Where Angels Fear to Tread (Star Trek: TOS story)

Fanfiction
Title:	'Where Angels Fear to Tread
Author(s):	Dana Austin Marsh
Date(s):	1993
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:	online here
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Where Angels Fear to Tread is a Kirk/Spock story by Dana Austin Marsh.

It was published in the print zine Counterpoint #9.

Summary

"Kirkʼs guardian angel hopes to make his job easier by getting Kirk and Spock together, which proves harder than he originally thought."

Reactions and Reviews

1993

This was an entertaining story of Kirk's guardian angel.

I've written a MUCH shorter story that is very similar. This is a case of "great minds", I guess since neither knew about the other. Beyond that, it was an interesting tale and I liked the way the angels brought them together.

Very well written; perfect. Not overdone, but very expressive. At first I thought it might be e "silly" story, but I enjoyed reading this very much. Kirk's end Spock's guardian angels want to make them lovers so Kirk wont take so many risks with his life. Interesting little scenarios (our favorite "missing-scenes") the angels observe. Charles (Kirk's angel) gets a peek into the Proctor's book, sees Spock going to Gol, and his death, and vows to change all that before it happens.

Enterprise crew helping a colony start up: that's always been an appealing setting to me. Kirk and Spock slowly and sweetly become just a little more intimate, or at least easily affectionate; very nice. I do like when they're a little shy with each other. Their feelings are straightforward but they're each uncertain how expression of affections will be received.

Such little things, but such exquisite tension. The subtle and gentle courtship. And then the first kiss fires Spock with lust. He kind of blows it; feels he cannot be Vulcan and love Kirk. Cannot maintain his cool in the face of the physical passion ignited by Kirk. Kirk will respect that; will not act on his love. But Kirk is very saddened by that, so of course Spock vows he will now let himself love Kirk. He presumably manages some measure of self-integration and is able to find the mean. Sigh...

1994

A great story. I like this author's explorations of Vulcan mind-ways.

Fine language, except too-long sentences sometimes, hard to follow.

Kirk bonds with another Vulcan in an emergency, so the story revolves around getting them unbonded, and getting Kirk and Spock bonded. A basically simple idea, but turned into an intriguing and complex tale. Deep, intense, full of detail and atmosphere. One interesting scenario after another; never lagging. Some horrible elements and also some heartbreakingly thrilling times.

I thought everyone's characters were portrayed perfectly; a good villain character too. And a convincing yet manageable jeopardy.

One little quibble: When the ship is "overbooked" during an emergency situation, it seems the captain and first officer would be exempt from having to share quarters. Unless Kirk offered to share with Spock so Spock would not have to share with someone else.

And the best part of the story, a wonderful continuing tension between Kirk and Spock. A long, drawn-out resolution, the kind I like best.

2002

You would think a story about three rather misguided guardian angels would be pretty silly. You might also wonder where Kirk and Spock come in. The three angels in this case are assigned to Kirk, Spock & McCoy. Kirk’s is having a bit of trouble earning his wings, because Luck keeps interfering just when he’s about to perform an angelic rescue. Still sound silly? Not at all.

What follows is an entertaining as anything I’ve read lately. Nothing could distract me once I began reading about the exploits of the three men and their erstwhile guardians. Kirk’s angel and Spock’s conspire (do angels do that?) to bring the two together. They sense that this is where the two belong, but accomplishing it is not an easy task. I found very compelling the idea that Kirk’s little bodyguard took it upon himself to read the head angel’s book to see just what possibilities awaited the human. When he came to the scene in the engine room, Spock trapped inside the radiation chamber and Kirk equally trapped outside, he firmly declared he would not allow these men to come to this point without ever having loved one another.

There’s fun to be had watching the little angels cavorting around their charges unseen and unsuspected, hovering in the air above them, watching over every move. Deftly accomplished by the author, there is also the unfolding love story, the dawning awareness, the shy withdrawal born of uncertainty, then the recognition of love in the other’s eyes.

By the time the end rolls round, you are equally as concerned with the outcome for the angels as for Kirk and Spock. Simply a grand read!

2008

What a wonderful story. The angels were interesting characters in and of themselves. I love McCoy's mistake and his quick-thinking psychological strategy with Spock. Beautiful ending scene with Spock by Kirk's bedside. And a cute ending with the Proctor.

2009

I enjoyed the distinct characters of the guardian angels and loved how the progression of the relationship between Kirk and Spock was accompanied by the development of Charles from being self-centred to truly caring about his charge to the point, by the end, he was putting Kirk's needs before his own. A lovely feel-good story. Thanks for sharing it!

2011

SO WONDERFUL AND SWEET, I DON'T TO SLEEP JUST WANT TO KEEP READING YOUR STORY'S THEY ALL HAVE SUCH HEART AND SOUL. LOOK FORWARD TO MORE LOVE . THANK YOU. I JUST LOVE HAPPY HAPPY ENDING'S. XOXOXOXOX

2016

This story. THIS STORY. It almost made me cry my eyes out on multiple occassions. And I nearly died of a heart attack, due to FANBOYING at EVERY OTHER SENTENCE. Your writing has affected me on such a deep level. Why do you do this to me?! I will forever hold this story in my heart, and look back on it for inspiration on my own stories. I thank you so much for this!