If you like science fiction romance (SFR), there’s a galaxy full of adventure to be had, featuring heroes for all tastes. I thought I’d give a few examples of the novels in some major subgenres today. Definitely not an all-inclusive list because there are so many SFRs being published every month, which is a terrific thing for us voracious readers!

Aliens: If we’re going to talk science fiction romance, we might as well start off with residents from Out There, right? New York Times Best Seller S. E. Smith Merrick’s Maiden (Cosmos Gateway Book 5) is a good example, with a feisty human heroine who helps the alien hero escape imprisonment. Torkel’s Chosen by Michele Howard tells the story of an Earth woman who chooses to become sort of a mail order bride of the future, going offworld to wed an alien warrior. Catherine Spangler’s Shadow Fires (Shielder Series Book 5) features both a hero and a heroine from alien races and tackles some tough cultural issues along with the romance. Pauline Baird Jones’s The Key is another exciting series with nonstop adventure, featuring a woman top gun pilot from Earth and an alien fighter pilot, stranded together in space.

Cyborgs: Usually enhanced human beings, with mechanical and/or biological, or even more advanced technology parts. One recent example of novels featuring this heroic trope is Stranded With The Cyborg by Cara Bristol, which features a cyborg bodyguard in a poignant and steamy tale. The latest from New York Times Best Seller Eve Langlais Avion (Cyborgs More Than Machines Book 7) tells the tale of a cyborg who may be dying and the heroine determined to save his life. The first novel I ever read in this genre was Melisse Aires’s Her Cyborg Awakes, a fun romp with a heroine who escapes a dire situation with the help of the cyborg. He gradually reverts to his previous state as a human warrior and she has to adapt to the changing circumstances.

Sexy Intergalactic Gladiators (human or alien): For this subgenre think “Spartacus” (the sexy STARZ TV series, but set in the future). Usually the heroes were either captured by aliens and trained to fight, or raised in alien captivity and sentenced to battle to the death. Hope is hard for the hero to find under those circumstances, yet love always comes to the rescue. Charlee Allden’s Stealing Mercury (Arena Dogs Book 1) was a nail biting, sexy read. Dagger’s Hope by S. E. Smith is another exciting entry in this subgenre, where the memory of a special woman is the only thing keeping a captured fighter moving forward to survive.

Genetically Engineered Humans: Not paranormal shifters or werebeings, these heroes are usually the result of gene splicing done by some evil corporation. Of course Lora Leigh’s Breeds series is what comes to my mind right away – Elizabeth’s Wolf and Coyote’s Mate are my personal favorites, although both are older novels, but the latest installment in the series is Bengal’s Quest. I enjoy the strength and super protective nature of the Breed heroes, and when these guys fall in love, they hold nothing back. The human heroines go toe to toe with them, which makes the adventure all the more enjoyable. Another series I’ve come to enjoy for many of the same reasons is Laurann Dohner’s New Species, with Numbers the most recent release, containing two novellas. The Frost Station Alpha series by Ruby Lionsdrake is set in outer space rather than on good old Earth, with the engineered human beings struggling to keep their people alive and a military heroine who has to struggle with some thorny choices about which side she’s truly on.

Special Forces Soldiers of the Future: I’ll include one of my novels here, because I’m an author as well as an avid reader. This category represents my personal favorite among the tropes, no doubt influenced by my admiration for Corporal Hicks of the movie “Aliens” and my big crush on Kyle Reese of the original “Terminator.” (Both characters played by the same actor, Michael Biehn.) My most recently released novel featuring a military hero and a kickass heroine was Star Cruise: Marooned. Left behind on a deserted alien planet when their ship suddenly departs, they have innocent passengers to protect as well saving themselves. Hell Squad, a series featuring kickass soldiers – male and female – by Anna Hackett is one I’m really addicted to. Set on a dystopian future Earth, with dinosaur like alien invaders for the ragtag military heroes to battle, the characters are trying to save what’s left of the human race.

Then of course there are novels featuring intergalactic pirates, star-hopping archaeologists, bounty hunters…just about any sort of hero you can think of, but we’ll save those for another post.

So, time to share, Readers - who are your favorite science fiction romance heroes?

Best-selling author Veronica Scott is a three-time recipient of the SFR Galaxy Award, and has written a number of science-fiction and fantasy romances. She’s the SciFi Encounters columnist for the USA Today Happily Ever After blog and her latest release is Star Cruise: Marooned. You can find out more about her and her books at https://veronicascott.wordpress.com/