by Janet Kagan
“Sivao, where the north star beat like the heart of a child…”
An insidious disease is ravaging the Federation. It began on Eeiauo and spread before it was known to be cross-species contagious.
On her first mission, Uhura befriended a diplomat/dancer/singer from Eeiauo. They exchanged taboo songs and promised to never tell a soul. Uhura believes these secret songs may hold clues to cure the epidemic. Captain Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise must decipher the songs to cure the plague. It’s a coming-of-age journey with a first-contact, a mystery, and lots of songs.
Random Thoughts Written Down as I Read:
This is it. This is my favorite Star Trek book EVER, and one of my favorite all-time books of any genre. The philosophies, morals, behaviors, and beliefs discussed and displayed in this book and “The Wounded Sky” shaped who I am, how I behave, and what I believe today.
That being said, I realize others may not be as touched and enthusiastic as I am about “Uhura’s Song.”
I believe in ‘Geek Gifts.’ Geek gifts are things one geek gives to another because they love it so much they need to share it. My son ‘gave’ me “Spaced” in this way, and my guardian angel gave me “Firefly.” I give Geek Gifts too, but I’ve always been reluctant to share “Uhura’s Song” and “The Wounded Sky” because I can’t bear the idea that someone else might NOT find them so magical. My kids’ dad told me “Wounded Sky” was stupid. I never shared “Uhura’s Song” with him.
I’ll share a few special moments and ideas. And I’ll continue singing Uhura’s song.
Oh. That was so cheesy. I love this book.
McCoy calls the Eeiauoans ‘overgrown house cats’ but it’s obvious he loves them. He claims to cry because he has cat hair in his eyes.
Spock tells jokes but pretends he doesn’t understand that they are jokes.
Snnanagfashtalli is not Eeiauoan, but is mentioned. She is immune to ADF.
Uhura speaks Eeiauoan. Because she fuckin rocks at her job.
Dr. Evan Wilson (spoiler) is me when I was a young adult. But with blue eyes. Her explanations for her own behavior suit me to a T.
This is the first time Uhura’s first name is used: Nyota. A literal translation of her name? Star Freedom.
The Sivoans use their tails to communicate like my cat, Guildenstern. They corkscrew them, and straighten and whip them, lash and flick them—oh! I want a tail! The tails are also prehensile.
Chekov is so fun and young and useful and sweet!
Names have meaning.
Words have meaning.
There are all sorts of jokes and wonderful puns and sweet interactions.
QFT:
“Tell me how it happened.”
The only criticism I’ve ever heard of this book, EVER, is the Dr. Peters as a Mary Sue . . but she is clearly a trickster, or at the very least, a pretender. Which leads to an interesting proposition – where does Mary Sue-ism come from, other than the fannish desire to live in the fantasy? How does Neil Gaiman’s Anansi (of American Gods) compare? The 1970’s was rife with fannish Sues and heightened interest in African and Native American spirituality – Does the trickster make the Mary Sue acceptable, if not revered and desirable?
Tailkinker’s gig was named John Barry after the surgeon discovered to be a woman after death in the mid 1800’s. Before the Internet, you would have had to bust several book spines to put that together.
I’m frequently reminded that what I find wonderful simply sits there and is ignored by most everyone else. I get a lot of rejection in geek gifting. Drives me crazy but I have to accept it – I go into a depressive funk whenever I think on it too much. And never, ever, sleep with anyone whom can’t accept your geekry. :-)