Date: 03 Mar 2010 05:53 Title: Chapter 30: The Legend
Aha...this really ups the stakes on the union between Sarek and Amanda--especially with the discussion of T'Piony returning to a faraway world! If Sarek recognizes this happening, I wonder if this will provide the way to dissolve his marriage with T'Reah? But if it does, ohhhh boy some jealousy and bitterness could ensue. And if that's transmitted to Sybok, who would then want revenge against the god of Sha-Ka-Ree who did that to his mother...
Might explain a lot.
Or I might have it completely, and TOTALLY wrong.
Congrats again for one of the best stories on this site! :-)
Author's Response: Sorry, I forgot to respond to yet another of your very thoughtful reviews. I do pile on the suspense a bit where T'Reah is concerned, I know. But hopefully it will all work out without Sarek becoming a scoundrel, or Sybok going on the rampage... until he's older anyway.
Date: 27 Feb 2010 20:53 Title: Chapter 29: The Stuff of Legend
Uh-oh, now this legend seems like it's about to take a dark turn.
One thing we still need to have answered from a cultural perspective, though--in my opinion--is why the Vulcans consider the mystical logical (I do, but I want to see their rationale), and why, if presumably A'Tha created them as emotional beings (and presumably feels emotions herself, as part of her being), why it is acceptable to repudiate those emotions instead of simply learning to use them wisely.
Author's Response: Well, the legend of Sarekhq and T'Piony would have started before Surak - who reformed Vulcan Society by repudiating emotions. Is repudiate the right word? He may not have expected the logical period to have lasted so long. Maybe it was just an interim strategy until the Vulcans learned control! Or not. That's speculation on my part. According to Diane Duane in Spock's World, Vulcans are directly aware of God, the Creator, A'Tha, so they KNOW such an entity is possible. I rather like that. Vulcans are also traditionalists. Look at the marriage or challenge ceremony! So, they might accept the mystical without believing that everything within that sphere is true.
Date: 21 Feb 2010 20:04 Title: Chapter 28:Honored By Time
Aha...I think we have further evidence that the ska-plak was intended to convey a very specific type of knowledge to Amanda--and now this. The constant mind-touches between Sarek and Amanda also suggest that he's trying to see if a human can bond. But again, I keep running into the question of his current wife, T'Reah, and at what point T'Reah will perceive this as unfaithfulness. The marriage must be troubled already if Sarek is even on the edge of this. Also, I have to think that for a Vulcan to divorce would be a very, VERY serious matter given that the onset of pon farr will be lethal if they don't find a new mate in time, one that can satisfy them.
I also have to say, I love the details of the different kinds of relationships with different riding mounts! That's something I just toyed with in the last section I wrote of "The Desolate Vigil" (a different relationship than one seen on Earth--in this case the Cardassian riding hound), and I loved seeing how the Vulcans thought of it, with the different animals they ride. In particular, I wonder how that relationship might change when one of the species is telepathic? Is that (though I dread to say it), almost like Avatar, how the "convincing" is done in the case of the khu'unla?
Author's Response: Thanks for the review, and your very insightful thoughts. I think that the bond between Vulcans is for life, and that the telepathic link can only be desolved at death, sometimes not even then, depending on the strength of the committment it evokes. A long time a go I wrote a piece about Spock and Saavik where I first introduced khu'unla - and their fondness for Kafarian apples! Also their telepathic abilities...so I think I got there before James Cameron and Avatar. LOL! I also mention charah foals in Turning Point, another of my Spock stories. But such ideas go way back. Have you read any novels by Andre Norton? Her Beastmaster book explores a relationship between a man and his beast companions.
Date: 16 Feb 2010 07:32 Title: Chapter 27: To See More Than The Eyes See
Now that was fascinating, getting to meet Sybok!
Given how we saw Sybok turn out, though--despite his absolutely cute beginning--and the fact that we know Sarek will eventually marry Amanda, I unfortunately have a bad feeling about how the marriage to T'Reah will end. I sure hope it's not in an affair...
Author's Response: I doubt Sarek would have an affair... Glad you liked Sybok. Of course, he had to get his ideas from somewhere, and the ideas that are planted early are usually the strongest.
Date: 07 Feb 2010 22:10 Title: Chapter 26: Time Passages
I can't believe I JUST caught the similarity in the word you created--"ska'plak" and the "plak tow," the madness that occurs during Pon Farr. Given that, and the content of the memories we're seeing here, I find myself wondering if the ska-plak is a receptacle for a very particular kind of memory, and thinking that just as Sarek deliberately engineered the encounter beneath the lake, he also deliberately set this up so that Amanda would experience what it is to be married to a Vulcan man, and decide if this really is for her.
Author's Response: LOL! I think that might be a coincidence but it is a wonderful idea. And yes, I did set up the ska'plak to supply Amanda with memories so that it would be easier to get across that Vulcans are different....!
Date: 05 Feb 2010 03:48 Title: Chapter 25: Just When You Thought It Was Safe.
Uh-oh...that could be a diplomatic faux pas. Even though Gorsky was called on to speak, this WAS at Amanda's suggestion. I sure hope it doesn't backfire...
Date: 05 Feb 2010 03:46 Title: Chapter 24:Count to three, Hold your breath, Make a Wish.
Aha...Sarek's beginning to show a sense of humor there--and bombshell indeed, about uniting logic and emotion! He begins to look more like a pioneer among Vulcans than the strict traditionalist he first appeared to be.
Date: 25 Jan 2010 18:37 Title: Chapter 23: As It Was From The Beginning
WOW. If Amanda and Sarek haven't formed a real bond by now, then this would surely do it! I have the feeling each mental contact is only going to intensify the bond. I can't wait to see when Sarek has to make a decision between his intended bondmate and Amanda...that could be very, VERY risky.
And something I noticed...some of the names you're picking out for places seem VERY much like names of places in Afghanistan. "Sas-a-Shar" and some of the similar ones (kinda like Mazar-e-Sharif and other places like that).
Author's Response: Have you ever come across the animated series, especially the episode called Yesteryear? That shows Spock as a young boy on Vulcan - in fact, the scene from the new movie of Spock at school with his three bullies is based on that episode. Sas-a-shar comes from that episode.
Date: 21 Jan 2010 12:37 Title: Chapter 10: A Little of What You Fancy
That exchange was rather amusing, actually. But Amanda might have a problem with the mind-meld if Sarek looks a little too far...
Date: 18 Jan 2010 15:32 Title: Chapter 8: Language Lesson
That was an amazing description of the mind-meld. You captured it perfectly from Amanda's point of view.
Author's Response: Thank you so much. Glad you're enjoying the story. :)
Date: 18 Jan 2010 03:08 Title: Chapter 7: Tea and Cakes
Amanda's got some brass to to ask Sarek if he thinks humans can be civilized or not. I couldn't help but snicker at that little implied practical joke the Vulcans did. I have no doubt that was the sort of arragonce they showed at that point in time.
Author's Response: Spock has a sense of humour, so I guessed that Vulcans in general probably did, too. I'm not sure it's arrogance, more a need to know how willing humans are to learn another culture.
Date: 18 Jan 2010 02:56 Title: Chapter 6: Silence is Golden
Oh yes, that struggle for absolute nonmovement. :D A test, no doubt, constructed by crafty Sarek.
Date: 18 Jan 2010 02:50 Title: Chapter 5: Feeling Pretty
I love Amanda's outfit! The integration of some aspects of Japanese culture with that of Vulcan is very interesting; and it works quite well, actually, and seems to fit.
Date: 18 Jan 2010 01:36 Title: Chapter 4: A Gentleman Unknown
Once again, she manages to embarass herself - if only slghtly. I wonder how long it will take for Sarek to warm up to her. Hopefully her meeting with T'Pau won't be a disaster! And then there's Mike again... I'm just waiting for the complications he might impse on the relationship of Amanda and Sarek.
Date: 18 Jan 2010 01:07 Title: Chapter 3: Spellbound
Ha, I can imagine Amanda's embarrassment! This Mike seems like a character. With all the flirting, it would be interesting if he developed a "thing" for Amanda when she only has eyes for Sarek.
Date: 17 Jan 2010 21:36 Title: Chapter 2: Amanda's Vulcan
So, she's to be Sarek's houseguest, then. Should definetly be interesting... I love how she just KNOWS when Sarek is there, and everything else dims out in the background.
I was wondering, since I just starteda Vulcan novella about a young Spock: is s'kahri ansh'ione t'skon Sarek's "last name", or something like it? And would you mind at all if I used it?
Author's Response: Hi and thanks for the reviews. I think there's only one man for Amanda. You can certainly use the Vulcan family name. It's my invention, so not canon. Glad you're enjoying the story.
Date: 17 Jan 2010 20:54 Title: Chapter 1: A Kind of Magic
Awesome. Fantastic imagery, I felt like I was there with Amanda. I love Sarek, and I love your idea of exploring how the relationship between he and Amanda began. I can't wait to read the rest. ;-)
Cheers!
Date: 13 Jan 2010 06:08 Title: Chapter 22: Shadow Dancing
"Mehe nakkhet ur-sevah, Kula’at Sarekh."
AHA! Have you been reading Diane Duane's books? I am pretty sure I saw that in The Wounded Sky! VERY nice!
And I am SO enjoying the introduction to the Vulcan religion. This gives a warmth to them that makes Vulcans so much more relatable than what we see in the series. Yet I would question, if a'Tha created them with emotions, why should those emotions all be suppressed, including the worthy ones?
One question, though. What age are the children in this performance? You use the word "infants" at one point and that was VERY confusing, since that would suggest babies far too young to walk.
Author's Response: I do like Diane Duane's novels. I have read wounded sky. a'Tha is mentioned in Spock's World, though. It's suggested there that the Vulcans, including Spock, have a connection to God, the Universe, whatever it is that connects us all. I'm English, so maybe the word 'infant' has a different meaning. We have infant school for children from about four years old.
Date: 13 Jan 2010 06:04 Title: Chapter 21: Captivated by the Light
VERY nice--now we seem to have (at least in my opinion) a premonition of her marriage to Sarek!
Date: 13 Jan 2010 06:02 Title: Chapter 20: Whizz-Bang, Flip-flop, Heaven-for-a-Minute
Can't wait to see what this thing reveals!
Now, it's interesting that you say these were made by psychic adepts--yet in ENT the Vulcans seem to deny all such gifts (they deny the mind meld, at least). I wonder how such gifts as the ska-plak would've been treated during that time? Were they things Sarek would've had to keep hidden?
Author's Response: Although I watched Enterprise, I don't entirely agree to the content of the episodes. In TNG there was an episode that featured the Stone of Gol, some kind of psychic weapon and I usually refer to The Way of Kolinahr - a games book that has some interesting takes on Vulcan culture.
Date: 13 Jan 2010 05:59 Title: Chapter 18: Acclimatization
Her reactions to this place are very telling considering how Amanda in TOS later speaks about the Vulcan way.
I'm also very interested in the fact that there's an Andorian--that suggests the Vulcans have made a lot of progress in learning to open up towards those they've formerly been closed off to, and it bodes well for humanity, and for Amanda in particular.
Date: 13 Jan 2010 05:56 Title: Chapter 17: Sar-e-Kahr
Very interesting! I especially liked seeing what was done for humans to adapt to the climate on Vulcan.
That's something I've had to think about with my own stories because of my main characters being Cardassians--I was particularly pleased to see you think about protective eye lenses, because that was something that in my own works is sometimes necessary for Cardassians due to the fact that they (in my story) have a tapetum lucidum on their retinas and therefore prefer lower lighting than humans.
I can't wait to get the answers on the purification ceremony, and also to see if there will be answers on why the Vulcans have been so stuffy towards humans.
Date: 11 Nov 2009 00:49 Title: Chapter 16: Phoenix From The Flames
Well, well, well! Look what I brought out of the woodwork! :-D
I apologize that it took me so long to catch up with your new additions--I promise I am still interested in your story!
Anyway, that is one very trippy ceremony, and I can see why the Vulcans wouldn't want other species talking about it--that smoke seems to be quite the hallucinogenic, from what you describe.
Author's Response: LOL! Maybe it only affects Humans like that.
Date: 10 Nov 2009 18:05 Title: Chapter 15; Drum Beat Out of Time
This physical purification--was this before the introduction of the transporter and biofilters, perhaps? You describe what sounds like radiation, though...I hope that's not going to adversely impact Amanda's health.
I like the comparison of the two mind touches, too...you've left another clue, I think, that there was something unusual in what Sarek did at the beginning of the story. I do hope, though, that from this the priestess and others on Vulcan will learn that humans are different--that it is not natural for them to have others in their minds--and that though they may experience emotions far more outwardly than any Vulcan would ever allow, that their diversity should be respected instead of scorned as in the ENT era.
Oh...and I had not realized that Sarek was already engaged at this point. I shall be very interested to see if Sarek is at all like his son will later be, on that point...it would be very tragic, though, if T'Reah was a good woman (unlike T'Pring) and died.
Date: 10 Nov 2009 17:58 Title: Chapter 14: Mind, Body and Spirit
Regarding the previous chapter--I'm very glad Amanda found the willpower to separate herself from Mike. Regardless of how Mike thinks of her feelings towards Sarek, once she's decided she HAS feelings, it really is a good thing to see her loyalty towards the one she's chosen. (And that restraint and loyalty, I have to think, is something of which a Vulcan would approve.)
Well, I really find myself looking forward to seeing what this ritual is! It seems like this time, the Vulcans are welcoming the humans a bit more into their society...