Star Trek TOS Zinedex: Authors (V)

J. Emily Vance

"The Rack" Contact #4, Sept. 1977, (p. 114-169): Famous get-'em story in which Kirk and Spock are not lovers, but are rumored to be so. After Spock refuses a direct order to abandon a landing party headed by Kirk, and instead follows his own better judgment to successfully rescue them, Starfleet brass hound the men into separation "for the good of the service." Kirk is physically and psychologically weakened from an accident while all this is going on. Lots of angst and hurt/comfort between the two as they wrestle with the situation and eventually capitulate to Starfleet. As Spock is about to leave for his new assignment, he finds Kirk dead of an overdose of sleeping pills - whether accidental or deliberate is uncertain.; [Sequel:"All the King’s Horses, All the King’s Men" in Farthest Star #2.]

Kit Vee

"A Day in the Life of Commander Spock as Pon Farr Approaches": R & R #2, Winter 1976 (p. 74-79); Chapel takes care of Spock - told minute by minute in Spock’s log. Typical "ooh, Spock" story.

Carolyn Venino

"The Jelly Donut Memorandum " Beyond Orion #1, Jan. 1977, p. 71-76 (with Lee Jaecks): “Amok Time” spoof, with Spock obsessing about jelly donuts..
"Mid-Summer" Beyond Orion #1, Jan. 1977, p. 96-102: This one made no sense to me. Spock, ill, is running, trying to elude capture by Starfleet. Note says this story is an “interlude” in “Summer’s End, Pt. II” by D.T. Steiner in Metamorphosis #2. .
"All that Glitters" Beyond Orion #2, July 1977, p. 24-45 (with Roberta Rogow): 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. .
"The Seventh Year" Beyond Orion #2, July 1977, p. 52-55: Sarek and Amanda. It's Time... no, not that Time. Cute..

Joan Verba

The Genesis Aftermath (novella) published by Bill Hupe, August 1985, 56p.: Verba states in Boldly Writing: "The story began with my frustrations with the scientific errors in Star Trek III, as well as with the destruction of the Enterprise. So I wrote an alternate version of Star Trek III, based on the facts given in Star Trek II, to show it was possible to write an entertaining sequel to The Wrath of Khan without scientific error, and, particularly, without destroying the Enterprise."
Nice premise, and the scenes of McCoy with Spock in his head were nicely done, but all in all, I prefer the way it worked out in the movie, no matter how silly the katra premise. This story lacked the dramatic tension of the show.

Bev Volker

"In a Pig's Eye" Contact #1, 1975, (p.?): McCoy story
"Phase II" Contact #1, 1975, (p.?) - novella
"The Logical Choice" Contact #2, May 1976, (p.?)
"Then to Piece the Broken Chain" Contact #3, March 1977, (p. 1-22) (with Nancy Kippax): To appease an ambassador on a taxi run, Kirk turns command over to Spock and becomes navigator. When Spock makes a decision with which Kirk disagrees, the relationship appears doomed until they come to their senses - with a little prodding from McCoy. Theme is strengthening the relationship through trial. Fine illustrations by Alice Jones.
* "When the Time Comes" Contact #3, March 1977, (p. 62-68): Kirk comes down with a fatal case of ectoneuralitis. He elicits Spock’s promise to kill him when he becomes helpless. This and the companion piece may be predictable, but are nicely executed.
"Not Yet Time" Contact #3, March 1977, (p. 69-75): Companion piece to the previous. McCoy is onto a lead towards a cure for Kirk, but they don’t tell him, afraid of building false hope. Kirk attempts suicide so that Spock won’t have to kill him - then Spock awakes, realizes what is going on, and rushes to tell Kirk about the potential therapy. Kirk puts his knife away.
Phase II, Chapter 3: "The Reunion" Contact #3, March 1977, (p. 115-152) (with Nancy Kippax): Kirk and Spock became estranged - something to do with a love affair of one or both - 30 years ago; now they meet and reconcile as Enterprise is being decommissioned. There is tension between Spock and his son Stack, now commanding the Encounter with Peter Kirk as his first officer. The premise is interesting enough, but this episode was really pretty dull and a tad smarmy, just all the old crew catching up on the past many years, and some eulogies for the Enterprise.
"A Traveler Between" Beyond Orion #2, July 1977, p. 76-79: Kirk muses on Edith's sacrifice..
* "The Edge of Nowhere" Galactic Discourse #2, July 1978 (p. 67-68): Story contest - illo of Kirk holding Spock protectively while McCoy huddles nearby clutching a book and a skeletal figure looks on. Chilling alternate ending to “City on the Edge of Forever.” The crew left behind go through the Guardian and change something; when Kirk, Spock and McCoy return to the future after sacrificing Edith, there is no Starfleet, no rescue, and they are marooned to die on a barren planet. Told from Kirk’s rather delirious pov. Kinda overdramatic, but points for the idea.
* "The Healing Time" Galactic Discourse #2, July 1978 (p. 90-114) (with Nancy Kippax): At a medal ceremony for Spock on Vulcan, McCoy reminisces about their early days together, vying with one another for Kirk’s attention. The feud is resolved after a shuttle crash in which Kirk is poisoned and they learn to cooperate and trust to save him. Kind of a well-used situation, but nicely written.
* "The Hidden Truth" Galactic Discourse #3, July 1980 (p. 172-222) (with Nancy Kippax): McCoy’s mixed feelings on hearing of the birth of his first grandchild sparks reminiscence of an early falling-out between him him and Kirk and Spock. McCoy had just heard that his ex, Ariane, had died suddenly, and was dealing with conflicting emotions around that and the consequences of caring, when Kirk and Spock went off on a planetary mission together leaving him feeling excluded. Spock was in fact suffering a Vulcan endocrine transformation called Tyanar which is painful and causes loss of all pain control, though should be controllable with rensolin. Not wanting anyone to see him in that condition, he only reluctantly agreed to accept Kirk’s company, with the clear understanding that any revelation to others (including McCoy) would be a violation of trust. However, Spock underestimated the danger and Kirk eventually called in McCoy, demanding that he treat him on the spot to protect his pride. McCoy adamantly refused and took him to Sickbay, with all the privacy-securing provisions he could manage. Throughout the long treatment, Kirk remains furious with McCoy and McCoy withdraws into a shell, performing his function as doctor but without his usual fussing, compassionate bedside manner. Afterwards, McCoy feels unloved, that no one needs Leonard McCoy, just the skilled Doctor. Kirk begins to catch on that something else must be afoot, and attempts to reconcile, but McCoy rebuffs him, stating that it isn’t something he wishes to discuss with him. When McCoy attempts a reconciliation himself, he is dangerously injured in a turbolift crash. While his future hangs in limbo, Kirk and Spock rally to him. They also discover the tape from Joanna, and all are reconciled looking at events from one another’s perspective. Back in the “present” McCoy calls the others to a toast for his new grandchild, but has decided not to go visit, deliberately setting his family on the shelf again, and Kirk accepts his decision. (Though this seems a tad out of character, I like it - the guy really is running away, and he’s going to keep running.) A few unfortunate uses of “special” and all forms of the word “care” get overworked. Also, it is tiresome to always have to have someone at death’s door to effect a reconciliation. Otherwise, well written and a compelling exploration of the fragility of friendship within a plot that keeps the story going.