Romance writers shouldn't even try to write skiffy.

[elfs]

I know I shouldn't make too much fun of romance writers. Suffice it to say that I really like Joanna Lindsey, usually, when she writes historicals. They're hot! When she tries to write SF, however, she's so stuck in the early 1960's:

He looked at the android with impotent fury, though his words were addressed to Shanelle. "You should have said he was your companion. Caris said your mother owned him, so I assumed you wouldn't be sharing sex with him, but--"

Shanelle's soft laughter cut him off. It was melodious and infectious, the kind of laugh that forced a smile even from strangers who merely heard it in passing. It had the ability to take the edge off his own jealous anger, particularly since it was genuine humor he was hearing, not anything ridiculing or sarcastic.

"I'm sorry, Jadd," she said after a moment, "but if you knew my father, you wouldn't have jumped to such a conclusion. Tell him, Corth."

Without expression, the android replied, "The Challen Ly-San-Ter would not allow me near his daughter until the Martha agreed to reprogram my abilities. I am no longer capable of sex-sharing."

"Oh, that's real tough, Corth." Jadd grinned with immense relief.

I know, I haven't written anything substantial for a while, but maybe it's just that between this stuff and John Updike, the whiplash is so bad I don't know where to start.

Comments

[elfs.livejournal.com]

Ah, that might explain it. I bought it at a used bookstore while hunting for some John Updike to read (really!). "Futuristic!" it said, so I figured I'd give it a look. It's a giggle. I might actually read most of it.