The World Turned Upside Down (Star Trek: TOS story)

Fanfiction
Title:	The World Turned Upside Down
Author(s):	Jenna Hilary Sinclair
Date(s):	2000
Length:	24,677 words
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:	The World Turned Upside Down, and on AO3
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

The World Turned Upside Down is a Kirk/Spock story by Jenna Hilary Sinclair.

It was published as part of the first Kirk/Spock Online Festival (KSOF) in 2000, and subsequently in the Festival zine, a selection of the best stories from KSOF 2000 with additional artwork.

a CGA by T'Racionn created for this story: "This CGA, as the quote has already given away, is dedicated to Jenna Sinclair’s magnificent story The World Turned Upside Down. The story is not only brilliant and ingenious, but also transports so much emotion and this certain love-filled K/S feeling that gave me the (clearly illogical) need to devour it, to bathe in it, to laserprint it into my very heart. I’ve been told that this story had been written as a sort of companion piece to Pacing the Cage, this time intending to do a character study for Kirk. And oh how well it works – and how grateful I am that Jenna wrote it. This fandom is simply awesome."

Summary

"Kirkʼs greatest fears are realized when Spock is proclaimed insane by a Vulcan healer after a head injury that may yet cause his death."

Reactions and Reviews

Written for the KSOF (Kirk/Spock Online Festival), this is a strong hurt/comfort tale, heavy on action (and sexual action). There's a very impressive sex-scene. Although I think the phrase "They were one" (especially given the significance of a paragraph of its own) is an over-used romantic cliché, this story is very effective at conveying the strangeness and wonder of unaccustomed sex. Think about it. In this story, Spock is a virgin and Kirk is, at least, a virgin homosexually. The combination of urgent hunger with careful fascination is well-handled.

"The World Turned Upside Down" by Jenna Hilary Sinclair is a 34 page story which is an extremely interesting and complicated h/c story leading to one helluva nice long sex scene. Works for me! I am a very big fan of h/c, and this story definitely satisfies that urge. There's a lot of action and suspense. And actually for most of the story, sex is not a consideration at all—ifs basically an adventure story with a nice touch of angst.

This was the second story I choose to read in this netzine because I recognized Jenna's name and know I always like her stories. She and J.S. Cavalcante are the two main zine names I recognized in the zine.

I discovered from reading the editorial that 23 writers participated in a story writing binge and produced 45 stories, all of which are at the web site: http://www.kardasi.com/KSOF/stories.htm.

This zine FESTIVAL printed ten of those stories, and I'm assuming these were perhaps the ten best or the ten most interesting in the editors' opinions.

This zine is 217 pages, so I can see why people on the net would still be inspired to buy the zine simply because if you do love K/S you probably do want to have the stories on paper and if you downloaded and printed these ten stories out yourself from the net you'd have over 400 one sided pages unbound, something that would definitely be hard to manage.

I am always thrilled to see Jenna's name in the table of contents of a new zine, knowing I am going to be guaranteed a wonderful reading experience. This story is no exception. Because Festival is a recently published zine, I won't give away too much of the story, but suffice it to say "The World Turned Upside Down" delivers everything we've come to expect from this extremely talented author.

Here are just a few of the elements I loved: From the first word..."Incoming!" we are thrust into the middle of the action. Kirk, Spock and McCoy are on the planet of Nobel assisting the Federation-backed government against a band of rebels determined to overthrow it. Immediately the reader is absorbed in the chaos, noise and confusion of the scene. Spock is injured—a life-threatening, devastating injury described so realistically that my heart was pounding as I read. What a beginning!

Then there's Jenna's take on the characters. She never lets us forget that Kirk and Spock are two professional military men who do their jobs expertly. Kirk is a captain in Starfleet with duties and responsibilities that supersede his personal needs and desires. When McCoy urges Kirk to get a dying Spock to a facility where he can possibly operate, Kirk's response is: "'What am I supposed to do, abandon the mission, the safety of all the rest of our people on the planet to carry Spock back to base?'

'Yes! Spock!' McCoy roared, up on his knees. 'Yes!'

For Kirk's anger suddenly burned out. 'Not even for him,' he said, unnaturally calm. I can't.'"He turned away and stared blindly out at the street, where duty called him to be."

I was empathizing so hard with Kirk throughout this story that I hurt. Even the detail that Kirk and Spock have their quarters on opposite sides of the ship—No easy access through a shared bathroom that makes so many of our K/S scenarios possible!—serves to heighten the realism.

Now top it off with one hell of a sexy love scene.

Jenna makes these beloved characters live and breathe and come alive on the printed page, and that's about the best compliment to her writing skill I can pay.

I better stop here before I reveal too much, but do yourself a favor and buy this zine. It's worth the price for this story alone, though there are several other very nice stories. You won't be sorry.

This is a gem of a story, penned by one of the best K/S authors around today. As is typical of her work, it is packed with plenty of action, has a well-developed and intriguing plot, just enough angst to tug at the heartstrings, and of course, delivers one great love

scene. One of the things I find rather interesting about this story is how the title relates so well to the plot. It not only signifies what happens to Kirk's world as events unfold, it also refers to the unique but simple technique Kirk and Spock have developed to signal each other when they are in trouble or distress. This story begins with Kirk, Spock, and McCoy on a planet that, beset by riots in recent weeks, put in an urgent call for help in quelling the rebellious factor responsible for the violence. Kirk and McCoy are together, Spock is further ahead trying to locate the proper coordinates for a launcher the rebels are using so it can be destroyed. They are in the middle of a deadly air assault and it is not too long before one of the missiles finds its mark - Spock. The result is a severe head injury that Spock will not survive without immediate medical treatment. After a risky beamup back to the ship, Kirk soon learns that although surgery has saved Spock's life for the moment, there is the strong possibility he could still die and there was also the question as to whether he suffered permanent brain damage, something McCoy suspects since Spock has not gone into a healing trance. He tells Kirk that the only way to ensure Spock's survival is to find a Vulcan healer and fast. Unfortunately, the nearest one is at least four days away and McCoy is doubtful Spock will still be alive by that time. Kirk conducts a search for a closer healer and is successful, only to find that the healer's services must be negotiated. With Spock's life on the line, Kirk is not going to let an issue like money stop him and soon secures the healer's services. When the healer arrives and examines Spock, Kirk soon learns the one thing he feared has come true— Spock is clinically insane and his condition is permanent. In an ironic twist, some months ago both he and Spock agreed that should either one of them become permanently severely damaged, either physically or mentally, the other would then be responsible for any medical decisions that needed to be made, including whether or not to keep the other alive. Knowing that Spock would not want to remain alive without an intact mind, an agonized Kirk is faced with the possibility that he might have to make the decision to end Spock's life. With all this hanging over his head, he finds himself called to duty to negotiate a peace between the rebel factions that almost killed Spock and the planetary government. Just as the first meeting ends, the conference is attacked by the rebels and Kirk finds himself a prisoner along with the healer, who was also kidnapped by the rebels. It is while they are being held captive that the healer makes a startling revelation that leads Kirk to believe that Spock's condition may not be so hopeless after all. This belief soon becomes a certainty after both he and the healer are being escorted by their captors to a new location and signs soon appear that tell Kirk in unmistakable terms that his suspicions are correct. What follows is a daring rescue that leads to a confirmation, both verbal and physical, of the love that Kirk and Spock feel for each other.

One of the things I enjoyed most about this story is that it is filled with those "little moments" that make K/S stories so enjoyable for me. One of the best occurs when Kirk, realizing it will cost a small fortune to get the healer to Spock in time, without hesitation empties his own bank account to pay for it, even though he knows there's a good chance he'll never see his money again. It's moments like these, sometimes limited to a brief paragraph or maybe a sentence or two, that, at least for me, turn a good K/S story into a great one and this particular tale definitely falls into the latter category. The author is a master craftsman when it comes to creating those "little moment" moments in her stories and when combined with dead-on characterizations of Kirk and Spock, an imaginative and gripping plot, and of course plenty of good loving, the result is one K/S story that is not to be missed.

I always admire how Jenna, mistress of writing richly emotional Kirk and Spock characters and deep-hearted relationship issues, can also write such straightforward and realistic action scenes—battles and fights and weapons and so on, besides space-tech. This story also has a Federation-politics-based plot.

Lots of tension in the planetary situation where Kirk, Spock and McCoy are—dangerous stuff, under attack by rebels. Spock’s being injured in the fighting is done really well. And then barely getting him back to the ship. Very realistic and nerve-wracking detail. There are several places of flashbacks, and these worked well—always to show us something directly relevant to what’s happening in the story right then. And Kirk’s longings for Spock are put so beautifully. And so sad...with Spock apparently going to fulfill his clan duties and go bond with some Vulcan woman. Also hot and gorgeous Kirk fantasies about Spock. Spock’s injuries are serious and realistically shown, too. He’s apparently not able to do the healing trance, and may well become a “vegetable.” So Kirk manages to find the nearest Vulcan healer, with his own funds (interesting touch, among other interesting touches). There are a number of scenes of the healer; and one thing I kept wondering was, why create him as such an unpleasant fellow? I didn’t see any purpose to that, other than as antidote to having things go too sweetly and smoothly for dramatic purposes. It’s funny when this healer pronounces Spock “clinically insane.” I thought, not very medically precise, is it? But then, this has a direct bearing on further events, and it did work. There’s more continuing danger, more flashbacks of Kirk’s about Spock, while Spock’s life still not out of danger...and then a very cool little K&S thing takes place—doing what they do best—and the story is on a roll toward a positive outcome. I can’t help it—I’m not going to pretend I found the planetary situation with their rebels and potential Federation membership of enduring interest, that I lay in bed that night thinking about it. Instead, what usually sticks with me about a story is some hot little scene or aching romantic moment. The scene I liked best here was when Kirk and Spock were escaping from the chaos of the planet, waiting for the shuttle to pick them up, lying on their stomachs, shoulder-to-shoulder...and Kirk moves closer...and kisses Spock for the first time. This was sublime, the kind of scene I can see and feel and... Then there are beautiful scenes of love and sex and the bond.

Again, I thought the story a curious match with the challenge, which is that Kirk overhears something that makes him learn Spock is in love with him. But whatever the challenge, the story had plenty to satisfy: the sweet and true love, h/c-angst and delicious sex.

I have just had the most incredible experience! Either due to a complete memory lapse or unbelievable stupidity, I’ve just read “The World Turned Upside Down” for the first time! I know the title well, and when it came to mind as I had some time for reading, I pulled the zine out of its storage box and settled in to renew my love for K/S through a familiar story. Slowly it dawned on me that it was not familiar at all.

And as I said, it is an incredible experience. The first word, “Incoming!” draws me instantly into the world of Star Trek in the form of an intense ground battle. The action is unrelenting and convincingly written by a lady I’d almost swear has never been a soldier. Nevertheless, the urgency, the adrenaline rush, the sweat of fear is clearly rendered. When Kirk discovers his most precious friend and comrade grievously injured, the pain is unrelenting. How can he ever recover from such a wound? The seemingly endless hours before help arrives are among the most tense I’ve ever read. During those hours we see the man that is James T. Kirk. We see the commander, the one who must remain in control of the situation and who must put his own needs firmly aside. In this case, he must take grave chances with Spock’s life as well. Beyond that we see the man who is capable of devotion and commitment – a man who comes face to face with the frightening fragility of life. The moments of sheer love in this story are as numerous as the word count. Every page bleeds with it. With his world turned upside down, Kirk’s mind seeks solace in the moments he’s shared with his “favorite Vulcan”. They have never voiced their love, never touched in the heat of it, never let it rise to the surface. Yet it is there, palpable, in every thought, in every recollection, in every hope for the future. Jenna Sinclair brings each aspect of this story into brilliant razor-sharp focus. You feel the wind, you hear the crunch of broken concrete below your feet, you sense the stillness and know the odor of the sickbay isolation unit. Your skin prickles with the awareness of danger and shrivels at the terror of impending loss. Kirk’s thoughts of Spock as he lies in a coma are among the most profound I’ve ever read. All the little things that have endeared Spock to him come rushing to the front. Yes, I’m babbling, as I often do when I am confronted with K/S that moves me so deeply. Let me just relate a few of the scenes that are so memorable. Kirk walking into sickbay, begrimed, bewhiskered, drained, dragging his filthy field jacket along on the floor because he hasn’t the strength or the motivation to throw it over his shoulder. His thoughts as he stands helplessly at the bedside: “He hovered at the very top of a tidal wave of feeling – helplessness, despair, anger – and he knew that with very little effort he could slide down that wave, tumble in it, succumb to it, drown in it.” That pretty much describes the way the story drew me in. And there is the uncomplicated thought at the end of a day of battle, a day with no news of Spock: God he was tired. He just wanted to go back to the ship, his cocoon, his haven. Where Spock was. I loved the memory of their casual late night foray into the ship’s kitchen for a midnight snack. The simple joy of being in each others company. Probably the scene that will stay with me the longest is near the end of the story, when they lay side by side in the rubble of a bombed-out subway entrance. Here they finally touch. Here they silently admit their love.

Thank you, Jenna, for this priceless gift.

Another wonderful story from a truly consummate author.

All plot points will be revealed here and there are some surprises. There’s a bang-up, exciting beginning with Kirk, Spock and McCoy on a planet in the middle of rebel fighting. Spock is severely injured and there’s some very scary and tense moments as McCoy must beam up to the ship despite some life-threatening problems with the transporter. Kirk mentally counts as it’s happening which creates some excellent tension. Often it’s the little things that add flavor to a story and in this there are many. One I particularly loved was: “Kirk ignored the ramp and jumped down from the side to the deck instead.” I thought that was so perfect. It shows how Kirk waits for no one or nothing when it comes to getting what he wants—Spock. Spock is in sickbay and at worst could die or at best be brain damaged. We are shown some wonderful flashback memories of Kirk with Spock. Kirk wants to get a healer for Spock. Again, it’s nothing will stop him and he’ll spare no expense. They get the healer and he’s all strict and Vulcan and concludes that Spock is “insane”. Of course, this devastates Kirk who tries to continue dealing with the planetary politics (a bit too much of the planetary politics for my taste) until he and the Vulcan healer are kidnapped by the rebels. More fine portrayal of Kirk, who naturally won’t sit around and wait. Kirk wants action and the hapless Vulcan healer doesn’t get it. When the guards come for them, Kirk fights back and is knocked out. When he comes to, the healer says the rebels are “insane”. This is so cool! At the moment that Kirk realizes it, we do too. What a great scene when Kirk confronts the healer as to his meaning of the term, insane. Spock shows up to save them and there’s a love-in-a- tunnel scene that will knock your socks off as it did mine and others! There’s just something about the two of them lying face to face in the dark and kissing that sure works for me.

So read this story if you are among the two who haven’t.

Okay you've caught me, I LOVE THIS AUTHOR. This is my second favorite TOS fic of all time. It's hard to rec because I don't want to give a thing away. Basically, Spock gets severely wounded during a battle and you have to go through Kirk's inner turmoil as he first looks and desperately petitions for a Vulcan healer, then you get even worse news about Spock's condition, then other stuff happens and then holy hell it's angsty, yet clever, and then it gets better in a big way. It's not too long, just read it and you'll see why I'm being so vague.

k/s. r. an action and adventure story that's a bit too mushy, and in that way, slightly off in characterization.