Poly Sci/Fi

You are quite welcome. :) Oddly enough, I've read quite a bit of Heinlein but have never read either of those books. lol
 
Stranger in a Strange Land and The Moon is a Harsh Mistress have poly themes/arrangements.
As do (off the top of my head) Friday, Time Enough for Love, and To Sail Beyond the Sunset. Much of his later work could be classified as either "strong poly theme" or "soft porn", depending on your mood at the time.
 
Last edited:
Yeah.. I was introduced to Heinlein by the book "Glory Road," which focuses on a very sexually open society. I enjoy his works.
 
As do (off the top of my head) Friday, Time Enough for Love, and To Sail Beyond the Sunset. Much of his later work could be classified as either "strong poly theme" or "soft porn", depending on your mood at the time.
Like that description!:D

Recently reread "Stranger..." and also "I Will Fear No Evil" - both seem rather poly... Heinlein's fiction did rather favour idea of older men and eager young women though....:rolleyes:

Best poly attitude I've noted in SF was Vonda McIntire's "Dreamsnake" which imo is a fabulous read and has a marvellously inclusive/feminist perspective on life.
 
As do (off the top of my head) Friday, Time Enough for Love, and To Sail Beyond the Sunset. Much of his later work could be classified as either "strong poly theme" or "soft porn", depending on your mood at the time.
Job: A Comedy of Justice deals with it in a vague sense. More so open sexuality than relationship or marriage structures, but it's there.

As far as other authors go, Robert J. Sawyer has written some books that mention polyamory as well. The Neanderthal Parallax (Hominids, Humans, and Hybrids) practically centers on it. It involves a parallel universe where our version of humanity is extinct and Neanderthals have developed a modern society, in which most people are bisexual and have both a male and a female partner. In Rollback, which is set a few decades in the future, it is briefly mentioned that polyamory is a little more common and has come to the attention of the mainstream more than it is today. Several of his novels also contain alien races with a variety of socially acceptable mating habits.
 
I'd suggest checking out Spider Robinson. Poly is not a central theme in his work, but he very casually writes about "co-wives" and "co-husbands". And he's fun to read.
 
Ursula le Guin has a great selection of novellas in her book "The Birthday of the World and Other Short Stories." Especially the first short story.

Topics include asexuality, open relationships, bi, gay, straight, quad marriages, and she even invents a new word - "fuckery" - a place to go to get a good.. (more like a human studery, not a brothel as it's for both sexes).

Can I say fuckery here? oops.
 
There's also a form of polyamory in the Darkover novels (blended SF/F--Earth comes to a planet full of pseudo-medieval people with magic!). It was a pleasant surprise for me.
 
Best poly attitude I've noted in SF was Vonda McIntire's "Dreamsnake" which imo is a fabulous read and has a marvellously inclusive/feminist perspective on life.

After reading this I had to go back and read the book as I honestly didn't remember any poly in it! (unless you were referring to the snakes :eek:). On re-reading, the "polyness" was so naturally treated (i.e. presented as a natural part of the culture rather than as a point of conflict or central theme) than my brain must have just gone "Oh, okay." and moved on. (Then again I read a LOT of Heinlein, so am used to characters having multiple relationships/group marriages.) A quite enjoyable read - thanks for prompting me to dig it out again.

(Contrast this with "The Avatar" by Poul Anderson - where there is a lot of melodrama over the topic and the characters in-book dialogue feels uncomfortable and defensive.)
 
The Number of the Beast is another Heinlein novel that has poly-ish themes.

Going to have to go look up the rest of the books mentioned on this thread now...
 
I re-read The Moon is a Harsh Mistress about a year ago... Love that book!! I seem to read it about every ten years....

Just read Friday for the first time...

Some Heinlein books seem to be well plotted and other seem to be a collection of short stories with a common theme, and characters...

He does favor the older man/ eager young woman paradigm....oddly enough written after he was an older man.... hmmm.

Poly is a large part of Laurell Hamilton books... I've been reading through the Anita Blake series.. Lots of sex.. lots of puppy piles... good relationships. Sometimes I just get tired of all the sex... I found myself skimming through the sex bits... and decided to let the series rest a bit before reading the next book. (Book 14... Danse Macabre)
 
Romantic SF?

After reading this I had to go back and read the book as I honestly didn't remember any poly in it! (unless you were referring to the snakes :eek:). On re-reading, the "polyness" was so naturally treated (i.e. presented as a natural part of the culture rather than as a point of conflict or central theme) than my brain must have just gone "Oh, okay." and moved on. (Then again I read a LOT of Heinlein, so am used to characters having multiple relationships/group marriages.) A quite enjoyable read - thanks for prompting me to dig it out again.

(Contrast this with "The Avatar" by Poul Anderson - where there is a lot of melodrama over the topic and the characters in-book dialogue feels uncomfortable and defensive.)

lol re snakes! I did a thesis on women and s/f and liked way there was a "romance" but not at all "conventional" nor as male fantasy as Heinlein!

This is wot I rote - Warning! Contains spoilers...

The Hugo and Nebula award winning Dreamsnake, for example, is described as 'fusing the elements of quest, far-out medicine and love story' by the Daily Telegraph on the back cover of the 1989 Gollancz paperback. Its background is the future post-holocaust earth of much popular SF.

The background location is a future which is medieval in flavour like much of the heroic fantasy genre. Snake, the protagonist of Dreamsnake can be compared with a number of McCaffrey's heroines. She is skilled, and powerful within her calling (medicine), she undertakes an arduous struggle and falls in love with a man. Nevertheless the novel presents challenges to the dominant discourses.

There is full acceptance of alternative lifestyles and sexuality outside the nuclear family and heterosexuality although that is the most common pattern within the towns. Examples of casual sex, homosexuality, menage a trois, celibacy and paying for sex are also presented non-judgementally in this novel. Travelling people with their own codes of ethics are accepted by town dwellers and their skills appreciated.

Snake is not diminished in love and does not need to be rescued by a hero. McIntyre manages to subvert the rescue device so common to the adventure story. We are aware of Snake's growing danger and this narrative is undercut by the journey of Arevin, her potential lover. As Snake's journey continues we are aware of Arevin getting closer to her as her danger increases. He does not, however, rescue her. She escaped danger and rescues the child whose care she has undertaken by her own strength and ability.

If romantic fiction within the SF genre can be challenging I think it is important that it is not dismissed as having no feminist value. Like mainstream romantic fiction it reaches a wide audience.
I think it is a fabulous book as said...:D
 
Last edited:
Back
Top