The Hunt (Star Trek: TOS story)
| Fanfiction | |
|---|---|
| Title: | The Hunt |
| Author(s): | Indra |
| Date(s): | 1994 |
| Length: | |
| Genre(s): | slash |
| Fandom(s): | Star Trek: TOS |
| Relationship(s): | Kirk/Spock |
| External Links: | |
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The Hunt is a Kirk/Spock story by Indra.
It was published in T'hy'la #4.
Summary
"Disguised as Romulan warriors, Kirk and Spock take part in a ritual which explores the meaning of courage, and brings unexpected personal discoveries, as well."
Reactions and Reviews
1992
This author has done a brilliant job developing a story around a Romulan warrior bonding ritual. The details of the rite — which originate in Pre-Reform Vulcan times when Romulans and Vulcans shared a common culture — are given depth and color by the involvement of Kirk and Spock as Hunter and Prey. This author accomplishes one of the most difficult feats in short story writing — the creation of a fully believable universe. It's the standout story in a zine filled with good work. [1]
1997
[comments about this story and another one by the same author, Trial by Ordeal]:There is one aspect of both these stories I'd like to comment on. Both are interesting stories: The Hunt is rich in Romulan warrior tradition, where Kirk and Spock are disguised as such and involved in a complex mating ritual which brings them together in a satisfying and sexy way. Trial by Ordeal is a credible look at possible Vulcan secession from the Federation, where Kirk and Spock's bond causes upheaval, with nice drama in an aired-Trek kind of way (i.e., a somewhat heavy-handed message).
But what I couldn't get past in both stories was that a large percentage of what passes between Kirk and Spock is said in their link or in a meld. I mean, pages and pages of this long, rational discussions. I just don't think people communicating telepathically would have "conversations" in this manner in common, linear and properly grammatical language (and between two whose native languages aren't even the same). Picture Kirk and Spock alone in the turbolift, and instead of talking about their current daily business, they say it all telepathically. It just didn't feel right.
Further, if they are communicating mentally, I would think the beauty of this would be that there is no room for misunderstanding. Yet misunderstanding abounds, in one of the stories. But non-verbal things in the link are really nice, such as a really sweet "embrace." This works well; and is also a lovely use of the "It gives me emotional security" line.
The sentiment expressed between them in some parts is truly beautiful, but would feel more powerful if said aloud.
There is a metaphoric mind-journey that I had to skim over. When the images are too removed and poetic, it's nothing I can relate to actual Kirk and Spock; just pretty words.
Since not many of us communicate telepathically, or are fully in touch with the pre-rational or post-rational (? - half guessing at those terms) parts of our minds in a way we can easily put into words, well, writing Spock's mental landscape, or his and Kirk's mind-link or bond, is always a challenge. But I believe we can say there are a few things it would be best not to do in the mental landscape, and one is: don't write it in rational, linear verbal communication that sounds exactly like how they would speak out loud. [2]
1999
Good story. Insight into the Romulan way of life, their code of honour and coincidentally also into Vulcan’s own warrior past. [3]
2006
In order to retrieve a spy shuttle, Kirk and Spock must participate in a Romulan ritual "hunt" as warriors seeking to bond with their mates. Spock keeps revealing layers of the ritual as they go along, eventually including that they must mate in public in the final test. Too full of ritual and breast-beating over honor for my own taste. [4]
References
- ^ from The LOC Connection #43 (1992)
- ^ from The K/S Press #13
- ^ from The K/S Press #40
- ^ from Halliday's Zinedex