Ni Var for a Desert Rose

Star Trek TOS Fanfiction
Title:	Ni Var for a Desert Rose
Author(s):	Juanita Salicrup
Date(s):	1978
Length:
Genre:	het
Fandom:	Star Trek: The Original Series
External Links:
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Ni Var for a Desert Rose is an explicit het Star Trek: TOS story by Juanita Salicrup.

the art for this story is by Alice Jones: this image has been minimized

It was printed in The Other Side of Paradise #3

Controversy

The first page of the story where it ironically states that "sections in small type quoted [are] from Amok Time by Theodore Sturgeon ©Paramount" -- these words are used presumably without permission.

In a personal statement, Leslye Lilker referenced this story's part in a controversy due to the unauthorized use by another fan of a word Lilker had previously created:

I would also like to answer a question that has been cropping up frequently in my mail since the publication of THE SENSUOUS VULCAN. In [that] 'zine appears a story entitled "The Way of a Warrior" by Karen Lewis. The author has used "Valjn'd'jt", the name of Sarek's home in the Sahaj universe, despite a request not to. I am not Karen Lewis (a pseudonym). I did read the story before publication, and, for my answer to "The Way of a Warrior", please read "Nivar [sic] to a Desert Rose", to appear in THE OTHER SIDE. Send s.a.s.e. to Amy Falkowitz [address redacted] for information.

Lilker was to have been the author of the story in "The Other Side of Paradise":

Juanita's lovely story (and I think it's one of the best that she's written—but then, I have to admit to being biased--) has an interesting background. It was originally to be written by Leslye Lilker. In fact, it was even maybe going to be a Sahaj story (and I love Sahaj!). But somehow it didn't work, and instead, it went through an odd but beautiful transformation in the mind of Juanita Salicrup to become what is presented herein. I hope you find it as lovely and enjoyable as I do.

See more about this controversy at Valjn'd'jt to Val'jn'jt: The Universe Becomes Fanon.

Reactions and Reviews

A nicely-done version of the Koon-ut-Kalifee in which Stonn bails instead of challenging as he and T'Pring had planned, and Spock and T'Pring are joined. The newlyweds' relationship is naturally complicated by their awareness of each other's previous attachments - to Leila and Stonn - not to mention the fact that they pretty much despise one another. But they manage to effect a sweet reconciliation.

Juanita Salicrup gives us a beautiful perspective from Spock and T'Pring’s point of view in 'Ni Var for a Desert Rose.’ In this alternate universe, T’Pring does not challenge. She marries Spock, and she and her husband must come to terms with one another physically, emotionally, and in their thoughts of one another.... Alice Jones did a superb T'pring/Spock coupling.

After waiting so anxiously and such a long time (a year and a half) for a zine, I suppose some disappointment was inevitable. Unfortunately, TOSOP is more than just slightly disappointing. Having, in this case, is not so pleasing as wanting. The x-rated part, The Other Side, contains only three stories. Two of them are fairly standard Spock-and-a-Vulcan woman. T'Pring is the woman in one; and I suppose there is a point to the other, though I couldn't find it.

[snipped]

The artwork ranges from adequate to quite good. Edith Crowe's work is always a delight and [Gayle F's] cover is up to her usual standards. but the whole zine, 'The Other Side' in particular, suffers greatly from appears to be a distressing lack of proofreading. ('mail' for 'male'?!). This is the sort of thing that jumps up and hits me in the face, and makes it difficult, if not impossible, for me to enjoy reading something, even if I would have otherwise. The presence of the missing Alice Jones illos for 'Ni Var for a Desert Rose' wouldn't have helped that situation at all. We all know about the problems there were with lost manuscripts, artwork, etc.; but the deficiencies in the zine just can't all be blamed on these difficulties. Perhaps the editors simply lost interest.