First Light (Star Trek: TOS zine)

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Zine
Title: First Light
Publisher: Merry Men Press
Editor:
Author(s): Kate Sheridan
Cover Artist(s):
Illustrator(s): DEW, Kate
Date(s): July 1997
Series?: No
Medium: print zine
Size:
Genre:
Fandom: Star Trek: TOS
Language: English
External Links:
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.
Firstlight.jpg

First Light is a K/S 188-page slash novel by Kate Sheridan.

The art is by DEW and Kate.

The zine won a 1997 Philon Award and a 1997 STIFfie Award.

Summaries

Join us in another age where K/S shines and the missing link is no longer. Admiral and Captain, the deliciously older, wiser and more handsome duo off again on another adventure into the very, very unknown. Aliens (or are they?), surprises (The Keeper) plus angst and, of course, loving, hot, wonderful sex, but above all, the taut tension of denial and overwhelming fear! After all, if there was a chance of the entire planet Vulcan, and all their related species winking out of existence in less than a heart beat, if you were James T. Kirk wouldn't you panic?? [1]

After several 'missing links' of Vulcanʼs past show up in the present time, Kirk and Spock must discover why, and how to return them to their own time before Vulcanʼs present is disrupted. [2]

Sample Interior

Reactions and Reviews

1997

[art by DEW and Kate]: I really appreciate the art throughout this zine, but I especially like something new, the use of small line drawings. I believe there are eight pages where the story is enhanced by small, simple drawings of flowers, Kirk and Spock, other Vulcans, a space scene, the Guardian, etc. These aren’t full-fledged pictures suitable for full-page presentation, but I thought they accented the story well. Predictably, I especially like the two scenes of Kirk and Spock. On page 17, the two are back in time on Vulcan and Kirk is injured, with Spock holding him from behind. Spock is wearing the torn field jacket, having used the sleeve as a bandage for Kirk’s wounds. I like the way Spock’s hands are positioned, the taut expression on his face, and Kirk’s effort to keep his body upright despite the weakness displayed by his sagging head and neck muscles. I haven’t completed reading this novel, so I’m not sure what the picture on page 116 portrays, but I can guess. The two of them either about to kiss or about to meld, the tips of their noses are rubbing. (sounds silly but I found it endearing.) Both with eyes closed, intent on this most important of tasks. Also liked the pictures of the three aliens? Romulans? Vulcans? on page 103, and the evolutionary history of Vulcans presented on page 1. When an artist is pressed for time, and all K/S artists must be considering how much they are in demand, the use of simpler line drawings to illustrate a story is a good alternative to no art at all. I’m just guessing that some of this art was easier to do, and less time consuming than some of the full-page, shaded and detailed K/S art we usually see in our zines, and I for one wouldn’t mind at all seeing more of it. [3]

[story]:

I was confused and I stayed that way. I couldn‘t find a clear direction. It seemed to me as if there was no purpose. There were many loose ties brushing against each other, but never serving an end.

I‘m left with many questions. I don‘t mind at all being led through a loop if in the end everything comes together logically. I feel as if that‘s missing.

This is a tangled web which remains tangled. Nevertheless, a good read. [4]

1998

[art by DEW]: There are two very nice 1997 DEW drawings in Kate Sheridan’s K/S novel, First Light, published by Merry Men Press. Page 64a has a Spock about to kiss Kirk as they lie in bed. This is mainly heads and shoulders. Page 184a has full body nudes of Spock and Kirk as they hug/embrace. These could be torn out of the zine and matted since there’s no print on the back. I think 64a looks very natural and realistic. [5]

References

  1. ^ from the publisher
  2. ^ from Gilda F
  3. ^ from The K/S Press #12
  4. ^ from The K/S Press #15
  5. ^ from The K/S Press #17