Tilting at Windmills (Star Trek: TOS story)

Fanfiction
Title:	Tilting at Windmills
Author(s):	Pandora
Date(s):	1995
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
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Tilting at Windmills is a Kirk/Spock story by Pandora.

It was published in the print zine T'hy'la #16 and in Kismet.

Summary

"While hiding away in the Observation Room, Chapel sees first hand Kirk and Spockʼs sexual relationship."

Reactions and Reviews

1995

Engaging story written from first person POV of Christine as she watches Kirk and Spock carry on with what she terms as "disgusting", but that she finds morbidly fascinating. I got a kick out of her inability to tear her eyes away from the sight of them having sex. Kind of like watching a car accident.

This is one weird Christine - she's attracted and repelled by sex; longing for and repulsed by Spock; protective and envious of him. But. I admit to finding fun in watching Christine watch K and S. At least she is too self absorbed to be pitied, which has always made me feel uncomfortable.

Off beat and interesting.

An outrageously funny story in which Christine Chapel is forced by circumstances to observe a K/S dose encounter-or rather, several encounters, seriatim OB the observation deck. The point of view is first-person and up-close as Christine relentlessly shares her unabridged thoughts with us about Spock, Kirk and all matters sexual.

This is a thoroughly unreconstructed Christine, untouched by the feminist revisionism found in much Chapel fan fiction since the late 1970s-her attitudes about sex, love and marriage are straight out of the 1950s. Her prudish and indignant "voice" is sustained very successfully, and that's one of the reasons the story is so much fun to read. (The other reason is the unrestrained eroticism she is compelled to watch - poor baby.)

As brilliantly funny as this story is, it also has a serious side. As the story begins, Christine has heard about K/S but doesn't believe the rumors. She maintains her fond hope that Spock will turn to her in his next pon farr. As she is faced with the undeniable reality, we see her go through the stages of loss before our very eyes-from denial all the way to acceptance. As the story ends, she is ready to let go and get on with her life. Although I would have thoroughly enjoyed the story just as a fun romp. I appreciated the added dimension. It means we aren't just having a good laugh at Christine's expense and that although she may be a little mixed up about sex, she's a real person.