Dwellers in the Crucible

Dwellers in the Crucible is a 1985 science fiction novel by American writer by Margaret Wander Bonanno, part of the Star Trek: The Original Series franchise. A bestseller, it was the author's breakout novel, retelling the central Star Trek story of the friendship between James T. Kirk and Spock through the experiences of two female civilians, Egyptian Cleante al Faisal and Vulcan T'Shael. It is noted for its emphasis on interpersonal relationships over action, and for the minimal role played in the story by the franchise's established characters.