[Report This]Date: 05 Jan 2020 13:30 Title: Chapter 3
At the core this story really is about damaged people, isn't it? Physically but even more so psychologically. It just so happens that all these people are Vulcans.
This is particularly insightful since you would think that with all their logic and the way they control their emotions, Vulcans would have a much easier time dealing with psychological trauma.
But it's the opposite, really. It's far more difficult for them since they are determined to maintain their stoic fronts even if they feel like breaking down inside.
You've done a marvelous job at showing how these two sides of the Vulcan psyche work which really relays heavily on the compassion and, dare I say love, of their fellow Vulcans.
Terrific stuff.
Author's Response: Thank you so much for all of your feedback! I really appreciate you taking the time to comment, and am so glad that you enjoyed this story. And, yes, this one did end up being about trauma and damage, especially the damage of war. I think DS9 did a really good job of showing how horrible war is, but I wanted to expand out a bit and see what that sort of existential conflict would do, not just to the front line soldiers, but to the civilians as well.
[Report This]Date: 05 Jan 2020 13:24 Title: Chapter 2
Continue to enjoy this quite a bit.
It's great to really see Vulcans interact with each other and without everything being seen from the perspective of a human or other 'emotional' species as is commonly done in canon and which always make Vulcans look impossibly odd, impractical or too practical.
Instead you are creating a really well-rounded view of Vulcan people which shows that they are not all the same, that they have feelings, and arguments, that they love and hate and also, which I really appreciated, that they are not one extreme or the other. Yes, they are logical but they can also be rational. Yes, they are traditional but they also know when to be practical.
And no, they don't have to wait 7 years to get frisky with each other.
Author's Response: Thank you! One of my major goals with this story was to write something without a human POV. I like the idea of giving the aliens center stage, and particularly the Vulcans, because as you say they are so often characterized as strange and unreasonable. I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)
[Report This]Date: 22 Dec 2019 12:52 Title: Chapter 1
If anyone ever wondered if Vulcans can suffer from depression, well, this story provides the answer.
I don't think I've ever felt more sympathetic to a character determined not to show any emotions. Veral is a truly wounded soul, isn't he?
One of the most remarkable things of his journey and this story is how 'warm' and caring his fellow Vulcans are to his suffering.
From the Vulcan Starfleet doctor, to his mentor and teacher at Gol, his parents, his friends and of course his amazing wife.
I continue to enjoy your depiction of the Vulcan people and the fact that there are no real villains in this story, other than the unfortunate circumstances these characters find themselves in. Really compelling stuff.
Author's Response: Thank you very much! I really appreciate the kind feedback. :)