The Unlucky Birthday

Fanfiction
Title:	The Unlucky Birthday
Author(s):	Fiona James
Date(s):	1999
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:
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The Unlucky Birthday is a Kirk/Spock story by Fiona James.

It was published in the print zine First Time #49.

Summary

"Kirkʼs mother thinks it unlucky that he was born on Sunday, but events, and Spock, eventually prove her wrong."

Reactions and Reviews

Although basically a telling of events in Kirk’s life that lead up to his command of the Enterprise, there’s a lot in this short story to really like.

So many interesting and clever things take place in Kirk’s family life—a domineering, myopic, autocratic father who rejects Sam and never gives Kirk his approval; a mother who deals with her unhappy life by withdrawing into herself and believing in superstition to keep everyone safe; and Kirk who is smart, ambitious, and focused. Then Kirk goes to the Farragut and the incident with the cloud creature. I enjoyed so many things in this story that I wished all the scenes could have been shown instead of told.

The story ends with a lovely present time scene between Kirk and Spock as their hands touch over a chess board. “Jim,” he said softly, “Are you really serious? Do you seriously want to kiss me?” And the verse that ties the story together is an absolutely wonderful idea and so true.

This short story packs in the whole of Kirk's life from birth until he meets Spock and they discover their love. There is an unusual perception of Kirk's family—dysfunctional, with a domineering, underachieving father and a submissive mother. One could like neither of them. I prefer to think of them as much stronger and more likeable people. Although the whole thing is very abbreviated, Kirk's character is pretty much on target. And of course it never hurts when K&S fall in love over the chess board.