can you suggest a sci-fi book or story where the main character is getting to know an alien/monster/some other type of entity? i was doing my annual rewatch of twilight and thinking how cool it would be if the story leaned more into the creepy with less focus on the romance, but keeping the fascination the two characters have with each other. something with the same sort of vibes as the salt grows heavy by cassandra khaw? or anything you think might fit the general prompt… i especially love novellas for this sort of thing. thank you!
by walterskinman
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The second half of Remnant Population by Elizabeth Moon
Enemy Mine, by Barry B. Longyear. So good.
Here are some:
* Nightflyers and Other Stories by George R. R. Martin is a collection of stories, some of which are this. Very creepy.
* A lot of short fiction and novellas by James Tiptree Jr., some of which are in the public domain so [you can find them online.](https://www.freesfonline.net/authors/James_Tiptree,%20Jr..html) From that link, And I Awoke and Found Me On This Cold Hill’s Side and We Who Stole the Dream are two that cover what you describe. She’s written *tons* of stories, though, so if you can I’d recommend looking for any one of the collections of her fiction, such as Her Smoke Rose Up Forever or Warm Worlds and Otherwise which are both on the creepier side.
* [Lucky Shot](https://escapepod.org/2018/06/14/escape-pod-632-lucky-shot-part-1/) by Gerri Leen, a short story available free at the link. Not creepy, but also not romance.
* Blood Music by Greg Bear. There’s both a novel version which is pretty short, and a [short story version that is available free](https://www.baen.com/Chapters/9781625791153/9781625791153___2.htm) on the publisher’s website.