The Bargain (Star Trek: TOS zine)

Zine
Title:	The Bargain
Publisher:	Empathy Publications
Editor:
Author(s):	Patricia James
Cover Artist(s):	Diane Kenealy
Illustrator(s):	Diane Kenealy
Date(s):	May 1984
Series?:	yes
Medium:	print
Size:
Genre:
Fandom:	Star Trek: TOS
Language:	English
External Links:
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cover by Diane Kenealy

The Bargain is a gen 91-page Star Trek: TOS novel by Patricia James that was published in England. There are two full-page illos by Diane Kenealy.

This zine is a sequel to The Exhibit.

About

Summary from an ad in Universal Translator #26: "As a result of certain events, Kirk takes the Enterprise to Vulcan, where he and Spock are taken prisoner and shipped to the Klingon Empire to stand trial. Sequel to The Exhibit but complete in itself."

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  sample text

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  interior art by Diane Kenealy

Reactions and Reviews

"The Bargain" of the title is that struck between Kirk and T'Pring for her help in healing Spock of injuries to his mind—and through her the two Starfleet officers are abducted by the Klingons to stand trial. Both stories are gripping and well told; my own preference is for "The Exhibit," which has also two very beautiful poems.

A unique and well executed story. Although the idea of T'Pring and Spock's link being maintained was dubious... but then again, those Vulcans are always up to something.

Kaidan is a superb villain - have we/can we ever really see the last of him?

The continuation of THE EXHIBIT story line was so nicely done that it didn't interfere with the new story -- and if you hadn't read it, you'd still have gotten the important parts.

Liked the Apians — a good alien. Their delayed reaction to the misuse of their females and their uselessness as an off-planet work-force were nice touches.

Spock's inability to kill Kirk was very SPOCK... as was the conflict plunging him into a state of mental chaos. I thought all the crew were nicely drawn... you brought out the little touches that make us love them. Kirk's willingness to risk all to get Spock to Vulcan was beautiful. Sarek's attempt/failure to help Spock was touching.

I loved the fact that Kirk would risk anything, including his freedom, to save Spock.. the idea of his having to 'marry' T'Pring was a good device. She was suitably 'disgusting' at the beginning, but her character was so well done you couldn't help but pity her. After all, she was the product of her culture -which claims to practice IDIC but has many of the same faults as its human counterpart. She was a perfect "bitchqueen' but still a flesh and blood character with many levels.

THE BARGAIN itself was an exquisite concept. The scene where she reached Suock's mind was very tense— I found myself gritting my teeth. Spock's awakening was precious, and his knowledge that JTK was hiding something was so SPOCK... as was his reaction to the facts as they were given. I enjoyed the beginnings of the new openness between Sarek and Spock also.

Loved Sarek's insight into his son's difficulty with his Captain - Spock can protect him from outside dangers but cannot protect him from himself. Kirk's fear/realisation that T'Pring would want to 'use' his position was excellent - and his conclusion that he would have to resign... Ugh! T'Pring's treachery with the Klingons was a bit out of character for any Vulcan, but then I guess bitterness/hatred/jealousy can lead to many evils. I was very touched when Spock was chosen by Kirk to be a captive - his way of working it out was beautiful, of course, it was foolish on T'Pring's part to believe that any Klingon would hold to a bargain made.

The crew's defiance and search for their two commanding officers was an excellent delineation of their characters, true and loyal to the man and woman! JTK and Spock's luck - in a manner of speaking - in being taken to a Klingon Headquarters was the little edge they needed. Kaidan's true character and position were nicely revealed as the other Commanders reacted to him - he wasn't exactly "man of the hour" (or Klingon, as the case may he).

I was impressed by the good description of the Klingons. The author nicety described their reasons for expanding since they needed territory., and their inability to change from soldiers to diplomats so quickly was quite believable.

Spock's request for water for his Captain was so simply, sweetly SPOCK... as was Jim's request that they have any executioner but Kaidan.