Date: 20 Jul 2013 18:56 Title: Brother of the Heart
Nicely done LBD, a good Kirk POV for that STV scene.
The story of young Jim and Sam, trying to crate a cover story to pull one over their mother add a nice bit of drama to the story. Plus Jim reaction to been trapped alone explains his views of dying alone.
Author's Response:
Thanks, FalseBill. From what we saw in TOS there was precious little that Kirk was afraid of, or for which he was willing to show or express his fear. His line about being afraid to die alone in ST:V made me want to search out the reason behind that fear. This is what I came up with. ;-)
Date: 15 Jul 2013 23:22 Title: Brother of the Heart
It is very comforting to feel that Jim will never, truly, walk alone, and he will be, if not saved, then at least comforted. It does, though, beg the question of loneliness - I think being alone and being lonely are a lot of what drives a lot of us to look for companionship. If Spock is fulfilling this role (and I don't mean as a lover), then there is no use for women in Kirk's life, except as mindless lovers. There is no place for a long-term loving relationship or, perhaps, a wife. And of course this is not Spock's intention in being there for his friend, but it may have held Kirk back from really having that. After all, he is separated from Spock when he's with Miramanee (although he is with Spock when he gets together with Rayna and Edith, so maybe my theory doesn't hold too much water. I don't know). Spock is also the person who helps Jim get over his romantic failures - but it might be better for Jim to try to get over some of that by himself. It's just, psychologically, too easy to lean on Spock in that area.
The images of the earlier time, they are idyllic and beautiful but they may or may not really dovetail with what would be background for someone born in the 2230s. There is certainly the possibility that children would spend a lot of time without electronics, doing simpler kinds of play/mimicry of adult behavior, such as fishing, trespassing at the old mine, etc. But it does strike me that the boys seem a bit too naive. At age six, Jim can be, but how old is Sam? It just seems that he was fooled into believing there was gold in an old coal mine a little too easily.
Beautifully told and written, as always.
Author's Response:
Thanks, as always jespah, for the thoughtful, detailed review. I think you hit the nail on the head. Kirk, Spock and to a lesser extent McCoy (not with regard to doctoring, but with regard to gallivanting about the cosmos) are all married to their work. There's no room for wives, serious lovers or families, and these three have formed their own weird kind of surrogate family. I don't think any of them will truly walk alone, while either of the others still lives. And for me, that's the aspect of their relationship that I find so 'fascinating.' ;-)
Yes, you're probably right in terms of how the youth of the 23rd century spend their free time. I guess this just showcases my optimistic hope that by then, we as a society will finally have come to understand the importance of physical activity for the health and well-being of not only the younger generations, but all people. I'm sure there will be all kinds of new-fangled video games, hoverboards, hoverbikes, etc., but I hope we never lose sight of the importance, the *sheer fun*, of using good, old-fashioned physical human energy to make things move. Also, as someone who lives in a rural environment, I see more of those types of activities carried out by the kids in my small home town than might be in more urban areas. ;-)
In my fanon, Sam and Jim are about four years apart. A quick search at MA confirmed that although it was never mentioned in canon, that is about the age difference, but to my mind, Sam didn't go so much because he truly believed there was gold, but out of a sense of responsibility to his younger sibling. He knew if he didn't tag along, Jimmy would've gone alone. Seems his instincts were right - had Jimmy made the trip by himself, the results would have been catastrophic.
Date: 14 Jul 2013 07:31 Title: Brother of the Heart
Man, Jimmy is one sharp little critter at six, isn't he? I love how well you conveyed the atmosphere of Iowa; I haven't been there in many many years, but I could instantly feel it, and surround myself in it. Poor Winona, she knew and knew, but still had to sort of trust the boys anyway. Jim's panic and instant reversion to a normal little boy was heart-aching, especially as a mother, to read, and him pleading for his brother not to leave him. Sam was all kinds of adorable, too. It was an interesting frame you used, as well, and over all, it's a darling little piece of backstory. It reminds me of every 'Boy's Adventure' book, albeit compressed, to be written back about sixty, seventy years ago, with a smart, saavy little protagonist getting into mischief. Well done!
Author's Response:
Thanks, Steff. LOL! I've never been to Iowa, or even to the Plains, so glad to know it rang true in spite of that. Inspiration for young Jimmy was drawn from my oldest - quite the precocious child and gifted reader at age six. At age five he suffered a broken leg, and reverted instantly from that oh-so-sure-of-himself mini-adult to a scared, panicked little boy who just wanted the comfort, care and concern only a mother can provide - an instance of art imitating life, I guess. ;-)
I was thinking, too of all the mischief my friends and I got into when we were kids, unbeknownst to our parents - one of the aspects that makes parenting really, really scary.
Date: 07 Jun 2012 07:52 Title: Brother of the Heart
I liked how you combined old-world and new-world things...he's fallen down a mine shaft, and they try to beam him out. That was a nice look at how things stay the same even when they change.
I also love how Spock knows what Jim needs and what he needs to hear. That "You were never alone" has been going back and forth between these two since the beginning, since Spock has been as isolated within himself as poor young Jimmy was in that hole. It was poignant moment of connection--thank you.
Author's Response:
Yes, each understands on a personal level what it means to be alone, albeit for very different reasons. How very astute of you to pick up on that. :DD Kudos, madam!
[Report This]Date: 30 Mar 2011 00:13 Title: Brother of the Heart
I love stories about Kirk but importantly, Kirk's past andn his relationship with Sam. A very good story LBD.
Author's Response:
Thank you, Mackenzie. I've always been fascinated by what mischief the Kirk brothers got into as boys, and I've written several stories (this is by far the most comprehensive look) exploring those ideas. Glad the piece resonated on some level.
[Report This]Date: 28 Mar 2011 20:17 Title: Brother of the Heart
As usual, very well written. I like your narrative - smart and engaging - always makes me want to read more.
A well scripted and apt entry for 'phobias' challenge - although I think 'dying alone' has to be right up there with the top 5 fears.
KayCee
Author's Response:
Thanks. KayCee. As always, your comments are greatly appreciated. :D Yeah, it's definitely cliche, but Kirk's fear of dying alone was what jumped out at me when reading the challenge prompt. From what we saw in TOS, Kirk wasn't afraid of anything! I was looking to explore the origin of that irrational (for him anyway) fear. ;-)
[Report This]Date: 23 Mar 2011 20:00 Title: Brother of the Heart
An effective description of the fear going through the mind of a six year old kid. That adventurous spirit of his father has surely rubbed off on him and makes consider the different turn his life would have taken without his father (as depicted in ST XI).
But back to this story, it's a very nice tie-in to Jim's fear of dying alone. I was always confused when Spock said, "You were never alone." This narrative nicely illustrates how he can't help but think but think the absolute worst when he was eye-to-eye with a Klingon Bird-of-Prey.
Nicely done.
Author's Response:
Thank you E1981. That line always threw me, too so I guess I was looking for a way to explain it. I think it's significant that at the beginning of ST: V he tells Spock and McCoy 'I've always known I'd die alone.' To my mind, what he didn't say - couldn't say - to his friends was that he feared this. Why? There was precious little that scared the Jim Kirk we saw in TOS. Hopefully I've provided an adequate answer for this fear at least. ;-)
Date: 20 Mar 2011 02:36 Title: Brother of the Heart
I like how the experience from the past is weaved into Kirk's "present." It adds depth to Kirk's character and enriches him as a character.
We can also see the first signs that he might follow his father in his choice of career, though I'm not sure a six-year-old would come to such mature conclutions and understanding and appreciation of their mother's work and sacrifice.
You conveyed the fear well. I felt like sitting in a deep, dark hole in the ground with him...and alone at the same time.
Well done! :)
Author's Response:
Thanks for the kind words Gul Rejal. I guess what I was trying to show was that Jimmy Kirk wasn't a typical six-year-old; that experiences like this and the unwavering support and love from his family and later his friends shaped him into the man we know - the man who was destined to become Starfleet's youngest captain.
Even though there is very little written about it canon-wise, I like to think that this time he spent trapped and the strength he drew from this trial of his youth served him in good stead seven years later on Tarsus IV.
I firmly believe trials that we survive as children shape the adults we become - at least, this is true in my case...
I'm glad the fear translated well. Writing for children can be difficult - trying to convey adult ideas with their vocabulary and limited life experience.
Thanks for taking the time to read a leave a thoughtful, helpful review. :)
LBD
Date: 18 Mar 2011 22:11 Title: Brother of the Heart
A lovely story, LBD. The earlier scenes with the two boys perfectly capture their comportment and youthful dialogue, as well as Jimmy’s innate sense of adventure, a foreshadowing of things to come. Like all your stories you provide the reader with consistently sparkling, brilliant narrative. When Winona is making breakfast for her boys I can smell the eggs and bacon, and when Sam has to leave Jimmy to go for help I’m crying with both of them.
Book-ending the story with James facing Klaa’s Bird of Prey from TFF provides the perfect showcase for the entire story, adding a thick vein of relevancy to Jimmy’s experiences and to the lessons he has learned, both in his past and his future.
Your emotional fluency is stunning. Your characters must love you because you so easily command them to emote for you, and they seem to enjoy being brought to life again and again at the end of your virtual pen!
I particularly enjoyed the way your ending deftly tied up all the story’s threads. Sometimes with your stories, and especially with this one, I’m so happy with how things turned out I honestly feel like throwing open the window and shouting ‘Hooray!’
Like all good stories I’m left with the feeling that I understand James T. Kirk a little better now, and whenever I think of him some part of me will always return to his experience at the coal mine.
…and I wish you’d loan me some of that secret spice you’ve been peppering on your dialogue.
Author's Response:
Sam, Sam, Sam - you are such a boost for my confidence. ;-) But again, I have to attribute that to stellar feedback and beta skills. :D
I'm so glad this story, and young Jimmy's experience, will stick with you in the future. We know so little about Jim Kirk's past. I like finding these things that shaped him into the man he became, and I hope others will have this scene from Jimmy's childhood in the back of their minds whenever they think of him. If I managed that, then this story has succeeded.