Star Trek TOS Zinedex: Authors (C)

"The Transfer"     Beyond Antares (CA) #5, April 1985 (p. 20-22)

Rand must confront Kirk over her decision to transfer because of her unrequited love for him.

 

"Denevan Orbit"     Contact #2, May 1976, (p.?)

"Give It Time"     R & R #1, July 1976 (p. 53-60)

(Reprinted in Accumulated Leave #1)

Christine finds solace with a young patient on a biobed.

 

"I'm Not Dead Yet"       Tal-Shaya #3, August 1976 (p. 51-53)

McCoy is suffering and hiding his xenopolycythemia symptoms, while his lab crew is working on some mysterious experiment - which, of course, turns out to be the cure, revealed at a party for him. Nice little vignette.

 

"World Enough"     R & R #2, Winter 1976 (p. 81-84)

(Reprinted in Accumulated Leave #1]

Zephrem and Companion/Hedford start getting to know each other. Nice bits where he wonders which one he’s talking to. Accompanied by fine cartoon illustration of the children, including Cloud William and Cloud 9.

"All In a Day’s Work"     Galactic Discourse #1, Feb. 1977, (p. 6-12)

Post “Babel”; Amanda saves the day, and gets Kirk and Spock to rest up, by finding the lost crochet needle of the Tellarite Ambassador’s obnoxious wife - in the sensor works.

"Born of the Sun"     Contact #3, March 1977, (p. 85-95)

Spock has sponsored a memorial to Edith Keeler on Vulcan, titled “Prophet.” Viewing it, Kirk reminisces over their days with her. Nicely written re-telling of “City” from Kirk’s pov.

 

"There Goes Paradise "     Obsc'zine #2, August, 1977 (p.92-99)

Makora and Sayanna (The Apple) take lessons on “the touching” from Chekov and Martha - but Sayanna finds it hurts. Uhura to the rescue, with some lube. Nicely written, rather believable sequel to the episode.

"One Brief, Shining Moment"     R & R #5, Nov 1977 (p. 30-45) [with Caroline Carrock]

[Reprinted from Neural Neutralizer]

Told from Kyle’s pov. Investigating a distress call, the landing party encounter odd groups of humanoids leading the lives of Australian aboriginals, woad-wearing Britons, and the Round Table. Trelane is at his experiments again.

 

"A Few Curves"     Alnitah #9 Jan. 1979 (p.3-16)

[Reprinted in R & R #10]
Kirk and Spock meet up with the Taurean women from "The Lorelei Incident" (TAS) and find them desolate at the discovery that they are barren. Number One shows up with a solution - she is from a planet of women who reproduce technologically, having eliminated men because of their aggressive tendencies. They need caregivers for their infants. Kirk and Spock go along on the trip to see if the Taurean women will fit in, and Number One tutors the Taurean women on the evils of males and drives Kirk nuts with insults to his male ego all the way there. On arrival there is a disaster in the incubator, which proves to be a test of whether Kirk, as a representative Federation male, will respond in a humanitarian fashion despite being provoked to hostility. He passes, Number One's reclusive society agree to join the Federation, and all rejoice. Fun tale with good characterization.

 

"Quid Pro Quo"     R & R #11, Fall 1979 (p. 3-59)

Spock has made arrangements for his upcoming pon farr, but is kidnapped en route by a Klingon brothel-keeper, who has his own plans - to finally get a porno tape of a Vulcan. His method includes use of the mind sifter to view the events of "Amok Time" from Spock's confused pov - which is the most interesting part of this story, and includes Spock essentially raping T'Pring. Lots of frantic thrashing and suffering on Spock's part, and lots of hugging/holding comfort being provided by the betrothed, Sarek, Kirk, McCoy, and just about all the senior officers. Even T'Pau is rather motherly here. I found the Vulcans over-emotional, but Johanna gets points for giving Spock an affectionate relationship and letting him keep the girl.

Favorite lines:
Kirk, of McCoy: "Bedside manner was an elective at Georgia Med."

"Aftermath"     Beyond Orion #2, July 1977, p. 21-22

Vignette of Spock mourning Chapel's death.

 

"All in the Mind"     Obsc'zine #3, May 1978 (p.84)

Another innuendo-riddled set-up, Kirk insisting to Spock that they've waited too long already... for Spock's haircut.

"Wind"       Tal-Shaya #3, August 1976 (p. 46-47)

Eve Childress has had enough of Rigel & Ben, and makes plans to escape with her son.

Gordon did numerous cartoons and comic illustrations for Alnitah.

 

"Star Trash: The Controllian Grid"     Interphase #4, May 1977 (p. 70-78)

One of Gordon's wonderful comic-style episode spoofs, this one of "The Tholian Web." Lovely little throw-away lines, like Kirk's "I had a whole zine to myself..."

 

** Reunion   (novel) In Case of Emergency Press, Kim Knapp, Port Orchard, WA, 1984, 120p.

ST:TMP. Christine Chapel has landed the CMO position on Enterprise and trained to team with Will Decker, only to have Kirk take over the ship and call in McCoy. Excellent handling of the characters' ambivalent feelings in these situations. Chapel both asserts her control of Sickbay and loves having Leonard back, especially to deal with a somewhat out-of-control Kirk. She also is struggling with a roller-coaster of feelings revolving around Spock. McCoy wants to be home with the recently-divorced Joanna and her two-month-old baby boy Ashley, but also wants to be "home" on the Enterprise, and also does not want to deprive Chapel. Lots of charming bits here, such as McCoy's referring to routine patient work as "poop and croupe." Very nice handling of McCoy/Chapel - they are almost in love, but decide not to make love, McCoy telling her his "ears are all wrong for her." And it is Spock who shows everyone, including McCoy, that McCoy has made the correct decision (returning to Joanna) by beaming her and the baby aboard as he makes his farewells. Apart from the infamous "special" adjective, used to nausea near the end, this was a delight. The presentation of the events of ST:TMP as they were seen from Sickbay was very well done.

"One Brief, Shining Moment"     R & R #5, Nov 1977 (p. 30-45) [with Johanna Cantor]

[Reprinted from Neural Neutralizer]

Told from Kyle’s pov. Investigating a distress call, the landing party encounter odd groups of humanoids leading the lives of Australian aboriginals, woad-wearing Britons, and the Round Table. Trelane is at his experiments again.

"Coming Home"      Beyond Antares (CA) #5, April 1985 (p. 6-17)

Ensign Alex Concord gets acquainted with the ship & crew.

"Courtesan"      Beyond Antares (CA) #5, April 1985 (p. 23-28)

Smarter this time, Spock has made arrangements with an empathic courtesan for his second pon farr, and she asks him for help in gaining perspective on her own memories.

 

 

"Matrix"     R & R #11, Fall 1979 (p. 67-98)

An "early days" tale, just after Kirk becomes captain of the Enterprise. A number of adventures, including Kirk driving the bigoted Jose "Taylor" [I believe the guy is actually Tyler] off the ship with make-work, culminate in investigation of a culture of shipwrecked colonists, now under Prime Directive protection. The colonists have reverted to bloody sacrifice to which most of the landing party, including Doctor Piper, fall victim. Kirk and Spock manage escape on the local riding critters, though both are injured. Spock then deliberately withholds a report while Kirk recovers, to ensure that Kirk will not be reassigned, leading to confrontation and further understanding between them. Also, McCoy comes aboard.

Kirk gets the best line: "Think! Damn it! A Starfleet captain is resourceful. It says so in the Manual."

[note in foreword of Azimuth states that Mary's first ST story was a McCoy Get-'Em, but does not give title or where published]

Azimuth to Zenith (novella), Feb. 1987, 87p.

Enterprise encounters an alien race from the galactic nucleus, who have an angelic appearance, a taste for iron-based meat and a pheromone lure to lull victims into worshipful passivity. When they incapacitate the ship, Scotty effects their escape by stealing some technology, but it gives him a lethal form of radiation poisoning. With McCoy leading the charge, they slingshot to the future to find a cure for Scotty, and discover that they all became heroes for discovering this particular cure. Returning to their own time, they embark on frantic weeks of keeping Scott alive, a galactic scavenger hunt for the necessary raw materials, and round-the-clock research. McCoy pushes himself literally to death and is drawn back from the abyss by Spock in a rather fierce mind-meld. Nicely done sub-plots include a romance for McCoy [points deducted for killing off the love-interest!], resolution of the Spock/Chapel romance (she turns him down), and a leave-taking with Mama Horta. Probably best not to look too closely at the technology and time-travel plot devices, and just enjoy the sterling characterization and dialogue, the fine roller-coaster ride of a plot, and the intense hurt/comfort scenes.

"To Heed Circe’s Call"     R & R #2, Winter 1976 (p. 46-73)

Scott is bewitched / seduced / kidnapped to an alternate life in an underwater society. Kirk, Spock and McCoy go to the rescue. Good story, interesting premise slightly marred by insufficient motivation for the kidnapping.

 

"Retribution" Pt. 1     R & R #3, Spring 1977 (p. 66-94)

Kirk has a secret assignment to deliver a scientist’s last tapes, which must be kept out of the hands of the Romulans. There is a spy on board, and suspicion is cast upon both Spock, who cannot account for certain of his actions, and Vulcan doctor T’Ieza, who is actually a Federation agent assigned to protect the carrier of the tape copy. T’Ieza and Kirk had just had a sexual fling, and her sudden assignment to Enterprise adds to the general discomfort.

[Concluded in R&R 4]

"Retribution" pt. 2     R & R #4, Summer 1977 (p. 3-28)

[Conclusion] The Romulan spy is revealed to be a pharmacist recently taken on board. He almost kills McCoy, leaves a deadly concoction in the medication to be given him, and leads T’Ieza a merry chase through the ship, eventually escaping with her in a shuttle bound for a Romulan pick-up. They are both killed by a backflow of energy when the Romulans attempt to transport them out of Kirk’s tractor beam. Spock puts it all together just in time to prevent McCoy from taking his deadly medication.

 

"The Emmethane Sequence"     R & R #9, Spring 1979(p. 3-50)

Sequel to “Retribution” (R&R 3&4)

Following T’Ieza’s death, Kirk withdraws from his friends, feeling that he brings death to those he loves. On shore leave on an open world near the Neutral Zone, he catches a glimpse of T’Ieza, traces her and finds that she is suffering amnesia and working as an intuitive healer. News of planetary disasters in a nearby system arrives, and Kirk gets the local Romulans to join him in stopping what turns out to be an invading force. After some near-misses, Kirk and T’Ieza are reunited.

"Bridle for a Nightmare "     Obsc'zine #2, August, 1977(p.13-40)

McCoy has (inadvertently) killed an alien; in the hearing, he reveals that she had been giving him gruesome but erotic nightmares in which he dies after or during sex with her. He is acquitted but can’t get rid of the nightmares until a female colleague forces him into therapy under a hypno-gizmo that projects the dreams so that he can change them. Dream 1: he rescues a drowning woman who then kills him; this time he kills her instead - and wakes having ejaculated and worried about seeing himself as a sex-killer. Dream 2: he is lured into sex on a sacrificial altar and she cuts his heart out; he manages to break the knife, then rapes her, waking to another orgasm and now disturbed that he has these rape fantasies. Dream 3: a harem girl lures him to bed then cuts his head off when the sultan comes back; this time he escapes to safety on a horse, taking her with him, and he ends it by making tender and skillful love to her, achieving his cure. On waking he realizes that he was in fact fondling the therapist; they decide to “try for four.” Well-written, with more plot than most adult Trek stories - suspenseful, witty and kinda sweet.

"The Nebulous Crab"     Alnitah #3 1976 (p.48-64)

Kirk, Spock and McCoy land on a planet where nothing mechanical works. Trapped by a rockslide, they are reconciled to dying together, but discover a previously technological civilzation dying from the loss of mechanical function. The cause turns out to be crab-like telepathic aliens who have settled in the neighborhood and set up a blocking field to protect their brains from sonic interference. They put the boys through an intelligence test; when they pass, the crabs depart for other territories. Pretty sentimental and not a very convincing plot.

"Perchance to Dream"     Log Entries #2, Feb 1976 (15p)

?

"Teeth of the Lynx"     Alnitah #4 July 1976 (p.41-63)

Spock resigns after "killing" Kirk by ignoring his own foreknowledge of danger, and wanders off into the galaxy into a series of hellish lives, with Kirk's unintelligible voice pursuing him everywhere. A bit tedious; resolves as coma dreams from a head injury.

"The Test"     Contact #3, March 1977, (p. 76-80)

(Writing contest.) Kirk and Spock must participate in a manhood ordeal, crossing a valley of fear which they can only overcome by lo.. er, friendship. Not too smarmy, and quite well written.

"Totally Illogical"     Alnitah #6 June 1977 (p.43-44)

Star Trek is revealed to be young Spock's school-time daydream; the Vulcan hierarchy decide to take steps to remove all that violence from his mind.

* Crack in the Mirror (novel) ScoTPress, 1994, 107p.

An interesting exploration of the Mirror Universe Enterprise crew and their history. Our guys are all a little too good-hearted here. These are not the evil counterparts of our team, but our basic good guys twisted by the nastiness of their universe, which is led by a drugged, evil emperor, a descendant of Khan Noonian I. We start in ("Thomas") Kirk's privileged childhood, where he is befriended by a mysterious Vulcan (later revealed to be Sarek, who will lead the revolution) and forms a loyal bond with his foster-brother/servant Jon, who will become his trusted "operative." Kirk takes command of the Enterprise by disposing of a very vile Pike, and forms an alliance with Spock when he learns that the Vulcan is truly uninterested in command himself. He cultivates favor with the rest of the crew by improving working conditions and booty. McCoy comes aboard when a plagued planet - with Piper on it - has to be destroyed. Episodes addressed include The Apple, Mirror Mirror, and Journey to Babel, during which Sarek recruits Kirk to the revolution. McCoy will not join them because of the danger to Jo. However, it turns out that McCoy's father-in-law, the Surgeon General, is one of the ringleaders, so he does later. (Interestingly, in the Mirror universe, McCoy had a happy marriage, and went to space when his beloved wife was murdered.) The revolutionaries take over in bloody battle (with swordplay) and install young Empress Robin as head of a kinder, gentler Empire. Much is a little too nice for the Mirror universe, but it is generally plausible and has some very good insight to life in the Mirror.

 

"The Solution to the Problem"     Log Entries #22, Jan 1979 (p. 8-17)

After a shuttle crash, McCoy must operate on Kirk, but has insufficient anaesthetic to complete the job. Spock and the mind meld to the rescue (as usual). Points for a fine dilemma, though.

Logical at the Time"     Beyond Antares (CA) #10, April 1987 (p. 28-31)

Amanda has agreed to accept a political marriage to a Vulcan; Sarek offers challenge, and manages to win without actually killing his opponent.

Time Times a Time     Beyond Antares (CA) #11, Oct. 1987 (p. 17-25)

Kri, a Klingon defector and now an ensign on Enterprise, is having a tough time adjusting to life among humans, as well as to his own childhood memories.

 

 

 

"The Axe"     Alnitah #8 Aug. 1978 (p.20-23)

Uhura is sold to a trapper on a primitive planet. Short tale of her adjusting to the life and the trapper and contemplating the decision that will be required if her communicator ever replies. She uses the axe both to defend herself from him and cut off his gangrenous leg.

 

The Fifth Question (novella)    Bristol Starfleet Registry, March 1987, 72p.

The Enterprise rescues first a crashed shuttle full of Vulcans including Stonn and T'Pring, and then the survivors of a fire on an Almelan oil tanker. One somewhat trite plotline traces the fundamentalist and racist Almelans' growing appreciation of outworlders. The other, which the author does quite well, presents an interesting interpretation of "Amok Time" events, told from several viewpoints - and introduces a charming young Vulcan couple still getting a grip on their emotions, to contrast with Spock's experience with normal Vulcan maturation. In Spock's kahs-wan, Spock broke the rules to come to the aid of another initate, while Stonn passed by. The kahs-wan was therefore judged according to "the fifth question" of Surak, a teaching which states that in such a situation the one who stops is the most mature -- Spock passes, and all those who failed to stop fail. Stonn has now failed twice, is disowned by his father, and is condemned to eternal childhood, which means he is given no further training in The Way. It also means a death sentence since a child cannot be bonded. Back in the present, Stonn's emotional reaction to a taunt ("a child could land it") causes the crash; Kirk forces Stonn to confront his own insecurity about his status, but Stonn only finally feels adult when Spock points out to him that since she allowed Stonn's bonding to T'Pring, T'Pau must have considered the kahs-wan judgment illogical - judgment on the fifth question is only logical if the test can be retaken, or it would at best mean trading one life for another. An engaging little novella with good characterization and a plausible explanation of a puzzling aspect of Vulcan life.

** "The Ride of the Valkyries"     Antares #3, 1999 (p. 87-116)

[Reprinted in: Orion Archives 2001: First Mission v.3]

Uhura and Spock, on leave after a night at the opera, take on a young gang of motorcycle riders, including the son of a local dignitary

Encounters and Countermoves (novel) Orion Press, 1999, 180 p.

Captain Spock is taking a bunch of cadets off on 3-week training cruise and has gathered up the old crew except for Kirk, who appears only in a cameo at the end. Things go awry beginning with two stowaways - a lunatic who takes hostages to force the ship to take him to Serenidad, and a cadet's pet cat who gets loose and wreaks havoc with the ship's wiring. Spock resolves both. Then a cadet practicing firing torpedos just happens to hit the Romulan Commander's new renegade ship which was hanging about in the firing range and just about to be boarded by Orions. After a short reunion they repair her ship and send her on her way. This makes Spock melancholy and the crew gather round with metaphorical hugs - projects to keep his mind off his lost love. Then a party for Scotty and return home where Kirk comes aboard for inspection.
       An entertaining novel, though the plot could have used some tightening-up, and the characterization is sometimes trite. McCoy appears only in his irrational-foil-for-Spock persona, Spock is rather uninteresting in his omnipotent perfection, and Uhura's main function seems to be social director. There are also a surprising number of typos for Randy's editing, and there are far too many saccharine uses of the word "special". But there are also some very fine touches -- notably the cat.

 

 

"Home Sweet Home"     Antares #4, Jan 2000 (p. 78-96)

[Reprinted in: Orion Archives 2001: Beginnings]

The Enterprise has recovered an old Vulcan probe; Vulcan demands its return, and Spock has an unsatisfactory return to Vulcan and equally unsatisfactory encounter with Dad. This premise of a racist elite in control on Vulcan, which turns up quite often, doesn’t seem to fit to me... but then, I’ve never been able to reconcile Vulcan logic with Vulcan hoo-ha.

In the Line of Duty (novel) Orion Press, 2000, 115 p.

Somewhat predictable but entertaining little romp. Enterprise is escorting a snooty delegation of Cygnetians - essentially Amazon warrior-women, in whose society males are assumed to be and kept inferior. So the crew has to work against an anti-male prejudice along with other oddities such as their fascination with Spock, invasive use of telepathy, and bratty telekinetic behavior. Lots of nice innuendo.

* Until the End of Time (novella) Orion Press, 2000(?), 88 p.

McCoy Get-'Em. Beautifully developed death scene for the aged McCoy with Spock providing the comfort, the two having long since come to terms with one another. Spock makes the passing relatively comfortable for the doctor, who retains his spark and feistiness to the end - which comes from a previously unknown virus. Moving and fun -- and the emphasis on an afterlife does not spoil it for those of us who find that illogical. Nice touch is the revelation that there really is a "second star to the right and straight on till morning" - at least on Vulcan.
Keywords: Dawn, afterlife, virus, guinea-pig, Peter Pan, brandy, diplomacy, Starfleet posturing..

"Fun!"     Antares #1, 1997 (p. 16-20)

After Rurapente, Uhura tries to persuade McCoy to sign on as Sulu’s CMO

"Let Them Die"     Antares #9, June 2002 (p. 19-21)

Vignette. Kirk, on the way to Enterprise, is troubled by his own outburst to Spock of "Let them die."

 

"The Swing"     Log Entries #2, Feb 1976 (1p.)

Vignette of Uhura as a star-struck child.

"Thy Glory Like a Shooting Star"     Interphase #3, August 1976 (p. 143-144)

McCoy death vignette, his life linked to a shooting star.
[Reprinted in Odyssey #1, 1977.]

 

"No Time For Past Regrets"      Alpha Continuum #1, 1976 (p.3-10)

On the eve of his departure for a new life in Starfleet, McCoy is busy drowning his recent sorrows -- his demented wife Arianna having murdered his female colleague in a fit of unwarranted jealousy -- when he is called upon to rescue his new captain from unseemly drunkenness. Also sets up the hostilities between Spock and McCoy. Not one of Ingrid's best, and nothing much really happens here.

"Dancer"      Alpha Continuum #1, 1976 (p.25)

Vignette - Uhura indulging improbably in romantic daydreams on the bridge.

 

"Encounter"      Alpha Continuum #1, 1976 (p.27-28)

Internal Kirk/Spock dialog as they engage in their first mind-meld.

 

"Spell Sword"     Alpha Continuum # 4, March 1980 (p. 34-36)

Illo interp. Kirk finds himself in some purgatory expiating sins by reliving a scenario in which his crew are killed and he kills Spock with a sword, over and over.

 

"And All My Days Before Me"     Dagger of the Mind, 1980, p.68-77

Two years after "For the World Is Hollow," Enterprise heads for the Yonadans' new planet, as promised, and McCoy and Natira must decide what to do about their marriage. Good Spock & McCoy characterization without smarm, and a realistic dilemma and solution for the couple.

 

 

* "Soliloquy"     Dagger of the Mind, 1980, p.112

Poem. McCoy contemplates the irony of being the last survivor of the three, Kirk and Spock having died protecting him. Vivid, with the very interesting point that McCoy may have "sealed his fate" - his much-feared loneliness - by letting his friends view him as more defenseless than they.

 

 

* "Schovil"     Galactic Discourse #4, April 1983 (p. 188-224)

[with Joyce Tullock]

Post-TMP. McCoy H/C.

On assignment to train Zanatan surgeons, McCoy gets nosy about conditions in the "corrections" work camps that underpin the planet's society (which is divided into diminutive, deft Zans with eyes adjustable to microscopic focus and the more humanoid Outminders). A former colleague with an axe to grind and a bribery scandal to avoid has McCoy sentenced to the camps, where he contracts a nasty parasitic infection and is looked after by the Zan convict Schovil. Kirk and Spock effect a rescue just in time. Good relationship scenes, but the comfort here is mostly provided by Schovil. Cross & Tullock's usual good writing and characterization of the Big Three relationships. Points for nicely alien aliens - loved the eyes - and a really icky new disease, a gelatinous mass that must be physically removed as it crawls up the throat.

When You Were Merlin and I Was King    (novella) Odyssey Press, November 1983, 41p. (with Joyce Tullock)

McCoy is telepathically drawn to V'Ger, after its union with Decker & Ilya, and told it is up to him to rescue Kirk from himself. If he goes on as he is, he will bring horrible suffering to the universe. McCoy manages to make Admiral Kirk face his pride by letting him beat him up. It's an odd premise - one, because, come on, Kirk isn't *that* important and two, how does McCoy's sacrifice really save him? Some good moments, but rather predictably over-emotional.

"Galactic Myths and Legends: The Great Bird of the Galaxy"
Galactic Discourse #1, Feb. 1977, (p. 89)

Silly little tidbit about Gene Roddenberry mythology.