Illusions (Star Trek: TOS novel)

Zine
Title:	Illusions
Publisher:
Editor:
Author(s):	Katherine Gillen
Cover Artist(s):	Carol Davis
Illustrator(s):	Carol Davis
Date(s):	1978
Medium:	print
Genre:	gen
Fandom:	Star Trek: TOS
Language:	English
External Links:
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Illusions' is a gen Star Trek: TOS 116-page novel by written by Katherine Gillen and contains four illos by Carol Davis.

front cover

sample text

It was printed offset.

Summary

Summary from an ad in A Piece of the Action #70: "A story of Kirk... It is a time of change for the captain, a time to re-examine his beliefs, a time to take a wife, meet a long lost friend, face a well known ecologist's criticism of the Federation and run into a beautiful crewmember who feels herself a stranger in all lands. Even the Federation colonizing efforts, Star Fleet contacts with 'new' planets and the role of the Klingons are examined. Through it all there is Spock, McCoy, and perhaps the most important of all, the Enterprise."

Reactions and Reviews

This novella is a very engrossing and. imaginative tale about Kirk and his marriage to a fellow crewmember aboard the E. The writer develops a believable relationship between Kirk and Dr. Elizabeth Whitmore, with convincing dialogue, and the reader accepts it as ideal for him. They have several most interesting adventures during landing parties to alien cultures, the description of whose biology and sociology represent the best of this new author's writing. Unfortunately, after two years of bliss, the Dread Kraith-itis strikes, and Elizabeth is killed during an alien illusionary experience. But the death is real, and Kirk is said to have been at a Starbase for a month's intensive psychotherapy when the story resumes in the next chapter. Several sub-plots now move center-front, and there only occasional references to Kirk's memories of his wife.

Some of the sub-plots deadend, like the young female engineer who moons around Spock's quarters when he is not there, though her exemplary and intelligent character is fairly well developed. Since this zine was marketed as a story of Kirk's marriage, I would have preferred to see the line of marriage/career continued in a mature fashion, rather than the contrivance of wiping out the wife in order to prepare the Captain for more adventures. A good first effort, and a writer to watch.