The Parting of the Ways
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| Title: | The Parting of the Ways |
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| Editor: | |
| Author(s): | Sue E. Embury |
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| Illustrator(s): | |
| Date(s): | 1990 or before |
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| Fandom: | Star Trek: TOS |
| Language: | English |
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| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
The Parting of the Ways is a gen Star Trek: TOS novel by Sue E. Embury. Illustrations are by the author.
Summary
Summary from a publisher's ad: "How was it that Kirk, Spock, and McCoy were leading separate lives at the start of TMP? What circumstances could persuade Kirk to give up his ship, or Spock to join the Kohlinahr discipline? This full-length story covering the months immediately after the five year mission explains how the rift began."
Reactions and Reviews
The story is set at the end of the Enterprise's five year mission and covers the next few months. The crew are given shoreleave and circumstances split up Kirk, Spock and McCoy. Spock, in the early stages of Pon Farr, must return to Vulcan. As before, he invites Kirk and McCoy to accompany him but they have other commitments. McCoy goes to Alaska to help a seriously ill, old doctor friend with his practicei and Kirk is instructed to undertake a secret "unofficial" mission involving protomatter on Wrigley's Pleasure Planet.Alternating, chapters deal with each character and- there- is good--contrast between Kirk's adventures and mysteries, Spock's peace in learning to accept that he can indeed have the best of both his inherited worlds and McCoy's quiet, introspective scenes.
Much of the story is set on Vulcan and includes some background of its history and tradition, and Spock's relationship with his parents - and his wife. These scenes are all written with sensitivity and understanding and I found them a delight to read. I would guess that Spock must be the writer's favourite character; he is the most accurately (in my opinion) and confidently written of the three. The only incident I would quibble with is whether Spock, however distraught, would use the nerve pinch on his mother; this was the only part of the moving and well told story of what led Spock to seek the discipline of Kohlinahr which did not ring absolutely true.
Most of McCoy's characterisation I also agreed with; his painful indecision over his future career is well written, although I don't agree with the widespread view of him as a near-alcoholic. Kirk, I felt, gave the author a little more trouble than the other two - although this is just my opinion, and I would be the last person to criticise this as I find Kirk impossible to write! The relationship between Kirk and McCoy was well drawn and I wished there had been more scenes with them interacting.
I would definitely recommend Parting of the Ways for anyone who enjoys good character, especially Spock stories.[1]