The Invitation
| K/S Fanfiction | |
|---|---|
| Title: | The Invitation |
| Author(s): | Vera Barga |
| Date(s): | 1987 |
| Length: | |
| Genre: | slash |
| Fandom: | Star Trek: The Original Series |
| External Links: | |
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The Invitation is a Kirk/Spock story by Vera Barga.
It was published in the print zine KSX #1.
Summary
"Kirk is invited to a dinner party at the home of his first officer. It’s hard to play the game when you don’t know the rules."
Reactions and Reviews
I found Vera Barga's "The Invitation" to be lacking. Kirk is invited to Spock's home for dinner, not knowing that the dinner is a special Vulcan custom where prospective bonding partners are asked to attend. There are a few other potential mates for Spock at the party in addition to Kirk. What I found annoying was that the story, even during the party, was told mostly in narration and via Kirk's thoughts. The entire tale seemed disjointed, as many sentences had little relevance to their preceding sentences. In short, it was difficult to follow, though, thankfully, all did become clear at the end. The sex scene was told with some poetic phrasing, but even then the sentences didn't flow together very well. This tale had little drama or sensitivity, and I found the whole thing rather dull. [1]
This is a delightful story on Vulcan, where Spock invites Kirk to a dinner with his parents. The reason why some of the guests behave somehow strange, and what's really going on, is an amazing idea and an original plot. [2]
THE INVITATION by Vera Barga is a delightful story of Kirk as he gets invited to what he thinks is an ordinary dinner invitation by Spock and his parents on Vulcan.During the whole story we listen in on Kirk's thoughts as he encounters all the dinner guests and situations. It's really quite realistic as he imagines what the people are saying about him, what their expressions mean, what's going on with Spock and his parents and eventually, as the mystery builds, what was really being said.
It turns out this was a kind of Vulcan betrothal dinner, called a sleftha, that Spock didn't exactly mention to Kirk and the results are wonderful. There's an accompanying [Gayle F] drawing that is quite explicit and even though their faces look very feminine, their accoutrements look undeniably masculine...yes sir.[3]
Komack has found a way to punish Kirk for the events told in Amok Time. While the rest of his crew is given leave on Vulcan, Kirk is to hold himself available for any and all niggling details of his ship’s overhaul and repair. To add to his frustration, he’s recently come to acknowledge the love he feels for Spock. There is no way he believes his feelings will ever be returned.Spock has been staying with his parents and calls Kirk to invite him to dinner. Kirk arrives slightly late. From then on the evening takes on a very strange slant. There are other guests present including Vulcan male and female fellow officers in Starfleet and a human female scientist. T’Pau, Sarek, and Amanda round out the guest list. Everyone appears to know what’s going on but the captain. My favorite part is when Amanda notifies Kirk he is to be bonded to Spock the following dawn. It turns out what Kirk has been attending is a sleftha, a dinner to present suitable candidates to be Spock’s bondmate. Spock was forced to bring someone or else see his choice made for him by default. This dance of errors is as intricately played out as one of Shakespeare’s comedies.
Vera doesn’t write K/S anymore. I miss her well- plotted stories.[4]
References
- ^ from On the Double #4
- ^ from Treklink #10
- ^ from The K/S Press #8
- ^ from The K/S Press #126