"Look up, Little Cat, the voice said. Look up, and see the stars."
Review
LOVED this book so much!!! A fascinating peek into the years between Star Trek: The Motion Picture and The Wrath of Khan films, and SUCH a lovely delve into the character of Saavik. I loved every inch of this book -- everything about Saavik is so fascinating -- her backstory, her personality, her conflict and character arc, etc -- and it really makes me wish that there had been more opportunities to spend more time with this character. She's SUCH a delight :3c
The plot of this book is also extremely good. I love the dread surrounding the mystery of what is going on and how/if they'll be able to solve it. The Pandora's Box allegory is so wonderfully executed -- everything from its literal application in the 'antagonists banking on humanity's curiosity to proliferate this threat' and the angry outrage Saavik expresses when other characters tell her about the myth in its origianl context. That scene is also so much fun just for the casual ways Spock comments on / corrects her social skills -- "humans consider it impolite to discuss their politics", "humans also consider it impolite to criticize one another's religious beliefs" -- it's a really compelling aspect to their dynamic that is extremely relatable to me lmao; I would have loved to see more of it!
For real, though, the plot of this book is Excellent but the scenes showcasing Spock & Saavik's relationship were definitely my favorites. I loved everything from their first meeting, to Spock patiently intervening when the other Vulcans on the rescue mission tried to take her knife by interjecting himself into the conflict and trading his tricorder for the weapon so that she felt more in control of what was going on -- "I will keep it safe for you" ... "This is mine. You may keep it safe for me", to the variety of little scenes from when Saavik was younger and Spock was mentoring/raising her full time, to their current relationship now that Saavik is studying at Starfleet Academy. The little moments of characterizations for both of them were so fun to explore, and I liked that we can see Spock still fumbling a little wrt emotions; that even though he's had the "this simple feeling" revelation in TMP, it's still not something that comes entirely naturally and he's struggling to execute it, not just for himself, but with Saavik as well.
Obligatory collection of some of my favorite quotes from this book:
"Knowing about children would not have helped in this case, so he applied himself to knowing about Saavik -- and took life one crisis at a time.
"If I go lost, you go finds me?" "Yes, Saavikam. I will." "Well, if you go lost, I go finds you too. But you try not go lost, Spock."
And Spock found something else, which he didn't examine too closely: the respect and trust of someone who needed him, who needed precisely what he had to offer, who never asked for what he could not give. Sympathy and sentiment were of no use to her at all. Saavik required information -- constant, endless, complete information -- and Spock possessed an inexhaustible supply of that. Saavik gave him something in return, a thing so simple, so rare that he had never found it in his life: acceptance. Unemotional, matter-of-fact acceptance of himself exactly as he was. She never judged him as the Vulcans did (and as Spock judged himself) by a rigid code of correct behavior. She never watched and waited as humans did for him to slip, to betray a trace of feeling, to "be human", to fail. What did she know of humans or of Vulcans? She was only Saavik, and Spock was only Spock, who answered questions. Spock always answered. He found he couldn't help it."
""That kid's not giving Spock a minute's peace -- and he's happy as a clam. Just goes to show: with Spock, you never know.""
"All attempts to persuade her that swearing envinced a limited vocabulary had never produced the desired result. Saavik simply increased her vocabulary to avoid appearing limited."
IT'S SO GOOD!!! I love this book forever, I definitely recommend it to anyone who likes Spock and who thinks they might like Saavik (if you don't think you might like Saavik, reconsider. I think everyone should like Saavik :3c). You even get a couple of really good Kirk moments in there -- it's interesting context for his position and attitude at the beginning of TWOK! You also get a fun 'side character of the week' in Obo, a dude who is really good fun and interesting! Some good McCoy and Spock interactions as well (since Kirk is off doing a bottle episode in his scenes lol), both humorous and ones that expand a little bit on their usual conflicts surrounding emotionality and how to handle it. All in all a very good book!!