
    show 3 replies
    • Linda Ambrosia

      Linda Ambrosia 

      I thank both you ladies for your comments. I've submitted a sample chapter to one publisher and I'm waiting for word now.

      Think I'd like to ad, that beta though he may be, when his lady is threatened, my hero Jacob is one dangerous dude to mess with! I hope someday we'll all get to see him in action in an ebook.
      posted 1 year ago. ( reply )
    • PNRGroupManager

      PNRGroupManager 

      I'd have to agree with you Patti and I loved the J-nine books. Very edgy which is my favorite kind of futuristic.
      posted 6 months ago. ( reply )
    • Linda Ambrosia

      Linda Ambrosia (edited)

      Well, we've got a sale but it's not the one I started out with. It's a collaboration between me and my Husband. See, he wrote a book that he couldn't sell as a Futuristic, so he turned it over to for retooling. I rewrote some of it, took out material I felt was inappropriate and changed the title. We sold it as a straight science-fiction instead of Futuristic. We've signed a contract with Firedrakes Weyr and the book is scheduled to be released in July 2008.. It's called "Gulliver's Children," and I don't honestly think we could call the hero Beta or Alpha, because he's not human at all. I don't want to give away too many secrets, except I don't think there's ever been a hero like ours--or a heroine who isn't human either. They're both space aliens. It was impossible to fit them into alpha or beta categories because they are both so different. It's a fun book, and I hope it'll be a hit. We've decided to let my original book "Barbarian from Space" (which didn't sell) be offered as a sequel to "Gulliver's Children" later. Husband insists that we'll publish all our science fiction under my name from now on.
      posted 5 months ago. ( reply )
  • To reply to this discussion, please sign in or join now.

Return to top
© 2008 Tastemakers, Inc. | Portions of Shelfari.com are Copyright © 1996-2008 Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy