Kathleen Sky (born Kathleen Mckinney, August 5, 1943) is Kathleen Mckinney Goldin. From 1972 to 1982 she was married to fellow author/collaborator Stephen Goldin. Her pen name is her former married name from her marriage to first husband Karl Sky. She appeared as an Enterprise crewmember in Star Trek: The motion picture.
Kathleen Sky has a small but well-written line-up of work. Both of her ST books were good additions to the Star Trek line, her two short novels from Laser Books were pleasant work, and Witchdame was an odd and interesting volume. The background for this novel is an alternate Great Britain inhabited by three races, the woodwitches, the Witchlords, and humans.
Princess Elizabeth is witchlord blood from her father, King Richard’s, side, and a woodwitch on her mother, Queen Dianne’s, side. Elizabeth is heartily disliked by the king’s mistress, Lady Anne Pemberthy, disregarded by the court, and although an experienced warrior, is labelled ‘that great gawk’ by most around the throne. Her initiation into the Great Rite on her 18th birthday is spectacular, and as a birthday boon she asks permission from her father to go on a quest to the four corners of his kingdom to see how things fare with the people. In fact they don’t fare at all well, since Queen Dianne on her deathbed cursed her unfaithful husband with impotence and the health of the king is the health of the land.
This book is a mixture of alternate history, Wicca, and Paganism: that nevertheless manages to blend into a very satisfying whole. The Englene that appears in the pages of this book is a fascinating place, with the occasional dragon, mages, saints, jesters, minstrels, an evil sorceress or two – and a number of angels who wander in and out of events.
I would have wished for it to be two or three chapters longer. I’d have liked to know what Elizabeth did to Lady Anne when the king was dead, what the court jester. Jackie Somers, did next, and if Elizabeth fulfilled several promises made to various characters in the book – alternatively a second book covering all that would have been even better. But once again, this was what readers received and I was duly thankful.
Sky’s first books, Birthright and Ice Prison were set in a completely different universe from her other works. The final of her works, The Star Rooks, was first done as two novelettes set in the same universe. They concern interstellar con-artists, Chandra and Jad diMedici, and a detective trying to pin them down. His job is extremely difficult however because the diMedicis have very twisted and ingenious imaginations.
Her then husband, Stephen Goldin, and Kathleen Sky jointly created this duo of stories, as I understand it, together designing the characters and situations. The stories were originally published separately in limited circulation magazines, and were not reprinted until reissued as a single e-chapbook by Embidd.
They are now available separately in various e-formats. I recommend Witchdame for fantasy lovers certainly, and ST lovers should enjoy the two ST novels. Another friend says that the Laser books too are very readable.
Bibliography
Novels:
Birthright (1975) Laser Book
Ice Prison (1976) Laser Book
Vulcan! reissued as Star Trek Adventures 11: Vulcan! (Bantam Books, September 1978, Titan Books reissue, April 20, 1995, Spectra October 6, 1998,
Death’s Angel, reissued as Star Trek Adventures 10: Death’s Angel (Bantam Books, April 1981, Titan Books reissue, February 15, 1994, Spectra reissue, May 1, 1995.
Star Rooks (copyright 1980; published as January 2004 ebook by Embiid Publishing, (with Stephen Goldin)
Witchdame (1984)
Short stories:
“One Ordinary Day, with Box” (1972)
“Lament of the Keeku Bird” (1973)
“Door to Malequar” (1975)
“Motherbeast” (1978)