Star Trek TOS Zinedex: Authors (R)

"Paterfamilias"     R & R #11, Fall 1979 (p. 149-168)

In order to prevent crew-woman Janet Salton from being gang-rape by the natives, Kirk is forced to take her publicly. Despite an unpromising start, the landing party manage to figure out the local culture sufficiently to establish trade for a much-needed mineral and make their escape. Back on board, Salton finds herself surprisingly disturbed by his impersonal treatment. She also finds herself pregnant. In "Addendum," a few years later, Kirk finally makes his apologies and sees pictures of his daughter; in "PostScript" she has decided to leave the Fleet to raise her daughter and Kirk visits her and her child.

"The Hepaestos Probe"     R & R #2, Winter 1976 (p. 33-46)

A Dr. Russell / Commander Koenig story.

"The Big E Meets the Big O, or, The Ultimate Trek Tail"     Obsc'zine #2, August, 1977 (p. 41-44)

Pretty funny little romp; zine author requires the entire crew to orgasm together to give her the energy to create a new universe. Spock has to round up a bunch of orgies into one big orgy - and then join in.

 

* "Speculation"     R & R #4, Summer 1977 (p. 85-115)

Nicely written version of Sarek & Amanda’s courtship, based on Vulcans as presented by Johanna Cantor (more alien than usual - no scrotum, the testicles are swellings in the back, no erection outside pon farr, the sexual desire mixed with a desire to kill so that the pair must be attended by strong men to keep the woman safe...). Sarek and Amanda undertake a diplomatic mission to a planet of beings who have ended disease and war, and are completely paranoid about contamination from either germs or violent people. When pon farr sneaks up on Sarek early (perhaps because his first pon farr was terminated early with drugs), they are ousted from the society’s dome and sent out to live with the germs in the old city. Amanda takes care of Sarek by tying him up, and teaches him to have actual joy in the situation. When it’s over, he convinces her to stay married to him.

Diamonds and Rust Series (most with Mandi Schultz):

I don’t quite know what to think of these. On one hand they are annoying Mary Sue tales. On the other... well, the story-telling is suspenseful and compelling, and the writing good when not dwelling on the perfections and wardrobe of heroine super-spy Chantal Caberfae.

 

 

"What Memories Can Bring"       The Other Side of Paradise #2

 [Diamonds & Rust, Chapter 1.]

"How Long the Night, How Bright the Stars"      Tal-Shaya #3, August 1976 (p. 8-25)

[Diamonds & Rust series, Chapter 2; not with Mandi Schultz]
Superspy Chantal Caberfae is recovering in Sickbay from a knee injury and a life-threatening reaction to a painkiller. She holds court, telling stories, until Kirk arrives and scares everybody off. McCoy, disturbed by Kirk's recent displays of foul temper, manipulates Kirk and Chantal into therapeutic conversation with one another. Not a lot of point to this one, but then, there doesn't have to be. The writing and characterization, as always, is good, though still waxing eloquent over figures and wardrobes.

 

"Night Creatures"     Alpha Continuum #1, 1976 (p.30-37)

[D&R spinoff by Mandi Schultz.]

 

"To Each His Own"     Alpha Continuum #2, March 1977 (p.72-99)

[Diamonds & Rust series, Chapter 3. ]

This installment one is worth the read for the shock value alone. Shore leave on Yemen, in the Argellius system, turns into a truly hideous nightmare for McCoy when a pleasant dalliance turns to incest, suicide and total breakdown. Chantal, having pushed Joanna McCoy to suicide while relentlessly pursuing her Target, struggles with unfamiliar affection for McCoy and resolves to try to repair what damage she can.

 

 

"Idols I Have Loved"     Alpha Continuum #2, March 1977 (p.100-144)

[Diamonds & Rust series, Chapter 4. ]

Chantal obtains treatment (that is, brainwashing) for McCoy from her espionage organization so that he can remain in his post. The doctor she takes him to, her old enemy/friend Brandy Burns, insists on payment with sex, which about gives her a breakdown herself. McCoy, unaware that he is being treated with hypnotism and psychotherapy, naturally falls in love with her, at which point she drops him and they quarrel. Chantal wants out of her Enterprise assignment, as she is growing too close to the crew. It is disturbing to see McCoy dragged through the wringer of his daughter’s death; it is much more disturbing to have him behaving normally and pursuing romance with another young woman just two weeks later. But again, the writing is compelling.

 

"Avant-Propos"     Warped Space #21

[Diamonds & Rust chapter 6]

 

"Year of the Cat"     Alpha Continuum # 4, March 1980 (p.3-7)

[Diamonds & Rust series. Seems to be an early story in the series.]
Kirk and Chantal pining for each other, with Kirk telling himself "the way to get over a woman is to have her" and Chantal regretting having to lie to him all the time, until she finally comes to his bed.

"No Special Hurry"     Alpha Continuum # 4, March 1980 (p.81-91)

[Diamonds & Rust series - wrap-up. Editorial notes that Diamonds & Rust was supposed to be a multivolume series. Volume 1 was published, but volume 2 was never completed. In this story, the authors wrap up loose ends and summarize where the tale was intended to go.]
     Kirk and Caidan indulge in verbal, drinking and physical sparring over Chantal. Caidan hates Kirk because he's the only one superspsy Chantal ever loved back. Chantal has once again lied to Kirk and left him, supposedly to go along -- as honor demands -- as slave to an alien messiah who happened by just in time to save the galaxy from some evil plot involving creation of a black hole and... uh, well... I'm sure it would have been a roller coaster. Again, while I don't care for Chantal, or the premises and plots of these stories, the excellent writing makes them all palatable.

 

*****************

"Never Enough Dark"      Alpha Continuum #1, 1976 (p.48-54)

Nice dilemma, though needed more done with it. Enterprise has rescued a bunch of bird-like folks from their nova-ing star, has filled the ship with them and has several boatloads in tow, but the transporters are burned out and they can't warp away. Spock advocates dropping the load to escape -- but then ends up providing incubator space for the rambunctious babies in his nice, warm cabin. I still don't get the title.

 

"Gold Towards the Golden" Berengaria #8, [July?] 1976 (p. 38-49)

Kirk is sent on a Guardian mission to ancient Greece, and he and Spock have quarrelled over this use of his talents. He winds up spending an evening with Alexander the Great. Okay, it sounds sillier than it is - it is actually quite nicely written and thought-provoking as Kirk muses on Alexander's combination of kindness and cruelty, civilizing intentions and megalomania. Most interesting is perhaps the vision of time as a river, where all of us are in fact, living forever.

 

"The Stars Go Down" Contact #3, March 1977, (p. 80-82)

(Writing Contest) Kirk and Spock declare their lo... er, friendship as they wait to die, having sabotaged an alien spaceship to prevent a fleet from invading our universe.

 

"Any Time But This, Any Place But Now     Alpha Continuum #2, March 1977 (p.23)

Vignette. One of McCoy’s techs, whining about how boring life is and dreaming of other times.

"Sea Change"     Alpha Continuum # 4, March 1980 (p.24)

Illo interp. Kirk can't seem to decide whether to follow mermaid Chantal until she leaves him.

* "Sunflower"     Alpha Continuum # 4, March 1980 (p.30)

Illo interp. Spock accompanies Kirk to his Iowa home on an ill-fated home leave in which we learn that Mrs. Kirk is an alien-hater. In one short page, Spock falls ill from an allergy to sunflowers and waxes eloquent (at least in internal monologue) about the sun flowering in Kirk's hair. Nice touch is Spock's conclusion that McCoy was wrong, "you can go home, but you will wonder why you bothered."

* "Memento Mori"     Alpha Continuum # 4, March 1980 (p.92-98)

[Reprinted from Guardian #2]
Kirk receives visitations from the women his conscience blames him for. A very nice take on this idea,with a good, strong Edith Keeler still pretty mushed up from the truck.

Home Is Where the Heart Is   (novella) ScoTpress, April 1982. 53 p.

Enterprise receives a distress call from a craft that crashed 15 years before. Investigating, McCoy, Chapel and a redshirt are captured by an insane scientist who has become a god to the hill people. Kirk, Spock & Chekov are captured by villagers, led by the remaining (sane) members of the party that crashed. After rescue is effected, all are examined by the Standing Stones. A pleasant though not stellar read.

"Do Not Go Gently Into That Good Night"     Galactic Discourse #5, April 1987 (p. 25-36)

[with Lynn Syck]

Post-STIII. To prevent court-martials for his crew, Kirk is blackmailed into accepting a counterspy mission designed to get him killed. The crew, along with Sarek, uncover the plot and elude Starfleet to rally 'round again.

"Snake in the Grass"      Pegasus #1 Nov. 1976 (p.55-64) / [with Judi Hendricks]

Lt. Dale Kirk, in charge of the ship's lab animals, is plagued by a large snake no one else can see - a remnant from the Shore Leave planet. Cute.

"From Out the Past"      Pegasus #1 Nov. 1976 (p.93-143)

Kirk's unease about a mission to Camus II (of Turnabout Intruder) is borne out when a vengeful mad scientist (in league with Klingons) traps Spock into using a machine that allows him to take over his mind. Spock fights him off with the help of Scott's blocking devices and a meld with Kirk. Used up a lot of plot devices... but good characterization makes for a pleasant read.

 

Liberation From Hell (novel), Orion Press, 1996, 258p.

This novel fits into the universe of Rick Endres' Serenidad series, involving the Klingon race wars and culture postulated there. Following Rick's pattern, a great many of these pages are devoted to Klingon sex, consensual and rape, and lots of malicious Kh'myr torture. Our favorite Klingons - Kang, Kor, Koloth and even Worf's grand-daddy - all get together to destroy a smuggler/conspirator in a tale full of political maneuvering and lots of phaser and dagger fights. Meanwhile, among the Feds, McCoy storms out of Starfleet General Hospital and onto the Reliant, where he finds himself a fish out of water under Terrel's command - he's used to being the Captain's closest confidant. He finally proves his worth to Terrel by wandering around openly on the battlefield (Klingons in this universe won't kill doctors - except in revenge if they fail to save a patient) and saving the Klingon emperor's sister. But in the end, McCoy begs Kirk for any assignment with the Admiral - the only thing Kirk has open is simulation observer. Chekov has a nice role here as Terrel's exec, and we see Kelowitz and other old Big-E crew. Events are nicely set up to lead into the movie trilogy as Reliant heads off, sans McCoy, to work with Dr. Carol Marcus.

 

Lecture    Berengaria #3, July 1974

text of his Saul O. Sidore Lecture, New Hampshire (institution not stated).

 

"Where the Bookberries Bloom"     R & R #11, Fall 1979 (p. 136-148)

Farce. Spock and Uhura are kidnapped by a bookberry farmer, whose computer Jeremiah has informed him that Spock would make a fine husband for his daughters. An escape attempt results only in embarrassing shot-wounds in the backside for Spock; Uhura finally figures out how to pull the plug on the computer.

 

* "Survival of the Fittest"      Plak-Tow #4, May 1980 (p.64-78)

Rayelle's typical delightful combination of a perfectly good story with hysterical dialogue and devilishly tongue-in-cheek characterization. Harry Mudd strands our heroes on a planet. When McCoy professes to have cheated his way out of mandatory survival training at the Academy, Spock punishes him by giving him all of the "unskilled" grunt work while Spock weaves and Kirk fishes. A few of this tale's fine moments... Kirk: "Stark naked, he resumed his position on the rock, praying that he would manage to catch their supper before his aft engines became sunburned." Spock & McCoy engaged in a mud-fight. Kirk turning out to be a "snuggler" when sleeping with company. And Harry Mudd turning hero to rescue the Starfleet boys from the Klingons.

 

 

* "The Universal Insanity Bomb"     Galactic Discourse #5, April 1987 (p. 80-87)

Farce. Spock, under the influence of a new weapon, begins wearing little alligator emblems on his uniform, saying things like, "...it took 7.54 minutes to whack the little sucker in there," and romancing Nurse Chapel. Lots of fun and great dialogue before things are corrected.

"All that Glitters"     Beyond Orion #2, July 1977 (p. 24-45)

(with Carolyn Venino)

Captain Koloth plots revenge for the gift of tribbles, infiltrating Enterprise with gifts of his own which make the crew belligerent. Best bit is Uhura telling Kirk what he can do with his hailing frequencies.

 

Filk: "The Doleful Ballad"     Beyond Orion #2, July 1977 (p.56-61)

(Reprinted from Tetrumbriant)

Entertaining filk of Tom Lehrer's "The Irish Ballad." Illustrated by Stephen Gray.

 

Orianna" (pt. 4)     Obsc'zine #3, May 1978 (p.52-56)

(parts 1-3 and 5-7 were published in Warped Space)

Former Starfleet officer, now Queen of Andorria, Bethan skips her diplomatic duties to indulge in a sexual interlude with dashing -- but married -- Semorn. Then Semorn's wife is found dead under suspicious circumstances and Bethan orders Semorn to go away -- back to his pirating if he must -- until she sends for him.

 

* FILK: "Federation Wassail Song"     Alnitah #9 Jan. 1979 (p.36)

Roberta's typical clever send-up.

* "Pock"    Candlelight & Flames #1, date unknown - 90's? (p. 117-149) (with Gena Moretti)

Charming if implausible tale of Jim and Spock, as two lonely little boys, making mental contact so that "Pock" becomes Jimmy's "imaginary playmate." When the boys are teenagers, Jim is running the family farm and looking after his mother, who has been paralyzed in a farm accident, and Spock flees Vulcan after the show-down with his father. He seeks Jim out, goes to work on the farm, and eventually reveals his identity and the boys become lovers.

 

"Sunshine for Sale"     Entercomm #5, 1982 (p.4-10)

Recalled from shore leave, Kevin Riley buys a bottle of "sunshine from home" and lets it out on the Enterprise, where it proves to be just what a tired crew needed - instantaneous visits home. Good fun.

"The Solution"     Galactic Discourse #2, July 1978 (p. 23-25)

Scott, Spock and McCoy determine their course of action having been ordered to get rid of the tribbles.

"Carmilla"    Berengaria #5, Aug. 1975

A vampire story - this one signs on as a security crew-woman, and is a good vampire, a member of the Brotherhood, who find ways of coping with their disease without being too damaging to human partners, and track down the occasional wayward violent ones. With a several-hundred-year lifespan, she is also quite a story-teller, catching Spock's attention with information she has about old legends, which cannot be found in the computer. Such a one attacks another crewwoman, and Carmilla has to track him down and, when he attacks again after she explains things to him, kills him.

 

"Carmilla's Capture"    Berengaria #8, [July?] 1976 (3-16)

In the ongoing adventures of this Mary Sue vampiress, Carmilla is injured and imprisoned in a cave (along with Spock and others of the landing party) by primitive tribespeople planning to sacrifice them to a volcano god. Said volcano is rumbling along, getting ready to explode (Carmilla is a geoscience specialist). Having lost blood, Carmilla is also having difficulty controlling her own appetite whenever she looks around at the crew. They manage to escape through a volcano vent just in time, and without even bending the Prime Directive as regards phaser use. Spock, however, picks up telepathic indications of Carmilla's secret nature... to be continued, no doubt. These are pretty well-written and more entertaining than many ST vampire tales.

 

"When Idylls Cease to Play"     R & R #4, Summer 1977 (p. 52-61)

Rather dull little romance between Spock and Shoshannah, an intellectual Mary Sue just his type. They have a little shore leave idyll together, then she goes off to a new assignment; maybe they’ll marry, maybe not.

"If Only"     Antares #1, 1997 (p. 6-15)

[with Lynn Syck]

Spock & Picard visit McCoy after Kirk is killed; Spock to persuade the doctor to come to Vulcan, where Kirk’s katra will be installed “in a rock” until they are ready to join him.

"For the First Time in My Life"     Antares #2, 1998 (p. 106-152)

[with Bonnie Berryman]

Kirk accompanies Spock to a scientific conference for R&R.

 

* Betrayed (novel), Orion Press 1998, 175p

[with Lynn Syck; color cover by Christine Meyers]

McCoy suffers hellish imprisonment -- and guilt -- for causing a devastating plague. Back on the Enterprise, Kirk's own guilt for testifying against the doctor drives a wedge between him and the crew until they manage to pull back together to find the Orion/Klingon truth behind the frame-up. Excellent characterization and dilemmas, though the "hurt" part of the HC seems over-done -- surely the guy would be dead by about page 30 or so.

"Touching and Touched"     Entercomm #5, 1982 (p.164)

Vignette of Spock with daughter.

"Bones' Vision"     Interphase #1, July 1975 (p. 7-25)

[Kraith universe. ]
Enterprise is investigating a dark star which is having devastating esper effects on the crew. Kirk is in esper shock, uncontrollably mindmelding, and dragging Spock's second wife T'Aniyeh into a dangerous meld. McCoy, normally psi-null, develops a prescience and views a variety of futures, each of them with nasty consequences for those he loves because of decisions he will make. I found the framing story and its resolution by memory-erasure worked by Spock hard to follow, and the Spock-McCoy relationship is more truly adversarial than we usually see. However, the internal story of McCoy's relationship to Spock and T'Aniyeh's child -- whom he calls "Kitten" and who must not be allowed to exist -- is very fine. This story also postulates a second daughter for McCoy, a child who died as a toddler in a preventable accident which was the catalyst that sent him to Starfleet.

 

 

"Kirk’s Challenge, Pt. 3: Home is the Hunter"     Interphase #3, August 1976 (p. 106-140)

[Kraith universe. ]
Kirk is part of Spock’s family, and has just received two children - his by a prostitute somewhere along the way. . Parts 1&2 appeared in Interphase 2; Parts 4 & 5 in Interphase 4.

 

 

"Kirk’s Challenge" Pts. 4 & 5     Interphase #4, May 1977 (p. 80-103)

[Kraith universe.] Parts 1&2 appeared in Interphase 2; Part 3 in Interphase 3. [Sorry, I didn't read... I find Kraith tedious.]

Time and Time Again (novel, TOS X TNG), Ruff and Ready Press, Rochester, NY, 1990, 145p.

[Sequel: Time After Time and Time Again]
Delightful TOS/TNG crossover. Kirk & Co. rescue a nasty race of slimy, toothy, large but quick slugs from an impending asteroid. This results in the slugs surviving to develop craft that are invincible due to a time-distorting mechanism, which they use to harvest humans on which to feast in TNG’s era. No doubt there are plenty of plot flaws revolving about the time-distorter, but it’s a heck of a good yarn and the dialog and characterization are very fine. Nice parallels of the Kirk/Spock and Picard/Data relationships, fine McCoy scenes, and a generally fun rollick. Excellent denouement as Kirk, in opposition to Picard, once again refuses to obey the Prime Directive (which would mean destroying the Demokians) - and throws the ball (er, asteroid) into Picard’s court.

 

 

Time After Time and Time Again (novella, TOS X TNG), Ruff and Ready Press, Rochester, NY, 1993, 124p.

[Sequel to Time and Time Again]
This sequel, unfortunately, is not nearly so much fun as its predecessor, and seems pretty much unedited. Data is damaged and needs his back-up chip. Unfortunately, Kirk's crew confiscated it from Wesley while he was in the past, and he never got it back. Funny things are happening to the timeline - and Worf's loyalties - as the Klingons of Kirk's era get hold of the chip and create a race of android warriors. So, Picard, Data, Worf and Geordie head off into the previous frontier to recover the chip and avoid damaging their timeline - where they meet Kirk and his crew trying to prevent the Klingons from taking over a world inhabited by a people who have been genetically cobbled together in various combinations of races. There's a little romance for Geordie and Uhura. Best bits are Kirk and Picard taking their rather different approaches to the Prime Directive.

* "As Goes Your King"     Galactic Discourse #3, July 1980 (p. 51-54)

Macabre and very compelling tale of McCoy being forced to play chess with real people, and almost managing to save Kirk and Spock. Almost. (Interp story from previous issue's art work.)