Marginal Existence

Fanfiction
Title:	Marginal Existence
Author(s):	Connie Faddis
Date(s):	1971, 1978
Length:
Genre(s):	gen
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):
External Links:
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Marginal Existence is a Star Trek: TOS story by Connie Faddis.

Publishing History

It was first published in the print zine T-Negative Issue #11 in 1971.

Four years later, it was printed in Star Trek: The New Voyages #2. It is unknown how the story differs in this pro book from its original zine printing.

Summaries

"Marginal Existence," by Connie Faddis, presents a world where most inhabitants seem to be in a state of suspended animation; however, their "sleep" is anything but peaceful. When Doctor McCoy is thrown into a sleeper machine and appears in great distress, Kirk and Spock must find a way to release him.

A get'em. The landing party encounter a planet full of sleepers, with robot guards who turn intruders into sleepers at the sound of speech.

"Marginal Existence," another story first published in T-NEGATIVE, raises some rather chilling questions about fixed purposes which can get out of hand, pleasures which can turn into pain, and savagery which can rise out of the marginal remains of a once-flourishing civilization.

It is, hopefully, a road not to be taken.

But it is one which would be available to us, even now. Drugs, life-support systems, automatic maintenance machinery -- none too bright, but designed to perform a function...

NO worries, no troubles, no worlds to conquer, no working for a living, no sweat, no end to pleasure...

Anything wrong with that?

Well...

One of the functions of science fiction -- and of the Enterprise -- is to explore roads not taken.

And the enterprise can be hazardous to your health -- especially if you are a starship Captain.