The Exhibit

Zine
Title:	The Exhibit
Publisher:	Empathy Publications
Editor:
Author(s):	Patricia James
Cover Artist(s):
Illustrator(s):
Date(s):	December 1983
Series?:	yes
Medium:	print
Size:
Genre:
Fandom:	Star Trek: TOS
External Links:
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The Exhibit is a Star Trek: TOS 68-page gen novel written by Patricia James. It also contains two poems. There are no interior illustrations.

It has a sequel called The Bargain.

About

From an ad in Universal Translator #23: "Winner of the EmpathicCon II fiction contest. When Spock is taken captive by the Klingon Invasion Fleet, the Enterprise escapes but is thrown through a space/time disturbance and into a strange Klingon future."

From Treklink #14: "The ENTERPRISE is thrown a hundred years into a future where Klingons rule the Earth. Kirk and his crew, disguised as Klingons, have to walk warily—but Kirk all but gives them away when unexpectedly confronted with the Klingon war museum's prize exhibit: Spock's embalmed body. To alter history, Kirk must return to his own century and prevent the Klingon invasion...."

Contents

• untitled poem (one page)
• the novel
• "Vesper, from an Island" (poem, one page)

Reactions and Reviews

1984

This is a one-story genzine by Patricia James in which the Enterprise investigates a high energy reading and encounters an entire Klingon battle fleet on its way to what the Klingons believe will be the final conflict with the Federation. Kirk attempts to negotiate with Kera, the Klingon commander but Kera loathes humans and will not tolerate the presence of one on his vessel, The only representative of the Enterprise crew he will permit is Spock. Fearing a trap, Spock and Kirk form a meld before the Vulcan beams aboard. This is not for verbal communication but it will allow each to sense strong emotions from the other.

When Spock arrives on the Klingon ship, he is at once taken prisoner for the information that he has regarding Federation dispositions. Through the link he is able to warn Kirk by an emotion surge. The Enterprise flees, followed by the Klingons into a spacial disturbance called Annie. The Klingons turn back but the Enterprise emerges one hundred years in the future to a galaxy at peace but dominated by the Klingons. Meanwhile, Spock endures five days of Klingon torture.... This is the 'set up' of the story, and Kirk's resolution of the problem in fast paced action is one of the strengths of the zine. The plot is highly original, and I would not have revealed it this far except that it would be difficult to review without.

The other main strength is Kirk himself, a man who does not disintegrate under stress, whose endurance and ferocious single-mindedness alone sees the Enterprise through danger. The author has Kirk's character well, including his speech pattern, which is neither aggressively American nor British. The trust that the crew shows in Kirk is also well depicted, for example, when he orders the Eniterprise to leave, abandoning Spock to the Klingons.

Although Spock is not present in the central section of the story, the Kirk-Spock relationship is strong, without being sentimental. So far, so good but I can't help feeling that this is the author's first (or at any rate an early work) and a tighter editorial have would have produced an even better zine. There are a number of redundancies. i.e. "Uhura, his beautiful communications officer", "Sulu and Chekov sat at the double helm navigation console'", "the Federation Starship Enterprise" - these things we know In fact, to take a ruthless view, the first 5 1/2 pages (to the communication with Commodore Tilsley) contain nothing essential to the story. (Introduction of characters, Kirk has bad dream, Kirk and Spock in the gym.) Also, and perhaps more seriously, the author has attempted cliff-hanger endings to each section. "He must wait now and pray, for the Federation, for the Enterprise, for Spock." "Fear oozed from his pores - not for him; for them, for the Enterprise, for the unknown, for Jim". After a time this becomes more than intrusive. Also, it is a limiting factor in the author's style,

The story raises some intriguing issues, including why the human race endures a peaceful Klingon occupation and the "All for Spock" question. Kirk, faced with alternatives of warning the Federation of the invasion; or of rescuing Spock, makes the expected choice. I rather doubt that he would, but it's a good point for discussion.

The Klingons themselves are omnipresent and the author makes some attempt, especially in the character of Kera, to depart frcm the usual convenient, stereotype. However, I thought she could have gone further in this. Most of her Klingon characters are still evil and nothing else, and phrases like "the stench of Klingon presence" are frequent.

Nevertheless, 'The Exhibit' is a good read and well worth the modest outlay. I look forward to more of Patricia James' work.

1990

The Klingons start a war with the Federation. Spock, sent to the Klingon flagship to negotiate terms, is seized. The Klingons order the Enterprise to be destroyed but she escapes and, pursued by the Klingons, disappears in an area of time distortions. She emerges 100 years in the future to find that the Klingons won the war and took over the galaxy. The Enterprise visits Earth for repairs and, in a war museum. Kirk finds a disturbing exhibit. With his new knowledge, he determines to get the Enterprise back to their own time and prevent this time-line from developing. The story is well thought out and nicely written.