Fan Fiction
Ratings10
Average rating4.2
15
Ratings10
Average rating4.2
Brent Spiner pens an explosive and hilarious novel, Fan Fiction, a personal look at the slightly askew view of the 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.”
Reviews with the most likes.
I loved this book. If you are a Star Trek fan this is a must read for you. Written by Brent Spiner of LT Commander Data fame this is his Mem-Noir inspired by true events
Brent Spiner tells us the tale of a mid tier hollywood celebrity that finds himself being stalked and harrassed by a crazy fan and has to get the FBI involved. With a full cast of characters and Star Trek favs such as Michael Dorn (LT Worf), Jonahthan Frakes (Commader Riker), Patrick Stewart (Captain Picard), Marina Sirtis (Counsellr Troy), Gates Mcfadden (Dr Crusher) and of course Mr Gene Rodenberry creator of Star Trek
This is not only a entertaining read into the life of a celebrity but a funny hilarious book that had me laughing all through the book! a must Read 5 star easily
Originally posted at www.youtube.com.
This was a fun but very parallel universe type of book. It is part memoir but then it veers off into fiction/fantasy/mystery. Brent has a stalker who wants to kill him and sends him weird stuff in the mail. He name drops many characters (real life and in the star trek universe) so they must be in part true. I found this fun as I am a fan of Next Generation Star Trek. If you are not a fan of Next Generation or Star Trek it will probably leave you a little baffled.
I would love to know how much of this is fact vs fiction. Star Trek FUN!
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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WHAT'S FAN FICTION ABOUT?
During the filming of Season 4 of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Brent Spiner starts receiving threatening (and disturbing) packages and letters delivered to his trailer. They're purportedly from “Lal” (Data's daughter from episode 3.16 “The Offspring”).
Those aren't the only interesting letters he's receiving, there are also a series of letters from someone claiming to speak to Spiner on the phone at night while her husband is out of town on business. These conversations are apparently quite graphic and sexual in nature, while the letters that are in response to them are very benign, and maybe a little tragic.
Spiner gets help from the LAPD, the FBI, a personal bodyguard, and fictionalized versions of his ST:TNG costars as the threats increase in intensity. This assistance bounces from comical to incredibly effective, while Spiner's worry and stress (and increasing lack of sleep) start to spiral out of control and his grasp on sanity starts to slip.
FAN CONNECTION
When it comes to his stalker, the late-night phone call recipient, a law enforcement officer/would-be-TV-writer, a pizza delivery man—and a few others, the relationship between fan and performer is clearly unhealthy.
But throughout there is a thread of meaningful connections being made through Spiner's performance to the audience. There were a couple of really sweet moments we see because of this—in the midst of the satiric madness, they really ground the work and help you remember that Spiner was more than someone suffering from a sleep-deprived paranoia.
I'M LIKELY TO BE THE ONLY ONE BOTHERED BY THIS, BUT...
We spend a lot of time with ST:TNG and have references to other parts of Spiner's career before that, but not one single nod to Bob Wheeler?
That's the role that made me a fan of Spiner—probably would've found another 1/2 Star or so if there'd been a quality joke about him.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT FAN FICTION?
I don't remember the last time I had this much fun reading a book—it was just a blast. I laughed and/or chuckled frequently, cringed a couple of times (in a good way), and couldn't turn the pages fast enough.
That starts with the characters: Spiner's antics and reactions to his situation were great. The comically-exaggerated versions of the ST:TNG cast were fantastic—I wouldn't mind reading a series of Spiner's adventures just to see those again. The Bodyguard and FBI officer rounded out the cast of characters in an entertaining way that also provided the lethal abilities required to keep Spiner alive in the face of the threat.
The stalker's actions in other settings would be hair-raising and chilling—but given the comic tone, they become ridiculous. And you can't wait to see what extreme “Lal” will go to next.
Spiner's humanity (depicted as very flawed) shines through in the midst of the madness. When that's combined with the heartwarming fan connections, they make this surprisingly sweet as much as it is comically dark. All in all, a real winner.
Fans of Star Trek or Hollywood satires need to get their hands on it.
Disclaimer: I received this eARC from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley in exchange for this post—thanks to both for this.
