Vulcan's Forge

by Josepha Sherman

  A first-year student at the Harvard Business School has forgotten his assignments, and the prof is in a mood to nail him. The student pulls out his wallet, flips it open, and orders, "Beam me up fast, Scotty."

  A person in terminal chipmunk mode—me, recovering from surgery on impacted wisdom teeth—lies in the hospital, hurting. "I think Bones would have done better," I mumble to the nurse. "Well," she tells me, "this isn't the Enterprise, but we'll do our best."

  James Tiptree's poignant short story "Beam Us Home."

  It is the late 1970s in upstate New York (think Darkover, and you've got an idea of the weather), and some Ithaca College students are lining up to watch Star Trek: the Motion Picture. They see their Medieval English prof—me again. Not only has she beat them into line; she's got Starfleet insignia on her ski jacket.

  I walk into the office of a vice-president at the financial organization that employs me. Someone's got a tribble on her desk, courtesy of the handouts promoting "Trials and Tribble-lations." (My own tribble, named Charmin for obvious reasons, remains at home.)

  And, of course, the wonderful moment as I watched the first Space Shuttle being pulled out of its hangar and the Alexander Courage theme from STAR TREK started playing. Just as Clark Gable absolutely had to play Rhett Butler in Gone with the Wind, the first Shuttle had to be named Enterprise. I am convinced that when some future-day Chuck Yeager or Zephram Cochrane or Sally Ride or Shannon Lucid breaks the light barrier, he—or she—will do so in a ship that they're going to have to call Enterprise.

  It is, of course, the only . . . logical . . . name.

  Sometimes, of course, people look askance at my interests. You probably know from your own experience that Some People look askance at any enthusiasm at all. More often than not, however, I've found that my enthusiasm kindles matching fire—a Webmaster who wants to go to conventions; a financial analyst's father, now retired from a professorship of plant pathology, telling me "you need xerophytes" (he was right); the way the phosphors on the Internet sparkle when I mention what I write.

  So, what took me so long to put my name to a STAR TREK title when at times it seemed as if I were the only member of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America on the block not to have one? I haven't the faintest idea. Maybe, just maybe, I was a little shy of presuming to ask to be on a team I'd admired so long. That didn't stop John Ordover from asking me in Round Table Conferences on Genie (yes, the SF outpost there is holding out!) if I'd ever thought of writing a STAR TREK novel. And had I thought of this, and had I thought of that . . . and meanwhile, Josepha Sherman was getting the same line of questions.

  Jo and I talked about it online, on Broadway, and at Saturday movies, but nothing really coalesced until January 1996, when we trekked out to South Hadiey, Massachusetts, to speak to the undergraduates at Mount Holyoke College, from which I graduated far too many years ago and which realizes that science fiction and fantasy now form part of its undergrad gene pool.

  By Friday night:

  The students were gone.

  The bar was closed.

  And there we were, snowed in in South Hadiey on a Friday night. As I remember from four years of college, there is nothing to do in South Hadiey on Friday night unless you're a glutton for reserve reading.

  Well, almost nothing. Jo and I hiked up from the alumnae center (looks like a ski lodge) in the center of the campus to a restaurant in the town center (looks like an even bigger ski lodge). Over salad, shrimp, and wine, we started plotting. And laughing. And gesturing. Some impeccable parents spotted, and flinched from, my gesture with an—imaginary, I promise you—obsidian dagger.

  "Star Trek?" they asked each other, bemused. They were, of course, much too decorous to ask us. Besides, we would have told them. In detail.

  We came back from college with an outline. A few months and several revisions later, we had a contract. A few months after that, we had Vulcan's Forge—which I hope you like. And that's why this book is dedicated to Bellatrix, Mount Holyoke's science fiction club.

  I wonder what the people at my twenty-fifth reunion are going to say.

  Well, as we say on the Net: .

  A very big grin indeed. I have never been so happy to be on any team in my life.

  About the Authors

  JOSEPHA SHERMAN

  Josepha Sherman is a fantasy writer and folklorist who has written books and short stories for adults and children. Her fantasy novels include The Shining Falcon (Avon, 1989)—winner of the Compton Crook Award—Child of Faerie, Child of Earth (Walker & Company, 1992, an ALA Best Book and a NY Public Library Book for the Teen Age), the bestseller Castle of Deception (with Mercedes Lackey, Baen Books, 1992), A Strange and Ancient Name (Baen Books, 1993, Science Fiction Book Club edition, 1993, a NY Public Library Book for the Teen Age), Windleaf (Walker & Company, 1993, an ABA Pick of the List, a Junior Library Guild Selection, and a NY Public Library Book for the Teen Age), the bestseller A Cast of Corbies (with Mercedes Lackey, 1994), Gleaming Bright (Walker & Company, 1994, a Junior Library Guild Selection), the bestseller The Chaos Gate (Baen Books, 1994), King's Son, Magic's Son (Baen Books, 1994, a NY Public Library Book for the Teen Age), The Shattered Oath (Baen Books, 1995, nominated for the Nebula Award and a NY Public Library Book for the Teen Age), and Forging the Runes, sequel to The Shattered Oath (Baen Books, 1996). She is also the author of the picturebook Vassilisa the Wise (HBJ, hardcover, Houghton Mifflin, paperback, 1988), and over one hundred short stories, plus a script for the late, lamented television series Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers. And, of course, she is co-author, with Susan Shwartz, of Vulcan's Forge!

  Sherman's folklore titles, all from August House, include A Sampler of Jewish-American Folklore (1992), Rachel the Clever and Other Jewish Folktales (1993), Once Upon a Galaxy (1994), and Greasy Grimy Gopher Guts: The Subversive Folklore of Children (with T.K.F. Weisskopf, August House, 1995), Trickster Tales (1996) and Merlin's Kin: World Tales of Hero-Magicians (1997).

  Josepha Sherman is an active member of the Authors Guild, SFWA, and the American Folklore Society. She has lectured on fantasy and folklore to writers' groups around the country and told stories to groups of all ages. Personal interests include (in no particular order) aviation, computers, horses, and travel. She is a diehard fan of the hapless Mets (wait till next year!) and a founding member of EHA, the Editorial Horseplayers Association, a motley group of writers and editors who hold their board meetings at the finish line at Belmont Racetrack!

  SUSAN SHWARTZ

  For the past fourteen years, Susan Shwartz has been a financial writer and editor at various long-suffering Wall Street firms. For the past twenty years, she has written, edited, and reviewed fantasy and science fiction. Her most recent books are Shards of Empire (Tor), set in eleventh century Byzantium, with Cross and Crescent (Tor), a novel of the First Crusade, to follow in 1997. Her other books include The Grail of Hearts, and, with Andre Norton, Imperial Lady and Empire of the Eagle (all from Tor). Her anthologies include the two volumes of Sisters in Fantasy (ROC) and two volumes of Arabesques (Avon). She has published more than sixty pieces of short fiction and has been nominated for the Nebula five times, the Hugo twice, and the World Fantasy Award and the Edgar once each. She has written reviews for various SF publications and The New York Times, Vogue, and a variety of other places. A lapsed academic, she has a Ph.D. in English from Harvard University, enjoys writing polemical letters to major newspapers, and spends entirely too much time on the Net that she could use going to the opera, shopping, or even—heaven forbid—having a life. She lives in Forest Hills, New York, with two computers, a lot of books, and a notorious shoe collection.

  Look for STAR TREK fiction from Pocket Books

  Star Trek®: The Original Series

  Enterprise: The First Adventure • Vonda N. McIntyre

  Strangers From the Sky • Margaret Wander Bonanno

  Final Frontier • Diane Carey

  Spock’s World • Diane Duane

  The
Lost Years • J.M. Dillard

  Prime Directive • Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens

  Probe • Margaret Wander Bonanno

  Best Destiny • Diane Carey

  Shadows on the Sun • Michael Jan Friedman

  Sarek • A.C. Crispin

  Federation • Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens

  Vulcan’s Forge • Josepha Sherman & Susan Shwartz

  Mission to Horatius • Mack Reynolds

  Vulcan’s Heart • Josepha Sherman & Susan Shwartz

  Novelizations

  Star Trek: The Motion Picture • Gene Roddenberry

  Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan • Vonda N. McIntyre

  Star Trek III: The Search for Spock • Vonda N. McIntyre

  Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home • Vonda N. McIntyre

  Star Trek V: The Final Frontier • J.M. Dillard

  Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country • J.M. Dillard

  Star Trek Generations • J.M. Dillard

  Starfleet Academy • Diane Carey

  Star Trek books by William Shatner with Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens

  The Ashes of Eden

  The Return

  Avenger

  Star Trek: Odyssey (contains The Ashes of Eden, The Return, and Avenger)

  Spectre

  Dark Victory

  Preserver

  #1 • Star Trek: The Motion Picture • Gene Roddenberry

  #2 • The Entropy Effect • Vonda N. McIntyre

  #3 • The Klingon Gambit • Robert E. Vardeman

  #4 • The Covenant of the Crown • Howard Weinstein

  #5 • The Prometheus Design • Sondra Marshak & Myrna Culbreath

  #6 • The Abode of Life • Lee Correy

  #7 • Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan • Vonda N. McIntyre

  #8 • Black Fire • Sonni Cooper

  #9 • Triangle • Sondra Marshak & Myrna Culbreath

  #10 • Web of the Romulans • M.S. Murdock

  #11 • Yesterday’s Son • A.C. Crispin

  #12 • Mutiny on the Enterprise • Robert E. Vardeman

  #13 • The Wounded Sky • Diane Duane

  #14 • The Trellisane Confrontation • David Dvorkin

  #15 • Corona • Greg Bear

  #16 • The Final Reflection • John M. Ford

  #17 • Star Trek III: The Search For Spock • Vonda N. McIntyre

  #18 • My Enemy, My Ally • Diane Duane

  #19 • The Tears of the Singers • Melinda Snodgrass

  #20 • The Vulcan Academy Murders • Jean Lorrah

  #21 • Uhura’s Song • Janet Kagan

  #22 • Shadow Lord • Laurence Yep

  #23 • Ishmael • Barbara Hambly

  #24 • Killing Time • Della Van Hise

  #25 • Dwellers in the Crucible • Margaret Wander Bonanno

  #26 • Pawns and Symbols • Majliss Larson

  #27 • Mindshadow • J.M. Dillard

  #28 • Crisis on Centaurus • Brad Ferguson

  #29 • Dreadnought! • Diane Carey

  #30 • Demons • J.M. Dillard

  #31 • Battlestations! • Diane Carey

  #32 • Chain of Attack • Gene DeWeese

  #33 • Deep Domain • Howard Weinstein

  #34 • Dreams of the Raven • Carmen Carter

  #35 • The Romulan Way • Diane Duane & Peter Morwood

  #36 • How Much For Just the Planet? • John M. Ford

  #37 • Bloodthirst • J.M. Dillard

  #38 • The IDIC Epidemic • Jean Lorrah

  #39 • Time For Yesterday • A.C. Crispin

  #40 • Timetrap • David Dvorkin

  #41 • The Three-Minute Universe • Barbara Paul

  #42 • Memory Prime • Gar and Judith Reeves-Stevens

  #43 • The Final Nexus • Gene DeWeese

  #44 • Vulcan’s Glory • D.C. Fontana

  #45 • Double, Double • Michael Jan Friedman

  #46 • The Cry of the Onlies • Judy Klass

  #47 • The Kobayashi Maru • Julia Ecklar

  #48 • Rules of Engagement • Peter Morwood

  #49 • The Pandora Principle • Carolyn Clowes

  #50 • Doctor’s Orders • Diane Duane

  #51 • Unseen Enemy • V.E. Mitchell

  #52 • Home is the Hunter • Dana Kramer-Rolls

  #53 • Ghost-Walker • Barbara Hambly

  #54 • A Flag Full of Stars • Brad Ferguson

  #55 • Renegade • Gene DeWeese

  #56 • Legacy • Michael Jan Friedman

  #57 • The Rift • Peter David

  #58 • Faces of Fire • Michael Jan Friedman

  #59 • The Disinherited • Peter David, Michael Jan Friedman, Robert Greenberger

  #60 • Ice Trap • L.A. Graf

  #61 • Sanctuary • John Vornholt

  #62 • Death Count • L.A. Graf

  #63 • Shell Game • Melissa Crandall

  #64 • The Starship Trap • Mel Gilden

  #65 • Windows on a Lost World • V.E. Mitchell

  #66 • From the Depths • Victor Milan

  #67 • The Great Starship Race • Diane Carey

  #68 • Firestorm • L.A. Graf

  #69 • The Patrian Transgression • Simon Hawke

  #70 • Traitor Winds • L.A. Graf

  #71 • Crossroad • Barbara Hambly

  #72 • The Better Man • Howard Weinstein

  #73 • Recovery • J.M. Dillard

  #74 • The Fearful Summons • Denny Martin Flynn

  #75 • First Frontier • Diane Carey & Dr. James I. Kirkland

  #76 • The Captain’s Daughter • Peter David

  #77 • Twilight’s End • Jerry Oltion

  #78 • The Rings of Tautee • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch

  #79 • Invasion! #1: First Strike • Diane Carey

  #80 • The Joy Machine • James Gunn

  #81 • Mudd in Your Eye • Jerry Oltion

  #82 • Mind Meld • John Vornholt

  #83 • Heart of the Sun • Pamela Sargent & George Zebrowski

  #84 • Assignment: Eternity • Greg Cox

  #85-87 • My Brother’s Keeper • Michael Jan Friedman

  #85 • Republic

  #86 • Constitution

  #87 • Enterprise

  #88 • Across the Universe • Pamela Sargent & George Zebrowski

  #89-94 • New Earth

  #89 • Wagon Train to the Stars • Diane Carey

  #90 • Belle Terre • Dean Wesley Smith with Diane Carey

  #91 • Rough Trails • L.A. Graf

  #92 • The Flaming Arrow • Kathy and Jerry Oltion

  #93 • Thin Air • Kristine Kathryn Rusch & Dean Wesley Smith

  #94 • Challenger • Diane Carey

  #95-96 • Rihannsu • Diane Duane

  #95 • Swordhunt

  #96 • The Empty Throne

  Star Trek: The Next Generation®

  Metamorphosis • Jean Lorrah

  Vendetta • Peter David

  Reunion • Michael Jan Friedman

  Imzadi • Peter David

  The Devil’s Heart • Carmen Carter

  Dark Mirror • Diane Duane

  Q-Squared • Peter David

  Crossover • Michael Jan Friedman

  Kahless • Michael Jan Friedman

  Ship of the Line • Diane Carey

  The Best and the Brightest • Susan Wright

  Planet X • Michael Jan Friedman

  Imzadi II: Triangle • Peter David

  I, Q • John de Lancie & Peter David

  The Valiant • Michael Jan Friedman

  The Genesis Wave, Book One • John Vornholt

  The Genesis Wave, Book Two • John Vornholt

  Novelizations

  Encounter at Farpoint • David Gerrold

  Unification • Jeri Taylor

  Relics • Michael Jan Friedman

  Descent • Diane Carey
/>   All Good Things... • Michael Jan Friedman

  Star Trek: Klingon • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch

  Star Trek Generations • J.M. Dillard

  Star Trek: First Contact • J.M. Dillard

  Star Trek: Insurrection • J.M. Dillard

  #1 • Ghost Ship • Diane Carey

  #2 • The Peacekeepers • Gene DeWeese

  #3 • The Children of Hamlin • Carmen Carter

  #4 • Survivors • Jean Lorrah

  #5 • Strike Zone • Peter David

  #6 • Power Hungry • Howard Weinstein

  #7 • Masks • John Vornholt

  #8 • The Captain’s Honor • David and Daniel Dvorkin

  #9 • A Call to Darkness • Michael Jan Friedman

  #10 • A Rock and a Hard Place • Peter David

  #11 • Gulliver’s Fugitives • Keith Sharee

  #12 • Doomsday World • David, Carter, Friedman & Greenberger

  #13 • The Eyes of the Beholders • A.C. Crispin

  #14 • Exiles • Howard Weinstein

  #15 • Fortune’s Light • Michael Jan Friedman

  #16 • Contamination • John Vornholt

  #17 • Boogeymen • Mel Gilden

  #18 • Q-In-Law • Peter David

  #19 • Perchance to Dream • Howard Weinstein

  #20 • Spartacus • T.L. Mancour

  #21 • Chains of Command • W.A. McCay & E.L. Flood

  #22 • Imbalance • V.E. Mitchell

  #23 • War Drums • John Vornholt

  #24 • Nightshade • Laurell K. Hamilton

  #25 • Grounded • David Bischoff

  #26 • The Romulan Prize • Simon Hawke

  #27 • Guises of the Mind • Rebecca Neason

  #28 • Here There Be Dragons • John Peel

  #29 • Sins of Commission • Susan Wright

  #30 • Debtor’s Planet • W.R. Thompson

  #31 • Foreign Foes • Dave Galanter & Greg Brodeur