Fic Rec Monday: Get Your Trek On

[kaytaylorrea]

This week's Fic Rec Monday is all about Star Trek. I've been into the various incarnations of Star Trek (I used to watch TNG reruns every afternoon in junior high) for as long as I've been fannish, but didn't start reading much fic until the reboot movies came out. I love, love, love Trek fic because there are so many ways it can go! IDIC, right? My recs skew pretty heavily toward Spock/Kirk (because I'm weak to that, guys, I can't help it) with a handful of gen fics thrown in. Here are 32 of my favorite Star Trek fics:

Antigravity by sinestrated
Alternate Original Series, James T. Kirk/Spock, Leonard McCoy, Winona Kirk, Genius!Kirk
Summary: Five times Spock was surprised by the brilliance of Kirk's mind, and one time he totally saw it coming.
Rec Notes: It never ceases to drive me up the wall when people writing nu!Trek fic write Kirk as a womanizing, unintelligent layabout. He's a smart guy and his characterization here is wonderful, as is Spock's dawning realization that his captain is more than he at first appears.

Bang a Gong by waketosleep
Alternate Original Series, James T. Kirk/Spock, Leonard McCoy, Nyota Uhura, Hikaru Sulu, Pavel Chekov, Pon Farr, Romantic Comedy, Shenanigans, Abject Silliness, Mission Fic
Summary: The chronicles of the Sad Bastards Club (Enterprise Chapter).
Rec Notes: AKA the pon farr romcom.

Big Me (But It's You I Fell Into) by waketosleep
Alternate Original Series, James T. Kirk/Spock, Winona Kirk, Leonard McCoy, Nyota Uhura, Montgomery "Scotty" Scott, Hikaru Sulu, Pavel Chekov, Gaila, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Sports, Golf
Summary: Jim Kirk, a man of long drives and large personality, stumbles into a career in the PGA Tour. Fame, fortune and notoriety await him as Jim collects national media attention, groupies, a new best friend, the ire of the first lady of pro golf, and also, maybe, the love of his life.
Rec Notes: As someone who's spent too much of her life on golf courses and would really be happy never to set foot on one again, I was shocked by how much I loved this. Not quite a Happy Gilmore AU.

City on the Edge of Forever (The Standing on the Precipice Remix) by waketosleep
Alternate Original Series Episode Reboot, James T. Kirk/Spock, James T. Kirk/Edith Keeler, Leonard McCoy
Summary: While exploring a new planet, McCoy is overcome by space madness. Kirk and Spock must follow him into the past to correct the timeline he ruined and rescue the entire Enterprise.
Rec Notes: Amazing AOS reboot of one of my favorite TOS episodes. Our boys are sent to 2009 instead of the 1930s and it's glorious. And sad. Because of course it is.

Communication by screamlet
Alternate Original Series, James T. Kirk/Spock, Spock/Nyota Uhura, Humor, Friendship, Developing Relationship
Summary: Detailing the first shore leave of the USS Enterprise.
Rec Notes: Everything I ever wanted from a shore leave fic. Also, best ever staff briefings (not a euphemism, the briefings really are hilarious).

Ctrl Alt Delete by screamlet
Alternate Original Series, James T. Kirk/Spock, Leonard McCoy
Summary: One day, there was a landslide.
Rec Notes: Literal 'rocks fall' served up three ways. The conversation between Pike and Spock in which the variable definitions of 'all right' and 'fine' prove sufficiently inadequate to describe anything of use is permanently etched into my soul. I'll just be sitting here in an incoherent puddle of tears.

The Electric Cat Planet, or, A Day in the Life of Leonard McCoy by screamlet
Alternate Original Series, Leonard McCoy/OFC, James T. Kirk/Spock, slice of life, Humor, future fic
Summary: One ridiculous day in the life of Leonard McCoy.
Rec Notes: Funny and charming and makes me sink right into the worldbuilding every time.

Entering Orbit by museaway
Alternate Original Series, James T. Kirk/Spock, Leonard McCoy, Christopher Pike, Number One, Star Trek: Into Darkness Spoilers, Falling In Love, Hot Tub, Motorcycles, Chess, Domestic Bliss, Cooking, Popcorn, Vulcan Kisses, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, First Time
Summary: Jim escapes to Iowa to avoid the media frenzy following the Narada incident, but a late-night miscommunication results in Spock turning up on his front porch.
Rec Notes: Jim and Spock are carefully feeling each other out, picking at the worn edges, seeing if their puzzle pieces fit together. Jim is secretly a really good friend. Love and care taking through food.

Feelings Are Boring by lazulisong
Alternate Original Series, James T. Kirk/Spock
Summary: This is not exactly what Jim thought the 'exploring strange new worlds and exotic civilizations' was about. Also, Vulcans are kind of crazy. Jim and Spock go through a alien ritual, which, yes, changes everything -- he's hoping for the better. Spock just wants to get through this with his sanity, if not his dignity, mostly intact.
Rec Notes: The opening scene of this fic is so hysterical I laugh out loud every damn time. This fic is basically about how both Spock and Kirk are emotionally incompetent, but they hilariously figure things out, anyway.

For Gladness of You by kariye
Alternate Original Series, James T. Kirk/Spock, Leonard McCoy, Cupcake, Tarsus IV, rocks, storytelling out of order, chess then sex, abductions
Summary: In which shit goes down in no particular order: Jim almost starts a war, Spock gets tortured, Jim gets kidnapped, Jim gets tortured, Spock gets not-quite-kidnapped, Jim takes the Enterprise joyriding, and mysterious Vulcans with their even more mysterious leader hop a ride for a few weeks. But that’s not what the story’s about. It’s about this: Jim was always going to fall in love with Spock – boldly, recklessly. He just didn’t expect to stay that way. A story about getting over all that.
Rec Notes: I'm a known sucker for a nonlinear timeline and this one is executed flawlessly.

The Genetic Soap Opera (or, One of the Less Dignified Royal Weddings) by waketosleep
Alternate Original Series, James T. Kirk/Spock, Leonard McCoy, Nyota Uhura, Christine Chapel, Janice Rand, Sarek, T'Pau, Marriage, Pon Farr, Inheritance, Genealogy
Summary: Turns out Jim Kirk's more than meets the eye, genetically speaking. There are a lot of consequences, mostly for Spock and his sanity.
Rec Notes: Winner of the best title award. Screamingly funny and surprisingly sharp.

Graduate Vulcan for Fun and Profit by lazulisong
Alternate Original Series, James T. Kirk, Nyota Uhura, Leonard McCoy, Spock, Original Alien Character(s), Vulcan, Languages and Linguistics, secret genius
Summary: It really does take a village to raise a Jim.

The members of the Kelvin's crew watch over Jim as much as he lets them.
Rec Notes: Arguably my favorite Trek fic, this gen story alternates between Jim's childhood and just after the Enterprise's return post-Narada Incident. Sad and funny with obvious affection for the Trek universe and the city of Portland, which prominently features in a fascinating way.

How We Are (but not how we're going to be) by alpha_hydra
Alternate Original Series, James T. Kirk/Spock, Miranda Jones
Summary: Even when they hate each other, they're still sort of falling in love.
Rec Notes: The one where Bones sends them to marriage counseling. Surprisingly, not crack.

I came in from the wilderness, a creature void of form by SHCombatalade
Alternate Original Series, James T. Kirk/Spock, Nyota Uhura, Leonard McCoy, Montgomery "Scotty" Scott, Pavel Chekov, Hikaru Sulu, Bill The Cat, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting
Summary: It starts with a phone call. It ends with a headache building behind his eyes, a stranger asleep in his bed, and the cat they may or may not have adopted.

It is thirteen minutes before four in the morning, and Spock wonders exactly where in the week his life went so drastically off course.
Rec Notes: Linguistics and cats and drunk dial shenanigans.

Illogical (√π233/hy7) by waldorph
Alternate Original Series
Summary: If Kirk was a maths genius, and never took Pike up on the dare to do better, but still managed to get to Starfleet? This is what that would look like.
Rec Notes: This is a series of 25 fics, varying in length from 1k to 24k words, featuring various pairings and maturity ratings, with a primary focus on Kirk/Spock. This series is also available as a podfic anthology, which is amazing.

Liberties by centrifuge
Alternate Original Series, James T. Kirk/Spock, Leonard McCoy, Romantic Comedy, Board Games, Drunken Accidental Telepathy, Cultural Misunderstandings
Summary: In which Kirk precipitates an unintended cultural exchange, Spock develops a drinking problem, and the crew stages an intervention, but not the kind Kirk was expecting.
Rec Notes: No redshirts were harmed in the making of this fic.

Love Has the Longest Arms by river_soul
Alternate Original Series, Pavel Chekov/Leonard McCoy, Alternate Universe - Rule 63, Rape/Non-Con Aftermath
Summary: He didn’t treat her like a little sister, like a friend or anything else for that matter. He was simply…there. The Doctor. Perpetually grumpy and half irritated, someone always on the periphery of her world.
Rec Notes: Delicate and painful and potentially triggery, but so exquisitely crafted.

Magpie by waldorph
Alternate Original Series, James T. Kirk/Spock, Alternate Universe - Canon, Tarsus IV, Canonical Character Death
Summary: Spock met Jim when he was 7 and Jim was 6. It has since been generally agreed that this was a mistake (or: the one where they grow up together and things are simultaneously better and worse for it).
Rec Notes: I'm weak for 'growing up together' fic and I'm weak to waldorph's writing, and I'm weak to Tarsus IV fic. There was no hope for me.

Measure of Men by MonstrousRegiment
Alternate Original Series, Jim Kirk/Spock, Leonard McCoy, Hikaru Sulu, Pavel Chekov, Nyota Uhura, Montgomery Scott, Joanna McCoy
Summary: Of protocol and loyalty.
Rec Notes: The crew defends their Captain and Commander to the admiralty.

Midnight Judges by lettered
Alternate Original Series, The Original Series, Star Trek: Into Darkness, Geoffrey M'Benga, Gaila, Spock Prime, James T. Kirk, Number One, Christine Chapel, Christopher Pike, Genderqueer Character
Summary: In the two weeks following the events of Star Trek Into Darkness, a Starfleet officer tries to put Starfleet back together again.

As a friend pointed out, anyone looking for a fic with plot and subtlety should probably not read this fic. It might work whether you liked the movie or not, but I wrote it in order to address multiple aspects of fail. It should probably be titled, Why I Love Starfleet.
Rec Notes: This fic really could be titled Why I Love Starfleet.

Only Fools by museaway
Alternate Original Series, James T. Kirk/Spock, James T. Kirk/Gary Mitchell, Montgomery "Scotty" Scott/Nyota Uhura, Leonard McCoy, Christopher Pike, Number One, Spock Prime, Hikaru Sulu, Alternate Universe, Forced co-habitation, Extreme Vulcan stoicism, Getting back together with your ex, Playing chess via comm, Thinking your only friend in the world is dead, Uncomfortable air mattresses, Falling In Love, Getting tipsy on chocolate, Vulcan Kisses, Human kisses, First Time, Soul Bond, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Happy Ending, Pike Lives, BAMF Sulu
Summary: Spock has just graduated with highest honors from the Vulcan Science Academy when Nero destroys his planet. Lucky to escape with his life, he is bound for Earth on a rescue ship where he meets a strange fellow traveler: an elder version of himself. Disturbed by his counterpart's experiences in his own timeline, Spock vows never to follow the desires of his human half. But when a man named Jim Kirk comes into Spock's life, he's faced with a struggle to find the balance between Vulcan and human.
Rec Notes: This fic is a little angstier than I usually read, but so plotty and well characterized and just generally awesome. Also, Gary Mitchell is a dick in all universes.

Pomegranate by Raven (singlecrow)
Alternate Original Series, Nyota Uhura, Gaila, Spock
Summary: After Nero, Nyota goes home. Spock and Gaila do, too.
Rec Notes: A really lovely post-canon Uhura character study full of amazing women and great female relationships. I'm forever bitter we don't get more of the interesting, relentlessly competent and compassionate Uhura from this fic onscreen.

Repeat Offender by seperis
Alternate Original Series, James T. Kirk/Spock, Chris Pike
Summary: After a bar, in Iowa.
Rec Notes: Spock and Jim were their people's versions of juvenile delinquents. Plus, I'll never stop wanting to beat the shit out of Frank.

So Wise We Grow by Deastar
Alternate Original Series, James T. Kirk/Spock, Kid Fic, Past Child Abuse, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Implied/Referenced Domestic Violence, Past Sexual Abuse
Summary: "Commander Spock, we have located your son," the Vulcan lady on the screen says, which would be great, except Jim can tell by the look on Spock's face that he's never heard of this kid before in his life. "If it is expedient, the child will be sent to join you on the Enterprise within the week."
Rec Notes: Ouch. I'd also like to note that I rarely read kid fic, but I've reread this story half a dozen times.

Still Life by dogpoet
Alternate Original Series, James T. Kirk/Spock, Tarsus IV, AU, Kolinahr
Summary: Traumatized by his experience on Tarsus IV, Jim Kirk runs away to Vulcan to undergo kolinahr. Reboot AU.
Rec Notes: Because I am a terrible human being I love stories that address how Kirk's experiences on Tarsus IV affect everything after (I'd suggest reading up on the Tarsus IV Massacre before reading any of the fic, as it has the potential to be triggering). This one is especially lovely.

strive seek find yield by waldorph
Alternate Original Series, James T. Kirk/Spock, Nyota Uhura, Montgomery "Scotty" Scott, T'Pring, Sarek, Sybok, Madeline, George Samuel Kirk, Aurelan Kirk, Christopher Pike, Leonard McCoy, Gary Mitchell, Gaila, Pavel Chekov, Hikaru Sulu, Number One, Winona Kirk, Alternate Universe - Royalty, Epic, Long-Distance Relationship, Romance
Summary: Spock is heir to the Federation throne, Jim is Prince of America because his fucking brother abdicated, and the Klingons are on the verge of blowing shit up--a love story.
Rec Notes: This idea could skew completely cracky and instead it's actually quite plotty and elegantly written with snarky, secretly sweet romance. Featuring maybe my favorite ever version of Sybok, the sassiest Vulcan to ever sass.

Taking the Slower Path (we'll get there in the end) by BlackEyedGirl
Alternate Original Series, James T. Kirk/Spock, Canon Pairing(s), Nyota Uhura, Leonard McCoy, Crew of the Starship Enterprise, Pre-Slash, Mission Fic, Hijinks, Friendship, Families of Choice, Non-Graphic Violence, Amicable Break-Up
Summary: They're not friends yet. That takes time, more than a few really disastrous missions, two anniversaries, and quite a lot of bloodshed. Jim's never been the patient type. Pre Kirk/Spock, background Spock/Uhura, but mostly the story of James T Kirk's first year in command of the Enterprise.
Rec Notes: Really good mission fic is thin on the ground in AOS fandom, but this fic (the first in a series of three) is excellent. It has a strong, introspective Kirk POV and a lot of really lovely TOS canon nods.

an upbeat kind of dirge by screamlet
Alternate Original Series, Amanda Grayson/Sarek, James T. Kirk/Spock, Amanda Grayson, Spock, Sybok, Sarek, Winona Kirk, James T. Kirk, Christopher Pike, Nyota Uhura, Plotty, POV Female Character, Female Protagonist, Grief/Mourning, Family, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Amanda lives
Summary: If it had been her who died in the destruction of Vulcan.
She thinks about it, sometimes, when she can’t sleep at night.

AU: If Sarek had died in the destruction of Vulcan, but Amanda survived.
Rec Notes: I always want more lady-centric Trek fic and this is excellent. Bureaucracy wrangling is a legit superpower and Amanda is my queen.

what you were and might've been by tomakelifemorebeautiful
Alternate Original Series, Star Trek: Enterprise, T'Pol/Charles "Trip" Tucker III, Amanda Grayson/Sarek, James T. Kirk/Spock, James T. Kirk, T'Pol, Spock, Amanda Grayson, Sarek, T'Pol is a great godmother ok, Implied Mpreg, Elizabeth (Terra Prime)
Summary: T'Pol has just turned one hundred and forty four the day the child is born. They have named him Spock.
Rec Notes: So, so sad. I just--it's so sad. And I didn't even like Enterprise.

With My Feet Toward the Stars (let me remember you as you were when you existed) by kariye
Alternate Original Series, James T. Kirk/Spock, Minor Character Death
Summary: At age five, Spock informs his mother that it is illogical to wish him “sweet dreams” at bedtime because Vulcans do not dream. “Oh, Spock,” she says.
Rec Notes: This fic makes me feel like I truly understand Spock.

You'll Get There in the End (It Just Takes a While) by seperis
Alternate Original Series, James T. Kirk/Spock, Spock/Nyota Uhura, Leonard McCoy, Christopher Pike, Spock Prime, First Time, Pon Farr, Telepathy
Summary: "Spock. Just say 'I don't trust Starfleet not to mess up the only captain in the fleet who I can train up to my expectations and enjoys running into danger wearing a blindfold as much as I do'."
Rec Notes: Starts deceptively slow and then startles you with a gut-punch. Hot and aching and oh so sad, because of course it is. These two assholes are always tragic.

Your First Time Should Be Special by Helenish
Alternate Original Series, James T. Kirk/Spock
Summary: The thing about being a captain of a starship is that you forget how to break up with people; the starship is a gigantic, unmistakable clue that you're probably not sticking around.
Rec Notes: Because it's Helenish it's poignant, hilarious, and somehow staggeringly hot. Contains maybe my favorite dialogue in any Trek fic.

"I hope you know what you're doing," Bones says.

"I think it's abundantly clear that I don't," Jim says. "Why are you even friends? How do you have things to say to each other?"

"He is just delightful company," Bones says.

"Now you're making things up," Jim says.

"He's happy," Bones says. "Don't even ask me how I can tell. I think space radiation might have rendered me able to read minds."

"That's great," Jim says. "Just great."

Comments

[keerawa]

Eeeeee! I'm indulging my semi-annual Kirk/Spock binge, and there are a bunch of these I haven't read yet! Thank you!