First Do No Harm (Star Trek: TOS story by Djinn)
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You may be looking for First, Do No Harm, a Star Trek: TOS story by Judith Gran.
| Fanfiction | |
|---|---|
| Title: | First Do No Harm |
| Author(s): | Djinn |
| Date(s): | 2002 |
| Length: | |
| Genre(s): | het |
| Fandom(s): | |
| Relationship(s): | |
| External Links: | online here AO3 |
Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
First Do No Harm is a Star Trek: TOS McCoy/Chapel story by Djinn.
It was the winner of a 2002 ASC Award.
Reactions and Reviews
This story features heartrending, bitter, powerful, and lyrical writing. "First, Do No Harm" has a fascinating characterization of McCoy and a great explanation of what we see of his manner with both Spock and Chapel. The story makes deft use of what we know of the canon relationship between this pair. The toxic dynamic between the couple is all too realistic and while Djinn hardly shows either character in a heroic light, the author still manages to leave me sympathetic to both, especially McCoy. I love the line that explains that what Chapel seeks in the relationship is "oblivion, not clarity" and the contrast between the world of shore leave and on duty. "First, Do No Harm" also features a beautiful use of the second person point of view in the narrative. It was written so transparently; I very much doubt I would have noticed the technique if I had not been sensitized to it by its use by other writers. What is it about this technique that always makes a story sound so haunting and lyrical when done well? This is the kind of story that repays re-reading and that you find more things in each time you read it. [1]
This story gives a very plausible explanation for how a McCoy/Chapel romantic involvement (as opposed to their professional working relationship or close and abiding friendship) might come about, and what it would be based on. Interesting to see Chapel as the dominant one who's calling the shots, and McCoy in the passive role. [2]
Phew. Another Chapel story. Another unhappy McCoy. But it's great. Dark, depressing, hopeless, dysfunctional. Someone wrote that she'd read a grocery list by you - I agree. You're selling me pairings that usually only come by in my nightmares; and this is the best vote for an author's quality. Thanks, Djinn. [3]
Djinn does angst and bizarrely unlikely pairings better than just about anyone. The description of the two bitter lovers -- a pairing that I wouldn't even have considered trying to write -- is richly detailed in all its darkness and painfully accurate. Second person perspective works very effectively in this story. [4]
Ouch! This is one of the most painfully toxic pairings I have ever read! Djinn make's the venom even more acidic by having it flow in between two people who spend their days healing others. The juxtaposition of their career faces and their relationship is jarring, as is the one between the work place and the artificial environment of shore leave. Very disturbing, but mostly because of it's plausability. [5]
References
- ^ Rabble Rouser This is the Digest from 2002 for the Category of: Story Featuring Doctor McCoy
- ^ Rocky This is the Digest from 2002 for the Category of: Story Featuring Doctor McCoy
- ^ Acidqueen This is the Digest from 2002 for the Category of: Story Featuring Doctor McCoy
- ^ Ventura33 This is the Digest from 2002 for the Category of: Story Featuring Doctor McCoy
- ^ Kath This is the Digest from 2002 for the Category of: Story Featuring Doctor McCoy