What is going on with the fantasy/sci-fi section?
Are urban fantasy covers “ruining” it? Rendering it trashier? And keep in mind I ask this as a writer of UF.
I put “ruining” in quotes because well, it’s all relative isn’t it…?
So, am I getting at?
Well, let’s start with an illustration. I picked out four books, somewhat at random, on my last trip into a leading bookstore. Some of them are from the fantasy/sci-fi section, and some are from the romance section. Can you guess which ones are which from the covers below (click for bigger version)?
Which are not like the others?
No, it’s not a trick question. Well, at least on the most basic level or two. Beyond that, sure, but then again that’s the point of my post isn’t it? No, I’m not going to tell you the answer right off the bat – please post guesses in the comments – NO GOOGLING (or binging, etc.) please.
Now, I have nothing against any of these authors, I picked them specifically because I’ve never heard of them and can be an impartial jerk.
Oh right, what is my issue? WELL. They all look kinda like romance covers, don’t they? The difference being most romance covers have some hot sweaty man meat on there too (but not all, as evidenced by the cover(s) above).
So, maybe the content of these books is fantasy/sci-fi (in the genre term, not the general – everything non-fiction is a fantasy in the generic) but the covers really look like they are trying to sell them as romances. Which makes me wonder – who the fuck is the target audience for these covers?
Women?
Do female fantasy readers want to see their (theoretically) empowering heroines dolled up like sexmeat? Remember, this is fantasy/sci-fi, not romance.
Men?
Point of clarity: If men want porn they’ll get porn.
If men want romance then uh, well, they won’t be in the F/SF section. I’d bet money that most men would be somewhat embarrassed to be seen reading a book with a cover like that.
Who then?
*shrugs* You got me. One thing I know is that it sends a definite signal about what these books are going to be like – they all seem to follow the Laurell K Hamilton model of awesome badass hot chic who is involved in passionate (“passionate” seems to be a keyword on the back covers) relationships.
Look. Let me clue you in here “urban fantasy publishers”: fantasy has romance. It does. I enjoy a well written romantic subplot within the context of a fantasy novel. However, once that romance (and its “passion”) becomes the central area of focus (by weight of words), I think you’re treading into romance land. Now, this is probably a point of contention BUT, for me, there’s a somewhat clear break. If 51% of your plot is “passionate”, in the romantic sense, then you’ve got a romance. Hell, that % could be even lower, 35%? I dunno. My point is, just because something is set in a UF/F/SF setting, that shouldn’t guarantee the shelving in F. I’m not saying any of the books above should be shelved in romance – again I have no idea what is inside – I’m just saying, they look like they should.
I’m rambling and probably not making my point well. So I’ll continue.
Another thing I noticed is that UF by male authors seems to always have a guy in a trenchcoat on the cover (SHUT UP BETHANY! I’ll do something else for the cover…or get rid of the jacket. Goddamm trenchcoat zeitgeist.). UF by female authors tends to have covers like…well, in the picture above. Make of that what you will.
Oh. And I’m still not convinced that UF should be shelved in F/SF. Seeing the Twilight books shelved in the F/SF section in one store…I think it broke something deep inside. OK, I know that’s technically different, because those should be shelved in the kid section. But seriously, UF is blowing up like crazy lately you know? I think it’s just about big enough for it’s own bed. Right btw. horror & F/SF.
I gotta come back and finish reading this but first I gotta pee.
That’s a long pee.
Yay, shout-out in post. Finally. What’s a girl gotta do – make constant mention of a trademark trench coat that may or may not be abnormally smelly?!
Also, I 100% agree. Outside of YA – which really had better have a romantic theme minus the sweaty sex – if there’s 30% passion, I’m gonna consider it thinly veiled romance. And get pissed off. Because I don’t read romance. But then, I’d never buy a book with any of those covers, sorry. I don’t get the empowerment of sexualizing one’s self. Sounds like a clever deception that men are still snickering about having actually gotten away with.
Yeah, you didn’t play the game.
Which game? The “one of these things is not like the other” game? Because you’re supposed to tell me which of those is NOT romance, thankyou.
Um, were you planning on EVER coming back? Like if you’re not blogging and you’re not editing, what are you even doing?! Picking your nose?! Or your butt?! Or picking your butt with your nose?!
It hasn’t been that long… we’ve been sick for almost a week now. I did edit a chapter last night. It’s not like I’m just sitting around doing nothing.
That’s exACTLY what it’s like! The boys are sound asleep, work says you don’t have to come in and you are just staring up at the ceiling, defiantly refusing to blog or write! How could you!