Walls of Glass

Fanfiction
Title:	Walls of Glass
Author(s):	Charlotte Frost
Date(s):	1994
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Starsky & Hutch
Relationship(s):
External Links:	online here online at AO3
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

Hero is a slash Starsky & Hutch story by Charlotte Frost.

It was printed in Heart and Soul #1 and later online.

The Author Comments

One of those stories where, the minute it’s published, you go, “Oh, fuck, why did I do that?”

Starsky cried way too much. He just plain did.

So, it’s always been a puzzle to me that this little story has had so much appeal over the course of time. Someone tried to explain it to me once – something about the profundity of Spock’s death and how that resonates with even the most casual of Star Trek fans, so they “got” Starsky’s distress over having watched the movie.

I never saw Star Trek II in the theater (I just never got around to it, as I wasn’t in fandom at the time and was only a casual fan). So, I never quite got that big-screen impact of Spock’s death.

Anyway, I’m glad this went over so well. Though it still sort of puzzles me that it’s spoken so highly of.

Reactions and Reviews: At the Time this Story was Published

Readers who picked this story as their favorite story in HAS said:

• I liked the similarities between the movie and what happens in The Plague. (Stuff we didn't see in the ep.)

• I'm a Trek fan. Well written like the whole zine, but this story had emotional hurt/comfort instead of physical injuries to heal.

• The incredible intimacy (non-physical) of their relationship, the ease in which they share themselves, it pleased me... greatly.

• It was so touching and one could feel Starsky's pain at not being able to be with Hutch when he was behind his own glass wall.

• It made me cry. I guess we all felt the way Starsky did about the movie, but the analogy of the glass wall was perfect!

• Maybe I'm biased but I love Star Trek and the integration worked well here.

• It was a good look at the relationship -- a look at their difficulties and a good exploration of the love between them without someone getting physically injured.

• Enjoyed the K/S discussion because of watching STII:TWOK and how it led Starsky and Hutch to really what they felt about each other.

• I, too, still have my K/S roots. I cried for the same reason as Starsky at their inability to touch.

• Lots of love and friendship and trust and faithfulness... what I love S/H for. Since I'm a big Starsky fan, Walls was a treat.

Nobody picked this story as their least favorite.

Other comments beyond the questionnaire:

• Your use of TWOK was a novel approach, and every effective. I liked the way you paralleled Spock's death and the events of The Plague. The insight into Hutch's family history, and the development of his role as nurturer to his partner, rang true. You did a great job with the whole conversation about Starsky's and Hutch's changing relationship. I liked when Starsky pointed out that he hadn't given up his dreams; his dreams had changed. That's certainly Real Life. And I loved Starsky's identification with Spock and Kirk -- did Hutch think they mind-melded outside of the shows? What would they do if they were real? -- just like a fan! This was an excellent story.

• I had never made the connection between this scene and the scene in The Plague. After reading your story, the similarity seemed obvious to me, and I wondered why I hadn't seen it before! Your description of Starsky's reaction seemed to me very fitting to the character. We can imagine what a situation like this can do to people for which touching is so important. I could really "feel" Starsky's despair. This is a great story.

• Using the movie as a starting point is an interesting idea and gave successful scope for memories and comparisons. I like the way the story brought certain realities into their discussion: eg, Hutch's question -- bottom of page 41 -- and the honest way questions are handled all through -- eg, pages 47/48, with references to bigotry.

• Really, really good idea - it helped that I only just saw that relevant scene for the first time in a discussion of Star Trek on tv about a week ago, so I *knew* what Starsky was talking about (in fact, I'd thought something along the lines of 'how terrible for Kirk' myself, only I hadn't connected it with S and H or The Plague). Wonderful premise, and something that really made sense to me. I also liked the writing in that one better than [in the other stories]. I'd have to read it again paying more attention to style to be able to say why.

• Very good use of Wrath of Khan! I haven't seen the S&H plague show since its original run so I don't remember it well, just the highlights, but from what is said in this story, I can see why the Kirk/Spock scene would remind Starsky so strongly of the incident. You explained it very well. I understand (sadly, from personal experience) how something that seems insignificant to one person can bring back an unpleasant memory of renewed grief for someone else. A trigger to memory that's hard to explain since others don't follow your train of thought.

• It took a while to become interested in this story. I'm not a fan of ST, so the comparisons and allusions to the movie the guys had just seen had no meaning for me. I also felt it was highly unlikely for Starsky to become so emotional over a film, especially considering his aversion to "soapy scenes." But as I continued to read, I was rewarded by an excellent description of the guys coming to terms with their feelings. Hutch's fears seemed very real, and it was helpful to include the statement that if they acted on their feelings, they wouldn't necessarily be considered gay. The guys' respective quotes saying that there is nothing they wouldn't do for each other was very touching, yet honest. Hutch's realization that he loved Starsky more now, even though he thought it impossible, was also moving. I also appreciated the fact that the sexual scenes were delayed "until the next night." It was enough just reading their feelings about it.

• I thought this was a nice story, and I found that I could really empathize with it because I can remember that the way Starsky felt after he'd seen the film, was just how I felt when I first saw it - the really big thing that Kirk couldn't touch him. I really liked the way that Starsky behaved as though they were real people and not just characters in a film and how gentle Hutch was with him because of it. Also how well it linked with the Plague and that Starsky felt the same way as he imagined Kirk much have felt. I loved the way Starsky thought of slashing Kirk and Spock - it was a lovely twist and very well done.

• In "Walls of Glass" I am reminded of my own background in Trek. I did not see the movie that upset Starsky until the next one came out and Spock came back. I didn't want to see Spock gone for good, either.

• The treatment of Wrath of Khan was priceless... I hadn't ever thought of relating The Plague and Spock's death scene. You ended the story too soon on this one -- I wanted to enjoy their anticipation that day and the reward that first night.

Reactions and Reviews: Later Comments

2001

Heart and Soul 1 features several 'first time' stories. "Walls of Glass" is my favorite perhaps because the lead-in of Starsky's reaction to ST 2: The Wrath of Khan is so dead-on and in character. Is there canon in the show for him to be a ST TOS fan? (my mind is going) I could easily see how the discussion was triggered and led to....... well, you know.

2003

I'm a HUGE Star Trek fan and I watched every one of the movies. In Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Spock sacrifices himself for the ship. He has been irradiated and is enclosed in a room with only a glass window between him and the rest of the engineering crew. Kirk comes to talk to him before he passes and, as Henry Jenkins said in the book Textual Poachers, if you take away the glass...that's slash. SH watch the movie and the relation Starsky makes between that scene and the Plague scene from the show is one I was amazed at. Take away the glass, that's slash. Leave the glass up, the two lovers could never touch each other before the end. This was the fear Starsky had when Hutch had the plague. It's an amazing story.