Book Review: Fan Fiction: A Mem-Noir by Brent Spiner
Fan Fiction: A Mem-Noir: Inspire by True Events
Author: Brent Spiner
Published: October 5, 2021
256 Pages
Reviewed By: Kim
Kim’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
From Brent Spiner, who played the beloved Lieutenant Commander Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation, comes an explosive and hilarious autobiographical novel.
Brent Spiner’s explosive and hilarious novel is a personal look at the slightly askew relationship between a celebrity and his fans. If the Coen Brothers were to make a Star Trek movie, involving the complexity of fan obsession and sci-fi, this noir comedy might just be the one.
Set in 1991, just as Star Trek: The Next Generation has rocketed the cast to global fame, the young and impressionable actor Brent Spiner receives a mysterious package and a series of disturbing letters, that take him on a terrifying and bizarre journey that enlists Paramount Security, the LAPD, and even the FBI in putting a stop to the danger that has his life and career hanging in the balance.
Featuring a cast of characters from Patrick Stewart to Levar Burton to Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, to some completely imagined, this is the fictional autobiography that takes readers into the life of Brent Spiner and tells an amazing tale about the trappings of celebrity and the fear he has carried with him his entire life.
Fan Fiction is a zany love letter to a world in which we all participate, the phenomenon of “Fandom.”
Kim’s Review:
What an awesome book! It was fun and littered with Star Trek references that Trekkies all love! Plus, some hilarious 90’s stuff that today’s generation would never understand! There were some places where the story dragged a little, but overall, I had way too much fun reading it. I heard Brent reading in my head! Ok… I also heard Burton’s Dorn’s, and Frakes’s voices and I enjoyed it way too much! If you’re a Trekkie, just trust me, read this book!
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Book Review: Star Trek: The Lost Years by J.M. Dillard
Star Trek: The Lost Years
Author: J.M. Dillard
Published: August 1990
315 Pages
Reviewed By: Kim
Kim’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
After the end of the Enterprise™’s five-year mission, Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, and Dr. McCoy struggle to establish new lives apart from each other and the starship. The newly-promoted Admiral Kirk is placed in charge of a specially-created Starfleet division and attempts to defuse a critical hostage situation; Mr. Spock, who, in the midst of a teaching assignment on Vulcan, finds the one thing he least expected; and Dr. McCoy, whose unerring instinct for trouble lands him smack in the middle of an incident that could trigger an interstellar bloodbath.
Kim’s Review:
Y’all know I’m all about extra information that fills in all the blanks! I hate not knowing a full story! Thankfully, I learned a lot from reading this book. But I gave it 4 stars just because it’s not a complete “missing chapter in Star Trek history”, it’s just a chapter. I know that Admiral Kirk ended up as Head of Starfleet Operations by the time Vger showed up and this book barely covers a year, in fact, it’s really only a month. So I was a little peeved by that. However, I still got a look into things I didn’t know. I saw how Spock and McCoy dealt with their new reality of being off the Enterprise. I saw the beginning of Kirk’s rise at Starfleet and the obvious wrong decision of being behind a desk. This was a good story and very classic Star Trek. All the characters I love all in one place, giving me more info! Overall, a great book!
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
The Autobiography of Mr. Spock by Una McCormack
The Autobiography of Mr. Spock
Series: Star Trek Autobiographies
Author: Una McCormack
Published: September 7, 2021
200 Pages
Reviewed By: Kim
Kim’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
Fictional autobiography of the iconic Star Trek character, told in his own words and telling the story of his life, including his difficult childhood, his adventures on the Enterprise, and his death and resurrection on the Genesis Planet.
The Autobiography of Mr. Spock tells the story of one of Starfleet’s finest officers, and one the Federations most celebrated citizens. Half human and half Vulcan, the book, written in Spock’s own words, follows his difficult childhood on the planet Vulcan; his controversial enrollment at Starfleet Academy; his adventures with Captain Kirk and the crew of the Starship Enterprise; his diplomatic triumphs with the Klingons and Romulans; and his death and amazing resurrection on the Genesis Planet. We meet the friends he’s made, the women he loved, and experience the triumphs and tragedies of a life and career that spanned a century. Despite his alien blood, his struggle to find his place in the universe is one we can all relate to.
Kim’s Review:
I was so excited to finally read this! Everyone who even remotely likes Star Trek should definitely read this book! Spock is easily one of my favorite characters and his complicated, internal struggle is laid out perfectly in these pages. It was good to see an author have a true sense of a character, as opposed to so many who seem to wing it and miss the mark entirely. I appreciated how she included the more modern franchises without making them a huge priority. Spock came to life in this book and it felt like a true autobiography written by an experienced and complex person. Even as a Vulcan, he allowed his feelings to shine while also reigning them in so they didn’t muddle everything.
My only real issues are the obvious acknowledgment of the Kelvin timeline, which actually made me angry, and the seeming glance over of James T. Kirk. After all their years together, I wish more had been written. Because of that, this story just felt incomplete. But I still really enjoyed it and I hope to continue to read the autobiographical series!
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
