I noticed that our comment threads often reference fanfic and slashfic in terms of discussing writing, technique, and plot points such as overt and even subtle sexual tension – which is fascinating for me because while I love shows with well-documented cases of unresolved sexual tension, I’ve never read that much fanfic on my own.
So I want to ask: in a romance novel, or a fanfic/slashfic piece, what’s the best method you’ve read yet for establishing unresolved sexual tension? And then resolving it without jumping the shark?
I’m also curious about what factors or plot setups create effective (L) UST: forbidden love like guardian/ward, working partners, or family feud scenarios? Friendship that’s turned into some serious lustful thoughts on one or both sides, but thus risks ruining a very unique relationship?
There are so many examples of “They Did It” just killing the entire reason for watching the show, from Moonlighting to that show with Jamie Lee Curtis, Anything But Love. And then there’s movies based on relationships and unresolved tension, like When Harry Met Sally.
But books? What’s your favorite UST build up?
For me, the best way to build that sexual tension is through sparring, be it verbal or physical (but usually verbal).
There’s nothing sexier than two smart people engaged in a battle of wits, when beneath sex is simmering. Yum.
So which of your favorite books have the best sparring, Meljean?
The best book for unresolved lust that I’ve ever read would have to be Wendy Warren’s Making Babies. Yes, it’s a category romance, yes, it’s of the “you-get-me-pregnant” variety, but I enjoyed it and laughed all the way through.
I like to set up unresolved sexual tension with sensory cues: smells, sights, the characters noticing little details about each other. You know how you can look at someone every day and then wham! suddenly notice something about them that makes you realize you’re not just feeling a friendly warmth toward them? And then, suddenly, the oddest things- like the shape of their top lip, the sound they make when they’re thinking, or even the color of their jeans- can turn into a turn-on.
There are also books with great, witty verbal sparring, like some of Sharon Green’s old books (a dirty little secret of mine) and Jane Austen books; not to mention the verbal fencing in parts of Bronte’s Jane Eyre. I also really, really like the way Linda Howard sets up simmering tension in her books, but I don’t think she lets it boil long enough. That’s just me, though.
I must take a moment here and turn to my favorite master of wonderful dialogue: Steven Brust. The Phoenix Guards (and the whole series after it) just have such sly, witty, Dumas-pere-esque humor that they function as a literary aphrodisiac for all that there are precious few heaving bosoms. (After all, a man who can write that type of witty repartee might be able to engage in it in person. MRRROWR!)
Damn, I must be the only person I know to get all hot and bothered over dialogue, but man! When it’s good, it’s spectacular.
Now that I’ve rambled on and bloody well shown you all what a fool I am, I think I’m going to go read some Dumas…
Just realized I went totally offtopic. Dialogue has a way of doing that to me.
I like the comedy-of-manners setup, where politeness conspires to put two people with serious lusting at odds with each other. I also like the mystery romance where someone’s being stalked or accused of murder and someone else has to clear them. Danger and adrenaline certainly help the setup.
I think one of the most common (but by no means the only one) is H/C (hurt/comfort). Any scenario that puts one character in a physically and emotionally vulnerable position that requires trust. The whole idea that there’s an attraction that can’t be acted upon because taking advantage of someone who is hurt or ill is Very, Very Wrong and Bad.
In slash, it’s very common, since many ofthe slash pairings come out of the action/adventure buddy genre. (I mean really, while the remake of Starsky and Hutch was both Bad and Funny it had nothing on the original series.) It’s the whole process of one character (or both) being so absolutely clear that “I am not interested.” (Very much like someone trying to pretend they aren’t drunk while walking into walls)
Years ago my very favorite book was (still is) Georgette Heyer’s The Black Moth even aside form the fact that Georgian and Regency romances don’t generally resolve the lust or sexual tension until after the last page.
Or Scully and Muldur of X-Files (which really, they should have left it at tension but what do I know? )
I have to admit that sometimes it’s possibly the worst of movies and television that have UST in them…when someitmes your jaw just drops that anyone would miss it.
In romances though, part of my problem with many is that the tension is forced, and the transition from “no, no, no!” to yes, my darling!” seems incredibly abrupt and unsupported by the text.
Easy: Judith Ivory’s Black Silk. And I love that when they do finally have sex the first time, it’s bad. IMO that whole book builds up to the scene where Graham is chasing Submit through the house, up the stairs, over and around crashing chairs and plant stands, and ultimately to Henry’s bedroom, where Submit finally does just that, in the way we all understand to be the true significance of her awful name (and the final subversion of her father’s patriarchal intentions).
Remington Steele was one of my favorite series that absolutely died when the characters resolved their tension. I loved how Laura, the heroine, had to work with Steele but knew she couldn’t trust him, yet saw glimpses of the real heroic man…great! I’m a sucker for the heroine’s head-verses-heart argument.
I read a category regency a few years ago, and the heroine had to rely on the strong, silent servant of the hero while he was off fighting a bad guy. The servant had to give the heroine a few comforting embraces, and the two just looked at each other…for several charged seconds…before turning away. At book’s end, I wished heartily that she’d gone with him!
I have always said that shows like Moonlighting, etc. wouldn’t have to be ruined by the loss of sexual tension- just keep the characters on edge/fighting still, or at least on an off-and-on basis.
Admittedly, it’s been years since I’ve seen post-sex Moonlightings, but I remember D&M as suddenly being all soliticious and affectionate with no bite all of the time. You don’t do that- you keep giving them reasons to have drama. Kind of like on soap operas, the way they can string out a supercouple for years by introducing evil twins/baby stealers/Cassidines/what have you to make things messy.
My biggie in fanfic writing – which ended up being very explicitly resolved in the series – is Spike/Buffy (aka Spuffy). And a good bit of fanfic writing about them works when their inner monologue is saying “what am I doing? I’m mad!” whilst they verbally spar.
In terms of a novel which ramped up UST to unbearable levels, it has to be ‘Girl With a Pearl Earing’. It details everything very sensually until the hero just has to touch the heroine/narrator for you to gasp aloud.
One of my favorites is two people forced by circumstances to join forces towards a common goal, even if they don’t like each other. ENEMY MINE by Barry Longyear isn’t a romance story, but it’s compelling. In a romance, the element of forced together and facing a growing, but undesired, attraction is an element that can easily go astray. I’ve mentioned this novel before, but it’s worth mentioning again ‘cause it’s so good—SHARDS OF HONOR by Lois McMaster Bujold. Two grown-ups on opposite sides of a war who have to balance their duty against their attraction to each other. The tension, both emotional and sexual, is wonderful.
the X-Files. Scully and Mulder had the best sexual tension ever.
Good point on the enemies thing- I’m reading Talyn right now and they’ve got that going on.
Part of the buildup is pacing – and for me, getting bits and pieces but not the whole enchilda 😉
I think Kinsale’s “My Sweet Folly” is the best I’ve read in that respect. Even when the characters have sex, well, it’s not everything.
Katherine Sutcliffe did this best for me. The heroes are tortured and have the ‘I don’t deserve you’ mantra running in their heads. There’s also physical drama going on also. I don’t mind tussles and such even though in real life, ain’t going to happen.
As for Mulder and Scully – I don’t think it was resolved and I was quite annoyed by the whole thing. That’s one case where the tension just couldn’t be maintained without the viewer going WTF?
I also liked Buffy and Spike and I liked how it was done on the show. That said, I don’t get why she never loved him but I have been told by others that Angel is the one. I only started to watch the show because of Spike. As for a couple that never was and probably never will be, Joss Whedon’s character’s Jane and Summer. She stabbed him and she knows his secrets and I thought they would make a great pair.
Huh, I can’t think of other books but now I think I have to read Judy Cuevas. It’s weird for those of us who love the tension because right now romance books seem to be all about instant gratification. I can’t even find a short story with great sexual tension anymore.
CindyS
Ooops, Judith Ivory’s Black Silk – I need to write that down.
CindyS
Ah, but the Spuffy reading is that Buffy did love him in the end, but he didn’t believe her.
As for a couple that never was and probably never will be, Joss Whedon’s…
Joss is a god of UST, isn’t he? I would say the Mal/Inara UST in Firefly gets you in the gut – especially the way it was starting to turn sour because neither of them would admit their attraction. (OMG! This time next week I’ll have seen Serenity!)
This thread prompted me to reread ‘Girl With a Pearl Earing’ last night and one way Chevalier ramps up the UST is by having Griet (the heroine/narrator) only ever refer to Vermeer as ‘he’, ‘him’, ‘the master’ etc. whereas she calls the man she is walking out with by name (Pieter the son). So straight away you get the idea that Vermeer is the main man in her life.
WHAT!! Firefly isn’t out until Sept 12th, right? How are you seeing it? Am I wrong?
CindyS (green with envy) and about to visit the Spuffy universe
I have a ticket for the first run at Edinburgh film festival next week. Wednesday night, in fact. Sometimes being based in the UK has its plus points (Firefly premiere, Doctor Who etc).
Bookwise, I agree with the earlier vote for Shards of Honor. Love, love, love Aral & Cordelia. And Bujold’s short story in “Irresistible Forces” w/ Roic and Taura isn’t bad, either.
TVwise—SportsNight, the sitcom/drama that Aaron Sorkin did before West Wing. There’s one episode in the first season where Dan isn’t sure he can flirt and he asks Dana to help him. Completely hot. The way their non-relationship (and the whole show) ended was a complete disappointment. What a waste of UST!
OMG Sports Night. That was some seriously HAWT sexual tension right there. Thanks for reminding me!
Two of my favorites offering sexual tension, banter and hot times are LORD OF SCOUNDRELS by Loretta Chase, and WINDFLOWER by Laura London (Tom and Sharon Curtis).
At least Chase is writing. If only “Laura London” was to pick up a pen again!