Great Expectations (Star Trek: TOS story)

Fanfiction
Title:	Great Expectations
Author(s):	Anna S. Greener
Date(s):	print zine-(3/2004); The K/S Archive-(10/2011)
Length:	print zine - 16 pages; The K/S Archive-11,422 words
Genre(s):	Slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:	The Kirk/Spock Fanfiction Archive on AO3
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"Great Expectations" is a Kirk/Spock story by Anna S. Greener. It was first published in the print zine Beyond Dreams #7 (03/2004)

The Wish (and the Way) by Liz for "Great Expectations" — "Very nice composition in this drawing by Liz. The lower left part of the drawing is Kirk and Spock in a familiar pose; Spock sitting at his station on the bridge and Kirk leaning over a bit talking to him. The upper right part of the drawing shows Kirk and Spock nude from the waist up. We see a very nicely muscled Kirk looking down on a sleeping Spock and caressing his back. This is obviously the “Wish” referred to in the picture, and I was intrigued by trying to decide whose little fantasy we were looking at. Is it Kirk doing the wishing, or Spock? Plus, does it represent merely a wish that they be in their quarters making love and not on the bridge, or is it a wish for a relationship that does not currently exist? You can read a lot into this picture! It was published in the print zine Beyond Dreams #7 (03/2004)

Summary

From the story summary in "Beyond Dreams" #7: "Kirk is frustrated in his attempts to get Spock into his bed by Spockʼs reticence concerning the differences in their anatomies."

Reactions and Reviews

2004

This story is white hot from the beginning and I loved getting burned! I mean it got right to it, nothing to come between the torrid love making of the sexy pair of hunks. There's something about Spock feeling Kirk up while the captain keeps his black pants on! It worked for me at least and Spock worked fast, too; he had his companion stripped in no time. I was sailing along enthusiastically, I should say panting along, and then...Spock's inferiority complex got in the way. Frustration reigned supreme—mine and theirs! Then, happily, a shy Spock disrobed and things heated up even more. That's when the sultry scene was interrupted by an explanation, revealing just how Kirk had come to desire and love his friend. In any case, the lovemaking went on and on and on. I was in seventh heaven, then...damn!

Talk about opening up a can of worms! The rug was pulled right out from under me! I'm not sure I enjoyed it but I'm sure Kirk did! Then, when I came to the end of the story, and to my senses, I realized that the author's unique slant on our Vulcan had forced me to confront my own prejudices and I admit that I found myself lacking. Still, there was so much I adored: Kirk's loving tenderness, his total acceptance of his lover, even in the grip of his, Kirk's need. And I do mean need! After all was said and done, their hearts were in the right places; it's the other parts that had me stymied. But I'm not going to reveal the mystery; experience the joy and find out for yourselves!

2013

This is an unusual and well written story to begin the zine with. After a couple of interrupted attempts at lovemaking, Kirk is determined this will be the day, only to find Spock is somewhat reluctant to fully reveal himself to Kirk. Kirk’s determination that he and Spock will have a perfect first time is sidetracked by the revelation of a rather startling anatomical difference between them. Kirk’s reaction to this is well described as is his wish to reassure Spock that what he considers as their incompatibility will make no difference to his feelings and his gradual realisation that he is actually quite attracted by the idea of Spock being a bit different to what he expected. The reasons for Spock’s reluctance are sympathetically explained in the light of a painful experience in his past and I loved Kirk’s comments that he would love Spock even if he was gaseous cloud – priceless! In the end, this is a enjoyable piece about how love must lead to acceptance and understanding.

2004

Fascinating. Spock has a startling anatomical difference from his human lover and when I read the first half of the story, my initial reaction was similar to Kirk's. Then, after a couple of glasses of wine (it was Friday night) I actually began to find the idea rather sexy. The final love scene is so cleverly described the reader is able to suspend disbelief, even in the face of such an alien...arrangement. The premise of the story - that Kirk will accept and desire Spock no matter what he is—touched me. Characterization? This Spock is vulnerable and uptight and Jim gives him some good therapy. It is a story about acceptance, I guess.

"Great Expectations" by Anna S. Greener is approximately sixteen pages long. The basic premise is weird and takes a little getting used to. But once I accepted what was happening, the story was good. I believe this idea has been used in other stories but it has been so long since I have read them, I don't remember anything except for the fact that the idea here is not brand new with this story. However, for my personal view of Spock, I never ever see him the way he is in this story. This is a very interesting story.

Anna is one of our most talented K/S writers, and I thought this story was wonderful. It’s told from Kirk’s POV, and opens on the Enterprise with Kirk anticipating finally making love with Spock, after several previous encounters had to be postponed.

After reading Anna's excellent novel,Trusting the Spirit, it didn’t surprise me that in this story the premise is that Vulcans have genitalia different than humans, since she also explored that idea in her novel. Vulcans are very different from humans as it turns out, and Spock is certain Kirk will be repulsed by him. It takes quite a lot of convincing by Kirk until Spock will let his lover see him. I enjoyed reading all the speculation by Kirk as to what, exactly, Spock’s penis will look like and the slow build up until all is finally revealed—to Kirk’s astonishment and ours. Spock is truly alien and different from humans in this regard, and Anna's story explores Kirk’s initial negative reaction, his shame at that reaction, and his unconditional love for Spock no matter what he looks like. Truly an excellent, well written, intriguing story with a wonderful Kirk characterization. I thoroughly enjoyed this.

2021

5/5. This was really, really good. The writing was spectacular, everything was very well described, the characters felt very in-character, and this was a great take on a somewhat common trope. I have nothing negative to say about it.