The Girl Who Controlled Gene Kelly's Feet

Star Trek TOS Fanfiction
Title:	The Girl Who Controlled Gene Kelly's Feet
Author(s):	Paula Block
Date(s):	1978
Length:
Genre:	gen
Fandom:	Star Trek: The Original Series
External Links:
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

The Girl Who Controlled Gene Kelly's Feet is a Star Trek: TOS story by Paula Block.

art for this story by V.M. Wyman

It was published in the print zine Menagerie #14 and later the pro book Strange New Worlds.

Summary

"A yeoman aboard the Enterprise escapes her monotonous life through 20th century movies... though not exactly as her psychiatrist initially believes she does."

Author's Comments

In terms of stylistic technical growth, "Tinman" (printed in INTERPHASE—may it rest in peace) and "The Girl Who Controlled Gene Kelly's Feet" [printed in MENAGERIE—may it live long and prosper) marked the beginning of a transitional phase in which I began to understand that interesting characterization does not a remarkable piece of fiction make. Things like plotting and pacing are vital.

Reactions and Reviews

As It Appeared in "Menagerie"

...the unquestionable highlight of this zine is Block's 'The Girl Who Controlled Gene Kelley's Feet." It's the single best ST story I've read in a LONG time -- and it's not about the Big Three or even the Small Five. A beautiful character study of two Enterprise female crewmembers.

The major piece of fiction is Paula Block's beautifully written and characterized "The Girl Who Controlled Gene Kelly's Feet". Its theme, the necessity of living in the present, in the frequently messy, more frequently boring, real world, makes it particularly apropos just now. In fact, I strongly recommend reading it out of order, as a chaser to the lettercol. With feelings running high over the K/S issue among others, we occasionally need to be reminded that Trek is a fantasy, and that there is such a thing as becoming too deeply involved in it. Kudos for Poblocki.

As It Appeared in "Strange New Worlds"

"The Girl Who Controlled Gene Kelly's Feet" (which originally appeared in a 1970's TOS fanzine - Block's a longtime fan) is exceptional. Intelligent, insightful, innovative, it manages to be both entertaining and disturbing, and may well be the best piece in the book. It also violates nearly every rule the contestants had to abide by, which tells you something about the real nature - and the real strengths - of fan fiction.