What are you doing for Valentine’s Day? Have you planned the perfect gift and date for your special someone? If you can hear the crickets chirping in background right now because you cannot answer these questions, don’t feel bad. I’m right there with you.
Valentine’s Day is a tough holiday. Unlike other gift-giving celebrations, this one requires that we be romantic, which is more difficult than it appears. Especially if you are a little socially awkward, as many hardcore science fiction fans (and me) are, orchestrating the perfect Valentine’s Day for your special someone can be a nightmare.
Every year I get a little frustrated around February 14th. I don’t think the holiday is a big deal, but I also don’t want to be the lame girlfriend who can’t think of anything romantic and not trashy to get her boyfriend either.
After years of fretting I finally came to a solution.
I don’t have to design my Valentine’s Day to look or feel like everyone else’s. It’s a commercial holiday anyway, so why not make it whatever I want it to be?
Now I do exactly that. Do I spend my day touring a winery or having dinner at an expensive restaurant? I think not. That just isn’t my idea of a romantic day. I’m a pretty geeky girl, and my idea of a good date is little different from traditional choices. I assume there are at least a few other women out there like me, so I have a few suggestions for Valentine’s Day activities that may be a little more appealing to the science fiction fans out there. Also, most of these dates are cheap, so take a hint and combine something you enjoy with something that won’t break your wallet.
Books
I don’t know about you girls, but I think a man who wants to read to me is kind of sexy, especially if he lets me choose the book. So in the spirit of that opinion, I have a few books I’d like to recommend if you want to try this out on Valentine’s Day. The key is to not select a book that will make you cry. No Nicholas Sparks today!
My top pick is Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones. It is a fantasy novel about a young, quiet girl called Sophie who is drained of her youth by an evil witch. Suddenly finding herself an old woman, Sophie flees her old life in search of someone who can cure her. She finds refuge in the magical, moving castle of the infamous wizard Howl, leading to a series of adventures that reward her with courage, power, and love.
I love this novel because it makes me giggle like a little girl with a crush every time I read it. The story is both adventurous and romantic, making it the perfect book for a couple to read together.
I would also, of course, recommend the book I discussed to such lengths last week: Sabriel. While Sabriel’s journey ultimately leads to a sense of independence and maturity, the story is not without romance. Soon into the novel Sabriel rescues a handsome young man trapped in a magical limbo of sorts. He becomes her closest companion throughout the novel, and nothing leads to romance in a fantasy novel like action-packed battles with swords and magic. This book is definitely a great read for couples.
Though this novel is not very romantic, I think Douglas Adams’The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy would make a terrific Valentine’s Day read. While my previous suggestions are full of romance and adventure, this one is just funny. What could be more fun than laughing with your sweetheart as you read this hilarious and intriguing novel? The book is pretty short, and you could finish it in only a few hours. It begins with one man’s horrible Thursday, a day on which both his house and his planet are demolished without his previous knowledge. Luckily his closest friend is an alien who hitches a ride on one of the ships destroying the Earth, bringing his human friend along for the ride. The two eventually end up on a ship stolen and commanded by the slightly insane Galactic President on a search for the ultimate question of life (hint: the answer is 42). Does it sound interesting? I hope so. The novel is tremendously entertaining and fun to read aloud.
Movies
You don’t have to go to the theater on Valentine’s Day to see a good movie. In fact going to the theater on the biggest date night of the year might be a really awful choice. Do you really want to compete for the good seats with fifteen year-olds looking for a dark place to snog? Besides, Tron: Legacy is the only good science fiction/fantasy film in theaters right now, and it’s not so exciting that you need to spend thirty bucks on it.
Why not spend ten bucks on a Netflix subscription or make a trip to Moviebox and just spend the evening on your couch or in bed? With this arrangement you can eat whatever you want, and you have all the privacy of your own home to talk and cuddle with your sweetie.
My movie suggestions probably don’t include anything you haven’t already seen, but I bet you’ve never looked at them as Valentine’s Day material.
First, I have to recommend The Matrix. I know you’ve seen it a dozen times if you’re anywhere near as nerdy as me. But think about the film for a minute. It is romantic, isn’t it? When Trinity finally admits what the Oracle told her, I just go into a little giggle fit. Of course, I’m a huge Keanu Reeves fan, so maybe the giggling is just a personal thing. Anyway, my point is that the movie is a great Valentine’s flick. It has romance, action, guns, conspiracies; the best science fiction has to offer for the screen.
On a much newer note, I would like to suggest WALL-E. The film is adorable, and you won’t find a cuter love story than two tree-hugging robots trying to save a post-apocalyptic world ruined by human trash. This one calls for ice cream and snuggling; it has all the romance without the cheesy lines and with the added bonus of being an awesome new science fiction film.
Finally, I think everyone should watch Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, created by Joss Whedon. (You’re going to see a trend in my blog of Joss Whedon’s name popping up. I’m one of those crazy obsessive fans.) The film is only around forty minutes long, and it is a musical depicting a young man’s journey to become a villain worthy of joining the Evil League of Evil. His arch nemesis, Captain Hammer, seeks to thwart him by dating Penny, a sweet and naïve young woman whom Dr. Horrible has a major crush on. Fortunately, this move makes Dr. Horrible angry enough to finally become a real villain. The movie is terrific, both funny and a little romantic. It is great choice to share with your geeky sweetie on Valentine’s Day.
I hope these suggestions have given you guys some ideas. I certainly feel the need to go read Howl’s Moving Castle again now. (By the way, Studio Ghibli adapted that book into a terrific animated movie. Check it out if you aren’t in a reading mood on your special day). Let me know in the comments section if you try any of these ideas out. I’d love to know if they worked for you, or if you come up with any other great scifi-Valentine ideas.