Check out this unexampled cover for Sureblood by Susan Grant … You ’d never know it ’s a swaggering escapade about space pirates . As the genre ofscience - fiction romanceexplodes , publishers are trying to shroud the fact that these books are science fiction .
Here ’s theback - cover copyfor Sureblood :
Torn apart by lies and magic …
Five years ago , rival space pirate captains Val Blue and Dake Sureblood stole one incredible night together . But their brief , passionate history ends with the assasination of Val ’s father and the condemnation of Dake ’s clan . Now , Val struggles prove her mettle - to herself and to dissenters within her own people . Every successful raid is a kick - heel earth in the burning memory of Dake Sureblood — and their secret Logos is a changeless reminder of their shared yesteryear …
scupper and captured before he can make his name , Dake Sureblood give back from Scheol to expose the true killer of Val ’s father . But as the identity element of their enemy becomes chillingly clear , the former lovers must put away their mistrust and connect forces to protect their clans — and their treasured son .
It sound reasonably thrilling , what with the rival space pirate captains and the raids and everything .
As skill - fabrication Romance language gains in popularity , the novel have been growing in word count and becoming more epic , accent the sprawling story over the romance part . But publishers are stil hoping to pitch these Quran to regular love affair readers . Thus , according to the always think of Galaxy Express blog , there ’s a never-ending stress between “ human bosom ” covers like the above one , versus embrace that actually describe what blend on in the Holy Scripture .
This discourse has been go on for a while , but it flared up again in response to this latest Harlequin cover . Writes Galaxy Express :
Where are the infinite pirate promised by the cap copy ? The covering fire conveyserotic romanceto me … Perhaps it ’s a sign of these difficult economic time that romance publishers are ratcheting up the man titty / erotic romance campaigns . Seems like in purchase order to catch as many sales agreement as potential , they are attempting to invoke to every unmarried romance reader regardless of individual taste ( but all readers faint for man bosom screen ? Really ? ) . In the end , they will cease up pleasing a number that in my totally biased view will accrue short of potentiality .
Sexy and romanticist covers ? expectant , awesome - why not a clinch cover for SUREBLOOD , with a starry background , perhaps ? A fiercely accessorized , sexy space heroine with generous cleavage would be a great tie for male readers . Why do historical Latinian language get clear historical visual cues and books like these do n’t ? Ghettoization of SFR ? Yes , in part , along with the corporate mentality that prescribe standardization of art .
Is this masking fiasco another indication that romanticism publishing house call back their distaff proofreader are imbecile when it come to scientific discipline fable romance ? mayhap Harlequin thinks the stories are both too science fictitious and too exotic for referee to enjoy .
Count this as another vote for novel about space pirates to have covers depicting distance pirates … preferably sexy ones . It ’s also just captivating to see that every subgenre has its own worries about perceived marginalization . The issue are often the same , even if — as in this face — they ’re sort of diametrical .
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