Passages (Star Trek: TOS zine)

Zine
Title:	Passages
Publisher:	Pulsar Press
Editor:
Author(s):	Susan K. James
Cover Artist(s):	Merle Decker
Illustrator(s):	Merle Decker
Date(s):	1978
Medium:	print
Size:
Genre:	gen, H/C
Fandom:	Star Trek: TOS
Language:	English
External Links:
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Passages is a Kirk-Spock gen H/C 128-page novel by Susan K. James. Art by Merle Decker.

front cover by Merle Decker

It did not require an age statement to purchase.

Summaries

From a blurb in Scuttlebutt #8:

"Passages" is a novel that traces Kirk's journey through "the darker side of nightmare", Spock, Uhura and McCoy's journey at his side.

From a flyer in Galactic Discourse #2:

"Passages" is a psychological novel of pain and loss, love and commitment, triumph and tragedy for Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Uhura and the crew of the Enterprise.

From a fan on ebay:

From one of the authors who brought us the K/S classic, Nightvisions, comes a tale of triumph over despair. Captain James Kirk is injured during a diplomatic mission, requiring the amputation of both of his legs. Filled with pain and loss, Jim slips deeper into depression, rejecting the help of his crew and closest friends. Can Spock and Bones help their Captain regain his self-esteem ... and command of his 'Silver Lady'?

Flyer

flyer

Gallery

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Reactions and Reviews

1978

Ms. James wasted no time getting into her story. The reader was thrust through the action and past it almost before there was time to savor the excitement of Captain Kirk's peril. Then there is a leisurely paced examination of everyone's feelings. One gets the impression that the words are there to impede rather than advance the plot.

I objected to several things in the story. From my mildest to severest criticism, these were the fatal flaws:

1. I found the spectacle of Captain Kirk falling down drunk in front of his crew distasteful. I realize a man who has been ill or injured could misjudge his capacity for alcohol, and natural diffidence would tend to keep crew members from telling Kirk he's had enough. Still surely someone would care enough to keep Kirk from an excess which would prove so painfully embarrassing.

2. Possibly it's just a silly prejudice of mine, but I don't think a woman should try to combine the roles of subordinate and lover. The boss/secretary, teacher/student, or captain/lieutenant relationship includes a sexual involvement as an awkward complication. The love scenes were well done, however.

3. There is a tie for third place since I don't know which I find more objectionable — the unbelievability of the aliens (they were totally unconvincing) or the predictability of the boat accident (why would Spock and Kirk go off totally alone, if not to set up a situation where Kirk would have to rescue Spock?)

4. My fourth objection is the tantrum Kirk throws in his quarters, breaking everything in sight. My son used to behave that way sometimes until he gained some maturity and self-control. He's ten years old.

5. But by far the worst fault of Passages is the extreme self-pity Kirk exhibits. I might expect some private despair or even secret thoughts of suicide, but to openly wallow in misery, dragging his friends into his own morass of grief is not only unworthy of a hero, it is less than I would expect of any adult faced with extreme physical disability.

I rate it a 3 out of 10. It would have been worse without Merle Decker's able illustrating.