Kraith Collected

Zine
Title:	Kraith Collected
Publisher:	Ceiling Press
Editor(s):	Jacqueline Lichtenberg & Carol Lynn & Debbie Goldstein
Date(s):	see below
Series?:	yes
Medium:	print
Genre:	gen
Fandom:	Star Trek: TOS
Language:	English
External Links:	Kraith Collected online version
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

Kraith Collected is a gen Star Trek: TOS fanzine with stories set in the Kraith universe. The series was originally published between November of 1972 and 1980.

It has two sister zines called Kraith Creator's Manual and Understanding Kraith.

For more about this series, including its origins and fannish reaction, see Kraith.

An Unfinished Series

Jacqueline Lichtenberg originally projected Kraith to ten volumes. Six were published. At one point, Eileen Roy and Mary Ann Drach had permission to finish the series, but this never happened.

From Carol Lynn in May 1985:

Volume Seven. Is suspense still mounting? Mary Ann Drach and Eileen Roy have undertaken to finish the Kraith series based on Jacqueline's notes and many long conversations with her. However, this project is a mammoth undertaking and calendars have to be cleared first. It was delayed by the Post Awful losing a transcript of the conversations with notes. That package has been reconstructed, but the project will not be able to get underway until at least next year. I still have your SASEs for Volume Seven and will send them as soon as I get information as to a publication date.

[...]

Thank you for supporting Kraith and for being patient all these years. It was 12 years ago this month (November 1972) that the first Kraith volume was published. Had someone told me then that there would still be new orders coming in for Kraith from people who are just discovering fandom in 1984, I would never have believed them, but if I had, I probably never would have started the thing in the first place. Fortunately, no one did, and I am, and will continue to publish as long as there is interest.

The Reprints 1993 by Bill Hupe

1974 ad from Sol III, click to read

Kraith Collected was published again in 1993.

From Bill Hupe:

Completely reorganized, placing all the Kraith Collected stories into chronological order. The definitive classic Trek zine series penned by Jacqueline Lichtenberg, winner of the first Surak Memory Alpha Award. Kraith is a series of stories and articles exploring Vulcan culture and its intersection with the Human-dominated United Federation of Planets. This series extrapolates from the 'givens' in the original Star Trek series to create a truly alien Vulcan, the discovery of the depth of differences between Vulcan and the Federation, and the cultural dynamics of the interface provide the background. Point of interest: points of contention with Kraith fans about this series: a Vulcan secessionist movement, an ancient Vulcan psychic technology, Sarek having a son by a Vulcan princess, and the symbolic destruction of the Enterprise have now all been established via the classic movie series and Star Trek: TNG episodes through 'Gambit 2'.

The Reprints: 2004 by Agent With Style

Eleven years after Bill Hupe sold reprints of this zine series, Agent With Style, using some bad historical math, announced she would as well:

is proud to announce that for the first time in nearly *30* years, the entire series of Star Trek "Kraith" stories is available in six volumes of KRAITH COLLECTED!

Determined to fill in the missing background details about Spock, his parents and Vulcans in general, well-known author Jacqueline Lichtenberg proceeded to write several stories doing just that. When other authors such as Jean Lorrah, Sondra Marshak, Joanie Winston and Paula Smith saw what fun she was having, they begged to be allow to add to the "Kraith" universe. Graciously granting them the priviledge, Jacqueline carefully went over each story, making sure it followed Star Trek canon and fit into her universe. When an author had an idea that was different than Jacqueline's, but just as possible, that author began a branch of stories that split off from the main tale.

Each zine contains a chronology showing whether a story is a 'main tale' story or a 'branch' story and where it fits into the timeline.

These stories contain all your favorite Star Trek characters, but also show a creative, rich look into Vulcan life, culture and relationships, and the relationship of the adult half-human/half- Vulcan Spock with his parents, Sarek and Amanda.

Don't miss these extraordinary zines by some of the best authors to have ever written in this fandom!

General Reactions and Reviews

KRAITH is the longest continuing series in ST literature. More than forty 'creators ' are currently working with the KRAITH universe, an alternate time line based on premises drawn from aired Trek by Jaqueline Lichtenberg. In a series of inter-related novels and short stories, KRAITH traces the development of tension between the conservative Vulcan government and a more 'rambunctious ' Terran-dominated Federation. In the process, we are given glimpses of Vulcan traditions, culture, ritual, home-life, etc. KRAITH segments, KRAITH parodies, and alternate KRAITH tales appear in many fanzines, and are gradually being collected in KRAITH COLLECTED. To date, five volumes have appeared.

No, Kraith was not a masterpiece, but... it showed thought, familiarity with an adult style of writing, and had imagination. More often than not, it had me gritting my teeth, but it held my interest, and it never made me cringe in embarrassment while reading it. It took one aspect of Vulcan culture and expanded a universe out of it.

T-Negative is ST's longest-running zine, Kraith is the longest story. It has gone on now for around half a million words and has close to 20 different authors. It is an alternate universe ST, not like Roddenberry's view, and resembles a soap opera at times. Parts of Kraith are among ST's best fiction — "McCoy's Vision" and "Spock's Pilgrimage" in particular. Each volume around 65 pages, very small print, offset.

"If you're a student or a fan of Vulcan culture, I recommend it." -- That says it all in a nutshell. Personally, I like KRAITH, despite the slow vulcanization of Jim Kirk. This 'zine was started by Jackie Lichtenberg before she turned to Zeor. The emphasis is on Spock and his culture, one of the best 'zines around emphasizing an alien culture.

The Kraith Universe is devoted principally to the Spock/Kirk relationship with a heavy emphasis on Spock's Vulcan heritage and Vulcan history. For those who are devoted Spock fans (who isn't?) Kraith is an endless source of Vulcan philosophy, tradition and culture.

Volume 1

cover of issue #1, Robbie Brown, 1972 issue with 91 pages

1974 issue with 67 pages

Kraith Collected 1 (pre Series and Series 1) was first published in November of 1972 and contains 91 pages.

The art is by Robbie Brown (front cover), Gordon Carleton, D.L. Collin, Tim Courtney, Connie Faddis, Mike Kurcharski, Alice LaVelle, Gee Moaven, Cara Sherman and Joni Wagner.

The second edition was published in late 1974 and contains 67 pages. The editor notes: "Finally, I have not corrected my all time favorite typo. I ask YOU, would volume one still be volume one if it had "demonstrating" instead of the carefully corrected "denonstarting" on page one?"

The third edition here was published in 1976 and has a much more art, and by different artists.

table of contents from the second edition, click to read

Lichtenberg's controversial author's preface:

I cast about and discovered that I had now gained the freedom to use some really radical ideas about Vulcan in narrative form. I had developed these ideas privately over the past seasons but felt that they were not potentially commercial despite their obvious truth. I had some misgivings about whether fandom would be able to accept anything so radical, but I judged that, if there were to be no more new shows, it was time to infuse some new blood into fanzines. I resolved to use some of my tame, commercial ideas mixed with some wild surmises that I felt had dramatic presence enough to be interesting. I had been reading a great deal in STrekzines that supported notions in sharp opposition to my conceptions. I resolved to make my story into a counter statement, proving once and for all that the johnny-one-notes of fandom had been blind to reality. If my story served no other purpose, it would stir up enough controversy to spark some original thinking which had been conspicuously absent."

The table of contents from the third edition:

• Author's Preface, article by Jacqueline Lichtenberg (1)
• Spock's Affirmation by Jacqueline Lichtenberg (5)
• Death of a Flame aka Amanda's Mission by Doris Beetem (also Introduction to Star Trek Fanzines; Grup #1) (27)
• Hope to be Spared by Jacqueline Lichtenberg (also in Overload #1) (29)
• Zyeto by Jacqueline Lichtenberg (also in Tetrumbriant #3; Kraith Creator's Manual) (31)
• Shealku by Jacqueline Lichtenberg (also Impulse #4; Tetrumbriant #3) (35)
• Kraith Chronology Jacqueline Lichtenberg (44)
• A Matter of Priority by Anna Mary Hall (includes an embedded poem by Shirley Maiewski that was not credited) (46)
• Spock: Guardian of the Tradition by Jacqueline Lichtenberg (also in Tetrumbriant #1) (61)
• Spock's Mission by Jacqueline Lichtenberg (65)
• Surak's Construct, article by Jacqueline Lichtenberg (also in Pastaklan Vesla #2 (1970), Star Fleet Handbook #1 (1974), Tetrumbriant #1/2 (1974), Pastaklan Sharturus #2 (1975), Back Trekkin' (1975), and The Best of Tetrumbriant v.1 (1976)) (85)
• T'Zorel by Jacqueline Lichtenberg (also Impulse #3 (February 1971) and Maybe #13 (1971)) (87)
• The Disaffirmed by Ruth Berman (also in T-Negative #15) (95)
• Won't You Walk a Little Faster? by Doris Beetem (also in Grup #1 as "Won't You Walk a Little Faster, or Tanya's Argument", part two of the "Wreath of Kraith" series) (101)
• The Tanya Entry by Pat Zotti (103)
• Spock's Argument by Jacqueline Lichtenberg (also in two parts in T-Negative #12 and #13, (1971)

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Reactions and Reviews: Issue 1

See reactions and reviews for T'Zorel.

See reactions and reviews for Spock's Mission.

See reactions and reviews for Surak's Construct.

See reactions and reviews for A Matter of Priority.

See reactions and reviews for Spock's Affirmation.

See reactions and reviews for Death of a Flame.

See reactions and reviews for Spock's Argument.

See reactions and reviews for The Disaffirmed.

Being asked to review Kraith Collected is like being asked to describe "The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe" -- it is what the title implies. This is the first in an intended series of collections of Jacqueline Lichtenberg's patchwork Vulcan epic (with additional entries by Ruth Berman, Doris Beetem, Anna Mary Hall, and Pat Zotti; artwork by Roberta Brown and Therri Moore).

The Kraith, for those of you who just tuned in, is the Vulcan Holy Grail; it is recovered before the series even begins, and returned to Vulcan (for ceremonial destruction) early on in the game, but the attendant tangle of philosophies forms the framework for the subsequent stories. (Those of you who prefer straightforward and-then-Kirk-shoots-the-monster Treks will not care for Kraith). I enjoyed my first couple of exposures to the series, but Ms. Lichtenberg now admits (in the preface) that she was giving it to us slow and easy at first, hoping to addict everyone before they realized how complicated things were getting. I'm afraid I started to slip along with the third installment, but there are plenty of fans upon whom this devious strategy did work.

The main complaint, I think, against the Kraith stories (and they are, if anything, controversial) is that they portray such an alien Spock. (This obviously is not going to sit well with the under-that-facade-he's-sickeningly-human school of Spockfen.) Although 'alienness' should be no indictment of any portrayal of a character with (after all) pointed ears and green blood, it does seem to me to be a valid complaint that the Lichtenberg Spock lacks the compassion (or perhaps I should say the relatively obvious compassion) of Leonard Nimoy's portrayal. He is completely bound up in Tradition. He is, then, a different Spock, although perhaps an equally valid one.

All this discussion is beside the point, however, since the protagonist of the Kraith series is neither Spock nor the Kraith, but rather Vulcan: the Vulcan people, their folkways, mores, traditions, philosophies and art forms.

'Kraith Collected I' contains three of the main series stories, Nos, I, II and III. I found it easier to read these three first and then move on to the supplementary stories and explanatory notes. Thus the substories are rendered comprehensible.

Spock's Affirmation: In this story the importance of the Kraith (a ceramic cup); the meaning of the 'Continuity of Affirmation' and the "Token" and "Motek" (a form of Vulcan folk-dance with, far reaching significance) are explained. We meet Ssarsun, a Schillian (man proportioned lizard) who is appointed Spock's bodyguard, when the Vulcan becomes 'Katayikh' (in simple terms, the leader of his clan) at Sarek's presumed death.

The more detailed definitions given in the story are best discovered at the 'reader's leisure. Suffice, to say that the story revolves around the journey of the Enterprise to Peda XII following the discovery of the precious Kraith, previously stolen. Five Vulcans from a dancing troupe and Spock join another fifty-one on the planet to make up a highly significant number for the 'Continuity of Affirmation'.

The ceremony is of extreme importance to Vulcans, and the mission, although incomprehensible to humans, is of great significance for the Federation. Failure to get the Vulcans to the planet would carry with it implied contempt for the values of other worlds leading to the possibility of Vulcan's secession from the Federation, accompanied by a bloc of other like-minded worlds. Complications arise and are overcome with the help of Pon Parr (as it has never been used before), Spock finds a wife, completes the Affirmation, and loses her. Those are the (very) barebones of an intriguing and very complicated introductory story to 'Kraith'.

Spock's Mission; The Enterprise is lost. Awaiting a new ship, Kirk goes to Vulcan at Spock's invitation and discovers in himself an inner peace engendered by the atmosphere there. We are introduced to more ceremony and that I can only describe as witch-craft. Kirk, Spock and McCoy are then sent on what is ostensibly a spying mission along, with a Vulcan-fostered telepath, Tanya (T'Aniyeh) who Spock promptly asks to marry him. She refuses and it is divulged that she refused him sometime in the past before he married T'Rruel, his first wife. During the spy mission, they are all imprisoned, Sarek is discovered and more witchcraft is needed to help them escape.

Spock's Argument: Following the events during which the Kraith was lost and, recovered, the Stovam report is issued. This confirms that the Vulcans are affronted by the Federation's implied insult in not affording the Kraith better protection in the first instance. It is suggested that Vulcan will withdraw rom the Federation. This view is upheld by T'Uriamne, Spock's half-sister, and he decides to register his opposition along, with the help of T'Rruel's 'Motek'. This is a dance which by its movements conveys meaning to Vulcans as would words in sentences. Tanya is persuaded to perform it in front of all Vulcan before the vote occurs on the proposals made in the report.

Subsidiary goings on are; Tanya's refusal (her right as a Vulcan citizen) to have a subcutaneous contraceptive implant, and the arrival of ten parentless Vulcan children on the Enterprise, which, in turn, (I think) precipitates Spock's bonding/marriage to T'Aniyeh. Here, Spock maintains that to produce calm amongst the children, he must have his own inner peace.

The book itself is quite unprepossessing in appearance, only 67 pages, especially since they charge three dollars for it. As fanzines go, from what I've seen, that's absurd, even if it was offset. After all, the art was sparse and what there was of it was lousy. However, Kraith isn't a fanzine. It's a novel, 200,000 words in length. Each page has the equivalent of four pages reduces and trying to read it like ordinary print causes eyestrain.

[...]

It would be great if the Star Trek people could read Collected Kraith and say, "Here's our movie." The first story alone, "Spock's Affirmation," would run almost three hours, none of the time wasted. Affirmation is a very busy story. I've read the whole book several times over and still lose a lot of the details.

In addition to the stories, there are appendices having to do with Surak's Construct, ^{Archived version}, postulating the meaning behind the Vulcan philosophy of Nome as it is presented in the Vulcan hand-salute, and it helps if you read these. In fact, in a couple of places in fiction you get a subliminal message to flip over to page such-and-such and looks something up. It is immensely detailed.

Once you have read the thing four or five times, you will notice that Kraith is not Star Trek. It's one of the things Star Trek could be if the producers, when they come back, aren't afraid to take the bits in their teeth and do something not just intelligent and meaningful, but radical and complex. You may disagree with Jacqueline Lichtenberg in some of the things she says — I do — but you can't deny she has written something (with a little help from other Kraith authors) that will cause ripples, at least in Star Trek fandom. You either dislike Kraith, or you love it, if you form any opinions at all. Of course there's my reaction, which is confused — at times -- I hate it, at times I love it — but it's merely the predictable reaction of an unbalanced schizoid personality and is hardly representative of the bulk of fandom...COUGH.

[...]

Before getting into a critique of the material itself, I'd like to discuss the author a little. I have never met her or seen her, but I've written to people who have and their feelings are sharply divergent. Personalities have nothing provable to do with writing — I'm talking about her Author's Preface, in which she comments on Strekfen who dislike Kraith, particularly Kraith's characterization of Spock, offering the pages of the preface as a forum, where those who dislike KRAITH can formulate their views. After examining my own feelings about the matter, I find it isn't Kraith I dislike at all, it's Jacqueline Lichtenberg's attitude. You get the distinct impression from things, like her calling Kraith Critics "Johnny One-notes of fandom," that her theories and ideas are the Word Made Flesh and that Kraith is the only and best explanation for all the of Vulcan. She sure as hell has gotten into aspects of Vulcan society and culture that apparently most authors on the subject don't touch, and given time we'll have a veritable Vulcan Margaret Mead... She writes with incisive perceptions and really scientific authority on Vulcan philosophy, mating habits, mores and psychology. It's only natural that, having seen nothing comparable in the criticisms of those who write and complain, she might feel put upon and react with prejudice.

But if she wants an explanation as to why Kraith is alienating, have someone read her her Author's Preface and a few key phrases from her stories, and if she's as open-minded as I suspect she is under all the defense-mechanisms (one person I'm writing to told me that arguing Kraith with Jacqueline Lichtenberg is a one-way thing — "you just can't win" — sort of like arguing the Bible with a Fundamentalist — arguing in a closed set ultimately proves only which participant has the better memory), she'll see it herself.

Perhaps not. Kraith is a cherished thing, a beautiful thing, in places nearly a magical outline of what Vulcan society is and what our society could be if we were to apply Kraith — Vulcan principles to living our own lives. Well, if and when you see the collection, read the foreword.

As a piece of writing, Kraith is frequently flawed by unexplained mysteries which you have to read some other Kraith story and/or an appendix to understand. Any one having read Dune probably experienced some of the same frustrations. There were also purely mechanical things like typos and misspellings, but to get on those would be bitchy, and I'm determined not to be bitchy in this review — Lord nose I'm bitchy enough on Kraith talking about it.

The first tale, Spock's Affirmation, moves rapidly, a great deal happens. During the course of it Spock gets put through some pretty rigorous paces, from being charged with conducting an Affirmation (I can't begin to explain even the paucity I understand about the Affirmation) to the Enterprise being attacked by a Romulan raider propelled by a cyborg, which lands on a desert planet; Spock, in command because of Kirk's having been incapacitated during a previous fight with the raider, goes down with McCoy to find it and the two get marooned on this planet and to be rescued Spock induces the pon farr in himself, which comes to fruition in a few hours, because he is sort of falling for T'Rruel, this Tokiel dancer who's going to Feda XII to participate in the Affirmation, as a result of which the Enterprise finds them, Spock and T'Rruel are married, T'Rruel becomes pregnant and dies as a result of trying to Affirm, while with child...I don't know if Leonard Nimoy could keep up with that. I hardly could.

[...]

The best and most Star Trek of all the entries is A Matter of Priority. It reads well, smoothly, no jarring character inconsistencies (Strekfen will likely be disgruntled at the unbelievable insensitivity, ignorance, and superficiality of all the human characters as handled by Lichtenberg and also Doris Beteem) a quirk not shared by Ann Mary Hall, the author of A Matter of Priority). It exemplifies what Star Trek could have and should have been on all levels, not just the treatment of the Vulcan Culture. Kirk, Spock, McCoy, and the rest of the crew interact as they should; a fine, tense, articulate, if not particularly heavy story.

A Matter of Priority ties with The Disaffirmed, by Ruth Berman. It is also STAR TREK — she was closely associated with the show — and it shares with A Matter of Priority the characteristic of making the human beings human beings, not just foils to the Vulcans. In fact, you might end up disliking the Kraith Spock a trace from this episode, which was written by Berman as a fictional refutation of some of the ideas in Kraith (as a result, Lichtenberg made some amendments, apparently; that's how I know she's open-minded).

There is a marked difference between the way Berman and Hall write and Lichtenberg's approach, even though all three use the same basic narrative form — third person omniscient, subjective, Berman writes sympathetically, as does Hall, with a sharp understanding of how her characters think. Her portrayal of Lieutenant Uhura is of a woman who is firm, intelligent, responsible, responsive, and human. Lichtenberg's Christine Chapel, in contrast, is horribly shallow and unmotivated in her behavior, almost, like Kirk and McCoy, right out of the Star Trek format. In Spock's Affirmation she stoops to the I-Love-Lucy level of being jealous of Spock's attentions to T'Rruel and even goes so far as to try to squelch the Vulcan woman by telling her Spock is half human. It's true that the aired Star Trek itself shared this deficiency, but kindly remember that in 1966 when it was first put on the air the producers were fighting for even THAT much from NBC executives who thought television programs should he written on the level of lobotomized Rhesus monkeys and that Star Trek novelists, as Jacqueline herself pointed out, shouldn't have to put up with this attitude in fens and can write intelligently. It's great to make Spock capable of doing the innumerable things he did in Kraith, especially if it's supported, as it was. But why only expand Spock's capabilities? Lichtenberg writes about humans as though she were observing them with no knowledge of what they were like, not only when she writes from the viewpoint of a Vulcan, but always.

[...]

Perhaps this problem sheds a little light on why people don't like Kraith's Spock. It's not that that Kraith Spock is so fantastic, it's just that has grown, while all the people around him are still stuck in the second season someplace. Perhaps Jacqueline felt that she could write comfortably only about Vulcan and Vulcans, where she had a firm and authoritative foothold, whereby her humans must suffer.

[...]

With A Matter of Priority and The Disaffirmed struggling together as the two best stories, the last Lichtenberg story, Spock's Argument, which should really have been called SPOCK AND T'ANTYEH'S ARGUMENT except that it's admittedly unwieldy, runs into The Tanya Entry for second. Tanya suffers from being too short, but is, despite a couple nauseatingly cute lines like "HE was thinking like a psychologist, but I was thinking like a woman" much more sensitive than most of the other stories in the collection. It's also the only one written in first person, and it was also not written by Lichtenberg; it owes its existence to Pat Zotti. It shows the Kraith Spock struggling to relate to his chosen fiancé, a human telepath raised on Vulcan as a Vulcan, as well as Tanya struggling to accept her feelings and reconcile them with her self-image in an echoing of Spock's conflict. Spock's Argument, like most of Jacqueline's Kraith stories, is long on plot and short an character motivations, with the exception of her handling of Spock's parents, Sarek and Amanda, which was excellent, full of insight, and quite in character.

Contrast it with Doris Beteem's Death of a Flame (Amanda's Mission), which was undeveloped and unsatisfying, made Sarek out to be an echo of the caricature Spock was in "THAT WHICH SURVIVES, " one of the awful offerings of the 3rd season, and left Amanda with even less of a personality than she appeared to have in "JOURNEY TO BABEL; and you'll see what I mean. There was also, for one of the few times in the whole Lichtenberg collocation, an intensely lyrical and even moving scene where, preparatory to going to help Kirk and McCoy deal with a transporter-room full of half-wild Vulcan children, Spock and T'Aniyeh (Tanya) join minds and form a link to give them both inner peace, so as to give peace to the frantic children. It's one of the few places where Lichtenberg lets her hair down and shows what she can do to stir your soul, as a writer and as a person. Reading what she can do, and how seldom she'll do it, is frustrating.

(One of her most lyrical pieces, Spock's Mission, details Kirk, Spock and McCoy's sojourn on the planet Vulcan, staying with Amanda at Spock's family's ancestral home; here she let her imagination roam with her theories and gave an indication of what she may later create, since Kraith is by no means finished).

Volume 2

cover of issue #2, John Benson

Kraith Collected 2 (Series II) was published in 1974 (second edition October 1975) (Lichtenberg says in its preface that she was aiming for summer of 1973) and contains 100 pages.

The art is by John Benson (front cover), Nancy Cleveland, Janice Scott, Robbie Brown, Mike Kucharski, Todd Bake, and Doug Herring, and John Benson (cover and titles).

The editors apologizes for the typeface change part way through; it was due to her typing this zine on two different typewriters. She also writes that there "are no typos in this zine, only lapses into Vulcanur."

chronology

chronology

• Kraith Master Plan by J. Lichtenberg (a chronology)
• Ssarsun's Argument by J. Lichtenberg (From the foreword: "It is a milestone in that it marks the first of the "Kraith for grups" stories. Being privy to the events to come, I'll give you a hint -- watch "Spock" carefully. He shows up again in a very important context.") The story includes a detailed, delicately-worded description of exactly how the highly emotional, tri-gendered reptilian Schillian people have sex.) (also in Babel #4) (3)
• Federation Centennial by J. Lichtenberg (From the zine's foreword: "Federation Centennial is not one of Jacqueline's recent efforts, so if any of you are expecting great. exciting, new revelations about the Kraith universe. forget it. There aren't any. Federation Centennial was conceived and written as an action! adventure novel aimed at a commercial market proving to the people who publish such things that pro-ST fiction did not have to consist of script re-writes. But due to contract limitations, it can't be published pro. Since Federation Centennial was written for the general reading public and not for a hard-core group of Kraith devotees, it is somewhat tones down from Jacqueline's usual style. Also, it was written well before the Lichtenberg/Marshak alliance and subsequent blooming (if you'll forgive the expression) of radical ideas. Personally, it has always been one of my favorite Kraith stories, and I am ecstatic that it is, finally, in print.") (also published as a standalone zine in 1972) (79)

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Reactions and Reviews: Issue 2

See reactions and reviews for Ssarsun's Argument.

You may remember my many reservations about Kraith Collected I and the characters, particularly Spock, portrayed therein. Kraith Collected II is an entirely different kettle of fish. Perhaps the explanation is that "Federation Centennial," the main story was intended for a professional publication and thus aimed at the "general public," rather than Kraith heavies (i.e. a simplified version for we mere mortals). Because of this it is a vast improvement on the style already established.

In "Federation Centennial" we rediscover the gentle, indulgent, teasing humor between Kirk and Spock which was so sadly missing in KCI. They are the main protagonists of the story, and the reader is not distracted by any of the nonsense regarding Spock's obsessive search for a mate.

The story is predominantly set in the Tower of Babel where members of starships are attending a subcommittee with a view to rewriting the Starfleet Regulations, and other Federation members are present to review the Federation Constitution. The main purpose of both meetings is to put the service or the Federation more in tough with the needs of their non-members.

The plot opens with a bang (no pun intended) as Amanda is raped by a gang of drunken humans before Sarek's very own eyes. This is only the first of a series of acts of apparent racial bigotry or slights agains the Vulcans. The level of the tower with conditions most suited to the Vulcans is out of commission, a subtle annoyance; Sarek is accused of murder (again), and Spock is involved in a brawl precipitated by seemingly overt racial hatred.

The avoid imprisonment and to enable Kirk and Spock to investigate the "murder" of which Sarek is a accused, Spock has to take the Oath of Honour which involves him, reluctantly, in a warder-liege relationship with Kirk. Theoretically this limits their movements and by nature makes Spock's first duty to Kirk and no other (as if there was ever any other way). He and Kirk discover that there is a subversive group who, for various reasons of their own, wish to spread metal distrust and dislike among Federation members. They have been behind the assaults committed and all that remains is for Kirk and Spock to prove it to clear Sarek...

Jacqueline Lichtenberg's stories are full of detail and "Federation Centennial" is no exception. Two marvellous descriptions stand out; one is of the various like support conditions existing on the different levels of the Tower according to that member of the planet; the other is an account of Spock trying not to pick a fight with someone who is obviously intent on picking one with him -- it is so... so Spock. Another amusing touch concerns the notices put up for the benefit of Ziturians around the decorative pool in the restaurant: "No copulating or defecting in this pool," "Please do not eat the display fish." Apparently, they would do all three!

The other story in KCII is a shorter one called "Ssarsun's Argument." Ssarsun, as you may recall, is a Schillian -- a man-proportioned lizard, a trisexual being to whom a telepathic contact is necessary for the retention of his sanity. He was Spock's bodyguard in Spock's Affirmation, and is Vulcan trained. His argument is that he should be allowed to transfer from Security to Command although at the time true telepaths are not allowed to command Federation vessels. I liked Ssarsun even in KCI -- he was the only one with a sense of humour. In this story, he is drawn into a mating trio, much against his well, with two other Schillians, and you can't imagine how erotic trisexual telepathic lizards can be until you have read this story. A transfer into another universe occurs and as Ssarsun deals with the crisis so efficiently, it seems he will get his wish, to train for command. Incidentally, in this story we get a glimpse of the Spock who later appears in our our Variations on a Theme.

KCII consists of only these two stories, but I would consider it well worth the small outlay (in comparison to many zines) of $6.50 airmail.

Volume 3

errata, click to read

cover of issue #3, Robbie Brown, John Benson and Carol Lynn

Kraith Collected 3 (Series III through Federation Centennial) was published in 1974 (subsequent printing in October 1975) and contains 89 pages.

The art is by Cara Sherman, Alice E. La Velle, Nancy Cleveland, Elizabeth Dailey, Doug Herring, front cover by Robbie Brown, John Benson and Carol Lynn.

The editor comments on art:

In the past several months I have received several very good pieces of artwork that would have fit marvelously into the first Collected volume. The artists read Kraith and sat down to illustrate it. Tremendous! I tried to work in as many of these pieces of artwork as I could. However, I had to discard several simply because no amount of fudging would make them appropriate for the current volume. I imagine that this is going to happen again ( and again and again) as the volumes keep rolling out. If there is anyone out there with the urge to illustrate Kraith, please write me and I will send you scenes from the next volume to illustrate. Let me know what type of drawings you prefer doing (space shots, women, people, faces, odd alien devices, etc.) and I will do my best to match up artists with the appropriate scenes. Hopefully, this will result in an improvement in the quality and quantity of artwork that I have available for publication. Just to whet your curiosity unbearably, I know I'm going to need representations of a utsulan like the one in "The Obligation" for an upcoming story called "Spock's Pilgrimage". Anyone care to tackle it?

The editor also includes a statement in her editorial about this story and The Obligation/Through Time and Tears, the latter that would get her into trouble later:

On page 44 of this volume, Jacqueline has an open letter criticising her story "Coup de Grace". She lists its faults and ends by calling it the "worst Kraith story ever written". I take exception to that.

In my opinion that dubious honor goes to another story in this volume called "The Obligation/Through Time and Tears". I apologize to the authors, but I had to cut out over 5 pages of redundancy just to get it into the poor shape it is in now. It isn't that the ideas presented in the story are invalid, or that the writing style is ghastly, or that the characterizations are too horribly off. That poor story suffers, terminally I'm afraid, from the typical Kraith malaise of trying to do too much in too little wordage. Ideas are thrown in right and left with no explanations and precious little continuity.

I can see right now that people are going to be jumping all over me for that last bit.

"Ah hah! If it's too short why did she cut out 5 pages?" they shout, triumphant.

But, still, It's rather difficult to credit Sarek with a poor memory less than a day after a discussion with Spock he must go through the whole line of reasoning again alone and then again trying to convince Spock that he should do what he (Spock) had suggested to him (Sarek). yesterday! It was too much. Editorial judgement prevailed. It went.

Read the story carefully. So much is brought to the surface in this story that hints at developments to come; a couple of volumes from now you will be astounded at how much you took for granted when it was presented.

Also from the editor, some more shade on Lichtenberg:

On another vein, I have a 14 page poem by Jacqueline in my files. It's called the "Ballad of Dokamrainor" and it desperately needs a rewrite. Among the many things that can be said about Jacqueline, add, she never mastered iambic pentameter. The poem deals with the first kataytikh, Dokamrainor, his origins, family and, obliquely, of the fall of Top-of-World. If anyone out there would like to become a Kraith Creator, and thinks they can. manage to whip the poem into shape, either in metered, free verse, or prose form, contact me and I'll get a copy to you.

• Editor’s Preface by Carol Lynn
• The Learning Process by Jean Sellar (follow-up to Spock's Mission) (3)
• The Obligation/Through Time and Tears by J.M. Winston and Jacqueline Lichtenberg (There is a lengthy apology about this story in issue #4) (also in Tetrumbriant #4, #5) (7)
• The Secret of Groskin by Jacqueline Lichtenberg (also in Isotope #3) (19)
• Coup de Grace by Jacqueline Lichtenberg (When a crewman is infected with kye-fi-par -- the Vulcan version of rabies -- on a specimen-gathering mission, Spock knows a mercy killing is the only logical recourse. Lichtenberg called this "the single most embarrassing story I’ve entered into the Kraith chronology... I still consider that story a total failure. In some ways I wish I’d never written it; yet it does serve a purpose of sorts.") (Lichtenberg's comments on both stories illustrate what she was trying to do with "Coup de Grace" in the first place.) (also in Bags End Gazette) (33)
• Coup de Partie by Ruth Berman (Berman's answer to "Coup de Grace". A Vulcan geologist exploring the same planet is badly injured. When his wife brings him to the Enterprise in their scout ship for medical assistance he turns out to have kye-fi-par. This time Dr. McCoy insists on looking for a cure.) (39)
• Spock’s Nemesis by Jacqueline Lichtenberg (On a planet of proto-Vulcans, the landing party encounters a dangerous psionic artifact which traps Lt. Minos.) (also in T-Negative #16 and #17) (47)
• May You Live Long and Prosper, essay by Jacqueline Lichtenberg (An excerpt: "The following is a commentary on Ruth Berman's Kraithlette, "Coup de Partie". Let me start by saying that "Coup de Grace" is the single most embarrassing story I've entered into the Kraith chronology. I prefaced that story with some deep misgivings about it and since its first publication, I've had those misgivings reinforced ten ways from Sunday. When it came time to put together Kraith Collected 1 was very reluctant to even consider it. I still consider that story a total failure. In some ways I wish I'd never written it; yet it does serve a purpose of sorts. Ruth Berman was one of the first to to put in words the many things wrong with "Coup de Grace". She's the first to come up with a fictional statement of some of those arguments. Her story, "Coup de Partie", makes "Coup de Grace" worth publishing, if only to open debate on this area of thought.") (44)
• Errata (89)

• 

  from issue #3, Cara Sherman

• 

  from issue #3, Robbie Brown

• 

  from issue #3, Elizabeth Daily

• 

  from issue #3, Robbie Brown

• 

  from issue #3, Alice E. La Velle

• 

  from issue #3, Elizabeth Daily

• 

  from issue #3, Doug Herring

• 

  from issue #3, Cara Sherman

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 3

[zine]:

Ho Hum. With 'Kraith Collected Ill', we are back in the old routine, after the pleasant interlude of 'Federation Centennial'. There are six stories in KCIII; the major story — 'Spock's Nemesis' -- is in No. IV in the main series.

ll.(i) 'The Learning Experience' by Jean Sellar is a story written as follow-up to 'Spock's Mission', (which describes Sarek's rescue, you may remember). It is a rather curious piece, chronicling conversations during the hours following Sarek's escape from the Romulans. McCoy harangues Sarek, Kirk, and Spock are awkward with each other, because Kirk has not taken another flame and so on. I see little point to it all.

III(i) "The Obligation/Through Time and Tears' immediately precedes 'Federation Centennial' and follows 'Spock's Argument'; it is by J. Lichtenberg and J. Winston. It is set on Vulcan and I confess to being a little confused; T'Aniyeh has the guest suite opened for her...so on what footing does that place herself and Spock? Sarek and Spock become aware that Kirk has some telepathic capabilities and he himself is conscious of a growing affinity with Vulcan. The two Vulcans go to Beom to allow Spock to contribute the Joy (sic) of his triumph (Spock's Argument) to the utsulan.

In addition, they undertake 'Pattern Search' to assess T'Aniyeh's contribution (being human) to the utsulan in view of their recent realisation of Kirk's potential. Their interest is based on their intention to adopt Kirk into the family; Spock feels that when Kirk becomes aware of his capabilities he will be, as the Vulcan terms it, 'destroyed' and Spock feels a degree of responsibility toward his Captain.

I am sure it is good technique to resist the temptation to explain everything in minute detail but it does seem that Jacqueline Lichtenberg is rather self-indulgent, in her 'cleverness'. Even with two degrees behind me, I find this story and 'Spock's Nemesis' (vide infra) incomprehensible in places, though - I am obliged to confess... .fascinating.

When Kirk's mother dies later in the story, the prospect of adopting him brings joy not only to Spook (rather naughty to feel any such thing, considering) but to Amanda also; The Warder-Liege relationship is suggested and the importance of Kirk' acceptance of the situation to both the Federation and Vulcan is obvious.

Ill(b) 'The Secret of Groskin' by J. Lichtenberg. Kirk becomes involved in a test to confirm that the present clique of human Admirals are more efficient than some hastily promoted non humans. Why does Spock's idlomputt explode all over T'Aniyeh? (What is she doing in ... his quarters anyway if they open the guest quarters..,..oh I give up!). We are introduced to yet another Vulcan artefact Of Great Significance which causes Big Trouble. Kirk, Spock and McCoy are imprisoned by the natives of the planet on which the test is taking place. Escape is effected by the usual bluff and the Big Three explain themselves out of Big Trouble. An interesting piece but there is still the tendency to have Spock explaining yet another example of Vulcan sorcery. This has been the pattern throughout; I sometimes wonder if the authors aren't in competition.

IIl(c) & III(c)(i) 'Coup de Grace' and 'Coup de Patrie' are the exploration of Vulcan ahd human reactions to Spock's deliberate killing of a sick crewmam who is dying of an infection which could wipe out the entire crew of the Enterprise. 'Coup de Patrie' is in the form of a fictional rebuttal of the first story. For my part I think both McCoy and Kirk behave like idiots, but there will be people who feel equally strongly the other way.

IV 'Spock's Nemesis'. Here is a story more confusing than III(i). T'Aniyeh is lost on a planet; Spock wakes in sick bay to find the crew out cold and the computer misbehaving. He assumes that this is due to due-ut emanating from a tower below. What? Well, I'm not quite sure either but T'Aniyeh is tied up in it some how and this Cannot Be Allowed. Spock sets off to rescue T'Aniyeh, at the same time avoiding the influence of the dze-ut and reviving selected crew members, i.e. Kirk, McCoy and Chapel. There is a lot of juggling with some strange and useful stones; alien blooms flower .and accelerate Pon Farr into which Spock has most inconveniently lapsed (what again?). Kirk's awakening telepathic powers start to become awkward for him and Spock. You'll have to read it to see if you can make any more sense out of it than I could. I'm afraid I find the relationship between Kirk and Spock an unhappy one. Kirk's desperate need to help and understand his friend results in their minds becoming repeatedly enmeshed. Spock in his barely controlled state, several times casts Kirk out and rejects any approaches. Spock, of course, really has other things on his mind, though he tries his best to complete his original mission (to his advantage anyway). The climax is obvious; T'Aniyeh is freed from the dze-ut circuit and WHAMMO!

What fascinates me is where Jacqueline Lichtenberg found the necessity to invent such a smart-ass Spock and why, having seen the rather ingenuous Spock of the series, she decided to give him so many mystical powers. There was no possible hint to suggest any such behaviour in aired Trek. Why change him so? I really cannot see the relationship of Captain and First Officer surviving as portrayed in Kraith, frankly; I don't think Kirk would put up with it at all. I also find the lack of continuity/and of characterisation, sometimes plots, between each story distracting. One reads a story, turns to the next and finds that the subject one was expecting to be enlarged upon has been forgotten. Here I am referring in particular to the Warder-Liege pairing, mooted in III(i) and not mentioned thereafter. I presume that this is partly due to the problems of palling all these stories together between the same two covers when they have been scattered far and wide throughout fandom.

Kraith Collected III is 89 pages long with few illustrations. My copy was badly printed; there were several pages on the skew, it was reduced to the point of being microscopic and it contained numerous typing errors. Frustratingly, Kraith Collected IV will not be available until 1983-4; it is addictive - but then so is "The Archers".

Volume 4

cover of issue #4, Nancy Cleveland

cover of issue #4, 1993 edition

Kraith Collected 4 (rest Series III, Series IV) was published in 1974 and contains 120 pages. Regarding the story, "Spock's Decision": fans could buy this story separately from the publisher of Berengaria for $1.50, see ad image.

ad from A Piece of the Action #10, click to read

flyer printed in "Berengaria" #1, click to enlarge -- note the difference between what was planned and what was published: Spock's Pilgrimage was not published in "Berengaria" but in "Kraith Collected"

The art is by art by Nancy Cleveland (front cover), Alice LaVelle, Kucharski & Austin, Roberta L. Brown, Tim Courtney, and Allan Asherman.

From the editorial:

This is my first issue as editor of Kraith Collected. This strange state of affairs began when I had the time to type the manuscripts which make up this issue. Then Carol handed down the ultimatum: It's your issue, do the paratype. Well, as it happens, the numbers are press-on, and the lettering is done by John Benson (take a bow, John). So I had no paratyping to do. And Carol is doing the artwork layout as I last minute type Dokamral'nor and this editorial. But there are problems. You will notice that there is almost no artwork in this issue. The reason is simple -- editors are cheap. And when you have 120 pages of typing, before artwork, well, you just cut down drastically on the artwork. And then there are the problems with the artwork we did, and did not, include. Allan Asherman's beautiful illustration of Commodore Spock, you might notice, shows him with a full head of hair. He is supposed to have a receeding [sic] hairline. But one just does not tamper with an Asherman drawing. In regards to the Schillians shown in the last issue (volume 2). I like Roberta Brown's Schillians--they are graceful, as I would assume a Schillian is (whether or not they have tails.) Carol likes Todd Bake's (even though they are short one finger per hand.) So Carol's issue had Todd's Schillians, and my issue has Roberta's--only my issue doesn't have room for Schillian artwork. I demand equal time... For those of you who followed the saga of "denonstarting," [a typo for "demonstrating" which turned into a running gag] we have, this issue, the tale of T'Uriamne's midget. If you can find that typo, you might be able to figure out what it was to be. Something about an air car, I think. This issue will probably be the last, for some time to corne, to feature a major story by Jacqueline Lichtenberg. Mrs. Lichtenberg now has so many professional commitments that they leave very little time for Kraith. We congratulate her on this state of affairs, and at the same time shed a tear for the Kraith stories we won't see. That is not to say that there will be no more Kraith stories. We have now enough stories in the works to do volume 5. And Mrs. Lichtenberg's collaborator, Sondra Marshak, is working on the Kraith series... And there are those whose stories have yet to see print. If you are a budding Kraith author, let me remind you: make three copies of your story--you keep one, send one to Jacqueline Lichtenberg, and one to Carol Lynn. You will hear from us, though it may take a while. And for artists: get in touch with Carol. (Deborah Kay Goldstein June 1974)

A Public Apology to Joan Winston --The editor writes in "Editors are Ghouls and Ghosts" about the revisions, mistakes, and editing mess-ups regarding Joan's story that was in issue #3:

This is a public apology to Joan Winston for the mutilation of her story,"Through Time and Tears", by yours truly, I may, perhaps, be permitted a few words of explanation, not to shift the blame (for it is mine), or to excuse it, but to show that the havoc I wracked was not done with "malice aforethought." Several months before I actively began the typing of Volume Three of Kraith Collected, I received notification from Jacqueline that she and Joan Winston were collaborating on a story - Jacqueline said that she had written a story some months before, but, on having seen a story that Joan had written, had decided that they really ought to be published together. Jacqueline would write a connecting piece between the stories, in the letters it was always referred to as "The Obligation/Through Time and Tears."' I received a copy of the unrevised "Obligation" from Jacqueline with assurances that "Through Time and Tears" would be following from Joan. I rented a typewriter and began typing the rest of the volume. Two weeks before the rental period expired, I received a package from Joan containing another unrevised copy of "The Obligation." I immediately telephoned Jacqueline and explained the problem. She dropped a copy of the connecting piece she had written and the copy of "Through Time and Tears" that Joan had given her into the mail... [the editor goes on to describe in specific detail all the differences between what was intended and what was printed]... By this time, I was in a frenzy. The typewriter was due back. I was leaving for nine weeks at Oxford University and had reams of reading to do. I took a liberty that wasn't mine, made the above adjustments, sent the thing to the printers, and promptly forgot about it. However, as can be seen from my editorial in that volume, I had misgivings about the story. My own guilty conscience speaking. To all concerned, and very specially to Joan Winston, I offer my sincerest apologies. To all those people who wrote in and protested my editorial, I laud you. You were right.

• Editors are Ghouls and Cannibals (2)
• Initiative by Jacqueline Lichtenberg (also in The Best of Amanda and Sarek) (3)
• Spock's Decision by J. Lichtenberg & Sondra Marshak (The Enterprise investigates a dark star, which has unexpected effects.) (also Berengaria Special Issue - 1976) (28)
• Spock's Pilgrimage by Jacqueline Lichtenberg & Sondra Marshak (Kirk's training as a telepath on Vulcan is underway, and we see part of his daily life. The Spock of an alternative universe -- a Commodore, whose Kirk has died -- attempts to kidnap "our" Kirk to replace him. The Pilgrimage of the title refers to "our" Spock's journey to an utsulan, an immense psionic structure that allows emotions to be donated as energy, to be recalled later. Spock uses this energy to rescue Kirk from Commodore Spock in the alternative universe.) (66)
• Ballad of Dokamral'nor by Beverly Clark (117)
• Dokamral'nor, Second Translation by Darlene Fouquet (119)

• 

  from issue #4, Alice LaVelle

• 

  from issue #4, Kucharski & Austin

• 

  from issue #4, Roberta L. Brown

• 

  from issue #4, Allan Asherman

• 

  from issue #4, Tim Courtney

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 4

See reactions and reviews for Spock's Decision.

[zine]:

As far as it goes I am now in full possession of the continuing saga of Kraith.

We left Spock in the grip of the effects of a Blooming in the last review. Kraith IV follows with the mainstream story immediately after this and its sequel. Apart from Kraith IV I also have the answer to life the universe and everything, the Kraith Creator's Manual. Not, I hasten to add, that I am considering entering the exalted ranks (they'd never have me anyway) - strictly for amusement only.

I digress. There is an author's preface to 'Spock's Decision' the story immediately following 'Spock's Nemesis', in which Jacqueline Lichtenberg tries to justify its supposed short comings and structural flaws, (I only wish I could tell!) and then she asks the questions "What is Spock's decision or why do you think this story was titled Spock's Decision' in Kraith?"

Hmmm...Moving right along there, we are also informed via the Manual this time, that she sets out to "introduce a new facet of an alien (usually Vulcan) culture', couched in language which is highly ambiguous, but which is normally interpreted at face value. Later in the series, it becomes apparent that the face value is incorrect e.g. many times we are shown Vulcan ceremonies; the language is normally that used to describe rituals end the overall impression (deliberately fostered) is of some kind of mystical rite. Later the explanations for the actions gradually emerge and the reader discovers there is nothing even remotely mystical about the activity!

Rats, caught again! And I'm not sure I want to read in riddles. I wonder how many other authors find it necessary to explain either the content of their writing or their motives in writing it? I know one at least: Ayn Rand...and she's something of a favourite of Lichtenberg and Marshak according to 'Star Trek Lives'. It's probably not meant, and allowances must be made for discussions extant within Trek, but I still have a feeling of being patronised from a great height.

At any event, to the stories: 'Spock's Decision' is by Jacqueline Lichtenberg and Sondra Marshak. The Enterprise is in the vicinity of a dark star which causes Kirk to link uncontrollably with just about everyone. He and Tanya become inextricably linked and the entire crew suffer one form of psionic disturbance or another. Kirk, unconscious, is in deep distress and to calm him, Spock takes him back through his adoption and the forming of the Warder-Liege Compact. After Tanya's death Spock invokes the latter to save Kirk's life and linked, they travel to Schillia and Ssarsun -- not without several irrational arguments involving Spock and McCoy -- to set up Neural Shielding for Kirk and that is where it all ends.

Throughout, Spock and McCoy bicker and would probably have bickered a good deal more if McCoy had been aware of what was going through Spock's mind at the time; he is credited with some very uncharitable thoughts indeed. Throughout the story are irksome passages of shared thoughts which are sprung on the reader out of the blue so that there's little clue, without a third read, as to who is actually thinking what. Surely that shouldn't be necessary? Kirk's adoption is suddenly mentioned out of nowhere too; this sent me scurrying for my earlier Kraith zines, convinced I'd missed something (I hadn't) only to find out all about it later on in the story. Probably part of the 'we know something you don't' syndrome.

'Spock's Pilgrimage' is prefaced by a message which basically says; I can make it complicated but boy with Sondra Marshak's help I can make it incomprehensible.' Not strictly true as it happens.

Those familiar with the 'Variations on a Theme' series will recognise this story as the source of those authors' inspiration. The beginning and climax involve Commodore Spock's attempts to persuade Kirk to stay in his Universe - as he thinks, to rescue him from an unhappy life with his present Spock.

Part of the story concerns Kirk's rest cure after the dark star; he has to cope with his newly awakened and poorly controlled telepathic capabilities and is taught to do so at Dakainya a retreat cum school on Vulcan. To dismiss this section in a couple of sentences does not really do it justice, many of Kirk's lessons, discussions, etc. with other inmates are presented in the intricate detail we have come to expect of Kraith - and which is probably its strength.

Spock, meanwhile is on pilgrimage to Beom (remember the utsulan?) and, while Kirk is experiencing some disorientation due to Commodore Spock's surveillance, Spock himself is also affected; his aim is to use the utsulan as a form of restorative after all his trials and tribulations but he is interrupted by Sarek - quite a precedent apparently - who asks, almost demands, the tslo-farr, his right to choose Spock's next mate and suggests that the same might be appropriate for Kirk also. Spock refuses, being at the end of his Vulcan tether.

Commodore Spock kidnaps Kirk and transports him to his own Universe. Spock follows them, they meet another T'Uriamne who, incidentally, Commodore Spock has lined up for Kirk. There ensues a bitter argument over 'rights of possession' with Kirk as referees Spock finds the Warde-Liege Compact useful in controlling the impulsive Kirk (a very interesting study this, what would you expect Kirk to do when Spock orders him for a change?) and the Blooms raise their ugly heads once more.

The Blooms feature also in the first story in the zine 'Initiative' which draws an analogy between Spock's parents' marriage and that being mooted between him and Tanya, This features mainly Amanda, Sarek and T'Uriamne.

All this seems like a very long synopsis of one story but it really is barely scratching the surface. In actual fact, 'Spock's Pilgrimage' is far less irritating than 'Spock's Decision', partly because it doesn't jump back and forth in time and is reasonably straightforward but also because it is more emotionally satisfying. Emotions in Kraith? And from Spock? Well, nearly - he's just less of a cold bastard in this one. At any rate, if you can get hold of KC IV I would, it's well worth the effort. What I really don't understand is why all this energy is being wasted agonising over Spock's nest mate; it seems to me that the answer is staring them all in the face. But I wouldn't dare say just what it is!

Volume 5

cover of issue #5, Todd Bake

Kraith Collected 5 (Series V). It has the subtitle "Alternates." Published in 1977, it has 118 pages.

The art is by Todd Bake (front cover), Robbie Brown, Gordon Carleton, D.L. Collin, JEF, Pat Foley, Mike Kucharski, Gee Moaven, Joni Wagner, and Alice LaVelle.

It contains stories that are Kraithish, but not Kraith canon.

The editors write an apology:

Whether or not we plan it, editors make mistakes. Then, when too late, because we've printed three hundred copies with the error, sold a fourth of them, then we get the phone calls at 3 a.m. telling us what turkeys we are. You can call back the sold copies to correct them all -- if you're rich and know who bought them -- or you can correct the second printing and write an apology in the next issue of the zine. I am. Both "Spock's Decision" and "Spock's Pilgrimage" should have come originally with both Jacqueline's and Sondra Marshak's names. Sondra, I'm sorry. I never meant to forget you. Volume Four was finished in a rush, as usual, because the typewriter was due back at IBM. Add we were simply not used to the idea that anyone but Jacqueline was writing Main Series Kraith. So the same mistake can't possibly happen again, we now write both the title and the author on the first page of every story we type.

This volume of Kraith has this note from the editorial:

The stories contained in this volume are not part of the main sequence of events in Kraith. The facts invented, presented or implied here need not be adhered to by writers of Kraith. With this volume we introduce two new types of Kraith stories -- self-consistent visualizations of STAR TREK based on a number of Kraith postulates and/or splitting off from Kraith at some definite point, here called Alternate Universes Kraith, and Kraith Spinoff Stories which are inspired by Kraith but which challenge, deny or parody the Kra1th postulates. Both types of stories are important to Kraith readers because they ask serious questions about Kraith, questions which must be answered by Kraith within the Kraith framework. They are also important because they are a lot of fun and :iust Plain good reading in and of themselves. They would not be fun to read though, if they were presented as numbered Kraith stories because the reader familiar with Kraith would be thrown out of the story time after time, saying, "But, no, that contradicts this other fact ..... So we present this volume of apocrypha to delight, inspire and perhaps outrage the reader into writing his own Kraith and sharing it with us.

• Editor’s Preface by Carol Lynn (1)
• Editors are Ghouls and Cannibals by Debbie Goldstein (2)
• Author’s Introduction by Jacqueline Lichtenberg (includes "How to Write a Kraith Story" (see this section at Kraith, "Sime Art," and "Now to the Stories in This Volume," as well as a portrait of Jacqueline Lichtenberg by Joni Wagner (3)
• New Numbering by Jacqueline Lichtenberg (7)
• Komengathor by Jacqueline Lichtenberg (8)
• Challenge by Eileen Roy (also in Interphase #2 and rewritten as the first section of "Kirk's Challenge") (9)
• Sarek and T’Amanda by Fern Marder (13)
• Kraith Fragment by Jacqueline Lichtenberg (14)
• Servant of the People by Eileen Roy (reprinted from Menagerie #6) (15)
• An Abortive Attempt by Paula Smith (19)
• T'Uriamne's Victory by Eileen Roy (27)
• The Affirmation by Sheryl Roberts (57)
• A Touch of Spring by Jane M. Wooster (82)
• The Betrothal by Sheryl Roberts (83)
• The Marriage by Sheryl Roberts (85)
• Come Two as One by Beverly Clark (87)
• Reflections on His Reflecting Captain by Linda H. Lawson (88)
• We Have Kept Our Peace by Virginia Lee Smith (88)
• Invocation by Jane M. Wooster (88)
• The Confrontation by Sheryl Roberts (89)
• Kraith Chronology by Jacqueline Lichtenberg (114)
• Carol's Ferschluggoner Story! by Paula Smith (115)

• 

  portrait of Jacqueline Lichtenberg, by Joni Wagner

• 

  from issue #5, Mike Kucharski

• 

  from issue #5, Gee Moaven

• 

  from issue #5, Gordon Carleton

• 

  from issue #5, Alice LaVelle

• 

  from issue #5, Gee Moaven

• 

  from issue #5, Robbie Brown

• 

  from issue #5, D.L. Collins

• 

  from issue #5, JEF

• 

  from issue #5, Gee Moaven

• 

  from issue #5, Gordon Carleton

• 

  from issue #5, Gee Moaven

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 5

See reactions and reviews for An Abortive Attempt.

See reactions and reviews for T'Uriamne's Victory.

The long-awaited sequel to 'Spock's Pilgrimage' isn't here yet. This volume is alternate Kraith so be warned. 'Kraith Collected 5' contains some interesting articles in the prefaces including 'Procedures for Submitting a Kraith Story,' 'Sime Art, and various fiction by the editors. ... There is some good poetry by Jane Wooster, Virginia Lee Smith, and Linda H. Lawson, and a very bad epic poem by Jacqueline Lichtenberg. Jackie also has one fragment which, unfortunately, for neo-Kraithers, isn't any better. The fiction is by three authors, Paula Smith has 'An Abortive Attempt,' a very good Kraith abortion story, and 'Carol's Ferschulggoner Story!' which is actually what it says it is. Not Kraith, definitely not Kraith. Eileen Roy has 'Kirk's Challenge,' a short, badly written setup for her universe with Kirk's illegitimate son, 'Servant of the People,' a short zinger about bureaucracy, and 'T'Uriamne's Victory,' a what-if-all-humans-had-to-leave-Vulcan story. Sheryl Roberts, a newcomer, has two long stories and two short shorts in her alternate Kraith universe. She has grasped Kraith expertly, even down to the worst facets of Kraith (this is a compliment, I think), and writes very well. The only problem I had was that these stories are Mary Sue down to the heroine being a 20th century author named Sherrith. This bothered me. I look forward to seeing more of her work that isn't Mary Sue -- she has tremendous potential for good stories. 'Kraith 5' is not Kosher Kraith -- but I have a feeling Sheryl Roberts' series is going to be a hot topic of contention in Kraith circles. Buy it.

Contents of this volume are all "alternate Kraith." Eileen Roy has "Servant of the People", about a bureaucrat who has elevated paper-pushing to a religion, but breaks the rules to help a subordinate in need. "Kirk's Challenge" isn't bad, but it isn't nearly so good as the rewrite which appeared in INTERPHASE. It's a good object lesson for the beginning writer. "T'Uriamne's Victory" deals with what- would-happen-if-Spock-lost-his-argument-and-all-humans-had-to-leave-Vulcan. This is primarily Amanda's story, but all the characters are real and alive. Shui, an eccentric desert-dweller, and Teng, a small girl determined to "grow up Vulcan", are especially memorable. "Victory" is a superb story on any terms, easily the best of thish. Paula Smith's "Carol's Fershluggener Story" and "An Abortive Attempt" are tightly written, convincing, and more than a little frightening. You may not like them, but that's beside the point. Most of thish is taken up with Sheryl Roberts' "Beta Kraith"--two long stories and two vignettes. They deal with a twentieth century writer who just happens to be an 'eidetic telepath' and who also just happens to be transported into the future and who also just happens to get caught up in a meld with Spock which necessitates their marriage. After which, Sherrith Gives Him a Son and shows T'Uriamne a thing or ten. This transformation into the Compleat Mary Sue is a pity, since on her own ground and in her own time, Sherrith MacRaith is an engaging and sympathetic character. Ms. Roberts is obviously a writ- er of some potential, but her prose in these stories bears a strong odor or Milles Fleurs and could do with a closer acquaintance with Messers. Fowler and Webster. Thish also includes some extremely fine poetry by Jane Wooster and Virginia Lee Smith--"We Have Kept Our Peace" is almost worth the price of the zine by itself. Illos throughout are sparse if appropriate. Gordon Carleton's and Robbie Brown's pieces for "T'Uriamne's Victory" are wonderfully witty.

Volume 6

cover of issue #6, Gee Moaven

Kraith Collected 6 (alternate universe issue). Published in 1980, it contains 142 pages.

The art is by Gee Moaven (front cover), Randy Bathurst, Mary Bohdanowicz, Susan Ceci, D.L. Collin, Barbara Craig, Desire Gonzales, Erin Jahr-Strom, Mike Kucharski, P.S. Nim, D.M. Olsen, Janet L. Trauvetter, Joni Wagner, and Mel White.

From the editorial:

At this time, we feel that we should put out a general "Call for Papers". Jacqueline Lichtenberg, knowing how patiently her fans have been waiting for the rest of Kraith, cleared two full weeks of her schedule this past summer. She planned to write the detailed outlines for the last Kraith stories. Those two free weeks never materialized. Her publisher sent her two galleys to be corrected, so that the books could go to press. Since professional commitments must come before fanish activities, she used up those two weeks. And she hasn't had any free time since. If there is to be any more "Kraith Collected", then it must come from you fans.

• Kraith Chronology by Jacqueline Lichtenberg (2)
• Sundered Duties by Jackie Bielowicz, et. al. (also in Probe #9 and Sol Plus #4) (3)
• Sarek's Meditation by Jeah Lorrah (also in Jean Lorrah's Sarek Collection and IDIC #6) (23)
• Operating Manual by Anna Mary Hall (reprinted Saurian Brandy Digest #1) (29)
• Three Steps Behind Him by Eileen Roy (reprinted from Off the Beaten Trek #3)
• A House Divided by Linda Deneroff & Frances Zawacky (reprinted from Probe #4) (39)
• Christine's Decision by Sharon Emily (reprinted from Berengaria #4) (59)
• The Vulcan as Super Hero by Randy Bathurst ("Many people have complained that Kraith turns Spock into Superman. The definitive exposition on this subject has been done by R.R. Bathurst for this fanzine. In his short, lucid essay he explores the possibilities of the myth and brings the theme to a startling conclusion. We highly recommend that you study his piece entitled "The Vulcan as Superhero" before reading further. It will give you a sense of perspective." - a single page with two drawings) (74)
• One Finger Symphony by Eileen Roy (reprinted from Warped Space #43, Enter-comm #2) (McCoy helps a despondent Christine deal with her feelings about Spock.) (75)
• Days of Future Past by Cynthia Levine (reprinted from IDIC #6) (77)
• Bones' Vision by Eileen Roy (reprinted from Interphase #1) (85)
• The Affirmation of Nellie Gray by Roberta Rogow (reprinted from Grip #1) (103)
• Kirk's Triumph by Linda Deneroff, Jacqueline Lichtenberg & Fran Zawacky Linda Deneroff, Jacqueline Lichtenberg & [[Frances Zawacky|Fran Zawacky] (The episode with the dark star, the death of T'Aniyeh and the journey to the alternative universe have exhausted Spock and rendered him psi-blind. Kirk continues with his telepathic training, attempting to overcome a terrible psychic imprint from the stolen kraith chalice back in Episode 1. The story is how he does it in order to save an injured Schillian child, the son of his tutor. He is now considered to have graduated and can return to his life on the Enterprise.) (reprinted from IDIC #6) (107)
• Equity by Joyce Yasner (reprinted from Interphase #4) (127)

• 

  art from issue #6, P.S. Nim

• 

  art from issue #6, Joni Wagner

• 

  art from issue #6, D.M. Olsen

• 

  art from issue #6, Mary Bohdanowicz

• 

  art from issue #6, Desire Gonzales

• 

  art from issue #6, Erin Jahr-Strom

• 

  art from issue #6, Mel White

• 

  art from issue #6, Susan Ceci

• 

  art from issue #6, Gee Moaven

• 

  art from issue #6, Randy Bathurst

• 

  art from issue #6, K.L. Collin

• 

  art from issue #6, Barbara Craig

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 6

See reactions and reviews for Christine's Decision.

See reactions and reviews for Sundered Duties.

See reactions and reviews for Sarek's Meditation.

See reactions and reviews for Three Steps Behind Him.

See reactions and reviews for A House Divided.

See reactions and reviews for One Finger Symphony.

See reactions and reviews for Days of Future Past.

See reactions and reviews for Bones' Vision.

See reactions and reviews for The Affirmation of Nellie Gray.

See reactions and reviews for Kirk's Triumph.

[zine]: When we last saw Kirk and Spock, they were in the utsulan at Beom. They had just returned from alternate universe into which Kirk had been abducted by the a.u. Spock after the a.u. Kirk's death. Both were nude, Spock was unconscious, and six blooms and their bulbs lay beside twin Idlomputt devices. ("Spock's Pilgrimage", KRAITH VD, by Lichtenberg and Marshak)....

So what's in KRAITH COLLECTED VOLUME 6? It is a collection of short stories in the KRAITH universe, all of which have appeared elsewhere. Since familiarity with the KRAITH universe is assumed by the writers, a reader new to the series would be advised to buy, beg, borrow, or steal the earlier KRAITH Collecteds which contain the main sequence stories before reading volume 6, However, if you are familiar with KRAITH, dive right in.

Some of these stories are excellent. My personal favorite is Jean Lorrah's "Spock's Meditation", KRAITH II (al). Sarek missed his Affirmation due to the theft of the Kraith. This little vignette explores the state of being Disaffirmed, and, by counterexample, sheds much light on what it means to be Affirmed.

"Christine's Decision", KRAITH VA, by Sharon Emily is also excellent. It depicts how Spock's family helps Christine to accept the fact that nothing will ever come of her love for Spock.

Eileen Roy's "Bones' Vision", KRAITH AV, is also, a gem. While under the influence of the Dark Star, McCoy sees an alternate future in which Spock and T'Aniyeh's daughter T'Ekithah (Kitten, to Bones) lives. I dare not divulge more for fear it will ruin this bittersweet tale for you.

"Kirk's Triumph," KRAITH VD(2), by Deneroff, Lichtenberg, and Zawacky takes place shortly, but not immediately, after "Spock's Pilgrimage." It details how Kirk finally comes to master his troublesome psionic talents to save the life of a Schillian child.