The Perfect Object

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Zine
Title:	The Perfect Object
Publisher:	Yeoman Press
Editor:
Author(s):	Mindy Glazer
Cover Artist(s):	Carol Walske
Illustrator(s):	Nan Lewis, Carol Walske, Mary Bohdanowicz
Date(s):	summer 1979
Medium:	print
Size:
Genre:
Fandom:	Star Trek: TOS
Language:	English
External Links:
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cover by Carol Walske

The Perfect Object is a 108-page het adult Star Trek: TOS novel by Mindy Glazer.

It is R & R Special Edition 2.

Summary

Sunrise was the ultimate pleasure palace. McCoy didn't expect grief, Kirk wasn't prepared for romance, and Spock certainly didn't view his visit as a learning experience. But on a brief layover for R&R, the Vulcan discovered what his captain already knew: part of love is the pain when it has ended.

Sample Gallery

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  Mary Bohdanowicz

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  Nan Lewis

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  Mary Bohdanowicz

Reactions and Reviews

Probably the most negative view of marriage in all of fan fiction is to be found in "The Perfect Object" by Mindy Glazer. The novel takes place against the background of a society in which marriage is nothing but a legalized and particularly nasty form of slavery. Women in this society survive only by being prettier, more alluring, more passive or submissive than their competition. Dareet, the leader of the eventually-successful revolution that frees the women from this tyranny, meets Kirk and they fall in love. Eventually they are forced to part by their conflicting obligations and goals but, as a product of a society different in degree but not in kind from that which produced Dareet, Kirk finds it almost impossible to really accept the idea that she could put anything ahead of his desires.

The Enterprise has been granted shore leave on Manderly and our gallant Captain and friends head for the nearest bordello. However, there is something very special about the Sunrise. Even Mr. Spock visits this VERY high priced 'entertainment' center altho what he does with his time leads to unexpected surprises. Captain Kirk is the star of this novel and if you can imagine the Captain of a Starship using the Enterprise for transportation on a date... well, you can see why Dr. McCoy becomes concerned. I found the story rather predictable, the theme a common one, but written with enough finesse to hold my attention to the very end. The artwork is very good.

Newcomer Mindy Glazer has penned a powerful story that operates on several levels. On the one hand, it is a Kirk love story, a character study of a realistically portrayed Kirk who is questioning his life and purpose. It is also a story of Dareet, madame of Sunrise, the most expensive and famous bordello of the galaxy. One of the strongest female characters ever created in Trek fiction, Dareet is thoroughly real and believable. We grieve as much for her as for Kirk when the impossibly of continuing their relationship is discovered and the reader identifies strongly with the suffering through which he and her sisters have gone. The lesson of 'The Perfect Object' is that things are not always what they seem; a 'perfect' love is seldom that. The attractive illos in the first edition available at August Party were by Nan Lewis and Carol Walske with a beautiful cover by Walske. A second edition will contain additional art. The story rambles a bit at the beginning and Glazer has a tendency to have her characters discussing people and matters that they understand but which are obscure, at first, to the reader. Once involved, the compelling style of writing carries the reader along, though. A tragic love story, a character study, a piece of feminist literature, 'The Perfect Object' has something for everyone, and it is one of the most exciting new items of fanfic this year.

[The Perfect Object]... in my opinion is the single best piece of ST fan writing I've ever seen — including KRAITH, Leslie Fish, and the Marshak/Culbreath novels. It's a marvelous blend of love story, mystery, and psychological explorations, without being any of the stereotypes that tend to make fanfic less than innovative. I find the use of languag]]e is really sophisticated. I haven't seen TALES OF FELDMAN yet, so I don't know if Mindy is consistently good, but TPO is enough to give her a real name in any writing circle.

Perfect Object deals chiefly with the character of Captain Kirk. The crew is looking forward to a much needed, long overdue R&R which they take on the planet Manderlay. Manderlay is quite well-known for its shore leave conveniences, one of them being a special bordello by the name of Sunrise. This is where most of the men take leave, including Capt. Kirk and McCoy. Even Spock beams down for a look at some if the artifacts Sunrise has that decorate its spacious facilities. The novel is original to say the most, and the character, Dareet, a young woman Kirk takes a fascination to, (she happens to run the place), has a fine time playing hard to get. Kirk always likes a challenge. For plot and story THE PERFECT OBJECT is not too likable: Kirk meets girl; Kirk becomes infatuated with girl; Kirk goes to bed with girl several times (and pays a good price for her, too! Of course after they get to know each other and fall in love he is exempt from paying for her services); and Kirk loses girl, (she has her own life to live). Plot complication: Dareet has a secret about who she is, where the Sunrise people are from, and why they are doing what what are doing, (what are they doing?) It seems that most of the women, according to McCoy, are pregnant. (Oh, no!) For a Mary Sue story, this story is well written, but not a joy to read. It is a strange love story between Kirk and Dareet, two characters who lack appeal, (and the reviewer is a Kirk fan!) It isn't StarTrek. It isn't science fiction. It isn't good reading. THE PERFECT OBJECT is 106 pages offset, has four of illustrations (three good ones by Nan Lewis), and a nice cover drawing of Kirk by Carol Walske. RATING 4.

For a Mary Sue story this is well written, but not a joy to read. It is a strange love story between Kirk and Dareet, two characters who lack appeal as written here. It isn't Star Trek, and it isn't science fiction. [...] three good [illos] by Nan Lewis, and a nice cover drawing of Kirk by Carl Walske.

What kind of woman would make Jim Kirk think about giving up the Enterprise? Mindy Glazer's answer might surprise you. The novel is well written, well constructed, and the characters ring true. Some fairly explicit sexual material, so read this R & R Special Edition at your own discretion. Except for that, recommended.