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Star Trek recs
May. 19th, 2025 02:34 pmTwo Trek stories that feature deep character insight, believable motivations and events, and highly skilled writing. (My personal holy trinity.)
"Let Me Be Your Gateway" by![[archiveofourown.org profile]](https://p.dreamwidth.org/b164c54b26e4/-/archiveofourown.org/favicon.ico)
kalima
Rating: Teen and up
Category: Gen
Fandoms: Star Trek, Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (TV)
Relationships: Edith Keeler/James T. Kirk, James T. Kirk & Spock
Characters: James T. Kirk, Spock (Star Trek), Edith Keeler
Word count: 3,527
Author's summary: So, I was idly watching A City on the Edge of Forever and thought, "How can I make this sadder?" James Kirk falls in love with an extraordinary person. Spock does what he can with what he can get.
* * *
"No Crueler Woman" bybfisk
Rating: Teen and up
Categories: F/F, F/M
Fandom: Star Trek: The Original Series
Relationships: Spock & T'Pring (Star Trek), T'Pring/Original Female Character, Stonn/T'Pring (Star Trek)
Characters: T'Pring (Star Trek), Stonn (Star Trek), Spock (Star Trek), Original Alien Character(s), James T. Kirk
Word count: 4,644
Author's summary: Vulcan language is not equipped to describe or distinguish between emotional patterns. Nevertheless, T’Pring knows she is a cruel woman.
"Let Me Be Your Gateway" by
Rating: Teen and up
Category: Gen
Fandoms: Star Trek, Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (TV)
Relationships: Edith Keeler/James T. Kirk, James T. Kirk & Spock
Characters: James T. Kirk, Spock (Star Trek), Edith Keeler
Word count: 3,527
Author's summary: So, I was idly watching A City on the Edge of Forever and thought, "How can I make this sadder?" James Kirk falls in love with an extraordinary person. Spock does what he can with what he can get.
* * *
"No Crueler Woman" by
Rating: Teen and up
Categories: F/F, F/M
Fandom: Star Trek: The Original Series
Relationships: Spock & T'Pring (Star Trek), T'Pring/Original Female Character, Stonn/T'Pring (Star Trek)
Characters: T'Pring (Star Trek), Stonn (Star Trek), Spock (Star Trek), Original Alien Character(s), James T. Kirk
Word count: 4,644
Author's summary: Vulcan language is not equipped to describe or distinguish between emotional patterns. Nevertheless, T’Pring knows she is a cruel woman.
Carl Wilson addresses the history and future of Toronto arts criticism.
"Toronto once had a thriving ecosystem of cultural critics who prodded, inspired and annoyed both readers and artists. As the media sheds its arts writers, what does a city lose?"
"Toronto once had a thriving ecosystem of cultural critics who prodded, inspired and annoyed both readers and artists. As the media sheds its arts writers, what does a city lose?"
Dystopian (and yet plausible) plaquefic
Apr. 29th, 2025 07:24 pmIn a speculative public art series, Dara Vandor envisions near-future commemorative plaques marking the US "campaign to liberate the northern territory formerly known as Canada." The CBC clip is here.
I'm pretty sure I'm not the only Canadian to be remembering the essays in Close the 49th Parallel etc. (University of Toronto Press, 1970, ed. Ian Lumsden). We've been thinking about this future for a very long time.
I'm pretty sure I'm not the only Canadian to be remembering the essays in Close the 49th Parallel etc. (University of Toronto Press, 1970, ed. Ian Lumsden). We've been thinking about this future for a very long time.
Farewell to Hudson's Bay
Apr. 25th, 2025 04:02 pmI feel like that subject line should be the title of a Stan Rogers song.
( Read more... )
The demise of The Bay is just another example of the eventual consequences of private equity ownership and leveraged buyouts. It remains to be seen whether the 1670 charter of the Hudson's Bay company will remain in Canada. What will happen to the former employees' pensions and benefits is also, as far as I can tell, unknown.
( Read more... )
The demise of The Bay is just another example of the eventual consequences of private equity ownership and leveraged buyouts. It remains to be seen whether the 1670 charter of the Hudson's Bay company will remain in Canada. What will happen to the former employees' pensions and benefits is also, as far as I can tell, unknown.
Fic characterization, again
Apr. 22nd, 2025 07:32 pmI had more or less resolved to stay off my Trek hobbyhorse of "please don't ask me to believe in characters who would never be chosen to serve on an interstellar mission if their AO3 tags actually appeared in their Starfleet psych profiles." But then I came across the extract below on Diane Duane's Tumblr. A reader complimented her on McCoy's characterization in Doctor's Orders. She responded in part:
That's the type of characterization that I find the most credible, engrossing, and satisfying to read, both in fanfic and in profic. I wish that more of the current crop of TOS fan writers would consider taking a similar approach. (And I'm hugely appreciative of those few who already do.)
The rest of McCoy’s characterization, though, was based on the continuous intention to write these characters as if they were the professionals that they would honestly have to be. [Emphasis in original.]
That's the type of characterization that I find the most credible, engrossing, and satisfying to read, both in fanfic and in profic. I wish that more of the current crop of TOS fan writers would consider taking a similar approach. (And I'm hugely appreciative of those few who already do.)
Voting and hoping
Apr. 20th, 2025 04:55 pmWe advance-voted today in the bright spring sunshine. May the weather and the gardens and all the happy-looking people that we passed be an omen of an overall positive outcome.
Deadlines met, appointments kept, obligations fulfilled, doomscrolling paused. All of those things are certain to recur, but for now... Well, sufficient unto the day, etc.
( Six non-stressful things )
And this particular day is evidently called "Spy Wednesday." Huh. Although I was Catholic-schooled for many long years, I never once heard the day referred to by that name.
( Six non-stressful things )
And this particular day is evidently called "Spy Wednesday." Huh. Although I was Catholic-schooled for many long years, I never once heard the day referred to by that name.
Diversionary tactics
Apr. 1st, 2025 02:12 pmWhen I'm fed up with wrestling with a manuscript or wrangling an author, sometimes I take a breath and read what other people have to say about language, publishing, or the craft of writing.
( Some diversions below the cut )
( Some diversions below the cut )
Lily & Isaac
Mar. 20th, 2025 07:28 pmHonestly, I have no idea why this is the working production title for Strange New Worlds (maybe just to keep fangirls like [younger] me from hanging around locations), but season 4 has been shooting right outside my living room window, and all around the immediate neighbourhood, for the past week and a bit.
Some of the interiors are being shot in the office building immediately across the road (probably because there's lot of empty space available). I think the little indie coffee shop on the first floor must be doing fantastic business, judging from all the crew members who are coming and going.
Now if only some finished SNW would turn up on my TV screen soon!
Some of the interiors are being shot in the office building immediately across the road (probably because there's lot of empty space available). I think the little indie coffee shop on the first floor must be doing fantastic business, judging from all the crew members who are coming and going.
Now if only some finished SNW would turn up on my TV screen soon!
Even to those of us who aren't monarchists? These days, all public affirmations of Canada's sovereignty are welcome, no matter how recondite.
King Charles gives his Canadian attendant a sword as sovereignty threats intensify
"Charles, as the constitutional monarch, does not usually comment in public on political issues of the day, but he can send a message through what he does and who he meets with. ... The 51st state talk has already become very tiresome for, I think, every single Canadian. So I'm sure it's equally tiresome for the King as King of Canada."
King Charles gives his Canadian attendant a sword as sovereignty threats intensify
"Charles, as the constitutional monarch, does not usually comment in public on political issues of the day, but he can send a message through what he does and who he meets with. ... The 51st state talk has already become very tiresome for, I think, every single Canadian. So I'm sure it's equally tiresome for the King as King of Canada."
Michelle Trachtenberg
Feb. 26th, 2025 06:30 pmI was sad to read of Michelle Trachtenberg's death at the age of 39. Even though the character as written was never my favourite on BTVS, I thought the actor herself did an outstanding job (despite, as we learned much later, a cruel and traumatizing work situation with Whedon). Brave girl.
Ontario election: voting accomplished
Feb. 23rd, 2025 03:29 pmThe spouse and I did the advance-voting thing yesterday. In our riding, the choice was easy. Kristyn Wong-Tam, the incumbent, has represented our community for many years--first as a city councillor, more recently as the NDP member in the provincial legislature. The lineup at the polling place at 10:00 a.m. (opening time) was long, which I take to be a good sign. (We could sure use some good signs, since the unspeakable PCs are leading in the polls.)
We didn't receive one flyer, brochure, or canvass visit from anyone (including Wong-Tam) during the entire campaign, which is unusual. I had to look up the other candidates online just to see who they were.
Next up: the federal leadership convention on March 9 and, in due course, an election. Our incumbent is a Liberal, Marci Ien. I don't think she's said yet whether she'll run again. (I could be wrong about that--I haven't been keeping up with the federal side of things recently.)
We didn't receive one flyer, brochure, or canvass visit from anyone (including Wong-Tam) during the entire campaign, which is unusual. I had to look up the other candidates online just to see who they were.
Next up: the federal leadership convention on March 9 and, in due course, an election. Our incumbent is a Liberal, Marci Ien. I don't think she's said yet whether she'll run again. (I could be wrong about that--I haven't been keeping up with the federal side of things recently.)
Trivial thoughts
Feb. 17th, 2025 03:20 pmCurrent events and public life (in the US, Canada, and overseas) are so discouraging and overwhelming--and threatening--that I'm trying hard to avoid worrying about them for a minute. Random trivia follows.
( Read more... )
( Read more... )
Snowflake challenge no. 8
Jan. 29th, 2025 03:13 pm
In your own space, write a promo, manifesto or primer for a beloved character, relationship or fandom
( You and I exchanged something more permanent )
Trek rec: Zine O'Biology (AO3 collection)
Jan. 26th, 2025 04:14 pmThirteen in-universe scholarly articles and illustrations that will leave you thinking and laughing. (The full "interplanetary, peer reviewed, open access journal of xenobiological science" is available here.)
Of course, my personal favourite is "Rapid Evolution in Romulans and Vulcans: A Literature Review" byvanilla_extract, and not just because it fits in with some of McCoy's hypothesizing about xenobiology in my own fictional universe. But all the articles are very much worth reading, especially if you are among those whose work requires them to slog their way through academic journals as editors, authors, or readers.
Of course, my personal favourite is "Rapid Evolution in Romulans and Vulcans: A Literature Review" by
