Pros and Cons to an nonhuman romance character.

[M. Blaekr]

Greetings, everyone.

So I ran into a dilemma with a story I've been working out. I don't know if I want the main character to fall in love with the "strange" nonhuman girl, or the human girl.

I was curious to the thoughts of you peoples. What do you think of romancing a nonhuman character?

I have my own ideas, but I'd rather not corrupt the pot. Speak freely, try to come up with as many pros and cons as possible, but don't consider physical attractiveness, I'm curious to how a nonhuman romance would work as an emotion-gripper or a literary device.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

It's a strange question to ask of SFF readers

I can't think of any definite "cons" (as with human characters, it depends on the appeal -- not necessarily attractiveness -- of the specific character in question) since SF and Fantasy readers are quite accustomed to romance between humans and human-like creatures. It's really a theme as old as the oldest myths and fairy tales.

The big advantage is that there is something inherently "romantic" and intriguing (at the same time a little frightening) about the stranger, the outsider, the alien.

 

[2ndchance]

Swans mate for life, that's cool...

...There is a nice, but strange human-esk aspect to that, so surely the same emotions could be applied to aliens.

As there is no tangible evidence that love exists, it should follow that there are no rules. To put it another way, forget the kissy, handholding aspects of love, time is the only measurable evidence, so how do we know what animals feel. We believe they live in the now, no past, no future, so how does that work with swans, unless we, humans are wrong, again...

Romance is what it is, the attraction of two individuals, irrespective of shape, size, eye colour, so why stop it there. How about the two in Avatar? In a novel, it is the romance that is attractive, not the individuals; after all, we only have your word for it that she or he is attractive.

Steve

 

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

Well, this really all depends on HOW human or nonhuman those involved are. Personally, with my world of Morcalia, interspecies romances-such as the basic human/elf and whatnot-actually occur, but I've put a twist on it-offspring of many hybrid romances suffer from a genetic disorder I invented. It shows consequence of, say, a human mating with an elf, or an elf with a demon, or whatnot. Just to add my own personal flavor to an otherwise cliche setting. I'd go along with something like that than the old vanilla half-elf, half-demon, or whatever sort of thing it is.

 

[The Judge]

I'm assuming that the non-human is actually pretty much human, ie there is biological compatibility if they decide to consummate their relationship. If not, then that is a whole can of worms! Otherwise, there will be the same cons as marrying outside one's own culture/belief system, not to mention the hostility of those from both species who object to miscegenation, and the possibility of the characters having children who would be stigmatised as half-caste and worse. As a way of gripping the reader and providing a great deal of plot, I think this is far better than a standard human-human relationship. Go for it.

 

[chrispenycate]

Whatever the story demands. I have just written the end of a multi-decade marriage between a human and a dragon. Not a shapeshifting dragon, or in any way humanoid, so they are physiologically incapable of physical manifestations of their mutual respect, so their children have slightly unconventional origins, but there is no doubt they're their children.

On the other hand, probably a lot of would be Romeos have chosen the easy way out, not to turn against the family they love too, and avoided the rejection from the two sides. Society is not always kind to the unconventional. And the dragon's grief at the shortness of human life could have been avoided with a little forethought.

However, forethought is hardly ever the basis for great, epic sweeps of imagination; high tragedy is, and what is more capable of generating it in human society than youth and mating rituals?

 

[M. Blaekr]

As a way of gripping the reader and providing a great deal of plot, I think this is far better than a standard human-human relationship. Go for it.

Oh... I already plan on it. Just never quite got what other people may think about it. I'm glad that it's similar to what I think.

 

[Toby Frost]

I think anything is possible provided it's done well. No problems to romancing a non-human, but I'd be inclined to be as 3D about it as possible. It's easy to stray into cliche here: the obvious one is to make her flimsy and mysterious (Arwen) or feisty and spiritual (that blue lass from Avatar), but what about the practical elements of the romance (not just sex, but day to day life between them)? I can imagine a situation where the semi-medieval hero is perplexed by the independence of a non-human girl - and, if like a real medival person, possibly replulsed by it. What would his society think of it all, and expect him to think?

As an aside, someone should write a story in which our hero woos a dwarf princess. It needs to be done.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

I planned something like that, Toby, although not at such an exalted level. He was a mere tutor and she a merchant's daughter, but their romance was part of an as yet unwritten prequel to Goblin Moon. It's a book I still want to write ... someday.

They're actually engaged in GM, but I don't remember if a passing reference to that fact survived editing.

 

[M. Blaekr]

As an aside, someone should write a story in which our hero woos a dwarf princess. It needs to be done.

Yes, it does. But I want no part in it.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

I looked it up, and I did mention their engagement. Their friends marveled at the daring and romance of their proposed union.

Their courtship, however (if their history is ever written) is destined to be a sedate one, in keeping with the characters' personalities.

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

I think it might depend on how "common" this type of relationship is in the society you're building. If it's universal then it would hardly warrant more than a passing reference. However if it's unique it might need have to take up a lot of sub plot if not become the actual plot itself.

Uniqueness would IMO rule out (or demand exploration of) any reference to food, drink, travel, religion, or any of the personal aspects of existence as in

We arranged to meet at the 'Whampa Burger' on the corner of City and Maine. When I got there I ordered my usual; steak, fries, strong coffee and sat back, pretending to read the Daily Routine as I watched the offices across the junction. When she arrived she went for the dead dog and a bucket of slurry. I was glad I'd finished mine by the time she sat down.

The point is that you couldn't really mention anything about daily life without highlighting the differences. If you don't then why have the relationship at all. If you remember the TV detective program about a group of alien refugees that settled on Earth quite a lot of the storyline was taken up in this way.

Then there are other issues. You say the human or none human female (although there's another aspect with a male non human to be written as well) suggesting that there would be the possibility of rivalry between the two females. This also has the danger/opportunity to interfere with the real plot.

A possible twist would be the main character being the alien chosing between the human girl or his fellow Sploggwander.

Of course it's practically expected in Star Trek, so how do think that works?

Personally I don't think it does. As far as I'm aware the universality of procreation success is never explored. For the unions to be so invariably successful then somewhere, way back in time, (Unless the reader is expected to suspend all knowledge - absolutely - this would be fantasy) the origins must have been the same. This would dictate that basically they all had he same ancestor. Since we know that we are genetically close to chimps and orangutans (by definition closer than something that developed on another planet) they would also be possible mate options which even in SF is a little too unpleasant for my taste: which casts doubt on the potential for such a relationship other than of a purely none physical nature.

I mean really, would someone who actually looked like a Klingon ever be attractive to a human if you didn't know it was a human inside a costume.

Now in fantasy this doesn't apply for there we have 'magic'.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Not every romance has to end in babies, however, so procreation might not even come into the story. In fact, not every romance has to have a happy ending (see Romeo and Juliet).

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

Teresa: I agree. Though if this type of relationship is common then it will be odd if there are no offspring mentioned unless we have a totally celibate society. Given MB suggests the possibility of a human female option then reproduction has to be considered, else why the dilemma.

Now we could go down the "breeder" route where the offspring are farmed for collection and love is a pure thing.

I suspect Romeo and Juliet would be a bit flat if the sexual element was removed. I also suspect that it wouldn't work if the 'lovers' were seventy year olds coming to the plot after experiencing all of life's joy. It certainly wouldn't work if one was an elephant. Though it does in Midsummer

IMO it's the romance love and relationship denied to new life that makes for the success. We have all been there and can understand the loss we would feel if it happened to us - kind of thing. I think we as humans need something we can relate to in terms of personal empathy.

We all (well 99.99% anyway) get the tragedy of the ending of R+J; not 'everyone' is so bothered about Lassie's final demise.

 

[2ndchance]

Why bring babies into it. This is a non-human relationship and they could both be hermaphrodites. Thinking way out side the box is the key, I would suggest.
Steve

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

TEIN, here was the original question:

I'm curious to how a nonhuman romance would work as an emotion-gripper or a literary device.

I'm assuming, perhaps wrongly, that the question was how readers would react emotionally to the idea of a human/non-human love story -- specifically a triangle between a man, a woman, and a non-human girl.

It seems rather a big leap from there to worrying about the breeding patterns of two entire species. This relationship may be unique. It may involve two individuals that do not want children. It may never even be consummated.

You may be throwing out ideas that could be put to good use -- perhaps relevant to M. Blaekr's story, perhaps not -- but I'm just trying to answer the original question.

 

[Boneman]

Did you ever see 'Galaxy Quest'? Interesting non-human romance happened there. Okay it was done for laughs, but amor vincit omnia!

 

[Toby Frost]

I see no reason why this shouldn't grip the reader. However, could you clarify whether the setting is fantasy or SF? As TEIN has said, it becomes logistically far harder in SF simply because of the biology.

Part of the reason I mentioned the dwarf thing is this (good work Teresa if I may say so): elf-women (elves seem to be the usual mixed-species in fantasy) are easily portrayed as like desirable human women, only more so: slender, pretty, cultured, sensitive etc, whilst dwarves are, well, often a bit squat and fond of fighting. Of course this is complete mary-sue territory*, but what happens when your character falls for someone who isn't just more desirable than usual but has other qualities (although having Elrond as a father-in-law qualifies as serious baggage in my book)?

Personally I would far rather read about a relationship that does have difficulties, and I think this would involve me more emotionally. Not necessarily screaming rows all the time, but differences. Think of all the issues that could arise if you married someone from a different country/religion/race, and multiply as required!

*this counts treble if vampires are involved.

(Edit: Robert Holdstock's Mythago Wood and Avilion involve a romance between a man and a spirit-type creature. Worth a look.)