Shadows of Paradise

Fanfiction
Title:	Shadows of Paradise
Author(s):	Natasha Solten
Date(s):	1985
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:
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Shadows of Paradise is a Kirk/Spock story by Natasha Solten.

It has a sequel: A Rare and Beautiful Light.

It was published in One Night Stand #3.

Summary

"After leaving Omicron Ceti 3, Kirk tries to deal with Spockʼs withdrawal by showing him how much he cares for him."

Reactions and Reviews

1985

There is one technical nitpick that applies to "Shadows of Paradise" and at least one other story in this zine. This is a common error, but it sort of jumped at me in ONS 3. A starship is a very limited ecology. Water would necessarily be conserved. I don't think, that showering is the best use of such a precious resource. That's why I tend to think the concept of sonic showers is much more realistic for a starship, than showering with water. Showering with water is probably a luxury in the lives of Starfleet personnel, that they can have only when staying on water-rich planets. I believe that Vonda Mclntyre made this observation in one of her pro Trek novels. Writers, take note.

2010

This is an old story in an old zine, dated 1985. That‘s 25 years old! Count 'em! I think the ONS zines were created in just one night, and the quality of the content varies, certainly. But Solten can always be relied upon, I‘ve found, to deliver a good story, often gentle- sweet, as I remember: This story is a post-This Side of Paradise one, of course, and is comprised mainly of scenes between Jim and Spock, as Kirk tries hard to probe Spock‘s feelings for Leila, and his own. Jim‘s also very concerned about Spock‘s remark about being happy for the first time in his life. I can still recall how sad hearing that line made me feel, long ago, before I‘d found K/S or even fandom.... (And when I read poor Jill Ireland‘s books, I was miffed that she didn‘t seem to recall this episode as the highlight of her career!) Here, Jim wants Spock to feel cared for, trusted and loved, and is moved by the vulnerability he sees as Spock shows he is aware that ̳everyone‘ thinks him ̳cold‘. The two of them play racketball together and their friendly competitiveness is amusingly described. Eventually, Kirk‘s thoughtfulness reminds Spock that what the spores offered wasn‘t real, because ‘the soul is forgotten, under-stimulated‘, and there‘s a wonderful moment when they stare at each other... Jim, we see, has realised that he loves Spock completely. Unusually, though, for a K/S story, this is where it ends. Any declaration and subsequent love scene are intended for later, and I cannot say that I wasn‘t a tiny bit disappointed... But only briefly: it‘s a touching story, which keeps the two of them in character, and a creditable attempt to follow a rather difficult episode.