Ampersand (Star Trek: TOS story)
| K/S Fanfiction | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Ampersand |
| Author(s): | Michele Arvizu |
| Date(s): | 1987 |
| Length: | |
| Genre: | slash |
| Fandom: | Star Trek: The Original Series |
| External Links: | |
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Ampersand is a Kirk/Spock story by Michele Arvizu. The art is by Caren Parnes.
It was published in Nome #10.
Summary
"Through the night of a diplomatic reception, Spock comes to understand his friendship with fellow crewmembers and with Kirk. Introspective study of Spock's attempts to communicate with his human associates."
"Spock struggles to understand his relationship uith his human friends and in particular, Jim Kirk. At the end of a long evening spent attending a Star Fleet retirement party, McCoy and Spock share a drink and a conversation that helps Spock decide on a course of action for his life."
Reactions and Reviews
AMPERSAND, one of the shorter pieces - 35 pages - gives Spock a chance to examine his relationship with the "secondary" characters who too often are excluded from K/S geared zines. The illos for this one are fail, but the one depicting an ancient Vulcan piece that Spock and Uhura discuss is a disappointment and would have been better simply left out as the image was well drawn by the author's words.[1]
I can't decide why I like "Ampersand" so much better than 'An Easier Time." Perhaps it was Spock minus his memory I didn't care for in the latter, for the story was, objectively speaking, just fine. (Possibly I was just too chilled by the sex on a cold chair!) As for "Ampersand," I loved it and I want a sequel. I especially liked Kirk's use of a "Spock-substitute" obviously, Michele Arvizu has a sense of humor. Maybe that's what I missed in her other story.[2]
I can't ever recall reading a fanzine story that was such a refreshing, pleasant, light-hearted read and at the same timeverydeepand profound. Wonderful dialogue in all the scenes. An excellent piece of work and a delight to read. Probably the most original Star Trek story I've ever read.[3]
[a fan compares "Ampersand" in relation to the other stories in this zine regarding a theme]: [The first story, One More Door]: My favorites are long term lovers, yes, but their relationship is not complete until they produce a child (by McCoy's genetic manipulation) and this baby is delivered in the most "natural" way possible. The story seems to imply that the relationship cannot be considered as complete in itself but must be ratified in (what is in this century) a heterosexual manner. Michele Arvizu's "An Easier Time" seems to produce the same answer to the problem. The post-Voyage Home pair have no relationship and, it seems, cannot have one until Spock has had sex and converse with Saavik. Only through her can he learn to accept and later voice his love for Kirk. "He thought of his time with Saavik. She had given all this to him. She had put things in perspective, made him feel unique, special, loved. Given him the courage to speak of love to Jim and the chance to reinvent himself." So again, homosexual love has been somehow verified by heterosexuality.Michele's other story, Ampersand, echoes the theme. Although not primarily K/S, it is made clear that Spock cannot begin to understand Jim without detailed reference to McCoy and particularly Uhura (with whom at one stage he wishes to spend the night). "Sea Change" approaches the dilemma more easily, but even here the intervention of a female is needed, albeit of Gracie, the whale! Barbara is, however, more comfortable with her characters; Kirk and Spock were lovers before Genesis. Flora Poste's "Mirror Allegiance" is A/U and therefore not subject to quite the same criteria, but Kirk and Spock still agonize desperately over the simple fact of sex, this in a universe of extreme sophistication. Still, we don't have the he's-heterosexual-he-can't-possibly tangle.
The story that is the keystone of the argument is [specifically Elwyn Conway's continuing saga. Her heroes are heterosexual and she states this firmly and often. For example. Kirk says of himself and Sulu, "He'd never been sexually attracted to any man and wasn't about to make an exception now." Elwyn seems to need to explain and vindicate Kirk and Spock's love time after time. It is spiritual, overpowering, different from that of any other couple, "A love that transcends sex" and finally is blessed and sanctioned by a guru figure, the Etifa. Having gone carefully through the zine, it seems to me that NOME 10 is quintessential of the 80's. There is no matter of fact approach. (A British writer once defined the ultimate K/S story as, "the red alert goes, Kirk and Spock jump out of bed and get on with the adventure.") There are no established stories (and very few at all in K/S). Is this the result of the Puritan backlash of AIDS? Is this why there are still so many first time stories? [4]
[This story] turned me off entirely. I just can't see Kirk behaving in that way. But the story was salvaged by the meeting with Uhura Spock had in that side room. Uhura, although not one of my favorite characters, seems to have more maturity and wisdom than the others in this tale, and (I find) Michele's characterization of her the most true to life.[5]