Killing Time (Van Hise novel)
| Industry | Publishing |
|---|---|
| Products | Books, including Star Trek novels |
Killing Time is a science fiction novel authored by American writer Della Van Hise, set within the Star Trek: The Original Series universe and released by Pocket Books in 1985. The initial draft contained Kirk/Spock slash fiction themes, which Paramount insisted be removed. Nevertheless, 250,000 copies were printed featuring these romantic nuances between Spock and James T. Kirk. This led to intervention by Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, resulting in a recall of the first edition. That version subsequently became a sought-after collector's item, with over fifty modifications incorporated into a revised edition.
Plot
While patrolling near the Romulan neutral zone, the USS Enterprise crew experiences strange dreams. Both Captain James T. Kirk and Science Officer Spock envision scenarios where Spock commands the vessel and Kirk serves as an ensign. Starfleet intelligence uncovers that Romulans are employing time travel technology to investigate the situation.
Kirk awakens aboard the VSS ShiKahr, a ship similar to the Enterprise, but now as Ensign Kirk. The Romulans’ interference has altered history, resulting in a Federation led predominantly by Vulcans. One ship remains unaffected by these changes, allowing comparison of alternate timelines and realization that history must be restored. Captain Spock becomes protective of Ensign Kirk but sustains injuries during an away mission.
Following mental evaluations by Doctor McCoy, the crew acknowledges the timeline has been disrupted. Romulan operatives abduct Kirk to force Spock into impersonating their leader. Through a mind meld, Spock and Kirk regain awareness of their true identities.
During pon farr, Spock forms a bond with Kirk but ultimately mates with Romulan Thea to cope with the condition. They rescue Kirk and uncover that Romulan plans involved sending them back in time to prevent agents threatening the Federation’s establishment. After successfully neutralizing these threats, Spock suffers severe injuries. A final mind meld between Kirk and Spock restores the original timeline as reality reverts.
Development
The initial manuscript of Killing Time featured Kirk/Spock-centered slash fiction elements, a style rooted in 1970s fan-created stories about these characters. Author Della van Hise had previously produced similar works. When Pocket Books submitted the manuscript for approval to Paramount Studios, sections containing slash fiction were flagged for removal. However, during an editorial handover at Pocket Books, these pages were mistakenly marked with "STET", a proofreading instruction indicating that earlier corrections should be ignored.
Pocket Books proceeded to print 250,000 copies of Killing Time. After release, Gene Roddenberry's assistant, Richard Arnold, received correspondence from a reader noting romantic implications between Kirk and Spock. Roddenberry reportedly reacted strongly and demanded that the initial print run be recalled and destroyed. By that point, between 100,000 and 150,000 copies had already been distributed to retailers. This controversy encouraged fans to purchase remaining copies as potential collectibles. Van Hise later admitted that readers seeking "questionable material" in Killing Time would find it present. More than fifty revisions were made before republishing a second edition.
In response to these events, Roddenberry’s team enhanced oversight of Pocket Books’ publications, assigning Arnold greater authority. This sometimes created uncertainty over whether feedback originated directly from Roddenberry or Arnold himself. Suggestions frequently rejected plot elements that diverged from the television series canon. Rumors circulated about an alternate manuscript containing more explicit Kirk/Spock content; however, Van Hise denied such claims.
Critical reception
In a February 2013 review for Tor.com, Ellen Cheeseman-Meyer characterized Killing Time as "deeply romantic," drawing parallels to 18th-century literary Romanticism, which emphasized morality as inherent in nature while viewing civilization as a source of corruption. She observed that although the work might be easily overlooked as "light fan fiction" during an era when Pocket Books largely ignored such writings, it also functions as a "call to action," encouraging readers to reflect on their personal relationships and behaviors. Meanwhile, in her article "From Slash to the Mainstream: Female Writers and Gender Blending Men" published in Extrapolation, Elizabeth Woledge describes Killing Time as "sensual but not explicit," noting that the characters Spock and Kirk merge masculine and feminine characteristics—implying that this blending of gender traits, rather than the romantic narrative itself, elicited significant responses.