The Beginning and The End

Zine
Title:	The Beginning and the End
Publisher:	Star Trek Action Group
Editor:	Sheila Clark
Author(s):	Simone Mason
Cover Artist(s):	Lesley Smith
Illustrator(s):	Lesley Smith
Date(s):	September, 1980
Medium:	print zine
Size:
Genre:
Fandom:	Star Trek: TOS
Language:	English
External Links:
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The Beginning and the End: An alternative view is a gen 60-pages Star Trek: TOS novel by Simone Mason. It has an original print run of 300.

Summaries

Another version of the beginning of the Kirk/Spock friendship. Kirk is determined to get through to his first officer, but his efforts don't seem to be appreciated. When he does get through, he wishes he hadn't. 'Mission's End' is the story of the end of the five-year mission and has nothing to do with the films.

A story centered on Kirk and Spock and the changes wrought on them after Kirk takes over the Enterprise from Captain Pike.

Star Trek fanfiction in which Spock struggles with his own humanity.

Reactions and Reviews

I recently obtained a copy of this zine from "At the Sign of the Dragon" bookshop in Richmond (East Sheen), Surrey. I was so impressed with it that I had to re-read it almost immediately, and felt compelled to tell everyone else about it...

As the title suggests, the story starts with Captain KirK taking over command of the Enterprise from Christopher Pike, and inheriting Mr. Spock as his Science Officer and acting First Officer. In this case Dr. McCoy is already on board, but has his own problems with his divorce and does not have time to worry about their solitary Vulcan.

The story traces the relationship between Kirk and Spock. Despite a series of adventures, the captain feels no closer to knowing his Vulcan officer than he did when he first came aboard. He believes he understands why Spock maintains a dignified, arms-length relationship with the Human crew, but he is unable to break through the Vulcan's rigidly maintained barriers. Kirk is determined to break though as he indicates early on in the story when playing Spock at chess. "I will win sooner or iater. Mr. Spock." he says, adding silently, adding silently And not only at chess. Spock replies "You may win at chess, Captain.' The lines of battle are firmly drawn, but the stubborn participants are unwilling or unable to move from their early positions.

It is not until the Enterprise comes Into contact with a race of aliens and Spock is faced with the choice of revealing his secret or letting his captain die that a real relationship is established. This part of the story is beautifully told with deep understanding of Human and Vulcan sensibilities and emotions. I will not spoil it for you by telling you about the choices made or the results of the actions taken. You will have to read the zine to find out what Spock's secret is, how it is revealed, who learns of it and how they all deal with it. Suffice to say, I came away feeling that I had learned something new about both Kirk and Spock and about this particular race of aliens from this superbly written story of the growth of their relationship.

The zine ends with the completion of the 5 year mission and the choices faced by the officers of the Enterprise. The beginning of the mission is what enables there to face the end and come out of it the way you would expect - together!

I recommend this zine as an excellent piece of story-telling. If you are anything like me you will not be able to put it down, and you'll want to read it again and again.

A reasonably well-presented zine. The first part written by Simone Mason or the beginning, seems to move the establishment of the friendship between Spock and Kirk a trifle faster than I feel it would have been, although that is only my own personal opinion. I was very pleased to note however, that ine author at least has realised that the frienaship is also part of a triangle which includes Leonard. The good doctor's first appearance in the story and his subsequent actions show that the writer has not underestimated his importance. It's a shame that more writers don't do likewise. The second story (the end) brings into the picture our redoubtable chief engineer. Again, the author has shown a good grasp of the characters concerned, and the realisation that no matter what some people may think, it does take more than one man to successfully run a starship. You'll spend an enjoyable afternoon with this one.