Loveslaves

Fanfiction
Title:	Loveslaves
Author(s):	Dale Campion
Date(s):	1987
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

Loveslaves is a Kirk/Spock story by Dale Campion aka Barbara Gordon, aka Helena Seabright.

It is an A/U in which Kirk captures a Vulcan scientist and then keeps him as a sexual slave.

"Loveslaves" was published in Alien Brothers in 1987. It had the working title: "Love Slave Lost."

Its Prequel

This story has a prequel called "Love Slave's Song" which appeared in Duet #3 in 1981 written by the same author using the name Barbara Gordon.

"Loveslaves," the continuation of this story, was to have been published in the next issue of "Duet." It was rejected by the editor of "Duet" because it featured a sex scene with fisting, something the editor felt was too extreme and dangerous.

Despite the negative reactions it created, "Loveslaves" was nominated for a Fan Q as Best Star Trek story.

This story ends with "To Be Continued," though it was not continued, at least in any known zine.

Rejected!

1982

In a letter to fans in Datazine #21, the author says there was to be a sequel in 'Duet' #4 but "I would like to make it clear that the information in the editorial in that zine is inaccurate. I'll gladly clarify the situation to anyone who writes directly to me. Cynthia C. Drake of Final Frontier now plans to publish the entire story, complete and uncensored."

In May 1982, Gordon stated that "The sequel to 'Love Slave's Song' will be printed. For details please contact [me]".

In June 1982, Gordon had this personal statement: "The sequel to my story Love Slave's Song which appeared in Duet #3 has been accepted for publication. It will not be censored in any way. Details will be forthcoming." This reference was to the zine Final Frontier. It was unclear if Gordon meant the first issue of "Final Frontier" that was published in June 1982 or the second one that was to be published in 1983. In February 1983, however, Cynthia Drake ran in ad in "Communicator" #9 that said the story would appear in "Final Frontier" #3 in 1983.

In the end, the story was NOT in "Final Frontier." The reason is unknown.

1985

In the editorial in Duet #5 (1985), editor restates the acceptance guidelines for her zine: 1) no death stories, 2) no sexual abuse of children, and 3):

Whilst I am fully aware that sex, by its very nature (excuse the pun) whether heterosexual or homosexual can be highly dangerous...there are, nonetheless, certain acts that if indulged in could cause very serious physical disability, and I will not print stories of this type. Again, I see no reason to defend this decision, except to say that I do have a fair number of young 'gay' readers, (of both sexes), and whilst I understand that these people are highly 'experimental,' I do not wish to be the cause of any serious injury, simply because they tried to emulate any physical act written about in Duet. I am sure other Editors will take the opposite view, and this of course in the spirit of IDIC is their prerogative ... and equally is a matter for their conscience, not mine!**

My reason for giving these guidelines is two-fold; as I said above to let potential contributors know exact[ly] what I am looking for, and secondly because the sequel to LOVE SLAVE'S SONG will not now be appearing in Duet; at least, not unless a basic difference of opinion can be resolved,which unfortunately, at the moment, seems highly unlikely. One of the scenes falls well outside one of my guidelines, and Barbara feels that she cannot alter it, as it is an important part of her story, and I respect her decision... as I trust she also respects mine. I was given the option to print, leaving a gap in the story where the particular scene should have appeared. I did not feel I could do this, and I am very sorry for the undoubted disappointment this will cause to a lot of my readers, I have suggested that she approaches various Editors in the States who may not hold the same views as myself, in which case you may still be able to read the sequel, but not unfortunately in Duet.

One final point. My respect for Barbara's work as a writer and artist are limitless, and in the true spirit of [IDIC we have agreed to differ, with, I trust, no recriminations on either side. I felt a full explanation of why the sequel was not appearing was due to you, the readers, and whilst, as all my contributors know, I am not a hypocrite, or a hard-line Editor where a matter of principle is involved, I have to exercise my prerogative, as Editor, and not print... ** (So that there is definitely no doubt in anyone's mind; I am of course referring to 'fist-fucking' and 'foot-fucking' - and there is no other way of saying that is there?)

Gordon wrote in early 1985:

Three zines are now interested in publishing the sequel to "Loveslave's Song". I am not sure which one to choose, but I'll let you know.

1987

"Loveslaves" was eventually published unedited in Alien Brothers in 1987. Gordon was the publisher of "Alien Brothers" using a third pseud: Helena Seabright.

Comments by Gordon

There was to be a sequel, called Loveslaves, published in "Duet" #4, but the of "Duet" refused to print it in her zine, citing unacceptable content: mainly fisting.

Because of this, there was much back-and-forth between the Gordon and Dabinett regarding censorship and the role of editors.

In the editorial to "Duet" #5 in 1982, the editor restated the acceptance guidelines for her zine: 1) (no death stories, 2) no sexual abuse of children, and 3):

Whilst I am fully aware that sex, by its very nature (excuse the pun) whether heterosexual or homosexual can be highly dangerous...there are, nonetheless, certain acts that if indulged in could cause very serious physical disability, and I will not print stories of this type. Again, I see no reason to defend this decision, except to say that I do have a fair number of young 'gay' readers, (of both sexes),and whilst I understand that these people are highly 'experimental,' I do not wish to be the cause of any serious injury, simply because they tried to emulate any physical act written about in Duet. I am sure other Editors will take the opposite view, and this of course in the spirit of IDIC is their prerogative ... and equally is a matter for their conscience, not mine!**

My reason for giving these guidelines is two-fold; as I said above, to let potential contributors know exact[ly] what I am looking for, and secondly because the sequel to LOVE SLAVES SONG will not now be appearing in Duet; at least, not unless a basic difference of opinion can be resolved, which unfortunately, at the moment, seems highly unlikely. One of the scenes falls well outside one of my guidelines, and Barbara feels that she cannot alter it, as it is an important part of her story, and I respect her decision... as I trust she also respects mine. I was given the option to print, leaving a gap in the story where the particular scene should have appeared. I did not feel I could do this, and I am very sorry for the undoubted disappointment this will cause to a lot of my readers, I have suggested that she approaches various Editors in the States who may not hold the same views as myself, in which case you may still be able to read the sequel, but not unfortunately in Duet.

One final point. My respect for Barbara's work as a writer and artist are limitless, and in the true spirit of IDIC we have agreed to differ, with, I trust, no recriminations on either side. I felt a full explanation of why the sequel was not appearing was due to you, the readers, and whilst, as all my contributors know, I am not a hypocrite, or a hard-line Editor where a matter of principle is involved, I have to exercise my prerogative, as Editor, and not print... ** (So that there is definitely no doubt in anyone's mind; I am of course referring to 'fist-fucking' and 'foot-fucking' - and there is no other way of saying that is there?)

Gordon refused to alter Loveslaves, and she stated several times that this story would now appear in a different zine: In a letter to fans in Datazine #21 (Autumn 1982), Gordon said:

I would like to make it clear that the information in the editorial in [Duet #5] is inaccurate. I'll gladly clarify the situation to anyone who writes directly to me. Cynthia C. Drake of Final Frontier now plans to publish the entire story, complete and uncensored.

Also in Autumn 1982, Gordon said:

My first story, "Love Slave's Song", was published in DUET III, and since then I've had dozens of requests for a sequel, "the first part of which I did write, but which Doreen wished to censor. If you are curious, write and I'll tell you the whole story behind that; Doreen's editorial in DUET V was NOT accurate. (Cynthia Drake will publish my complete tale.)

In February 1985, Gordon wrote:

I told everyone that it would be in FINAL FRONTIER 3. Well, I guess it won't be. After sitting on it for over a year, and just speaking to me about publishing it in FF3 in mid-July, Cynthia recently informed me that she would not be using it due to a "change in editorial policies". She didn't say what particular "editorial policy" it was that had changed, if indeed there was any such. Well, the unfortunate thing is that, since I gave it to Cynthia, I missed getting it into several other zines that were very interested. I haven't even received the manuscript back; maybe she deep-sixed it.

And, now I am going to have to write to UT, DATAZINE, COMMUNICATOR, and NTS explaining that my story won't be appearing, and trying to explain, without sounding accusatory, that all the SASE's that went to FF3 from people interested in "Love Slave Lost" [sic] are now useless, and will have to be resent...this is going to make all the people from Great Britain & Germany very unhappy, what with the IRC's they sent and all. I am afraid that this certainly drives home the point: never trust a zine editor.

Someday someone will have the courage to print "Love Slave Lost". Someday someone won't want to censor it. I have a couple editors interested now, but I'm getting very leery about sending it out to anyone. Also, I have decided not to let anyone else read the story until it is published in a zine. Certain fans have "borrowed" ideas from it without even knowing. And I can't afford to xerox it anymore.

Sample Gallery

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  modified Dover clip art by Jana Desorcy

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  Kyla Weston

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  sample text

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  Virginia Lee Smith

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  Dotty Schenck

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  Sethara Dragon

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  Virginia Lee Smith

Sample Gallery: Explicit

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  art by Sethra Dragon. Note: Marked as sexually explicit; minimized. "The one on page 265 by Sethera Dragon is beautifully sensitive with soft, suggestive shading and a hint of diversity ... for it shows Kirk's hand in mind-meld position on Spock's face, rather than the reverse."

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  Virginia Lee Smith. Note: Marked as sexually explicit; minimized.

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  Virginia Lee Smith. Note: Marked as sexually explicit; minimized.

Reactions and Reviews

1988

The one story [in the zine] I found downright offensive was Dale Campion's 'Loveslaves' In a brief introduction the editor tells us that the story takes place in an alternate universe where the Romulans won the war with Earth, and Vulcan is neutral. She also tells us that the story contains some necessary violence, which does have purpose and meaning, and thus serves to further the plot. . . . ' There is indeed some violence, but even more disturbing are the sex scenes where Kirk treats Spock in a cruel manner that occasionally becomes sadistic. Kirk is the captain of a ship in Starfleet, and Spock, who was found on a Vulcan scientific outpost that Kirk's ship attacked, is blackmailed into being the captain s slave, as Kirk threatens to send Starfleet to attack Vulcan unless Spock agrees to be his servant. Poor Spock, for the sake of Vulcan, agrees, and then is virtually raped by Kirk, right there in sickbay (he had sustained injuries in the attack), even after indicating that he's so innocent and naive he doesn't even understand what Kirk wants from him. The most disgusting part for me was that Spock never seems to hate or resent Kirk, though he is frightened by him and frustrated by his situation at times. Granted, Kirk is gentle with Spock when he chooses to be, but often has moments of inexplicable cruelty. This schizophrenic behavior is never explained. Nor is it ever clear what Spock is thinking, or why he feels affection toward Kirk. The whole situation is pathetic. The story does get better when Spock finally turns the table on the captain and dominates him sexually--which Kirk thoroughly enjoys--and results in a more equal relationship between the two. Though the lengthiest story in the zine, 'Loveslaves' is incomplete and will be continued. I wasn't disappointed, as I have no burning desire to read the remainder of the story.

1996

[The fisting] was not _implied_, it was written out very explicitly and it was indeed refused by the editor of "Duet", because said editor thought it

dangerous. It appeared, however, in "Alien Brothers" and that is where I read it. I thought it a very good story, but alas, the third part never materialised (to my knowledge).

2000

It's interesting that there would be any type of censorship in this area. If the act is nonviolent, as compared to some rape scenes, why would there be such an opposition? Now I am a woman on a mission...Alien Brothers. Probably out-of-print?

Long out of print, I think.

I wonder if I can explain the reaction at the time. We're going back a fair while, remember.

It wasn't censorship on Doreen's part as much as a zine editor's right to reject something she didn't think her readers would accept.

At the time I don't think there had been anything written in the consensual bdsm field. Certainly not printed in zines. Kirk and Spock were seen as equals. If a story involved rape, it was perpetrated on one of them by a third party; their relationship involved the comfort after rape, 'it's all right, sex really can be fun' kind of scenario. Even the Out of Bounds zines, as far as I remember, had the relationship between Kirk and Spock as pure love, no bd.

So this was a very early story in the field of bdsm.

I seem to remember a discussion about it somewhere, at the time, that pointed out how dangerous fisting could be. I don't think there were many people who thought it had anything to do with love - and the K/S relationship was seen as one of love. It was also a very early slave story, and people were seeing it as the master imposing his will on a slave who couldn't refuse, making it non-consensual. It was going into a field that had never been touched on before, at least in something that was going to be readily available to slash fans - I had heard of an underground story in America that went pretty far; the person who saw it on a visit to America said she'd been offered a copy, but that no way was she even going to -try- to walk through Customs carrying it, though she never went into any details about it.

Even now a lot of people don't care for bdsm. I don't mind mild consensual bd; I draw the line at the sm bit. Over the years since I've come across one or two fisting stories other than this one, and quite frankly I don't see what the fister can possibly get out of it or how the fistee can enjoy something that seriously risks rupturing his gut, no matter how careful the fister is.

If I was putting out a slash zine, I wouldn't accept a fisting story - at least where one of the established partners was doing it to the other - simply because I don't see it as an expression of love and I do see it as an incredibly irresponsibly dangerous thing to do to someone you love.

I hate serials, I rarely get to read all the parts, and this one was not IMHO a really good stand alone story.

I guess it's very different now, when I read that story in Alien Brothers I had previously read such violent things between them that I really could not handle. There is some positively terrible story in (I think either duet or nome???) involving a woman who likes rough sex so much she ends up being killed by a huge ape like thing raping her as I remember it also went for K or S anyhow that to me is an example of the kind of violence I cannot except. (sorry I hope none of you wrote that one or I'll feel terrible) I have also read stories where K and or S get off on hurting one another this is another thing I do not go for! I too like them best of all as loving equals...

but then again the way I saw it was as pure fantasy since no harm was done in the story I assumed none occurred I know that what you say reflects the views at the time and that is very interesting to see how we change our view of K/S as our culture changes. For instance I don't really see K/S as very illict or shocking or whatever but I know a lot of even K/S fans do... What do you all think about this issue today (fisting and other issues) I'm really curious to know how others see it all..... the rest of my comments on this reflect only my views and are NOT intended as critisizing the views held at the time or anyone's today....

Yeah there is something of this in the story worked in deliberately Spock has told himself that he will not respond to Jim sexually that way Jim will have no power over him only it never quite works Jim always turns him on. In this scene it is something Jim does to try and get a response from Spock. However there is little doubt in this scene that Spock is enjoying what is being done to him. Even that Jim is a bit shocked by what he is doing hardly able to believe that it is possible...

[...]

I have to say even as I was reading that scene in AB I was thinking that I was surprised that I didn't hate it, as a lot of things do squick me.... and some odd things very much don't (my most secrete [sic] pleasure in K/S is Spock/Spock stories !!?)

[...]

I would not want to be involved at either end (personally I hate the idea of even inserting a finger --yuck-- Funny I'm prudish for a slash fan) But the thing is I guess, that I was willing to accept in fiction what I would no way accept in RL. because in that scene Kirk was cautious and Spock both liked it and was not damaged, I just accepted that as so. We often write things we would not or could not do... Personally I'd be scared silly of Klingons or even Spock in Pon Farr....

UGH....There is a cry of frustration here. For this story, too, is a continuation. No conclusion. So what story is the ultimate ending to this saga? BTW the story repeats the original story, as well as part two, that was in T'hy'la.

As to the fist scene...interesting. Though I had visions of violence and rape, I felt quite the opposite in reading about the act. Spock's mentally seemed truly to be that of a willing partner. There were far more degrading scenes that gave me the shivers (though the acts was not that violent). However, the fist scene was in all honesty unrealistic. I must be extremely naive...but I just can't believe someone can put insert both his penis and a fist holding the penis.

2021

1/5: I hated this. I hated almost every moment of this. You can read my full descent into madness on tumblr. I had a bad time, and I wouldn't wish this fic on my worst enemies. I wish I could erase it from my mind and get back the hours I spent reading it and the years it took off my life.

Alright, it’s time. This fic is why I’m making this entire post. If you thought my review of Limits was long, you ain’t seen shit yet.

But first, a bit of background.

Loveslaves is a story in 3* parts (*keep this in mind, we’ll come back to it). The first part was originally published alongside a poem in Duet #3 in 1981, under the title Love Slave’s Song. I haven’t read the poem, so this review is only about the fic. The second part was supposed to be published in Duet #4 in 1982, but the editor rejected it because it included fisting. Yes, fisting is a Star Trek thing. We’ll come back to that too. You can read more about the history of this fic on Fanlore.

Our story begins with the space station Spock works on coming under attack. His crewmates are dead and he is taken hostage by some humans, including a captain named James Kirk. Boy oh boy, what ever shall happen next? This is a slave fic. Kirk decides he wants Spock to be his slave. Spock says no. Kirk says that if he doesn’t agree the human fleet will destroy Vulcan. Spock agrees. Kirk rapes him, then says Spock will “learn to like it”. We are only on page 2 out of 36, and I already want to murder someone. Jim comes back a little while later, he and Spock 69 and Spock enjoys it. A little loud voice in my head goes “Stockholm syndrome. This is Stockholm syndrome.” “Of course it is,” I reply. “This is a slave fic, what did you expect? Even in the year of our lord 2022 people still haven’t figured out how to make slave fics not have rape and /or Stockholm syndrome in them, it’s an inherent part of the trope”. The voice in my head shuts up, because it’s my voice, and I can tell it what to do. Anyway. We’re three pages in, and this is what we know so far:

1. Kirk is a dick

2. Kirk is a rapist

3. Kirk is a manipulative bastard

4. Kirk is obsessed with Spock and will do anything to keep him for himself

5. Spock really, really does not want to be there

6. Spock doesn’t know what sex is, which only makes the rape thing worse

Let us continue. They go to a planet to drop off their cargo including some Romulans for the slave trade. Jim doesn’t sell Spock but instead takes him as his share of the spoils, and buys him a Vulcan lyre that they find in a shop. Then, they go to a bar with McCoy, Kirk goes to fuck a lady, and Spock makes plans for escape, but he doesn’t want to leave without taking Jim with him. Unfortunately, Kirk is nearly murdered, and Spock has to put all his plans aside to save his life. They beam back to the ship and warp away. End scene.

This is the cliffhanger you would be left with if you had read Loveslaves in Duet #3. Frankly, I wouldn’t have asked for a sequel. (Then again, I wouldn’t have asked for a sequel of Shelter, and yet plenty of other fans did, so I guess I’m not really the authority on the matter.)

Now, let’s see where part II takes us. We start off real good (/s) with Jim waking up in sickbay and Spock being there to play him a song on the Vulcan lyre but Kirk instead tells him to get on his knees and suck him off and not stop even if anyone comes in. Cool /s. Spock spends the next three days while Kirk is in sickbay basically trying to avoid thinking about it. Then, Kirk comes back and shoves his entire hand inside Spock’s ass up to the elbow, and let me tell ya’, I usually don’t care much for fisting, doesn’t really do it for me, but I usually am also not bothered by it all that much. This was absolute hell to read. Just, completely horrid and disgusting. It felt filthy. I literally stopped and took a shower right after. Not Fun.

They keep fucking every morning and every night for a while until there’s this party and then Jim goes to fuck Uhura and tells Spock to stay in sickbay for the night. When Spock is finally allowed back the next evening they don’t fuck for a few days and Spock is sooooo worried about it because Stockholm syndrome. I hate it here. Then Jim almost gets assassinated and falls into depression and it turns out he found out about Spock’s escape plan from like months before at this point and he spanks Spock with his belt and then says he’s gonna sell him, and Spock gets really mad about this, not because he doesn’t want to be a slave but because he only wants to be Kirk’s slave, so he straight up. Just. He rapes Kirk. That happens.

Comeuppance, I guess? So then Kirk starts to enjoy it, because of course he does, and I still wish I was doing literally anything else. Then! Then, he makes Kirk “bath him with his tongue”, cause his dick is “still damn and musky from its sojourn inside Kirk’s body”, and I seriously considered just putting the fic down. But the incomplete review will haunt me forever, and I must tell you everything or else you might seek it out yourself. I’m not kidding with the title, I read this so that you don’t. Please. Spare yourself.

Continuing on with the horrid monstrosity that is this fic, apparently going through that whole ordeal made them fall in love more and now they do CNC. Yes, this fic obsessed with rape is now still obsessed with rape but this time it’s consensual. God, are we close to the end yet?

The answer is “eh… Kinda? We still have seven pages left to go”. So let’s continue.

So now Kirk and Spock are fully in love and heading back to earth for plot reasons. Kirk gets promoted to Fleet Captain and the Enterprise finally appears (before they were on a ship called the Vengeance). Now, the fic spends two pages worldbuilding and doing actual plot stuff, becomes good for like half a page, and then we’re right back to trash when Spock suddenly goes missing after Kirk spent the night drinking with Gary Mitchell (who was about to assassinate him) and fucking Areel Shaw (I’m so fucking tired). Kirk decides to give up everything and steal the Enterprise to go after Spock. End of part two.

Part three begins and we find out the Spock was kidnapped and the escaped and he’s waiting for Kirk to find him. We get half a page that seems promising, almost actually good, and then a to be continued, which, well. Alien Brothers had a very poor reception, to say the least, so it never got a sequel, so Loveslaves never got completed, so I am finally free and never have to think about this fic ever again.

I think it’s pretty obvious how I feel about this fic. For all that it was well written and didn’t have any typos, it’s still quite possibly the worst fic I have ever read in my life. It’s the only fic I’ve rated 1/5 on my K/S fic list, and that’s saying something. It’s rated lower than any fic I had ever bothered to rate. I’m gonna spend the next couple of days reading coffeeshop AUs and trying to bleach my eyes and cleans my soul with those. Thank you.