thanks
gn

[mod note: edited to remove OT content by request of OP]

The spoiler tags do work for me in the actual posts, but as black stuff that covers up the letters, not as the little show/hide arrow. It's only in the comments that they don't work at all.

My browser is Internet Explorer.

That’s so strange. I used to get the black-out text but it changed to this when Jane updated WordPress and its plug-ins. I’ve tried Internet Explorer and Firefox, and the show/hide works for me in both.

Has no one seen _Splash_?

Sure. But why should we assume that merman can shift between human and mer form just because one movie used that concept? In The Little Mermaid, the mermaid had to give up her voice to the witch to gain human form. She couldn’t do it at will. Different story, different mythos. If a story depends on another work of fiction to establish its worldbuilding, that’s derivative and lazy writing. Readers can, and should, expect more than that.

Actually I thought the first was okay, the second was good and I couldn't get past the second chapter of the third one.

Sorry Jayne! And thanks for the correction. My memory’s not what it used to be…

Janine: I'm really sorry the spoiler tags don't work for you. You never got them to work in the actual posts either, right? What browser are you using?

The spoiler tags do work for me in the actual posts, but as black stuff that covers up the letters, not as the little show/hide arrow. It’s only in the comments that they don’t work at all.

My browser is Internet Explorer.

all I could think of was: do they serve fish?

Suzanne, I imagine that fish aren’t served there, for health reasons — that “no shirt, no shoes, no service” thing seems pretty widespread in the restaurant industry! (Sorry, could not resist)

Jia, thanks for the spoiler. I am relieved to know that they aren’t doing it fish-style (as MB says, totally unromantic) or with the fishy characteristics that K.Z. so kindly described (ew, just EW). Erik turning humanoid is probably much more pleasant, although it sounds like I still wouldn’t enjoy it, due to the level of coercion. My boat, force does not float it.

I think what annoys me most about mer romances is that the authors put so little thought into convincing world-building!

This problem isn't confined to the mer people, plenty of vampires, were-creatures, witches, and demons of all kinds share this affliction. Consistent laws/rules that remain true throughout a series and have some kind of functioning logic behind them aren't just a necessity in books shelved in the science-fiction/fantasy section.

MB, have you tried Jessica Bryan's merfolk trilogy? I haven't read them myself but I have heard many good things and if I recall correctly, Jayne read and enjoyed them.

Actually I thought the first was okay, the second was good and I couldn’t get past the second chapter of the third one.

Has no one seen _Splash_?

Sorry. Was that a buzz-kill?

No. It did, however, make me laugh a lot.

I want someone of the calibre of Lois McMaster Bujold or Sharon Shinn or Sheri Tepper to take something like this and run. I’m not satisfied with the contrived and implausible stuff I’m seeing.

Interestingly enough, the best example of this I can give was not a romance. It was a SF novel where a young paraplegic was implanted into another galactic species infant in order to basically spy for the humans. The extra-terrestial was a manta-like creature that “swam” through deep space in atmospheres humans and their spaceships could not withstand. It was a fascinating, fully-developed world with lots of character development. (Caught between two species, divided loyalties, danger, betrayal, etc.!)

Whoa. (Sorry. Was that a buzz-kill?)

…The practicality in me just can’t get over my common sense. After all, if the the bottom half IS a fish, shouldn’t sex be the fish way??? I.e, she lays the eggs, and he swims over them and fertilizes them? (Not very romantic, right?) It makes me laugh!

Unless, of course you “do it” like some sharks or even snakes. But the idea of shark-like skin and tail takes the bloom off for me as well.

So, I’m still hoping someone will come up with a good one some time, but I’m not really on the edge of my seat.