Sahaj Collected

Zine
Title:	Sahaj Collected
Publisher:	Sasashar Press, (in 1986, T'Kuhtian Press had permission to copy and distribute these zines/parts of these zines)
Editor(s):	Leslye Lilker
Date(s):	December 1977
Series?:	Yes
Medium:	print zine
Size:
Genre:	gen
Fandom:	Star Trek: TOS
Language:	English
External Links:	some stories are online here
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

front cover by Alice Jones

back cover by P.S. Nim

Sahaj Collected is a gen Star Trek: TOS 202-page anthology, one that won a 1978 FanQ at awarded at T'Con, the second ever given out. The stories are mostly by Leslye Lilker about Spock's son Sahaj. Most of them first appeared in IDIC.

Cover: Alice Jones; back cover: P.S. Nim. The interior art is by Leslye Lilker, Alice Jones (possibly), Gee Moaven, P.S. Nim and Signe Landon.

Contents

• [Editorial] by Leslye Lilker (1)
• untitled poem by Lucy Miner (2)
• Loved I Not Honor More by Trinette L. Kern (3)
• Discovery, poem by Marian Kelly (20)
• Interlude by Leslye Lilker (21)
• The Ambassador's Son by Leslye Lilker (reprinted from IDIC #1) (23)
• Apologies from a Smoocha, poem by Juanita Salicrup (82)
• Without Pomp or Circumstance by Leslye Lilker (reprinted from Beyond Orion #2) (83)
• The Inquiry, poem by Trinette Kern (92)

• No One on this Planet Looks at Rainbows by Leslye Lilker (reprinted from Off the Beaten Trek #3) (94)
• untitled poem by Trinette Kern (102)
• It's Boring by Leslye Lilker (103)
• It's Boring! filk by Trinette Kern (111)
• The Price of a Thousand Horses... by Leslye Lilker (rewritten version of "The Bonding" published in IDIC #2) (113)
• Twilight and Evening Bells, poem by ? (143)
• Twilight and Evening Bells by Leslye Lilker (reprinted from IDIC #3) (145)
• The Son; Wanting; Haiku for Sahaj, poems by Trinette Kern (172)
• untitled poem by Lucy Miner (173)
• Patient Child, poem by Trinette Kern (174)
• And Watch 'Til Daylight Comes by Leslye Lilker (reprinted from IDIC #3) (175)
• Reflections and Recall, poem by Trinette Kern (190)
• The Lesson by Leslye Lilker (reprinted from IDIC #4) (191)
• Vulcan Plains [filk to the tune of Neil Diamond's "Brooklyn Roads"] by Trinette Kern (201)
• untitled poem by W. Fisher (202)

Sample Gallery

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  P.S. Nim

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  Alice Jones

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  Marian Kelly

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  sample text

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  P.S. Nim

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  P.S. Nim

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  P.S. Nim

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  P.S. Nim

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  filk

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  Signe Landon

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  Leslye Lilker

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  Signe Landon

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  Gee Moaven

The Second Issue that Wasn't

Lilker wrote of the series in 1978 in a personal statement:

After IDIC #6, I plan to hibernate for an indefinite period of time. Although plans are not definite yet, I will probably come out of hiding with Sahaj Collected #2, and, hopefully, one or two or three Trek novels that have been buzzing around my poor overworked brain for the last two years. To you Sahaj fans, I promise to finish the stories (blood oath).

In 1983, she wrote a blurb in Universal Translator #17:

'Sahaj Collected' 2 has been shelved indefinitely, although plans for future 'Sahaj' stories have not been abandoned. If you wish, send a legal-size SASE to be kept on file for further developments.

In 1984, the zine was apparently on again, though this time it was to be reprints rather than new fiction. From the proposed zine section of Universal Translator #22:

'Sahaj Collected II' will be a reprint of all of the Sahaj stories, artwork (mostly by A. Jones), cartoons, filks, and poems that appeared in IDIC #6/7/8, which is sold out. The larger the print run, the lower the final price. 'Sahaj Collected II' will go to print as soon as 100 confirmed orders are received. There is nothing new in this issue and is intended only for those who missed out on 'IDIC' 6/7/8. Aprox. 50 pages.

This zine was never published.

The Third Issue that Wasn't

Lilker intended to write new Sahaj fiction and publish it in a second collected issue. That second collected issue morphed into a proposed zine of reprints. The third proposed issue was to be more original fiction. This zine was never published.

From Universal Translator #22 in 1984, Lilker had this in the proposed zine section:

'Sahaj Collected III': This issue wasn't supposed to exist, but in drafting the final 'Sahaj' novel, 'And Straight On 'Til Morning', I've come to realize that many of the references in the novel are to Sahaj stories that exist only in my mind, or in drafted scenes, or outlines that undoubtedly will never see publication as a whole. This issue will not contain completed stories. What you will be getting, in essence, will be a sharing of my notes, unpublished vignettes, cartoons, and thoughts on the Sahaj universe between The Bronze Cord and 'And Straight on 'Til Morning' -- about ten years of Sahaj's life. May also contain some new A. Jones artwork.

2015 Update

IT IS NOW 2015 AND SAHAJ IS BACK! SOME OF THESE OLDER STORIES HAVE BEEN REVISED, SOME ARE STILL AVAILABLE AS IS, AND SEVERAL NEW STORIES HAVE BEEN WRITTEN. FOR MORE INFORMATION EMAIL [email protected] -- better late than never, right? -- From SAHAJ'S MAMA.

Reactions and Reviews

1977

The ST fanzine readership's taste is becoming ever more sophisticated as our writers strive to become better and better. This is making it harder for new writers to break into print in our field, a mixed blessing. Leslye has received a lot of hissing, boos, and jeers fro her very clumsy, very juvenile first Sahaj stories, and I'm sure many, many people lost whatever regard they had for my tastes when I promoted the early IDICs so vigorously. So it is important that all of you obtain and read 'The Forging' and ponder just exactly what the difference is between Leslye's style then and now. It is misfortunate that she is rewriting those early attempts. If you haven't read the original IDIC, try to get it. If you are just beginning to write -- or just beginning to edit -- a fanzine, you can learn a lot from this study. The early IDICs, the first Sahaj stories, are a pure example of a towering talent in the raw. 'The Forging' is the culmination of a line of maturation for that raw talent. The Sahaj series will soon be available collected, (and I hope that the unrewritten versions can be made available on request to students) is the most striking example fandom has yet produced of the transformation of the gangling amateur into a threshold professional writer. Leslye has my undying gratitude for having proved my confidence in her justified. 'The Forging' is the best ST novel I've read this year.

1978

SAHAJ COLLECTED is at the printers as I write this. All of Leslie Lilkers brilliantly perceptive Sahaj stories, with art by Alice Jones, M.C. Kelly, P.S. Nim, and Signe Landon... If you know SAHAJ, I don't need to tell you anything. And if you don't, for heaven's sake, where have you been?

SAHAJ COLLECTED is a marvelously done collection of stories (mostly by Leslye Lilker), which deal with Spock's son, Sahaj. The stories are based on the theory that Spock had a brief encounter, brought on pan farr , with a female Vulcan ambassador. He fathered a child, but had no knowledge of his son's existence until the boy was ten years old, when the ambassador, T'Marr, dies. The stories herein are absolutely delightful, and give a wonderful portrayal of a ten year old Vulcan boy and his father who is -- surprised -- to say the very least at the discovery that he has just become a father, ten years after the fact. The artwork throughout is absolutely beautiful. Most of the art in this zine is by Alice Jones, Signe Landon and Gee Moaven, who are all to be complimented on their talents.

These stories originally appeared in the zine IDIC. They fall into what can be called the "alternate universe" stories as they postulate that through some unusual circumstances, Spock wound up with a son, Sahaj. The first story in this series, "Loved I Not Honour More" by Trinette Kern, explains how all this came about and goes back to Spock's days with Pike. It's a very good story. "The Ambassador's Son", in which Spock first meets Sahaj when the boy is already ten years old, is even better. The writing on these stories is some of the best fan fiction, and among the illos the ones by Alice Jones are the best in the fan fiction zines. Some people are put off by this concept but it is worked out very well and handled quite believably. For good writing and entertainment it rates high. RATING 9 out of 10

This zine is a must for all Sahaj fen and also for those of you who are not sure whether to like this or not and who missed the first few IDICs. Leslie (sic) has done a magnificent job of rewriting 'The Ambassador's Son' which was one of the first Sahaj tales and rather clumsy. The rewrite is great ( If elt like I was reading a different tale.) 'Loved I Not Honour More' is by Trinette Kern and tells us just who what T'Mar (Sahaj's mother) was -- and how Spock got tangled up with her... she is not someone you will like. And most of the other stories from IDICs #1-3 are included herein, with illos by P.S. Nim, Alice Jones, and Signe Landon -- and all of them are good to excellent. Oh, my only complaint is that Les still hasn't really resolved the mystery of the Smoocha -- the cuddly little panda-like creature Sahaj becomes attached to -- with many misfortunes resulting. Anyway, if you haven't discovered The Kid, here's your chance to do so.

Who is Sahaj? Sahaj is Spock's son. You didn't know Spock had a son? Well, neither did he. The sequence of events that led to Sahaj's conception is told in the first story "Loved I Not Honour More." As a lieutenant, Spock, under the command of Captain Christopher Pike, had led a routine science survey party on Jakobbi h when their camp was ambushed by Teresak Pirates. The Enterprise was surveying on the other side of the planetary system at the time, and by the time they received the emergency SOS signal and headed back, the Pirates had already taken prisoners and left the ruined area. Spock had been one of the few "lucky" enough to have been taken hostage, rather than killed on the spot. Yet, even at top warp speed, it took the Enterprise 70 hours to catch up with the Pirates' vessel - enough time to torment and kill the captives. With mixed emotions, Captain Pike and Chief Surgeon Phil Boyce search the enemy ship after a successful boarding attempt. Of course, they find Spock, but not the Spock they knew, After healing the physical wounds, Spock still cannot seem to heal his mental hurts.

As the weeks pass, Spock be comes more and more restless. As a last resort. Captain Pike sends Spock down to the planet Ventura for a needed R&R, and to substitute for Pike at a diplomatic reception at the Vulcan Embassy. At the reception he meets the attractive Vulcan ambassador, T'Marr. As the reception draws to a close, Spock realises that he has been illogically attracted to her all evening. As he gives her the formal goodbye, she requests that he stay. Later, in her private chambers, poor, naïve, Spock is confronted by the fact that Pon Farr has started. The effects of the torture that he had endured with the Pirates had apparently induced a very early Pon Parr. But it does not last long, and Spock is ready to leave with the Enterprise the next morning. But T'Marr is not ready to let him go. She wants him to stay, as her attaché. He cannot, and when he leaves she requests that he not enter her life again.

Spock does not learn of his son's existence until 10 years later. T'Marr had died of an incurable disease and the Enterprise is commissioned to take Sahaj to Vulcan where he can be adopted. Sahaj puts two said two together and figures out that Spock is his father. It takes Spock a while longer, but he, too, comes to the same conclusion. And their problems have just started.

During their brief trip to Vulcan, Sahaj manages to get him self into everything. And not just small things. For just an example, Sahaj activates (accidentally) a Red Alert, puts a whole section on zero gravity (accidentally), and damages a shuttlecraft (accidentally). Plus a myriad of smaller incidents that keep the whole crew- busy. Now bear in mind that Sahaj is only ten years old and he has inherited his father's insatiable curiosity and you can imagine the situations he gets himself into.

Spock must break the news to Sarek that he is now a Grandfather, Amanda is overjoyed at the news, but Sarek sees one big challenge. For Sahaj has not been properly trained in Vulcan ways. His respect for his elders is seriously lacking, he lets his emotions get the best of him, and he is constantly running. To state the simple truth, Sahaj is a little devil.

Leslye Lilker has done a fantastic job of characterization. She has both Spock and Sarek down to a T - their actions, spoken and unspoken thoughts, all combine to make the characters believable. Sahaj Collected takes the form of one long novel broken into various stories and poems. They range from a sad tone to the hysterically funny. He tries so hard, you just cannot hate Sahaj.

Main illustrators are Alice Jones, PS Nim, Signe Landon, and Gee Moaven, who have all done marvelous jobs of portraying Sahaj. The big question is Can Sahaj learn to adjust to Vulcan, or, rather, can Vulcan lean to adjust to Sahaj?

Readers of the Sahaj stories published in Leslye Lilker's IDIC's 1-4 have known intense frustration at times as Spock and "the kid" struggle to get along with one another. Here, in this collection of all the early Sahaj tales, one can relive those frustrations, and enjoy! SAHAJ COLLECTED is not just a reprint zine. Those who have been fens of Sahaj from the beginning as well as newcomers will both get their money's worth in this beautiful volume.

First, Trinette Kern gives us an interesting look at the Spock who served with Captain Christopher Pike while explaining the circumstances of Sahaj's conception in "Loved I Not Honor More." Then, Leslye Lilker fills us in on Sahaj's home-life on Ventura in "Interlude".

"No One on This Planet Looks at Rainbows" and "It's Boring" appeared in issues of OFF THE BEATEN TREK and "Without Pomp or Circumstance" was printed in BEYOND ORION II. These three are shorter, lighter stories that give insight into Sahaj's feelings about life on Vulcan with his grandparents.

The two original Sahaj stories, "The Ambassador's Son" and "The Price of a Thousand Horses" (formerly "The Bonding") have been completely rewritten. Both have gone from interesting ideas to stories of major length and impact. The only elements remaining from the earlier versions are the basic plots; now both are fully fleshed out, beautifully written and examine more deeply the beginnings of the relationship between Spock end his son. Of the remaining stories, "Twilight and Evening Bells" and "And Watch Till Daylight Comes" appeared in IDIC 3, while "The Lesson" was in IDIC 4. Printed as the final story in the zine, "The Lesson" takes the reader up to the point where IDIC 5, THE FORGING, begins.

Poetry and artwork round out the zine. Trinette Kern, Juanita Salicrup and Marian Kelly have evocative poems, and Lucy Minor's introductory verse captures the spirit of a writer, the feelings that derive from committing one's deepest secrets and truths to paper and letting others share them. Amy Falkowitz gives us the music for Trinette's "It's Boring", the clever Sahaj song that Les has been heard to croon at cons.

Alice Jones and P.S. Nim capture the many moods of Spock and Sahaj with exquisite front and back covers respectively and lovely interior illustrations. Other excellent illos are by Signe Landon and Gee Moaven. The zine is well laid out, the reproduction is of high quality. My one complaint was that a table of contents is lacking. It would have made it much easier to find things while writing this review.

In SAHAJ COLLECTED we have all of Sahaj under one cover and, paired with the matching FORGING, two volumes of interesting, thought provoking, emotionally right stories. There is emotion here, the love between a father and son who have to work hard to realize what love is. Even human children and human parents share end understand that particular problem. The Sahaj series operates on many levels, parental love, insight into Vulcan culture, the friendship between Kirk and Spock, and something else -- fantasy. Leslye Lilker so perfectly captures the character of the child Sahaj that we become children again and see through his eyes. And don't all of us wonder what it would really be like to suddenly move to Vulcan and grow up there? Tuc-ret!

I must make a confession before I launch my review of this zine, I am prejudiced, I first met Sahaj In IDIC 1 In October 1975, I fell immediately in love with this wide-eyed child who came storming into Commander Spock’s life. I have been a faithful reader and staunch follower of all his antics ever since that long ago day when he captured my heart.

If you have read "The Ambassador's Son" and "The Bonding” in IDICs 1 and 2 you are in for a rare treat. Both stories have been completely rewritten and expanded, giving us more of an insight into Sahaj's personality. Personally, I also think the crisis in "The Price of a Thousand Horses" is far better thought out than the imminent scientific disaster in "The Bonding." Both stories are excellent examples of the development of a good writer — the comparison Is fascinating.

Those who follow Sahaj will be familiar with "Without Pomp and Circumstances," "Nobody on This Planet Looks at Rainbows," "Twilight and Evening Bells," and "The Lesson,” all good stories reprinted here without change.

Kern's story "Loved I Not Honor More” at last gives us the facts behind Sahaj's conception and some insight into the kind of b____woman his mother T'marr was. Likewise, in "Interlude” we are first introduced to Ambassador Gill.

The poetry by Salicrup, Miner, Kern, and others is nice. My favorite is "Apologies from a Smoocha."I could never accept that all smoochas are evil. Also included is Amy Falkowltz's music for "It's Boring."

Last, but by no means least, comes the artwork. But what can you say when some of the best artists In fandom contributed. The cover by Alice Jones was magnificent, but then so were her Spock-T'marr" and her "Me, Too” (portrait of Sahaj), as well as her illustrations for "And Watch Until Daylight Comes," "The Price of a Thousand Horses," and "Twilight and Evening Bells." Her picture of T'Linnne in her office is a perfect rendition of an historian who is truly involved with her field.

But, as if Alice weren't enough, there were pieces by Signe Landon ("The Lesson"), G. Moaven (the inside bacover and "The Inquiry"), and P.S. Nim ("Without Pomp and Circumstance", "The Ambassadors Son," "No-One on This Planet Looks at Rainbows," and the bacover. I mean how do you rank artists like that? You don't. You just say it was all ways above average art.

All in all, I would say that this is one zine that is more than worth the money.

1979

For those souls who don't know, Sahaj is Spock's son, and he makes Dennis the Menace look angelic. The collection begins with Sahaj's conception and Spock's discovery of his parenthood ten years later. Each story deals the interpersonal conflicts and growth of Spock, Sahaj, Sarek, Amanda, Kirk, and McCoy. The artwork is lovely and appropriate. The writing is professional, avoiding the trite scenes and metaphors that could turn it easily into a maudlin, cheap soap. Only Kirk seems a trifle off -- perhaps it's because we delve into his inner thoughts the least. However, a Kirk devotee introduced me to Sahaj, and her high praises were deserved.

1980

This is the first volume of a collection of stories, poetry, and artwork about Spock's illegitimate son Sahaj. Now if you're wondering how a proper, bonded, Vulcan gentleman such as Spock came to have an illegitimate child, the story is included. He was seduced by the Vulcan ambassador to Venture, T'Marr. Sahaj was not a wanted child, and was shamefully neglected by his matter who raised him on Ventura. Upon her death, the Enterprise was called to transport him back to Vulcan, and he met his father Spock for the first time. It was not love at first sight on both sides. Most of the volume is devoted to stories developing the relationsip between Sahaj and Spock. They are printed in chronological order. There is so much in this collection that I would be pressed for space even to list the contents, much less properly praise each item. Most of the stories are written by Leslye Lilker and have appeared previously in her fanzine IDIC. While short on action/adventure, they are long on Vulcan interest, Vulcan lifestyles and customs are described in detail. Additionally, the artwork is profuse and unusually good. Most of it is done by P.S. Nim and Alice Jones. This beautiful [zine] is worth the price.

Unknown Date

• Loved I Not Honor More / Sets the stage for the Sahaj series. While serving under Captain Pike, young Spock is captured and tortured while on a landing party. Thereafter, he behaves oddly as - unbenknownst to himself - he enters his first pon farr, along with suffering the emotional effects of the ordeal. Pike and Boyce force him to take shore leave on Ventura, where he holes up in a room until Pike orders him to attend a function at the Vulcan embassy for him. There, the ambassador T'Marr recognizes his situation and decides to take advantage of it. Spock is, of course, bonded to T'Pring at the time. On return to the Enterprise, he shoves the whole disgraceful episode to a corner of his mind.
• Interlude / Glimpse of Sahaj's life at 5 years of age. His mother is distant and demanding; his closest relationships are with ambassador Jeremy Gill, his father-figure, and the Gill boys, with whom he pretty much runs wild in the streets.
• The Ambassador's Son / [reprinted from IDIC #1], T'Marr has died of illness, leaving orders that her son Sahaj, now eleven, be returned to Vulcan and placed for adoption. Enterprise is assigned to transport him. No one is prepared for the willful little hellion and his panda-like pet smoocha, Romulus, who proceed to wreak delightful havoc aboard, of both the deliberate and the inadvertent type. Sahaj knows that Spock is his father, and will have nothing to do with him, instead latching onto McCoy as his only ally. Spock obtusely does not figure out the relationship for some time. Lots of great fireworks among Sahaj, Spock, McCoy, and Kirk. The resolution is unfortunately contrived - Romulus the smoocha turns out to be a powerful telepath who has been controlling Sahaj; Spock rescues his son and destroys Romulus through a mind-meld.
• Without Pomp or Circumstance / [reprinted from Beyond Orion #2], Sarek has been busily going through applications to adopt T'Marr's son when Spock shows up with the panic-stricken and unruly child to explain that he is turning the boy over to Sarek and Amanda to raise.
• No One on this Planet Looks at Rainbows / Bored, distraught, and definitely not resigned to his fate, Sahaj goes exploring in the desert, only to get himself caught, first in a monsoon storm, and then in a quagmire. An unsympathetic Sarek comes to the rescue.
• It's Boring / Sahaj starts school, makes enemies with his classmate Selak and friends with Selak's young sister T'ian, begins pestering his grandparents to give let him have a sehlat cub, and generally keeps pushing the boundaries, trying to get a rise from them that will show that they care about him.
• The Price of a Thousand Horses... / [rewritten version of The Bonding, published in IDIC #2], Sarek, with a little help from McCoy, gets Spock to come home on leave and take a hand in dealing with Sahaj, who is certainly disrupting Sarek and Amanda's ordered life, and has decided to enroll in a boarding school back on Ventura. On Spock's return, Sahaj makes all kinds of plans looking forward to some one-on-one time with Spock, only to have Spock's time and attention taken up with the study of an old tapestry which is the key to a present political crisis. Sahaj manages to steal a document vital to deciphering the tapestry, leading to a lovely scene of confrontation between Spock and Sahaj. The pair do eventually get some time together, and Sahaj gets a short reunion with his friends on the Enterprise - and his sehlat cub - before Spock deserts him once again.
• Twilight and Evening Bells / [reprinted from IDIC #3], Spock is reported missing, presumed dead. Sahaj eventually feels his father's presence through their bond, but his grandparents believe it is only a residual effect. They perform the Chi'Takhl ceremony to sequester grief, but Sahaj refuses to participate. Sarek barely manages to rescue Sahaj from delving too deep in his own mind in the attempt to reach Spock, but Sahaj continues to insist that Spock is on a ship, on his way home, and in need of assistance. Enterprise arrives and McCoy makes an attempt to adopt Sahaj, but is rebuffed by Sarek. McCoy also fails to respond to Sahaj's certainty that his father is alive; so does T'Pau. Finally, Sahaj steals T'Pau's shuttle in an attempt to fly to his father, but crashes in the desert instead. Despite lematyas, he makes it home in time for a row with Kirk, who has just arrived to give condolences, and then Sarek arrives with - did you guess? - Spock in tow, fresh from the healers, but still weak.
• And Watch 'Til Daylight Comes / [reprinted from IDIC #3], Kirk and McCoy reunite with Spock as he slowly recovers, but no one will let Sahaj in to see his father. Sarek argues that Spock must sever his forbidden link with his son; Spock is reluctant. Nice reunion scenes when Sahaj is finally allowed to visit.
• The Lesson / [reprinted from IDIC #4], Sahaj continues to be rash and disobedient, this time attempting to use Spock against Sarek to get his way about going to a concert with his friends instead of with his family. Caught out, he is grounded, but sneaks out to the concert anyway. Caught again, Sahaj learns of Vulcan methods of discipline - the anxiety caused by withdrawal of the parental bond.