Star Trek Zinedex (TOS) - Authors (D)

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Star Trek TOS Zinedex: Authors (D)

Michaelene Dalton

"Deathmare" R & R #10, Summer 1979 (p. 123-137): [with Dayle Barker]; Responding to a plague emergency on Arachne, the landing party find themselves fodder for alien Vienne, who has set herself up as Goddess and lives by draining sexual energy from her victims. She has used up the planet's population and is looking forward to the Enterprise crew. Spock, resistant to her pheromones, is a delectable challenge for her; a depleted Kirk manages to rescue him just in time. The story manages to be quite spooky as the sexual interludes turn to terror for first Kirk and then McCoy.

Jody Daly

"Careless Rapture" Duet #8, 1984 (p.35-40): Mirror Universe. Kirk, drunk at Sulu's party, throws himself at Spock in front of McCoy, giving away the true nature of their relationship. Cute little story, but somehow the merriment portrayed just doesn't go with the ISS Enterprise...
"Esoteric Interlude" Duet #8, 1984 (p.129-130): Vignette of happy reunion of the briefly parted lovers.
"An Average Afternoon" Duet #8, 1984 (p.153-155): Vignette idyll of Kirk and Spock fantasizing about revealing their relationship to the crew.

Nancy Dangerfield

"Decommissioned" Abode of Strife #24, 1994 (p.21-83): Spock, now a civilian researcher, is diagnosed with autoimmune xenosis; his wife dies of it.

Glen David

"A Word of Four Letters" Alnitah #15 Aug. 1983 (p.15-29): Koloth throws a kink in a delicate diplomatic mission in the sensor-fouling Murasaki area. Escape necessitates separating the drive (Adam) and saucer (Eve) sections. Kirk paints a Klingon obscenity on the hull in order to determine whether the Klingons can see them, and it turns out to be miraculously a holy word of the culture Fox is contacting.

Carol Davis

The Dianasian Gift (novel) Orion Press, 1992, 172p.: Gretchen Jaeger, Kirk's handball nemesis and Chekov's lover, has an e-suit accident in a Klingon ambush, and inhales atmosphere with deadly results. Kirk is mooning over his lost true love (Edith) and the recent loss of a crewman, and won't talk to Spock & McCoy. Meanwhile, Peter Kirk has grown up into a jerk and takes up with bad company in the form of a crewman who has a plan to steal the crystals the Klingons were after in the first place and sell them to them. Koloth, on the same planet, encourages the thief by letting him use a beam that messes everything up on the Enterprise every time the ship passes by. Typical, but nicely done tv ending with a bomb about to go off, last-second rescue by Sulu's arrival, Jaeger saved by Spock's research, Peter redeeming himself by rescuing the only colleague who could tolerate him, and Gretchen & Chekov married.

Charlotte Davis

"Preliminary" In a Different Reality #10, 1981 (p. 9-11): Stonn / T’Pring story - T’Pring is now Stonn’s chattel.

"Recognition" In a Different Reality #13, 1982 (p. 32-37): Continuation of the Stonn/T'Pring saga.

Pac Deacon

The Orion Incident (novella) ScoTpress, Sept. 1987, 75p: Enterprise recovers the sole survivor of an Orion raid - a young woman in whom McCoy takes a paternal, and Chekov a romantic interest. She is predictably done in by her own hate. Reasonably well written, and a couple of nice illos, but a not-very convincing plot. The author can't make up her mind if the gang are downplanet for shore leave or to catch a bunch of bloodthirsty Orions.

Sharon Decker

* "Raison d’Etre" Galactic Discourse #3, July 1980 (p. 136-151): A redemption story of Mirror Kirk. Returning from his hour aboard “our” Enterprise, Kirk must sort out what really happened in his absence, determine his real relationships with Spock and Marlena, and figure out what to do about the Halkans - he doesn’t want to destroy the planet, but knows that Spock has orders to kill him if he doesn’t. This is a nice ISS Enterprise story, with a Kirk who is ambitious but bothered by the actions he has taken to gain his position, and by the picture the facts of his record will present to the “other” Kirk. For example, he killed Pike out of mercy, not ambition. Problems abound - Marlena frees Sulu and Chekov to kill him - but he and Spock dance around each other until they determine that they are both interested in taking up the revolutionary life.
"Fait Accompli" Galactic Discourse #4, April 1983 (p. 36-55): [Continuation of "Raison d'Etre" from Galactic Discourse #3]; Mirror Kirk has sorted out the crewmembers who will join him in the revolution. Delivering Sulu and Chekov to a prison for execution, he decides to act on an opportunity to rescue members of the Resistance, and the revolution is underway sooner than he expected. Interesting aliens who can merge their bodies into one, and a fine tension between Kirk and Spock, unsure of one another and their trust put to the test as the mission goes awry.

Mona Delitsky

"To the Edge" Alpha Continuum #2, March 1977 (p.26-32): Typical H/C. With all three wounded, McCoy faces fear, pain and doubt to watch over Kirk and Spock.

Susan Delon


"Dear Devil" Beside Myself #3 (/), undated (p.88-102): Spock is stranded on a planet where he becomes their pet, honored, beloved devil. When Kirk finally finds him, one of the aliens encourages the captain to declare himself to the Spock. He does, and is received joyfully. Fade out...

Cinde Deren

"The Only Choice" Galactic Discourse #5, April 1987 (p. 7-13): [with Diane Miskiewicz]; Post-"Empath." Spock tends McCoy in recovery; Spock and Kirk each offer tokens of appreciation. McCoy makes the interesting point here that he was the only logical choice -- the Vians would have eventually taken him whether or not they first destroyed Spock, because they required an emotional connection to Gem.

Pat Detmer

** "Last Picked" Antares #4, Jan 2000 (p. 97-110): [Reprinted in: Orion Archives 2001: First Mission v.1]; Nice romp for McCoy, getting to be the hero when the trio try to rescue a protestor and Kirk & Spock wind up wrapped in glass silk by a big icky predator, and put into storage as dinner for the kids. Favorite line is Spock's: “Thank you for saving my sorry skinny green Vulcan butt.”

** "The Wreck of the Aurora Borealis" Antares #5, July 2000 (p. 6-30): [Reprinted in: Orion Archives 2001: First Mission v.2]; Enterprise is assigned to guard a wreck full of gold dust, and ends up facing an angry cat, Orion raiders, and a large, amorphous, hungry space entity with a taste for gold. Creative, fun, and well-executed.

** "The Lesson" Antares #5, July 2000 (p. 38-56 ): [Reprinted in: Orion Archives 2001: First Mission v.2]; Starfleet sends desk-jockey Jude Osborne to figure out what makes Kirk’s command crew tick so well; she finds out with a vengeance, on the bridge in the middle of a battle. Superbly written. Starts in battle, backtracks around in time to show vignettes of an unfortunate incident with a Vulcan roommate, shows the crew in normal mode and then in crisis. Nice touch is everyone’s immediate reaction “Intruder! Who? Ah... Jude”
* "Comeuppance" Antares #5, July 2000 (p. 92-109): [Reprinted in: Orion Archives 2001: First Mission v.2]; Humor columnist Rose Osborne, who has been having fun with the E-crew for some time, comes aboard. She loses her sense of humor after she accidentally encounters what’s left of Yeoman Leslie Thompson after the Kelvans crystallized and crunched her, and becomes obsessed with understanding the girl and why she was on that mission. Charming. A bit trite having her finally understand by throwing herself in harm’s way for Kirk, but all in all excellent.

* "Conversion" Antares #7, June 2001 (p.4-9): Events of "The Naked Time" from the pov of Pat's gruff Italian redshirt Sotello, in which he is nearly skewered by Sulu, and comes to terms with his nerd roommate. Delightful writing.
* "Dear Mom" Antares #7, June 2001 (p.17-20): Leslie Thompson's excited letter home, prior to the Kelvans turning her into a dodecahedron. Another of Pat's great, poignant shorts on the lives of crewfolk we saw briefly if at all.
"My Gift" Antares #7, June 2001 (p.58-60): In his final seconds, heading for the engine room, Spock contemplates the reactions of those he will save because he is the only one who can.

* "Only So Much" Antares #7, June 2001 (p.71-81): Kirk goes ballistic when a crewman commits inexplicable suicide. McCoy takes the brunt, trying to force Kirk to accept that he can't control everything, can't keep everyone safe. The lesson is almost driven home when McCoy himself is drowning, trapped under a tree... but Kirk manages to pull off another miracle rescue and is back to himself, secure in his omnipotence. As always, excellent characterization, dialogue and relationship insights.

* "Da Woid" Antares #9, June 2002 (p. 26-42): It's not McCoy's communicator that makes for new trouble on Iotia, it's an e-book containing a self-help book and the Bible. Kirk barely manages to rescue Spock by playing God and changing the illustration of Satan (to Harry Mudd).

* "There Would Be Others" Antares #9, June 2002 (p. 65-80): Post-"Empath." McCoy and Spock have had a falling-out and Kirk has sent them -- just the two of them -- on a planetary survey to work it out. Spock is hit by a spear-trap and falls into a lake; McCoy gets him out but loses all their equipment and is left trying to care for a very ill Vulcan with no modern miracles. A small hunter alien who actually aspires to be a storyteller manages to overcome fear and poor communication to bring the pick-up shuttle to the pair. Pat's typical excellent dialog and aliens.

* "The Tale the Cap Told" Antares #9, June 2002 (p. 88-100): An unnerving take on the irresistable "put McCoy in the Civil War" theme. Kirk and Spock accompany McCoy to a Velsian antiques dealer to authenticate a Confederate cap that's been in his family for generations. McCoy makes the mistake of asking how the verification is done -- they look into the dealer's heart and McCoy and Spock find themselves in the war surgery. They are seeking McCoy's ancestor (who turns out to be a woman -- I'm skeptical, were there *any* female doctors in the Civil War?) when Spock is brought in, spilling green blood all over his Confederate uniform from a stomach wound, and they can't find their way back.

Emily Devenport

"Strange Salvage" Galactic Discourse #5, April 1987 (p. 189-204): ST universe, but no familiar characters. The mixed-species crew of the salvage vessel Rescuer save the dying Klingon Torrin from the wreckage of his ship. Torrin remains suspicious and not particularly grateful, as he recovers and begins to participate in the work.

Carmen Dexter

"Maya" Berengaria #2, Jan. 1974: Non-Trek vignette: two strangers meet in a bar, one insisting that they are dreaming, and wanting to exchange addresses to prove that contact occurs during dreams.

"A Separate Search for Peace" Berengaria #5, Aug. 1975: Sarek/Amanda romance bringing in the premise that T-negative blood is a "throwback" trait and therefore despised on Vulcan and, more interestingly and plausibly, that it would result in the death of a Vulcan bondmate and child because of the blood reactions. Includes the Spock/Sarek estrangement scene.

Wayne Allan Dick

"Fear Itself" Berengaria #4, March 1975: Crew is trapped in Kirk's nightmare.

Hans Dietrich

"Interlude" R & R #5, Nov 1977 (p. 21-29): Romance between Enterprise crewwoman and a feathery alien.

Susan Dorsey

"The First Step" Contact #3, March 1977, (p. 27-39): McCoy detects trouble between Kirk and Spock; as it turns out, Spock has determined to resign (condemning himself to death in his next pon farr) because of a not-yet-complete bond forming between himself and Kirk, rather than put him through what he perceives as degradation. Kirk convinces him otherwise.

Marion Dougall

"Difference Is a Virtue" Contact #3, March 1977, (p. 109-114): [reprinted from Log Entries (UK) #?]; McCoy and Spock must join forces - literally - to retrieve Kirk from clinical death. Surely it’s been done before, and since, but this is not a bad version of the scenario.

Gerry Downes


Gerry Downes edited Stardate: Unknown
"Among the Stars" Stardate: Unknown #1, March 1976 (p. 6-35): The Enterprise encounters a small remnant of a civilization of pacifist winged humanoids, apparently transplanted long ago and now being exterminated by the indigenous Neanderthal-like population as it develops. McCoy becomes romantically involved with Llaria, but the Prime Directive seems to require the Feds to leave the Trrwylans to their fate. They leave them with directions to a possible haven on an island far from the hunter Gran - which they may attempt when the present children grow enough to fly there. Neither the romance nor the culture are very convincing/compelling, but the story has excellent bits about the joy and compulsion of flight.
[Sequel is "Winged Joy Soaring, Gloriously Uprising" - Stardate: Unknown #3]

"The Coming Flame" Stardate: Unknown #1, March 1976(p. 38-63): During transport, Spock's mind is kidnapped by a sorcerer and plopped into a destroyed planet's medieval past, where he is forced to lead an army in battle to rescue Christine Chapel. Nice switches between Sickbay and the sorcerer's world, with events in each time-space affecting the other. But basically, this story belongs to a genre in which any excuse will suffice to put our guys into an Arthurian setting. Too much of magic for my taste.

"Nebula of Orion" Stardate: Unknown #1, March 1976(p. 66-95): Kirk is taken over by Orion, the mind of the Orion Nebula, which they are investigating. It knows it will die in a few eons, and wants his company. Meanwhile, it tries to make him kill Spock and McCoy, but Kirk manages to hold on to his self, convincing the entity that he will be its Satan, never its friend. Spock and McCoy are left to rescue the wrung-out and unconscious Kirk him from the brink of death by melding with him. It's an overdone plot, but handled well enough. And it has this delicious bit of dialogue: McCoy: "So now you're dead, I'm an accomplice, some monster's in charge of the Captain, and everything's just fine!" Spock: "Precisely."

* "Nessie" Berengaria #7, April 1976 (p. 24-28): [reprinted in Stardate:Unknown #2, Nov. 1976]
Scott has a little heart-to-heart with the Loch Ness dragon, over a few bottles of Scotch. A lovely romp.

"Interlude" Berengaria #7, April 1976 (p. 29-35): Chris Pike takes Spock on a hedonistic shore leave, including intoxicating substances and serving girls. Many years later, Spock escorts Kirk to the same establishment.

"Empires Downfallen": first installment Berengaria #7, April 1976 (p. 37-61): The first 4 chapters of a novel: "Disappearance of the Doves" in which the Organians decide they will no longer enforce the Klingon/Federation treaty; "Scotty's Decision" in which Scott decides not to take a promotion after having designed a fancy new warship for Starfleet; "New Ken" in which the commander of the new ship, now partnering with Enterprise, explains that the Federation intends to provoke the Klingons into open warfare while they feel they still have the upper hand; and "Reilly's Return" in which Kevin Reilly is assigned as helmsman to the new Courageous and saves everybody's bacon by taking command from a reluctant officer when Klingons attack. Good action adventure writing; characterization is neither offensive nor sterling.



* "Full Circle" Stardate: Unknown #2, November 1976 (p. 28-35): Excellent Spock/McCoy confrontation & reconciiliation. McCoy is about to drink himself into oblivion after performing an abortion. Spock disapproves of both actions and bullies McCoy into allowing him to meld to discover the roots of his need for such oblivion. His objective view of the events surrounding McCoy's divorce (here, involving an extramarital affair of his which ended in abortion) brings McCoy some perspective. Characterization and dialogue are perfect, and the situation compelling.

POEM: "Radio Source" Stardate: Unknown #2, November 1976: Mediation on the real "music of the spheres."

"One Last Time" Stardate: Unknown #2, November 1976 (p. 90-103): An aged Kirk, anticipating senility, bids farewell to Spock (McCoy has died long before, victim of a transporter accident), buys himself a starship and heads off to cross through the Galactic Barrier. He finds a planet there, embroiled in an uprising, joins the revoutionaries, and is killed in action. Nicely written, and though the planet outside the Barrier and its repeat of Earth history - the regime is essentially Nazi - may be implausible, Kirk's response to his latter days is right in character.



POEM: "The Naked Time" Alpha Continuum #2, March 1977 (p.33): Why wasn’t McCoy affected? “Even in his hidden secret dreams / He is always ... the Doctor”

"Winged Joy Soaring, Gloriously Uprising" Stardate: Unknown #3, July 1977 (p. 40-77): [Sequel to "Among the Stars" - Stardate: Unknown #1]
After 3 years, the Enterprise checks up on the Trrwylans, finds them dying out of accelerated aging and fragility, and rescues them for transplantation -- McCoy beaming into an oceanic storm to retrieve Llaria. Llaria's children turn out to be his. McCoy discovers that the disease is essentially psychosomatic, the Trrwylans moods having wild physiological effects. His desire to protect them from stress causes a blowup between McCoy and Spock, when the latter undertakes the tutelage of McCoy's feathered son. Though I found the winged people curiously unappealing, and the McCoy romance too trivial for my taste, the writing and characterization are quite nice.

"Paved With Good Intentions" Stardate: Unknown #3, July 1977 (p. 100-115): Kirk goes to hell. Literally. The tale starts as a romp, but turns serious when Kirk bargains with the Devil (here a bureaucrat wrapped in red computer tape) for a last few minutes with Spock and Spock interprets his visit as a message from his own subconscious telling him it is time to end his own life. Kirk defeats the devil by disbelieving in him, and it all turns into a hangover. Good writing all round.

Mary Ann Drach

"Mother's Milk" Galactic Discourse #5, April 1987 (p. 186-188): Illo interp. Kirk is trapped on a planet where the women keep the men in a state of idiocy through an addictive substance in their milk.

Margaret Draper


* "Cold Snap" Alnitah #1 Nov. 1975 (p.7-22): [reprinted in Alnitah Omnibus #1]
Kirk sends Spock, Scotty and Chekov to investigate a signal on an uninhabited and very cold planet. When McCoy finds out, he demands they bring Spock back because he is not up to the cold, still suffering from the effects of “Operation: Annihilate!” Communications have gone out, leaving Scott and Chekov to deal with Spock, frostbitten and hypothermic to the point of rambling - in a very cute touch - about “T’Puh” the sehlat (Pooh). By the time McCoy’s rescue party arrive, Spock has been rescued and sent into hibernation by the watcher from a party of Vulcan colonizers who hibernate through the planet’s decades of winter and wake to resume their lives in the spring. Rabbit illos frolic about.


* "A Study in Star Trek" Alnitah #2 Nov. 1975 (p.3-18): [reprinted in Alnitah Omnibus #1]
Star Trek / Sherlock Holmes / Dr. Who romp. Somebody (Moriarty, using a phone booth) has been going back in time to prevent humans from discovering dilithium. This necessitates Spock going to 19th century London where, naturally, he becomes Sherlock. Very nicely crafted, with several entertaining subplots going on behind the Sherlock story - ties over from “Cold Snap” in that throughout this story, Sulu keeps trying to hear the joke Chekov told to Spock (to keep him awake) about the little old lady from Leningrad and the 15 rabbits; also Scotty trying to court Carolyn Palamas, who is totally disinterested.

* "Festive Spirit" Alnitah #3 1976 (p.4-11): Chekov, determined to help Spock enjoy a Starbase Christmas party, spikes his lemonade with dramatic results. Uhura to the rescue of Vulcan dignity - and proper retribution.

"Border Incident" Alnitah #5 Jan. 1977 (p.31-38): As they head home with the Romulan Commander aboard, Enterpriseinvestigates an attack on a space station. The landing party encounter a Romulan scoutship's crew; in escaping from them, Kirk is injured, then rescued from a monster rat by the leader, Var. Spock takes the ship away when attacked by the Romulan flagship, but maneuvers the scout into plowing right into it. He rescues Kirk and Vav, who turns out to be the Commander's son. Best bit in this one is the new-fangled Romulan universal translator that speaks in lines from bad movies.
"The Great Shirt" Alnitah #6 June 1977 (p.12-20): Silly screen-play format spoof; devious Spockian plots involve expanding and contracting uniforms and aging/de-aging crew.

"In Check" Alnitah #7 Jan. 1978 (p.18-30): Kirk, Spock, Uhura and McCoy are zapped away from shore leave and subjected to studies which end with Kirk forcing Spock into an emotional reaction to prevent their tormentors from killing him. On return to their own dimension, Spock is catatonic. A Vulcan healer rescues him, but the rift between Kirk and Spock is only healed after Kirk loses it on the bridge and Spock covers for him. Heavy on the angst, and both Kirk and Spock seem rather out of character. Nothing very novel in the old lab-rat premise.

* "Home Run" Alnitah #8 Aug. 1978 (p.4-14): Spock and McCoy join forces to spring the Romulan Commander's son Var from custody on Starbase 10, enabling Kirk (whom Var managed to rescue though he lost his own crew) to keep his promise that Var would be exchanged without interrogation. But first they have to make sure Kirk himself can't be suspected of the jailbreak. Well-written adventure with nice characterization.

POEMS: "The New Voyagers" Alnitah #8 Aug. 1978 (p.28-29): Short jingles on life and death in space. Interesting.

* "Auld Lang Syne" Alnitah #9 Jan. 1979 (p.37-40): Romp. Sulu stumbles on a dragon - leading Spock to relate his childhood encounter with said dragon, on Berengaria, to Kirk. Clever and good fun.

"A Cup of Cold Water" Alnitah #10 March 1979 (p.6-26): After a shuttle wreck, Spock is rescued and carried off by felinoid herdsmen and ends up breaking the non-interference directive in encouraging cooperation between the herdsmen and the budding farming culture.

POEM: "Fallen Star" Alnitah #10 March 1979 (cover): Poem for illo of astronaut with cracked face helmet and curious aliens checking him out.


"The Last Troubador" R & R #11, Fall 1979 (p. 59-65): [Reprinted from Log Entries #14]; Entertaining romp. Enterprise is called upon to transport an ambassador's wife's charming pet Plofflehound. Responsibility for the creature is passed down the line of command to Sulu, who takes it to a concert by Spock and Uhura. Upon hearing Spock sing, it develops a craving for his voice - and if deprived, lets its wishes be known by means of its own intolerable caterwauling.

"Double Or Quits" Alnitah #12 Dec. 1980 (p.23-40): ["Var" series, sequel to "Border Incident," Alnitah 5, and "Home Run," Alnitah 8]
Var witnesses Spock selling Federation secrets to the Klingons - actually, Spock's capture by a privateer captain who sells him to the Romulans. Kirk and McCoy piece together what has happened, and Kirk, disguised as a Klingon, goes off to the rescue with Var. Spock is briefly reunited with the Commander, about to be exiled for returning alive from Federation capture. As the Enterprise men escape, she makes good on her refusal to be a pawn by blowing up the pursuit ship on which she is a captive. Excellent characterizations.

Kathryn M. Drennan

"The Mind Withdrawn" Galactic Discourse #1, Feb. 1977 (p.22-57): Rather tedious tale with Kirk being singled out because of his latent esper talent to join/rescue a “Circle” of 7 Elsons, who are merged beings, and outlawed on their own planet. Despite Spock’s encouragement to explore this side of himself, Kirk is committed to his individuality and disturbed by the Elsons. It just doesn’t all hang together very well.

Darien Duck

"The Reason Why" Entercomm #5, 1982 (p.81-85): Events of "Amok Time" from McCoy's pov, told through his impressions and thoughts at the time. The "why" is - why did McCoy have that hypo of neurotoxin ready? And the solution is sensible - he'd been keeping it handy at all times as a tranquilizer for Spock in case it was needed.