Found: 90s SF anthology interspecies romance
Asunto del tema original: 90s SF anthology interspecies romance
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1Nooiniin
Dear all,
I am looking for two SF stories I read in the early to mid-90s, possibly in the same anthology, which may have been interspecies romance themed
1st story: A group of human scientists sent to a foreign planet to study local humanoid aliens, female scientist has got into romantic relationship with chief of native tribe, who is fascinated by her single pair of breasts (as opposed to three (?) pairs in the native females). The story is written from this scientist's POV, she feels sad about having eventually to leave her lover once her mission is over.
2nd story: is told from the pov of a male member of a prospecting company mining on a foreign planet. As is customary and fixed by contract, he has entered into a one-year "marriage" with one of the resident aliens, who are described as more or less humanoid in shape, while basically they are plants. He is fond of his selected partner but has to struggle not to show he's repulsed by her mouth featuring some kind of rotating needles instead of teeth. She has noticed, though, and one day surprises him by having these needles removed and human teeth implanted, showing she actually cares for and wants to please him. They continue to get along famously and, when their year is up, decide to have their contract renewed for another year. The story ends with him being about to have his teeth pulled and needles implanted, to please her.
Does anyone recognize one of these stories?.
I am looking for two SF stories I read in the early to mid-90s, possibly in the same anthology, which may have been interspecies romance themed
1st story: A group of human scientists sent to a foreign planet to study local humanoid aliens, female scientist has got into romantic relationship with chief of native tribe, who is fascinated by her single pair of breasts (as opposed to three (?) pairs in the native females). The story is written from this scientist's POV, she feels sad about having eventually to leave her lover once her mission is over.
2nd story: is told from the pov of a male member of a prospecting company mining on a foreign planet. As is customary and fixed by contract, he has entered into a one-year "marriage" with one of the resident aliens, who are described as more or less humanoid in shape, while basically they are plants. He is fond of his selected partner but has to struggle not to show he's repulsed by her mouth featuring some kind of rotating needles instead of teeth. She has noticed, though, and one day surprises him by having these needles removed and human teeth implanted, showing she actually cares for and wants to please him. They continue to get along famously and, when their year is up, decide to have their contract renewed for another year. The story ends with him being about to have his teeth pulled and needles implanted, to please her.
Does anyone recognize one of these stories?.
2DemetriosX
I think the second story is "Bride Ninety-One" by Robert Silverberg. The only thing that doesn't match up is POV character's profession, but that might have changed from the original magazine publication that I'm familiar with. You can check the story's publication history at https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?54223, but at first glance I don't see any English-language publications that would match a romance theme.
3Nooiniin
Yes! Thank you so much! I see I've mixed up some of the details, having read this just the once and so long ago, but this is definitely the one. I forgot to say, I read both stories in German. "Dimension 12" aka Dimension Thirteen looks a likely candidate; I've also recognized some of the other stories in there.
P. S. I've found an online version of "The King of the Golden River", that's, in fact, the other one! Funny how I've forgotten all about the volcanoe business ...
So, solved! Thanks once more, I'd been looking for this for ages!
P. S. I've found an online version of "The King of the Golden River", that's, in fact, the other one! Funny how I've forgotten all about the volcanoe business ...
So, solved! Thanks once more, I'd been looking for this for ages!
