New Minglewood Blues

Fanfiction
Title:	New Minglewood Blues
Author(s):	Greywolf the Wanderer
Date(s):	September 1997
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:
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New Minglewood Blues is a Kirk/Spock story by Greywolf the Wanderer.

It is an alternate universe slavefic.

It was first posted to alt.startrek.creative in 1997.

This story was the winner of an ASC Award.

Summary

After twelve years enslaved and apart, Kirk and Spock have been free and together for a few months now. Their losses are heavy -- but they have a ship and they're *free*. Then one day as they're about to leave port, they pick up an Orion raider on scan -- with a bunch of non-Orion lifesigns in its belly holds.

The Trilogy

It is part of a trilogy, all of which were later published in the print zine, Songs of the Dirhja where it has much art.

• Deep Elem Blues
• New Minglewood Blues
• Morning Dew

Summary

Reunited at last, Kirk and Spock try to make a new life as Free Traders. They know that they are changed by their long years of servitude they can never serve in Starfleet again. But they cannot stand by and see others enslaved when they might help. And there is always the the chance that Kirk's former Master !M'sh!w'he, is looking for him.

Author's Introduction

Intro: This story is the sequel to Deep Elem Blues. It is an alternate universe that branched off from TOS just before the end of the first 5 year mission. It is rated PG-13 for violence and for the subject of slavery and its effects.

OBdisclaim: Paramount/Viaborg is god; it owns the whole damn Trekiverse including Kirk and Spock -- but I'm gonna play with 'em a while, anyhow. Keep a copy of this if ye like -- but don't put it on yer website unless you ask and I agree, and don't try selling it -- and keep this disclaimer, and the name of Greywolf the Wanderer, attached, please.

As for comments, please do! All I ask, since the 'Net is getting so damned flaky, is that you mail me a copy of them at [redacted]. Feel free to post 'em as well -- but the way it's been lately, they probably won't reach me unless they're mailed as well. <sighs> Constructive crit is welcome, raves adored; flames divert to alt.dev.null...

No naughty bits in this one, the boys got shy -- but there's a bit of schmaltz at the end ;-)>

Took me a long time to finish this one -- but I think it was worth the wait... Oh, yeah. This story was brought to you by the music of Kashtin, the Due South album, the Yes album Relayer -- and, of course, the letters K & S Enjoy!

The Original Posting at alt.startrek.creative

• part one
• part two
• part three
• part four
• part five
• part six

Reactions and Reviews

Many More Comments at "Songs of the Dirhja"

See many more comments at Songs of the Dirhja.

1997

Well, I just feel like New Minglewood Blues is a big work that deserves more comment.

The brightest little moment I remember -- the one that pops into my head nowadays for no reason -- is Kirk saying, "Hey. You, with the ears..." In such a dark story, bits like this really stand out.

There's something about this whole perspective on Kirk and Spock, so tired and so damaged, that moves me. When I watch Spock die in "The Wrath of Khan" it moves me, but he returns from the dead and life goes on and not much changes. In Greywolf's A/U, on the other hand, the boys come back from years and years of hell, and life goes on but nothing will ever be the same again. For me, it's a more meaningful kind of survival.

I was also struck by the depth of honesty between this Kirk and this Spock. They have nothing left to lose -- they already lost each other and got each other back -- so they say what they think and what they feel and don't agonize over the possibility of being misunderstood. How often do we get to read a story like that, showing that level of communication along with a plausible explanation of how they reached that level?

Another comment: I liked Sek'hel, and the details that fleshed him out. I liked seeing Kirk and Spock through the eyes of a young male Vulcan, someone who would watch them as keenly as I would if I were there.

Anyway, I'm tired and I have to go to bed. I liked the story a lot. I respectfully ask for a third installment in the saga. (Although, Greywolf, I have to say, if you're compelled to spend your time producing more treats

like "Better Than Coffee", I won't be complaining. That was hot shit.) -- Geoffrey

1998

Also, although I personally find slash distasteful, I have read Greywolf's "Deep Ellum Blues" and "New Minglewood Blues." Again, because they received raves. And again I was surprised and delighted. I *did* skip over the slashy bits, and found his versions of Kirk and Spock nearly unrecognizable, but the writing itself was so powerful, vivid, masterful, and compelling that I *had* to read them once I started. And I'm glad I did, too.

One of the first TOS-Stories I read. I really liked the way K and S are depicted here. I usually don't like K/S, but this story was great. It shows again, that sometime "less is more". The changes to the charakters were believable. If they really had to go through what happened to them, I can imagine them becoming like this.

It's doubtful that I'm the only one who thinks that Greywolf's portrayals of

Kirk and Spock are right on the money, so I won't get into that area in this post. I have something better to discuss. :) Most fanfic writers create original characters; but what do we do with them? We make them into love interests, or portray them as one-dimensional villians, or barely portray them at all - the Ensign Expendable syndrome. Greywolf has however in this story created a new character by name of Sek'hel. He's a young Vulcan boy who plans to become a musician but whom was kidnapped by slave traders. Perhaps the story was meant to show hurt/comfort between Spock and Kirk; but I found myself more and more worried about and interested in Sek'hel

and his fate. He's insecure, unsure of himself, yet he has an essential goodness that almost forces you to care about him. Kirk and Spock have been slaves before; they're old; they've had lives. But the boy? It's too bad that Sek'hel has to go back to his family; I thought him such a compelling character that I'd like to see him come back in Greywolf's next instalment.

Someone's already said it all, I'm sure, but New Minglewood strikes one with its reality and its surreality at once. The universe seems unreal after the Star Trek we are used to (unless we were just watching DS9's "Hard Time") -- and yet, the characters ring so true that the whole thing becomes believable. Sek'hel (sp?) especially is a VERY strong original character. He manages to be complex and yet clear to the reader without dominating the story; he's well woven in. I, too, am disappointed to lose him -- he set off some of Kirk's and Spock's qualities nicely... The use of bonding and mind-meld is well handled here, as is the relationship (or non-Relationship -- it IS a relationship, just not a smutty one) between Kirk and Spock -- there's several ways to interpret them, and this is one of the best angles I've seen on a non-sexual or relatively non-sexual love relationship I've seen... recently, at all :)

2013

“New Minglewood Blues” gives us little respite from the harrowing ride commenced in part one. While both men battle their own demons and debilities, some of their old indomitable spirit is rekindled and we quickly learn just how much it will be needed. They agree an attempt to return to their old life is implausible for many reasons. While they engage in new pursuits the reader is treated to insights about both visible and invisible consequences of the past twelve years and how they learn to deal with them. This is hurt-comfort at its most fulfilling, but it is never maudlin. Ever-present is the fierce loyalty toward each other that nothing has been able to diminish. Love is there, expressed in many subtle and touching ways. There is seldom a page in which that special feeling fails to shine through.

I especially enjoyed the manner in which Greywolf handled their ability to mind-touch. So often this is symbolically and abstractly written to the extreme and can be distractive to me, but in this novel it is used as the means of communication easiest for Spock to manage in his damaged state. They simply talk through the link, and it’s immensely satisfying for all concerned.

This section shows us that while they are content to live a life away from their former responsibilities, they are not immune to the suffering of others and they do not stand idly by when they stumble upon a group of men and women who have been captured and are on their way to the same life of slavery that Kirk and Spock endured. Once again we are given a glimpse into what made these men the best in Starfleet. But something goes terribly wrong. It is just such an ever-changing variety of situations and diverse original characters (but not too many) that keeps you turning pages.

References