Switch

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Fanfiction
Title: Switch
Author(s): Ceres_Libera
Date(s): 2011
Length: 230,687 words
Genre(s): Slash, Academy Fic
Fandom(s): Star Trek: AOS
Relationship(s): Kirk/McCoy (AOS)
External Links: http://ceres-libera.livejournal.com/679.html (defunct); archive link
AO3
and oh, he was seven kinds of jackass, Kirk was- Mccoy could see it in his eyes by sprimps (2019)

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Switch is a Star Trek: AOS academy era story by Ceres_Libera, focused on the pairing of Kirk/McCoy. It is referred to by many fans as "the McKirk fic"[1] and is often considered a fandom classic in the AOS fandom.

Summary

The life and times of Leonard H. McCoy MD/PhD … If Leonard McCoy's life could get any fucking weirder, it would be … Jesus, he didn't even want to think what that could possibly mean, because it's already been too fucking weird to make any kind of rational sense. A Starfleet Academy story, set in the ST:XI universe.

Series

The author continued the story in a series of the same name, and contains four additional stories:

Reactions and Reviews

This is quite possibly my favorite piece of fanfiction ever. Yes, it is long. Yes, there is a hellishly long slow burn, but good God, is it ever worth it when you get there. Trust me on this - if you even sorta kinda like McKirk, you will want to read this story.[2]

I read Ceres_Libera's Switch on accident. Not that I didn't mean to click on it, but I misread the word count, and only when I'd been reading for a while and hadn't gotten anywhere near the end did I realize it was 230,000 words, not 23,000. The story is fantastic. It's long and slow and they don't get together until near the end. There's bed sharing and stealth bed sharing. Kirk becomes a teacher to a bunch of other Cadets, which is one of the things I love in outsiders in an academy stories. It's a fantastic love story with a really good McCoy pov and interesting politics. It is also the first story I've ever read that uses "clavicle" in a sex scene where it's both character appropriate - McCoy uses anatomical terms to talk about bodies all the way through the story - and sexy. Really the only problem with this story is that every time I go look at it to rec it, I get sucked in again and spend hours rereading it.[3]

Okay, I’m pretty sure this fic is on every mckirk fic req list to ever exist and there’s a damn good reason for it!! The pace and characterization of Jim and Bones in this fic is so damn beautiful and hits you right in the heart. Their relationship develops in a way that just fucking makes sense and even though it’s definitely a slow-burn you can’t help but hang onto every word. Worth every hour spent reading it![4]

Okay, this is a long one. But it is 100% worth the time and effort. This is one of the best stories I have ever read across fandom. The pining and yearning are A+ and painful as fuck, but so fucking worth it. You won’t regret reading this one.[5]

This is the fic that defines the Kirk/McCoy pairing for me. It's epic in length, epic in detail and characterization, and epic slow burn like woah. Perfect Bones voice that lets us see the man, and see through his eyes as he slowly falls into Kirk. Lots of backstory too - Bones has issues, yeah, and Jim has even more issues, and they don't just disappear - when we get to the happy ending, it's all earned. [6]

My personal favorite McKirk fic of all time is Switch by Ceres_Libera. It’s Academy!McKirk and just a brilliant epic.[7]

this one is really fucking long but its so so good omg[8]

It's the best ans bigger mckirk fic out there! It's like the bible. You cannot like mckirk and not read Switch!![9]

You'll want to set aside a few days for this one. And read it properly, don't skip around. It's totally worth it![10]

this fic is so important like this is the essence of mckirk and i will probably never be able to get over it. it’s kinda super long but totally worth the read.[11]

where the fuck have you been if you’re a mckirk fan and havent read switch. not only the best but the most fandom famous. it makes me want to die[12]

What rec list wouldn’t include this work? Long, really fucking long, but worth it. It made me laugh and it made me cry (actually, it made my heart break apart). Incredibly well written with amazing character development. [13]

If you haven’t read SWITCH by @ceres-libera, you all should drop what you’re doing, and be prepared to snuggle for about 12 hours with one of the best pieces of fiction on the internet. Also, be prepared to love Leonard McCoy 10000000x more after you’re finished.[14]

“Switch” is the fanfic I point people to when they want to spout some kinda bullshit about fanfic not being as quality or important as “real” fiction. Like, bitch, read that and then fuck off.[14]

Star Trek AoS my pairing is Jim Kirk/Leonard McCoy. The ultimate requiem fic for this is Switch, by Ceres_Libera. Literally no one in the entire McKirk fandom will argue with you about Switch being the ultimate McKirk fic. That one is king.[15]

Another genuine epic. This is one of the many reboot fics set during Kirk’s time at Starfleet academy, exploring Kirk’s fucked up youth. Told mostly from McCoy’s perspective, it provides one of my favorite interpretations of Kirk’s rather douchey characterization in the J.J. Abrams’ movies: sexy, obnoxious, shockingly intelligent, and secretly dealing with deep wounds from his childhood. He’s admirable and clever and heroic, but you can also understand the reason why he sometimes fucks up on an emotional level.[16]

For the Series

THIS. FUCKING. SERIES!!!!!! And I really can’t say much more because words fail me over this fic!! I love it so much!! I cried, I laughed, I cried some more, then cried again, such an amazing fic, so well written, read it!!![17]

Critical Reviews

I should technically rec Switch by Ceres_libera, but I have literally attempted to read the bloody thing five times, and I have never been able to get into it. I, personally, found it difficult to read. But everyone else seems to enjoy it, love it, and say that it’s a must read for all Kirk/McCoy shippers[18]

Inspired Fanworks

Art

Ficbinding

References

  1. ^ "Aug 4, 2022 Tweet". Archived from the original on 2022-09-24.
  2. ^ "Sphynx's Fic Recs". Archived from the original on 2022-09-24.
  3. ^ "Star Trek Reboot Recs and Kink Fic Recs". Archived from the original on 2022-09-24.
  4. ^ "long mckirk fic reqs!!!". Archived from the original on 2022-09-24.
  5. ^ "I've been meaning to make this Jim/Bones rec list for a while". Archived from the original on 2022-09-24.
  6. ^ "Masterlist: Star Trek AOS - Kirk/McCoy". Archived from the original on 2022-09-24.
  7. ^ "Dec 15, 2015 Tumblr post". Archived from the original on 2022-09-24.
  8. ^ "mckirk fic recs for people kept up at midnight by these two idiots". Archived from the original on 2022-09-24.
  9. ^ "May 28, 2018 Tumblr post". Archived from the original on 2022-09-24.
  10. ^ "My crotch speaks for me, Oct 16, 2011 Livejournal post". Archived from the original on 2022-09-24.
  11. ^ "I LOVE MCKIRK ACADEMY AUS. PLEASE PLEASE SHARE YOUR TOP 3, Sept 26, 2020 Tumblr post". Archived from the original on 2022-09-24.
  12. ^ "sarah lois' super long star trek fic rec list". Archived from the original on 2022-09-24.
  13. ^ "McKirk Fic Rec List". Archived from the original on 2022-09-24.
  14. ^ a b "Apirl 16, 2017 Tumblr post". Archived from the original on 2022-09-24.
  15. ^ "Comment on Thanks to previous threads I know a lot of us read fanfiction... What are your favorite pairings, and what do you consider "classics" in your favorite fandoms? posted to r/AskWomen, July 3, 2014". Archived from the original on 2022-09-24.
  16. ^ "The Rec Center #34". Archived from the original on 2024-07-20.
  17. ^ "June 27, 2019 Tumblr post". Archived from the original on 2022-09-24.
  18. ^ "Jim/Bones Rec List". Archived from the original on 2022-09-24.
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