Terrific! You continue to explain Spock and his family like no other, while thoroughly entertaining us in the process. You could combine these anthologies and produce a novel on the biography of the hierarchy of the ruling clan of Vulcan!

Please continue to write. I have nearly run out and will have to start re-reading. if you were to write on issues involving Spock and the gang centered around the new universe from movie re-boot, you would have hundreds of reviews from satisfied and happy readers. Such a conclusion is, after all, only logical!

That was the best thing I have ever read. You really captured Amanda's sass and spirit, and Sarek's stubborn Vulcan pride.

Thank you for writing!

I get so infuriated by the Vulcan mentality, but you have Amanda manage so gracefully. Yes, I know she gets verklempt, but she has that tacit understanding that really works well for her.

And the story was good, too.

pat, your stories are amazing! its amazing to read something so deap and well-rounded. it shows new level to sarek and spocks relationship. keep going!

Excellent story, as always!

And a Happy New Year to you, too :)

Hi Pat,

Your Amanda is such a vivid character. I also like how you portay Spock and Sarek. They have such a complicated relationship with high expectations on both sides. Amanda just wants everyone to just be-just get along and be a family. Her two Vulcan's have a much greater need to rise above those considerations and gain a greater level of communication. Not an easy path but the one chosen.

I enjoyed the thought of Spock resorting to his mother's logic in winning the chess matches once his level of logical play had been exceeded. I think that resourcefulness is what kept him alive on his many dangerous experiences on the Enterprise.

Thanks for posting Pat! :-)

Em

Pat, you really shouldn't have! Fancy writing a Sarek and Amanda fic just in time for my birthday. And what a lovely surprise. As usual I hear Amanda speak here as she did in the series, and each move of the dance you have them perform seems right and feasible.. and very logical. Thank you for the gift.

Very thoughtful and insightful look into how chess factors into the Vulcan/Human dynamic that is ever present in Spock, and so well brought to life in your writing on him, Amanda, and Sarek. Amanda's thoughts and feelings provide a great contrast to Sarek's immutability, and the argument over Spock's win (as well as this entire story) sums up their friction, and Spock's eventual friction with Sarek, so well. It shows a very close family who is trying (not always succeeding, but trying) to survive and thrive in very rough conditions. That Spock's definance and eventual revolution is really a form of emulating his father is so more in character for the Vulcan than so many fanfic, that make it about much simpler or more petty issues. And much more complicated to resolve. The final chess game was a great way to end "Babel" (one of my favs) and provides yet another step in the journey toward these two stubborn beings finding some resolution in their relationship.

Lovely work; both sad (Sarek and Spock's issues with each other) and funny (because Vulcans generally don't have to deal with vegetable assassins). Another wonderful examination of Sarek and Spock's relationship and where Amanda fits into it (sort-of). :)

Very interesting view of Spock's childhood. I have always wondered about why his folks chose to have a hybrid child and then demanded he be perfectly Vulcan. I like your explanation. Makes sense. Thanks for the insight.

As always, it is such a delight to read one of your postings. Thank you for an excellent story! Waiting for more...

Excellent story.

A lovely Christmas present and almost - but only almost - a satisfactory substitute for Chapter 14.

Happy New Year!

A very nce piece. Love it. As always a very intersting view into our favorite couples lives.

Lisa