Saturday, January 31, 2015

3rd Annual SFR Galaxy Awards: Round Six by Heather Massey



Best Unpredictable Sci-Fi Romance
Paradox by P.J. Dean


P.J. Dean's The Felig Chronicles is an alien invasion sci-fi romance that takes place in a contemporary Earth setting. Paradox is the fourth installment of the series. Key highlights include an interracial romance, an ensemble cast of lively characters, and lots of homemade meals.

The series is best read in order, so suffice it to say that Paradox continues the ongoing adventures of Tina Cain and Nate Lowe as they simultaneously navigate their burgeoning romance and defend Earth against the Feligs, a horde of winged, energy sucking aliens. The alien invasion framework is used to explore various themes and Paradox takes the series into darker territory.

The diverse cast is a huge part of this series' appeal and in my reading experience it’s one of the few sci-fi romances where a black heroine headlines the story. Even scenes as seemingly mundane as Tina getting dressed provided me with as much "sense of wonder" as the story's science fictional elements.

What makes The Felig Chronicles a stand out series is its sheer unpredictable nature. Each story offers a multitude of twists and turns and I loved not knowing what was going to happen next!

Best Carnivorous Blob Villain Since THE BLOB
Hellcat's Bounty by Renae Jones



Hellcat's Bounty is a fun blend of classic Western and far future space opera. A sweet "opposites attract" romance with hot, tasteful love scenes develops amid a threat of carnivorous, amoeba-like aliens. A big "Yee-haw!" for this futuristic lesbian romance.

Most Persuasive Smiling Heroine
Lana's Comet by Lyn Brittan



Who can resist the smile of that lovely heroine on the cover? Not me! I came for the heroine and interracial romance and stayed for the social commentary, which touches upon themes of racism, privilege, and gender roles. Some of it plays out in the dialogue between the hero and heroine, which made it even more entertaining. Lana's Comet also offers a forbidden romance and a touch of cli-fi for the win.

Most Inventive Secret Identity For A Futuristic Gypsy
Beneath a Trojan Moon by Anna Hackett



Heroine Relda Dela-Cruz is a gypsy by trade on the market world of Souk and going into this action-adventure sci-fi romance one may wonder how the story will explain the existence of a fortune teller in a far future setting. Well, now I know and It. Is. Awesome!

No spoilers from me, though--you'll just have to read Beneath a Trojan Moon yourself to discover the deep, dark secret that makes Relda special. What I can tell you is she's an engaging heroine with a keen nose for business and a great fashion sense. She's also paired with a good guy hero who supports her and her abilities in every way. All of the above is why I'm on #TeamRelda.

Best Transgender Hero Sci-Fi Romance
Sky Pirate: Safe Harbor by Spring Horton


Sky Pirate: Safe Harbor was my favorite discovery of 2014. I'd been actively seeking more diverse reads and I’m grateful to the alert reader who brought this title to my attention. This romantic steampunk story stars a transgender hero who craves adventures, but first he needs to acquire an airship.

Sky Pirate: Safe Harbor features a cast of quirky characters--my favorite was the automaton ship's doctor! This story is worth checking out for its positive portrayal of an underdog trans hero who takes a crew of misfits under his wing.

Best In-This-World Sci-Fi Romance Television Show
MY LOVE FROM ANOTHER STAR (SBS)



MY LOVE FROM ANOTHER STAR is cracktastic sci-fi romance at its best! This twenty-one episode South Korean TV show is about an alien, Do Min Joon (Kim Soo-hyun), who falls in love with movie star Cheon Song Yi (Jun Ji-hyun) after being stranded on Earth for four-hundred years.

The romance is primarily one of soul mates and star-crossed lovers. Hero Do Min Joon is a “I can’t believe no one has done this before” cross between Spock and Superman. The “opposites attract” factor generates much of the humor and conflict.

MY LOVE FROM ANOTHER STAR is a heady mix of comedy, drama, and science fiction-lite. The villain subplot and non-linear storytelling techniques make for a number of surprising and occasionally tear-inducing twists. It’s also a show with beautiful actors, amazing fashion, and most importantly, chicken and beer!

Most Mind-Bending Sci-Fi Romance Film
THE ONE I LOVE
Directed by Charlie McDowell
Screenplay by Justin Lader
Starring Mark Duplass and Elisabeth Moss



THE ONE I LOVE is a comedic, character-driven sci-fi romance with big appeal for SFR fans. An estranged couple visits a lavish mansion retreat to rekindle their love, but it doesn't quite go according to plan. In fact, the plan goes deep into Twilight Zone territory. You'll have to excuse the cryptic description, but spoilers must be avoided at all costs in order to obtain the maximum enjoyment from this quirky, thought-provoking film.

6 comments:

  1. Absolutely thrilled!! I'm finding so much to read (and watch) from SFRG Awards and I'm just honored to be among the list.

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  2. So, so, so very happy and thrilled to included in round six of the SFRG awards. The creation and publication of the series so far has been a dream come true. Its signature is its non-routine heroine and its serpentine plots. I hope it has been as much fun to read as it has been to write. thanks again.

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  3. Heather, I can always count on you to bring my attention to interesting new books and authors. Thanks for these great recommendations and for all the work you do for the SFRGAs. (And can I just say Sky Pirate -- this one must have jumped out and bit you on the nose when you came across it!)

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  4. Thanks so much, Heather and a big congrats to my fellow awardees! And can I just say, I *love* the cover of Hellcat's Bounty.

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  5. Love your diverse list, Heather. All but Sky Pirates were on my radar (striking cover and very interesting for SFR) and you've got me very curious about the film.

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  6. Congratulations to all the winners!

    The two-chapter excerpts in Sci-Fi Romance Quarterly (SFRQ) magazine are normally limited to three quarters however, as a special offer, authors whose books have won an SFR Galaxy Award can choose to advertise their book excerpts (only) in Issue 5 of SFRQ, no vetting necessary! See http://www.scifiromancequarterly.org/advertise-with-us/ for details.

    Also, authors taking advantage of this offer will NOT have the "only two excerpts per calendar year" limit applied to them. But only for Issue 5. Let's get reading!

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