The Kevindex e-zine reviews VULCAN'S FORGE
Kevin Lauderdale
VULCAN'S FORGE
by Josepha Sherman and Susan Shwartz
1997
Pocket Books $23.00
ISBN 0-671-00926-5
Reviewed by Kevin Lauderdale
LAWRENCE OF ARABIA is my all-time favorite film. It isn't necessary
to be familiar with LAWRENCE OF ARABIA to enjoy VULCAN'S FORGE, but --
and I think authors Josepha Sherman and Susan
Shwartz will forgive me for this one -- it couldn't hurt.
Though it's peppered with references to this film classic, have no
fear, VULCAN'S FORGE is not SPOCK OF ARABIA, nor is it STAR TREK:
DUNE. What it is is one of the very best of the STAR TREK novels.
So good, in fact, that this novel received a starred review in
PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY. A mark of distinction for any novel, FORGE is the
only media tie-in novel (STAR TREK, STAR WARS, X-FILES, etc.) to be so
recognized. And justifiably so.
VULCAN'S FORGE takes two cultures so similar -- both "people
of the desert," with cultures reaching back millennia -- that the logic
of bringing them together is so obvious that it's a wonder no one
thought of it before: Vulcans and Jews.
VULCAN'S FORGE tells two stories (really three, but more of that
later). The first, an adventure in which a teen-aged Spock and young
Starfleet cadet David Rabin fight for their lives on Vulcan, and a
parallel struggle later in their lives on the desert planet of
Obsidian. Rabin comes from the geographic region of Earth that used
to be Israel, and, though not exactly practicing, he thinks of himself
as heir to that culture. "We are a people of faith," he tells
Spock. Just as Vulcans are a people of logic. Spock and Rabin's
battle to stay alive very nicely lays the groundwork for why Spock
chose to enter Starfleet against his father's wishes, as well Spock's
fascination with adventuresome humans. Speaking of Captain Kirk
. . . the latter adventure takes place shortly after Kirk's "deadly"
encounter with the Nexus. Spock, McCoy, and Uhura each have their
own reactions to the passing of a legend, and Sherman and Shwartz's
characterizations leave nothing to be desired. You can almost hear the
actor's voices in your head.
It's good to know that at least some faiths haven't died out. We know
that humans no longer fight over such trivial things as religion and
differing economic systems, and that's evidenced here by Captain Rabin's
friendship with an Arab prince who is part of his team. But STAR TREK
was essentially godless -- or should I say, god-full. Throughout the
galaxy, from Apollo to Vaal to the god of the Edo in the TNG episode
"Justice," gods were every week explained away as aliens or machines.
The authors' injections of faith and tradition (don't worry, VULCAN'S
FORGE isn't a heavy diatribe) give STAR TREK a much-needed breath of
fresh air. If McCoy can still be a good ol' Southern gent, I don't see
why Starfleet cadets can't be bar mitzvahed.
The third story is equally satisfying. With Spock on Obsidian, Uhura
is given the conn. Command of the INTREPID II proves to be a growth
experience for her as well. At first she relishes in ordering someone
else to open hailing frequencies, but she rapidly learns that the
responsibility which comes with the center chair is quite taxing. And,
of course, she rises to the occasion, as we always knew she could.
Part of the STAR TREK aesthetic is making references to other STAR TREK
episodes, films, and occasionally novels. VULCAN'S FORGE neatly
weaves in threads from the TAS episode "Yesteryear" as well as A.C.
Crispin's SAREK and Diane Duane's SPOCK'S WORLD. For fans of matters
and manners Vulcan , this novel is a welcome return to the depth and
quality of Crispin and Duane.
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This review is copyright 1997 by Kevin Lauderdale; permission granted for
free electronic dissemination provided the text of this review is not
changed, this notice remains attached, and no money is charged for it.
All other rights reserved to the author.
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Kevin Lauderdale
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