Mirrored Passion Redux

K/S Fanfiction
Title:	Mirrored Passion Redux
Author(s):	Shelley Butler
Date(s):	1993
Length:
Genre:	slash
Fandom:	Star Trek: The Original Series
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Mirrored Passion Redux is a Kirk/Spock story by Shelley Butler.

It was published in the print zine Otherwhere/Otherwhen #3.

Summary

"A/U: The transfer to the M/U lasts 3 days and in that time both Spock and Kirk believe that they have fallen in love with each otherʼs counterparts."

First a Short Story, Then a Longer One

In August 1993, Alexis Fegan Black wrote:

There are definite differences between novels and short stories — differences writers most definitely need to be aware of. My personal rule of thumb is that any short story can be turned into a novel. But not any novel can be turned into a short story.

For example, when Shelley Butler first sent me her short story, Mirrored Passion [for my zine Naked Times #26], my first response was, "This can be a wonderful novel." Ah, but it was also a wonderful short story. Shelley was able to do what many writers can't — which is that she was able to condense down the core idea and compress it into short story form. But, to my delight, when I asked her if she'd write the novel and she agreed, the novel, Mirrored Passion Redux turned out to be all I had hoped for. In the short story, Shelley showed us what happened.

In the novel, she expanded on the idea to show us more of how it happened, the background on the characters and their reaction to the events, and how it would ultimately not only change their lives, but would even change Empires and Federations. The idea was such that it could be both, which is my point about short stories.

Reactions and Reviews

I have to preface this review by saying I'm not a big fan of Mirror stories. Although I can see the appeal for some of these characters-after all Spock is VERY sexy with a beard- the Spock that would inflict an agonizer on a fellow being is not the Spock I have admired, and well...loved for all these years. Yet this story has some very interesting elements. First, this author writes extremely vividly. Her characters, Eric Joachim, the singer who captivates and enslaves audiences for one, are well-drawn and fascinating people. (He reminds me of the main character in Orson Scott Card's excellent science-fiction novel THE SONG BIRD.) Secondly, Shelley will never be accused of writing bland sex scenes. They positively sizzle!! One problem I had: Kirk falls so in love with the Mirror Spock he regrets returning to "our universe. This doesn't quite ring true to me. To quote Paul Newman, on his relationship with his wife and whether he was ever tempted to infidelity: "Why go out for hamburger when you can have steak at home?" OUR Spock is definitely "steak at home".

This is a repeat of a story in NT 20 with a third character thrown in to extend it. It's somewhat choppy as a result. I would rather have read the third character story as a separate story because I lost some motivation of the characters in the transition. Erick's mind control through his singing and, apparently, telepathy should have been explained a little more, especially the long lasting effects, In the au, someone like Erick would already be ruling somewhere.