Then to Piece the Broken Chain
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| Star Trek TOS Fanfiction | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Then to Piece the Broken Chain |
| Author(s): | Nancy Kippax & Beverly Volker |
| Date(s): | 1977 |
| Length: | |
| Genre: | gen |
| Fandom: | Star Trek: The Original Series |
| External Links: | |
Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Then to Piece the Broken Chain is a Star Trek: TOS story by Nancy Kippax & Beverly Volker. The art is by Alice Jones.
It was published in the print zine Contact #3.
Reactions and Reviews
The most entertaining story is 'Then to Piece a Broken Chain' by Kippax and Volker. Spock takes command of the Enterprise, because an alien race will not deal with an 'inferior' human captain. How Kirk and Spock deal with the aliens and with each other under unfamiliar pressures is realistically handled. Alice Jones' wonderful pencil drawings illo the story. [1]
Probably the most entertaining story is 'Then to Piece the Broken Chain.' It turns on the premise that to appease an elitist race of aliens with whom Federation must negotiate, Spock is required to take command of the Enterprise, because the aliens will not deal with an 'inferior' human captain. How Kirk deals with his temporary demotion (badly), Spock with his command decisions, and everyone with intrigue and the quite alien aliens... is nicely and realistically handled The icing on the cake is Alice Jones' wonderful pencil drawings, delicately reproduced. Even when Alice turns out a mediocre (for her) drawing, it beats the the tails off of most any other art in the same zine. She is an example of those rare artists whose pencil-work is so superior that it really merits the considerable expense of half-tone-screening for offset reproduction. [2]
Isn’t that a descriptive and tantalizing title? No disappointment awaits the reader either, because these are two of the best in the world of hurt/comfort or pre-K/S. I hope it isn’t inappropriate to review this story here, because it surely speaks of the love between Kirk and Spock. As you might expect from the title, their relationship is put under a strain and the h/c comes not so much from injury, pain or illness as from damaged trust. A bit off the beaten path. When Spock is placed in command of the Enterprise and Kirk reduced in rank to become the navigator, all seems to go very well. The reason for the temporary change has been well explained by Starfleet and Kirk sort of enjoys getting to rest a little. Until Spock makes a decision he doesn’t agree with. Give the man credit, he tries very hard to stay in his appointed place and not interfere, but he is only human. When he openly disagrees, it is so very painful to them both and we are taken by the writers into the thoughts and emotions of both men. The broken (more like weakened) chain is mended and strengthened by the end of this very enjoyable story. [3]
To appease an ambassador on a taxi run, Kirk turns command over to Spock and becomes navigator. When Spock makes a decision with which Kirk disagrees, the relationship appears doomed until they come to their senses - with a little prodding from McCoy. Theme is strengthening the relationship through trial. Fine illustrations by Alice Jones. [4]
References
- ^ a review by Connie Faddis from Scuttlebutt #3
- ^ also by Connie Faddis, from Interphase #4
- ^ from The K/S Press #104
- ^ from Karen Halliday's Zinedex