Please welcome Melody Johnson to the blog today. She’s celebrating the release of her brand-new sci-fi romance, Beyond the Next Star, with a list of her favorite male aliens…
A Taste of Alien Tail
Extra terrestrials might not seem drool-worthy if you’re thinking about the traditional portrayal of aliens in some of my favorite blockbusters—Aliens, Independence Day and MIB—but as Katy Perry well knows, sci-fi and romance are not mutually exclusive. In fact, I argue that her lyrics, although descriptive of an alien romance, can be applied to any “forbidden love.”
“They don’t understand you.
You’re from a whole other world,
A different dimension.
You open my eyes.
And I’m ready to go, lead me into the light.”
That’s the beauty of romance. It’s relevant to every genre and fantasy, so whether you’re looking to fall in love with the boy next door or next galaxy, you can find something to satisfy your craving. For years in Hollywood, however, it seemed like mostly female aliens were depicted as sex-symbols: Commander T-Pol in Star Trek: Enterprise, Number 6 in Battlestar Galactica, Seven of Nine in Star Trek: Voyager, Leeloo in The Fifth Element, Sil in Species. Why is it always the female aliens who are bodacious—albeit, sometimes murderous? Let the male aliens have their moment in the sun! They don’t always need to be gray and dripping slime, do they?
No, they certainly do not.
As Marvel and DC comics have shown us for years on paper, our hunky heroes and anti-heroes can be just as delicious-looking as their female counterparts. And recently, within the last ten years, Hollywood has finally caught up with the romantic times. Thank you to those comic book classics and the actors who bring them to life for our viewing pleasure!
My Favorite Five Alien Heartthrobs:
- Chris Hemsworth as Thor: Technically a god in Norse mythology, but from the perspective of non-believers… an alien. Rippling biceps, a Shakespearean accent, and a big hammer: what’s not to like? But in addition to his indisputable physical attributes, Thor has (and continues to have) a dramatic character arc. Falling in love matures him, joining the Avengers helps him become a team player (sort of), losing his love makes him vulnerable, and losing against Thanos breaks him. It’s wonderful to witness such increasing character depth throughout a series – and Hemsworth delivers it beautifully.
- Henry Cavil as Superman: It’s a bullet! It’s a plane! No, it’s a 6’ 1” flying man in a red and blue unitard and cape! Excuse me—not a man, a Kryptonian. Sometimes it’s easy to forget that Superman isn’t just a super man; he’s an alien, and he’s captured our hearts for decades. There have been fantastic portrayals of him throughout the years, but my favorite is the most recent, darker, more conflicted version that Cavil embodies.
- Zachary Quinto as Spock: In terms of general “sex appeal,” there wasn’t much contest back in the day between William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy, but Zachary Quinto manages to depict a character we all know and love for his stoic, dry, near sterile personality in a way that somehow also emotes undeniable magnetism. He not only gives Captain Kirk a run for his money in the looks department, but combined with the delicious complexity of his brain and conflicted personality, I can’t help but love to love him.
- Tom Hiddleston as Loki: If I love to love Spock then I certainly love to hate Loki. So much so that I don’t really hate him at all! Where Thor is everything light and forthright, his brother is everything dark and twisty—and Tom Hiddleston wears that look so, so well. His wit is razor, and combined with that mischievous grin, I can’t help but laugh along as he makes everyone around him play the fool, even at the expense of the lovely Thor.
- Sam Worthington as Jake’s Avatar: This one is a stretch, I know, considering that Jake himself is human, but Sam Worthington is a beefcake and his Avatar is alien, so… I’m willing to turn a blind eye if you are. There are few things more moving than a hero’s heart within a body that can’t live up to his/her strength of will. And Jake’s character arc as he becomes more sensitive and ironically more self-aware during his out-of-body experiences makes him even more swoon-worthy.
About the Book:
An intolerable order. A desperate charade. A deadly secret.
Before Commander Torek Renaar can return to active duty, he’s ordered to purchase an animal companion to help relieve his PTSD symptoms. But having been a caretaker for and lost a loved one, keeping even one little human alive is a challenge he feels doomed to fail. It doesn’t help that his animal companion is the newest, most exotic breed on the market, demanding constant attention, daily grooming, and delicate handling. If she doesn’t die first in his incompetent care, she’ll be the death of him.
After witnessing the murder of her domestication specialist, Delaney McCormick allows her new owner to treat her like the pet he believes her to be. If anyone suspects she’s more intelligent than a golden retriever, her murder would be next. She endures the humiliation of being washed, the tediousness of being trained to “sit” and “come,” and the intrigue of hearing private conversations. But in Torek’s care, she finds something unexpected on this antarctic planet, something she never had in all her years on Earth while house-hopping between foster families: a home.
As companionship grows to love, must Delaney continue the charade, acting like an animal and hiding from the murderer waiting on her misstep? Or can she trust Torek with her secrets, even if the truth threatens everything he holds dear—and both their lives?
Book Title: Beyond the Next Star
Author: Melody Johnson
Series: Love Beyond Series, book 1
Genre: Sci-fi Romance
Publisher: Incendi Press, LLC
Date of Publication: June 23, 2020
Purchase Links: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0897S23JN or https://bit.ly/LoveBeyond1
About the Author:
Melody Johnson is the author of the “out of this world” Love Beyond series and the gritty, paranormal romance Night Blood series published by Kensington Publishing/ Lyrical Press. The City Beneath (Night Blood, book 1) was a finalist in the “Cleveland Rocks” and “Fool For Love” contests.
Melody graduated magna cum laude from Lycoming College with her BA in creative writing and psychology. Throughout college, she wrote contemporary love stories, but having read and adored the action and dark mystery of vampires and aliens her entire life, she decided to add her fingerprint to the paranormal and sci-fi genres.
When she isn’t working or writing, Melody can be found swimming at the beach, hiking with her husband, and exploring her new home in southeast Georgia. Keep in touch with Melody on social media or register for her newsletter to receive emails about new releases and book signings.
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