Bondmates (Star Trek: TOS story)
| Fanfiction | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Bondmates |
| Author(s): | Susan Douglass |
| Date(s): | 1991 |
| Length: | |
| Genre(s): | slash |
| Fandom(s): | Star Trek: TOS |
| Relationship(s): | Kirk/Spock |
| External Links: | |
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Bondmates is a Kirk/Spock story by Susan Douglass.
It was published in the print zine T'hy'la #10.
Summary
"In the Empire, Kirk has traded sexual favors for career advancement. But when his lover Spock wants a permanent commitment from him, he’s faced with revealing an even more devastating truth."
Reactions and Reviews
1991
An idea I've never read before. This must have been an alternate universe, not the mirror universe, although that was my first impression. But the two ideas. Kirk bonded to the Emperor, and Spock able to free him are definitely different. Good imagination. [1]
I think this a/u story is the author's best written work, as it is more thorough than her previous stories. This was also very well focused and stuck to its point. I particularly liked the part on page 60 where Kirk tried to commit suicide. His anguish was palpable. I thought the climax -- Spock mentally defeating the Emperor -- was too short in relation to its importance and happened too easily. Also, if the Emperor was so powerful, it seems he would have somehow stopped Spock from being able to learn the truth from Kirk's mind. But I'm glad everything turned out the way it did. [2]
1992
A rather short story, but very gripping. I liked Spock's fight for Kirk and his showing Kirk that the pon farr is not always to be feared. Although it would be interesting to know how Spock got the seemingly first hand information about his father's pon farr.
I was a sad thing(but necessary) that Kirk and Spock had to leave the Enterprise, but as outlaws they had no other choice. And it was a sign, that they loved the Enterprise very much Because it isn't easy to leave something you love so much, but they wouldn't endanger her or the crew. [3]
1993
This is an alternate universe story of Kirk having to be the slave and bondmate of the Emperor. The Emperor is linked mentally with Kirk, and eventually demands that Kirk give up command of the Enterprise and be with him for the rest of his life.
There is a perfectly lovely sequence of Kirk's memory of his bonding with the Emperor. With lines like: "the jeweled eyes of the universe..." this was written in a vivid, romantic style. This particular scene was especially effective because the tone gradually changes from one of seeming love and excitement of a scary and demanding obsession. The reader experiences the emotional impact as it unfolds along with Kirk. Realty well-written.
I loved the image of "silk-steel cords" binding the minds together. Then, there is an excellent "fight", all done mentally, that took on physicality. Again, beautifully done.
One minor problem was the ending of Kirk and Spock giving up everything to go off together. I can only accept this because it was an A/U story, but even so, I had difficulty suspending all belief. But, despite this, a very original story written in a descriptive and poetic style. [4]
References
- ^ from The LOC Connection #32
- ^ from The LOC Connection #33
- ^ from The LOC Connection #42
- ^ from The LOC Connection #54 (1993)