The Soulless

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Star Trek TOS Fanfiction
Title: The Soulless
Author(s): Susan K. James
Date(s): 1980
Length:
Genre: gen
Fandom: Star Trek: The Original Series
External Links:

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The Soulless was written by Susan K. James and illustrated by Merle Decker. It is a Star Trek: TOS story in the zine Sun & Shadow.

art for this story by Merle Decker
art for this story by Merle Decker

It was nominated for the first TrekStar Awards.

Summary

"The Federation of an alternative universe at war with the savage and barbaric forces of planet Vulcan; Kirk & Spock are enemies."

Reactions and Reviews

"The Soulless" is a what-if tale of another universe, a different Kirk and Spock, and a turnabout finale guaranteed to stun (we reread several times before its meaning finally dawned on us!). [1]

'The Soulless' combines themes of alternate universe, t'hy'la, and star crossed soulmates. Where it is good is in defining the alternate Kirk and Spock; they are recognizable as cast from the mold of our heroes, with the shift of focus that comes from the differing emphasis of their societies. Where it is not so good is in the inability of those characters to rise above their society's training when they confront each other -- 'our' Kirk and Spock could. Maybe the ending was meant to be a tragic irony, but to me it came off only as mutual idiocy, that though they recognize their mutual soul bond, they still let each other bleed to death. [2]


References