Fan Fiction: A Mem-Noir
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.”
My Review
I grew up watching Star Trek. I can remember sharing a bowl of popcorn with my Dad and watching Star Trek on the couch together. I do consider myself to be a "trekkie". Thus I was very intrigued to read this book.
As I was reading this, I could not get the image of Data out of my head. It was like Data was reading and at times Brent would pop in and interject himself. I have read many memoirs and can find some of them to be a bit on the "dry" side with just facts. Yet, I liked this take on a memoir. It did read like an bizarre episode of Star Trek if Data had to solve a mystery. There were many times I found myself laughing and in shock at just how extreme "fandom" really can become. Fans of Star Trek may want to pick up a copy to read for themselves.
Comments