There is no end of fun we could have with this cover. Was the hero wearing eye protection when the lab blew up, or did he just fall asleep on a tanning bed ? What kind of explosion incinerates a shirt and leaves hair, belt and jeans totally intact? And why does a man who experiments with chemical fusion have long flowing locks anyway? Perhaps he was big fan of Extreme (check the guy on the right)?
Cinderman, a Harlequin American Romance (#525) from 1994, is out of print. I purchased a used paper copy, but you can buy a digital copy — along with Stuart’s Night of the Phantom, One More Valentine, The Soldier and the Baby, and Wild Thing directly from Harlequin for $17.95. Here’s what Stuart herself has to say about Cinderman:
Was one of the first More than Men subseries. It was over the top, tongue in cheek, and an underground classic. The hero was your typical mild-manner scientist who gets caught up in a laboratory accident, and he found he could start fires if he blinked and twitched his nose like Samantha on Bewitched, and he was invisible for one hour at eight in the morning and eight at night. The spunky heroine known for her in-your-face t-shirts, only got to get rid of her glasses.
The funny thing is, he was actually invisible for two hours at a time, but after 60 books, I am sure it is hard to keep these details in mind. What were the other More Than Men books? According to this handy list on Goodreads, there were a total of 16. In at least one of them the hero communicates with dolphins. I pretty much have no choice but to read that one.
Suzanna Molloy, a science reporter with a PhD, breaks into the brilliant, egotistical Dr. Daniel Crompton’s top secret lab at precisely the wrong moment. It’s been sabotaged, and they barely escape with their lives. Daniel has been altered — he’s super strong, invisible four 4 hours a day, and can blow things up by looking at them. Suzanna, too, finds she no longer needs her glasses and can occasionally read minds. The rest of the romance takes place on the road, as they try to figure out who wants Daniel out of the way. Daniel doesn’t know if he can trust Suzanna, and she certainly dislikes his arrogant attitude. But, as they hole up in a lovely chalet he built with his own hands, their attraction can’t be denied.
Daniel is not a likable hero. Here are some snippets of his philosophy of women:
“her eyes behind her wire-rimmed glasses were a clear, intelligent brown. Intelligence. He hated that in a woman.”
“She was just the kind of woman he usually found attractive– blond and pretty and stupid.”
“I keep forgetting you have a mind.” (to the heroine, in the last third of the book)
“In his experience, women were seldom sensible.”
Daniel’s portrayed as a complete geek, obsessive about nothing but his work, and has never set out to seduce a woman, yet he’s supremely confident with women and talented in the sack. Oh, and like most chemists, he’s toned and tanned and superbly muscled. And he’s really rich. And in his spare time he can build a cabin in the mountains with his bare hands.
Suzanna’s career is completely forgotten once the explosion occurs. For the story, it wouldn’t matter whether she was a science reporter or a Rockette. Her major contribution to the resolution of the mystery is making brownies. At one point, she says, “Go out and save the world, Cinderman. The little woman will be waiting with a hot meal.”, and although I think Stuart intended some irony here, the fact that Suzanna does stay put and make the hot meal kind of deflates that intention. Her state of mind is signaled by the slogans on her t-shirts. You know everything about her character arc when I tell you her first t-shirt says “Eat Quiche and Die” and her last — in a dreaded baby epilogue, reads “She Who Rocks the Cradle Rules the World — Watch Out!”
So the gender politics are, to say the least, not my thing.
But this was an enjoyable read, because both characters had a good sense of humor and the dialogue was snappy and fun. I also enjoyed the sense of pop culture irony. For example, Daniel is constantly burning hot as a result of the fire, and there’s also loads of sexual tension (something Stuart can definitely write), and then Bruce Springsteen’s “Fire” comes on the radio. Suzanna mocks Daniel for using words like “courting” by suggesting he’s read too many historical romances, and he answers, “I’ve read my share.” Indeed, there’s a Georgette Heyer in his cabin! There are Bewitched jokes, Incredible Hulk jokes, and, of course, there’s the invisible sex. And that stuff was a lot of fun.
Daniel loses some of his powers at the end, and I wasn’t surprised. Although the sub series is “More than Men” I don’t see how a real superhero romance could work. The non-super partner will always be prey to kidnapping, and the superhero will always be torn between service to the community and love. Also, their differential relationship to average humanity will keep throwing up conflicts (“Of course you’re never late, because you can tele-transport!” “Could you stop spying on me in your invisible form?” “I can’t have thirty orgasms in a row!” “How can we have a nice family dinner when you’re off righting the London Eye or the Statue of Liberty every night?” etc.).
This was indeed an unusual category. I’m glad I read it.
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Starting this review, I was so stunned about this cover. Like, that’s a real cover? 1994 doesn’t seem quite THAT long ago. I enjoyed your theories on his condition, though I’m tempted to merge them–maybe it blew up because he fell asleep on the tanning bed.
Wow, I so love Anne Stuart, I feel like I’d feel fondly about such a book, too, little woman and all. The invisible at specific times trope! I’m glad you read and reported on this.
I was curious about this:
Is Suzanna under kidnapping threat, or is that your own devious mind? And, I am impressed with this likeness between the hero and that Extreme guy!
Anyway, oh, delightful.
This was fascinating and sent me off on several tangents.
The cover: his features are so “soft”–pouty lips, rounded end of his nose. If cover models today aren’t headless, they are much more angular/pointy (which is how heroes are generally described). Also, what Carolyn said. Was 1994 really that long ago?
Communicating with dolphins? Did you ever read Madeleine L’Engle’s A Ring of Endless Light? That is one of those Childhood Books of My Heart that Helped Make Me What I Am Today. I wanted to marry Adam from 13 until . . . well, I still get a pang when I hear the words “marine biologist.” And the heroine is awesome (and is the one who really communicates w/dolphins).
Also, the relationship with a superhero point (yes!) reminded me of reading somewhere a piece by Ursula LeGuin about how she never had a romance between Tehanu and Ged in the original Earthsea trilogy (more Childhood Books) because wizards were too powerful for a romantic relationship to be possible–it could never be equal (she of course put it much more eloquently). Only much later when he’s lost his power does she depict it. (This was also when she felt she could write fantasy as a woman, and not just the boy way).
I think I might have to read this. Or just go dig out all my childhood favorites to revisit.
I totally forgot that this had been part of the bundle I bought at Fictionwise a couple of years ago. Your description brought it all back. Sadly, my bundle doesn’t include that awesome cover. I do remember enjoying this. Now I want to re-read it. Fun!
This is my favorite part:
I read this one, loved it, and also read the one where the hero can communicate with dolphins. This one’s cover is SO weird and off-putting, but Anne Stuart (for me, at least) never completely fails. Thanks for the review!
I feel the deep joy and satisfaction of one who has successfully pimped a book.
*sings the Cinderman song* (It sounds sort of like the “Spiderman” theme from the tv cartoon, only it doesn’t scan so well.)
I remember reading this when it was released (I still have my copy). It was campy back then too. I think the only reason I picked up the horridly covered book was due to Anne Stuart’s name. I might even have the dolphin one too! *off to check*
Someone has to give me the title of the dolphin one.
@Carolyn Crane: no, she isn’t but in general… mortal GFs of superheroes are always getting kidnapped (Lois Lane, Mary Jane, etc). In this book, the hero doesn’t end up so super — he loses most of his powers, as I think he must for the HEA.
Stuart’s A Dark And Stormy Night has some aquatic highjinks, as I recall. It’s another in the More Than Men series.
@Jessica:
Ahh, haven’t you ever watched the BBC series My Hero. Now that was a silly series and you had to be in the mood for it but it was fun to watch the not so brilliant superhero and his love life. I loved Mrs. who was the receptionist for Piers, the egotistical doctor, who was always after Janet. Never did see the end of that series.
mortal GFs of superheroes are always getting kidnapped (Lois Lane, Mary Jane, etc)
Isn’t this a reinforcement or a form of a male myth about bachelorhood and greatness aka the castration of the male by love.
Fun review! The aquatic one is indeed A Dark and Stormy Night. I didn’t find it all that special, but then I didn’t see as much in this one as you did, either.
Hey there,
One more thing. I was reading the other reviews I tracked for this one and then looked at RT Mag. RT doesn’t have a review of it but lists it under a Beauty and the Beast theme. When I read your review along with others, I’m not getting a Beauty and Beast underlying theme from words within the review. Has RT incorrectly labeled this or is that the B&B theme is secondary (or further down the list) to the other items you listed?
I’m more curious than anything else here as the RT article was written in 1997.
Here’s the link. Basically just a brief overview with a list of books. I’m must also admit that I’m not a big fan of this interpretation even though I find something, ummm, compelling (??) about it.
I’d pay money for the cover alone.
Not.
Funny you should say superhero romances never work! As an avid comic book reader in my late teens, the romance story lines were often what kept me going in a series (XMen had Scott Summers and Jean Grey; Teen Titans had Robin/Nighthawk and Starfire; most series had some lovin in them for that matter); Remember, a superhero can fall in love with a superheroine and sometimes a regular human guy can fall for a superheroine.
@pamelia:
Funny you should say that. A friend and I recently had a discussion about that. We couldn’t think of an example. It seems always ordinary human women and superheroes. We’re quite certain there are some, but couldn’t think of any. Could you please suggest some?
@FiaQ: There’s that movie recently with Luke Owen and Uma Thurman (I think it’s called My Super Ex-Girlfriend) and wasn’t Wonder Woman in a romance with a regular old army guy (Colonel something? ) You’re right though, those relationships are fewer and farther between although comic books do break a lot of barriers and take a lot of risks (it’s just been awhile since I’ve read any) I would imagine there might be more recent examples.
Carrie Vaughn’s new book ‘After the Golden Age’ has the daughter of superhero parents as a perennial kidnap victim. People seek leverage over her Mum and Dad and so there is a consequent impact on their family relationship as she grows up knowing she always comes second. I think the non-super daughter may have a romance arc with a superhero too.
@Megan: Thanks for the suggestion!
@AQ: Oh, I believe there can be good romantic plot lines for super heroes, but no romance with an HEA.
Also, there is no way to see this as a Beauty and the Beast story. It is not, and should not be on that list at RT.
@willaful: I have been very easy on my reads lately, have you noticed? Guess I’m in in a mood lately to see everything, including books, in the best possible light. You may have to adjust by mentally giving everything I write about a metaphorical grade down!
@Tumperkin: Then I guess I will have to ship it to you for free.
@pamelia: I agree. I LOVE the romances in superhero narratives. The Wolverine/Jean Gray is one of the best romances out there in comics, IMO. It’s not that a romance can’t work, it’s that there can be no HEA. Sorry I did not make myself clear.
@FiaQ: The superheroine question is interesting. The obvious point would be that there are so few of them. But I sense there is more to it than that.
@Merrian: that sounds pretty interesting, actually.
Just one final additional aside because your HEA point started my mind down on a different tangent. But when it really comes down to it how are today’s romances with powerful CEOs or warriors like the BDB series really that much different than super heroes? I mean women and children would be subject to kidnappings, etc. if the stories continued on into the future with the couple as the leads much like Paul & Chani in the Dune series.
I wonder if the real difference isn’t that super heroes (heroines) stories continue on past the love declarations and therefore more of the ramifications of decisions based on love come more to the fro. With most romances (this is only off the top of my head BTW), the ramification of one couple’s relationship and the sacrifices made don’t seem to have major impacts on the world. When Wraith mates with Beth in Dark Lover, the world moved on without any noticeable impact. If the story had not been a romance novel, then their mating would have
nothad a major impact on the world in which they existed and a HEA probably wouldn’t have been easily achieved (ETA*** or might not have been possible at all).(Only using BDB as an example because of the discussion here in the last few months.)
@AQ:
Interesting thinking AQ. You have got me thinking about countries where kidnapping for ransom is a traditional criminal enterprise that is aimed not just at the super-rich but the professional and middle classes. People’s lives still go on somehow – they still marry and have children. In some places the predator pressure is so intense they live in compounds and send their children to other countries for their education. So I wonder about love and hope sustaining themselves under siege and how super heroes lives are really one long siege.
@AQ:
Very different, IMO. The super hero is not just a person with a lot of powers, although I would claim that the difference b/t a superhero and regular person is much greater than that between a CEO or human warrior and a regular person. The issue for the superhero is unique: the superhero has an obligation to put the general welfare ahead of personal relationships. I think this is incompatible with the premise of a romance novel.
“I have been very easy on my reads lately, have you noticed? Guess I’m in in a mood lately to see everything, including books, in the best possible light. You may have to adjust by mentally giving everything I write about a metaphorical grade down!”
A perfectly normal part of the reading process, I think. Yet one more reason for authors not to get their panties in a twist!
[...] did an open discussion of it (on which she commented. Squee!). More recently, I read a category, Cinderman (1994 Harlequin American). And now, I’ve read a Stuart historical. I found all of them to be [...]