Tracy St John | Childhood Fantasies in the Science Fiction World

We live in an era of strong women. When I was born, the second wave of feminism
was just taking hold in the United States and Europe. While the first wave
concentrated on women’s right to vote, the second focused on more
self-determination through workplace, family, and sexual roles. Despite heavy
resistance, women demanded equality in all parts of their lives.

Yet even as women like my mother burned their bras, they read their daughters
fairytales. Filled with damsels in distress, the heroines were saved at the last
possible moment by their Prince Charmings. While still a tiny tot, I dreamed
that a bold man would come along, sweep me off my feet, and carry me to his
palace to live happily ever after. In later years, when my parents divorced and
assorted caregivers succumbed to mental illness and addiction, my fantasies of
rescue grew stronger.

I wished for a hero, but like most of you, I had to save myself. Life made me
tough. Fighting for my fair share put me arm-in-arm with my equality-demanding
sisters. Yet my childhood fantasies lived on. It was a given that both elements
would show up in my books.

ALIEN RULE, the second in the Clans of Kalquor series, is a blend of my youthful wishes and the struggles that hone the female survivor of any era. Yes, there is a Prince Charming. In fact, there are three alien Prince Charmings, the heirs to the thrones of Kalquor. If I’m going create a fantasy, I’m going to pour it on, okay? As tough as we are, we each deserve at least three heroes, ladies. Trust me on this.

There is also a damsel in distress, a product of a future dystopian Earth. Yet
she’s no shrinking violet. The heroine is a woman of fiery temper and
indomitable will. She is us, a member of the sisterhood engaged in the continued
struggle to determine her own destiny. She knows how to survive and thrive no
matter the obstacles.

Alien Rule is fairytale meets future, a grown woman’s romantic fable set in a science fiction universe. It’s the realization that women can indeed have it all, and on their terms. Sure, the heroine recognizes that it’s nice to have a trio of big, strong fellows eager to kick butt on her behalf. Maybe she’ll even let them get in a lick or two on their shared enemies. They need their hero moment, after all.

They’ll also be there for her when her strength fails her, as it fails all women
and men at some point in their lives. The heroes won’t think less of her for it,
because they truly are Prince Charmings. They know that at the end of the day,
she’s a leader in her own right, a force to be reckoned with, and that she still
deserves her happily-ever-after. Just as we all do.