Reflections on a Lunar Landscape

Fanfiction
Title:	Reflections on a Lunar Landscape
Author(s):	Jenna Sinclair
Date(s):	1992
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:	online here
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

Reflections on a Lunar Landscape is a Kirk/Spock story by Jenna Sinclair.

It was published in the print zines Counterpoint #7 and Setting Course.

Summary

"Spockʼs jealousy is expressed in a display of dominance after Kirk flirts with a woman and then attempts sexual intercourse with his lover that night."

Series

• Sharing the Sunlight
• Reflections on a Lunar Landscape
• Pursuing Hyacinths
• Heart's Delight
• Primal Scream
• Parallel Courses
• Double Trouble
• Son of Sarek
• Promises to Keep
• Setting Course
• Jagged Edges
• Manna
• Journey’s End
• One Night
• In the Shade

Reactions and Reviews

1992

When I waited for the sequel to SHARING THE SUNLIGHT, I thought of a novel and was surprised to find in COUNTERPOINT as a short story. What a wonderful idea, to write a series of sequels! So we can hear from this universe again and again -- perhaps there will be one day even another novel..... "Reflections on a Lunar Landscape" is as perfectly written as STS and it was wonderful to share Kirk's and Spock's new relationship again: not the sweet "honeymoon", but this time the "green-eyed monster". It made me smile, when I read the sentence "Sometimes sexuality gets disconnected from all the fine emotions that authors write about." (p. 124). A really nice discussion of Human and Vulcan needs.

Rich and vivid writing. I think it's quite odd that three months have passed and Kirk and Spock haven't told McCoy yet. Spock's jealousy over Diana not very realistic, although a good point was made, about inappropriate sexual responses. I didn't care for their "foreplay" in the first sex scene. Too much rational talk drains away erotic tension. Second sex scene much better: interesting power-plays; lovely and rather harsh. I question use of "Jim" instead of "Kirk" by narrator. If it hadn't been mentioned that this story is a continuation of SHARING THE SUNLIGHT, I wouldn't question that nothing much plot-wise outside the relationship was really happening in the story. But it was mentioned, and I did question. I expected some story-line from the novel to come into this story and continue to develop, but it didn't.

1995

Kirk and Spock are new lovers in this continuation of Jenna's "STS" universe. The plot is a simple one — so what's really focused on is K and S's relationship as it develops and as they learn about each other. They are asked to dinner, planet side, by an old friend of Kirk's and the man's girlfriend. During this dinner, Kirk connects with the girlfriend, has an immediate rapport, and they spend most of the evening engaged in conversation with just each other.

Spock's emotions get stirred up as he wrestles with his conflicting feelings of jealousy and possessiveness. The dinner scene, as Spock slowly realizes what's happening, is finely detailed and very carefully done. Spock observes the pair as if through a window, looking in from the outside. The emotional tone was perfectly done, replete with intimate gestures, establishing the building pain and jealousy. Because this scene is so strong, it sets up Spock's reaction very well and completely justifies his response. How satisfying to have a good, believable reason for Spock, as a Vulcan, to feel like this. This is a Vulcan in love.

The entire scene was expertly done from Spock's POV, including some small, but excruciatingly painful moments that he would comment on. "After that, every 'Jim' and every 'Diana' could not help but explode in Spock's ear, despite his best efforts to tune out the conversation." And this: "Jim took her [the girlfriend] hand in his, and bowed gallantly over it. Spock waited for him to kiss the slender fingers, but at least he was spared that unseemly and idiotic gesture from Earth's past." Later, on board the Enterprise as they get ready for bed, the tension builds. Kirk was so realistically portrayed as he undresses and merrily talks about the evening, oblivious to Spock's internal seething. The subsequent discussion and argument, once Spock confesses his anger, was expressed with terrific dialogue—at once biting and loving. The scene is so well crafted and so believable that it's painful to listen in on. You want to yell: "Make up! Please! He didn't mean it!" However, when Spock begins to get in touch with his "possessive Vulcan" mode, one hopes they have more arguments like that more often. I think I had to fan myself when Spock exhibited that "predatory gaze". "He held Jim still with the Vulcan strength which he had regulated from the day he had left his father's home, then pulled him up unto his knees." This is only one example of how fine the writing is in this story. What a clever way to show an aspect of Spock's personality and a little of his background in just one sentence. "Reflections" is a wonderful gem of a story and definitely worth seeking out the earlier zine that it's in.

1998

Another story in the Sharing of the Sunlight Universe. While waiting for repair of the Enterprise. Kirk and Spock meet an old friend, their teacher on the Academy Allen Stewart. Kirk and Allen's friend Diana Featherstone, are in an animated talk about shared interests in the history of the colonization of the moon. Diana's ancestors were pioneers there and she has a lot of interesting information about that subject and Kirk is excited, Spock is first annoyed, then jealous. He feels neglected, and when, after returning to the Enterprise. Kirk wants to make love with him, he becomes very angry. He doesn't want to be a substitute just to still the sexual needs of his friend, aroused by another, as he says. That makes Kirk very angry, because he is accused falsely. They argue for a while and then decide to go to sleep, both still angry. To Spock's dismay his desire for Kirk is strong, and Spock makes love to Kirk aggressively. Afterwards he is ashamed with the vehemence of his emotions. When Kirk notices that, he tries to explain human sexuality and Spock's reactions.

It is a difficult story to review, because there is not much happening really. Most important is the way Spock is dealing with his feelings and how Kirk is reacting. Not always as understandable as he wants, but as he says to Spock, I am only human. We really witness here Spock's struggling with the (for him) alien human behavior, and with Spock we finally can accept the differences between Human and Vulcan, and this argument brings them closer together As all the stories in this Universe, lovely told, with good characterization of the two, and of course the sex is good and tasty, as always.

1999

REFLECTIONS ON A LUNAR LANDSCAPE focuses on jealousy. There’s something quite unforgettable about the way an invitation for Kirk and Spock to dine with an old friend turns into a lively conversation between the captain and the old friend’s stunning wife! It seems she’s a very stimulating person who attract the history buff in Kirk, thoroughly monopolizing him for the remainder of the evening. Actually the monopoly is two-sided but unfortunately never expand to include the husband or Spock. The Vulcan, not yet accustomed to being a lover, is furious when they return to their quarters. Hurt and betrayed, he turns to some very aggressive lovemaking to express his new-found feelings. “Fucking”, he unexpectedly calls it. Wow.

2012

As Reflections opens, Kirk and Spock have been lovers for about 3 months, since the events of Sharing the Sunlight, for the completists among us, and are, to Spock's wonder, 'building a life together'. Jenna has a lovely way of recapping: we are with Spock as he reflects on life changes whilst awaiting Jim's arrival and taking a rather erotic shower...(phew!) Just prior to this scene, there are wonderful undercurrents as we see and enjoy an exchange between Spock and McCoy, and learn that Spock has been sneezing. Of course, this, too, ties in with Spock's new lifestyle! And, then, a gorgeous, intimate love scene with plenty of sweet, sexy foreplay and relaxed chat before and after....

But the memorable parts of the story occur later: the two lovers are invited to share a meal with Allen Stewart, an old Academy instructor and his date, Diana, a history devotee. During the meal, Kirk talks almost exclusively to Diana about the early lunar explorations, and Spock is very uncomfortable, even worried by this. He tries to listen, but has to talk to Stewart and we see his discomfort clearly. I was struck by how well Jenna captures Kirk/Shatner's speech patterns: get this: ' "I've been to the first settlement museum" he said quickly, the staccato beat of his voice betraying his intensity, "when I was just a kid..."

The meal, alas, seems very long to Spock as he sees Jim's behaviour as somewhat rude and uncomfortably close to flirting. Eventually, they regain their quarters on the ship and Jim is oblivious.... He tries to initiate love making and poor Spock feels that his lover's arousal stems from the company of the woman at the restaurant. The scenes then are detailed and clear, Spock's insecurity is appealing and Jim is a tad too defensive.

The difficulty that we had was that Spock's feelings, we felt, were spot on: Kirk DID act badly during the meal and his excuses are, well, a little thin. Does he know that he's behaved less than satisfactorily, to say the least? This is really not doing justice to this pivotal scene as Jenna controls it all so-o well, and by the end, their relationship has strengthened and changed. They talk about the role of sex in a long term relationship, anger, frustration and at one point, it's Jim who demonstrates some insecurity of his own. I love how Jenna does this! You must read it now to see this..