Title

For the World is Hollow And I have Touched the Sky

Episode

Season 3
Episode 8

Air Date

November 8, 1968

Stardate

5476.3

Description

McCoy, faced with a terminal illness, xeno-polycythemia, chooses to leave the Enterprise and become the consort of the high priestess of a spaceship that's on a collision course with planet Daran Five.

Personal Rating

Every principal cast member has to have at least one episode devoted to them. This is one of McCoy's episodes. Another is The City on the Edge of Forever. The plot of this episode is similar to that of The Paradise Syndrome, which was one of Kirk's episodes. The oracle's humorless temperament is reminiscent of Vaal's temperament in The Apple.

The alien ship, which is about the size of a large asteroid, 200 miles in diameter, is kind of neat. It has an outer shell that acts like a "sky" and contains an atmosphere, and an inner core on which the inhabitants reside. So from the surface of the inner core it looks as if the "planet" is surrounded by a red sky.

One thing that disturbs me about this story and others like it is the regimented nature of the society. The society is controlled by an iron fist, and any deviation from the commandments of the ancient rulers is brutally punished. I guess what is disturbing about that concept is that it closely resembles our modern day society.

Favorite Quotations

Natira: “I am Natira, the high priestess of the people. Welcome to the world of Yonada.”

Kirk, having just been forcibly subdued by the guards: “I can’t say I think much of your welcome.”


Natira: “You can share that world with me, rule it by my side.”

...

McCoy: “If you only knew how I needed some kind of future, Natira.”

Natira: “You have lived a lonely life?”

McCoy: “Yes. Very lonely.”

Natira: “No more, McCoy. There will be no more loneliness for you.”


Kirk, after sneaking into the oracle room: “The oracle doesn’t seem to know we’re here. I wonder what alerted it the first time.”

Mr. Spock, referring to the excruciating pain they were earlier subjected to: "Captain. If I remember correctly, the oracle's reprehensible conduct was initiated when Natira knelt on that platform."


McCoy: “What are you going to do to my friends?”

Natira: “They entered the oracle room.”

McCoy: “And the punishment is death.”

Natira: “Yes. I can make no other decision.”


Natira, referring to McCoy: “He is not part of our people. You’ve released him from his vow of obedience.”

Kirk: “We have freed him from the cruelty of your oracle.”


Oracle, scolding Natira: “You have listened to the words of the non-believers.”

Natira: “Yes. I have listened.”

Oracle: “That was the first transgression. You felt the pain of warning?”

Natira: “Yes, I did.”

Oracle: “Why did you listen further?”

Natira: “They said they spoke the truth.”

Oracle: “Their truth.”

Natira: “Is truth not truth for all?”