The Pirate Queen
Abstract
This thesis contains the critical introduction and the full text of my original science fiction novel, The Pirate Queen. The critical introduction details the literary, theoretical, and historical influences that led to the creation of my novel. Among these influences are the Star Wars original trilogy and the prequels, the historical figure of Grace O’Malley of Ireland, Audre Lorde’s concept of the female erotic as power, and romance as represented in Lois McMaster Bujold’s Shards of Honor and Sarah J. Maas’ Throne of Glass series. My introduction argues that The Pirate Queen uses the space opera genre and these influences to create a feminist representation of power and romance in the setting of the space opera, positioning femininity as a source of strength for the main protagonist, Grace O’Malley. The next portion of my thesis is my creative work, The Pirate Queen, a space opera centered around the romance between Captain Grace ‘Granuaile’ O’Malley and Captain Caleb Lewis. Dashing pirate outlaw Grace ‘Granuaile’ O’Malley travels the galaxy, fighting in the Rebellion against the Terran Republic and eluding capture by Captain Caleb Lewis of the Terran Republic’s Star Navy. Caleb and Grace are mortal enemies, the key players in the upcoming war between the Republic and Queen Elizabeth’s Rebellion. Unfortunately, they’re in also in love. The novel begins with the realization that Caleb and Grace were once childhood best friends in Lawrence, Kansas, the beginnings of an attraction that has remained in spite of their positions on opposite sides of a war. Jumping across time and planets, from Lawrence, Kansas, to the Planet Daarthuur, The Pirate Queen establishes multiple confrontations between Grace and Caleb, where they realize the full power of their connection. In the end, Grace and Caleb will have to confront their feelings for each other and determine if love is enough to alter their paths, and the fate of the galaxy itself.
Subject
Grace O'MalleyPirate Queen
pirates
space opera
fiction
creative writing
creative
science fiction
fantasy
space
Star Wars
feminism
Audre Lorde
romance
Citation
Kuenzli, Jasmina Sara (2019). The Pirate Queen. Master's thesis, Texas A&M University. Available electronically from https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /187595.