Scan barcode
upbeatmetaphor's review
4.0
Blimey, have I finished this already? Well it is a very easy and entertaining read, and written very much in Wil Wheaton's voice, so it flows quite naturally.
Basically, it's great. It's a subjective behind the scenes opinion of some of the earlier episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, stuffed with stories and comparisons between how the actors felt at the time, and how they feel now (principally Wil Wheaton, obviously). It shines a light on the mess of television production, bordering occasionally on the apologetic when it does.
There's also some fantastic insight into how early-internet and even pre-internet fandom worked (remember Usenet, anyone?) and how we all still managed to be behave like we had Twitter and Tumblr, even before we did. Some things never change.
It is drenched in references to various shows, memes, and news stories.. but these are layered. There are things everyone will get, things some people will understand, and things that will amuse a select few. There's a certain smugness in spotting a joke or reference that would go utterly unnoticed to someone who was unaware of what it involved.
There is one unfortunately jarring joke, an unnecessary swing at Lindsay Lohan's vicodin addiction. It seems to be the only truly hostile joke in the book, and seems oddly out of place. This is a recurring symptom in I guess what you would call popular nerd culture, where all that inclusiveness and understanding drops for a second to make a very crass and mainstream remark, before carrying on as normal.
Otherwise a great read though, the kind that will entertain both fans of Star Trek, and fans of television production. I appreciate this is a digest of specific published articles, but feel it could have been longer. If there is a Volume 2, 3, etc, I don't see why they couldn't have been merged together.
Nick
xx
Basically, it's great. It's a subjective behind the scenes opinion of some of the earlier episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, stuffed with stories and comparisons between how the actors felt at the time, and how they feel now (principally Wil Wheaton, obviously). It shines a light on the mess of television production, bordering occasionally on the apologetic when it does.
There's also some fantastic insight into how early-internet and even pre-internet fandom worked (remember Usenet, anyone?) and how we all still managed to be behave like we had Twitter and Tumblr, even before we did. Some things never change.
It is drenched in references to various shows, memes, and news stories.. but these are layered. There are things everyone will get, things some people will understand, and things that will amuse a select few. There's a certain smugness in spotting a joke or reference that would go utterly unnoticed to someone who was unaware of what it involved.
There is one unfortunately jarring joke, an unnecessary swing at Lindsay Lohan's vicodin addiction. It seems to be the only truly hostile joke in the book, and seems oddly out of place. This is a recurring symptom in I guess what you would call popular nerd culture, where all that inclusiveness and understanding drops for a second to make a very crass and mainstream remark, before carrying on as normal.
Otherwise a great read though, the kind that will entertain both fans of Star Trek, and fans of television production. I appreciate this is a digest of specific published articles, but feel it could have been longer. If there is a Volume 2, 3, etc, I don't see why they couldn't have been merged together.
Nick
xx
dotvicky's review
3.0
From what I've seen of Wil Wheaton, he's seems like a genuinely lovely chap and didn't serve all the grief he got for his character (I mean - does anyone?). As a bit of a part time Trekkie I thought this would be a quick fun read and it was. I'm not steeped in TNG lore enough to get as much out of this as some will but it has a fun style and I hope he writes Volume 2 at some point.
onceandfuturelaura's review
5.0
This book was an absolute delight. Wil Wheaton is frelling awesome. The reason the TNG Enterprise has families on board? "Because Star Fleet did this study and realized that space herpes -- also known as Kirk's Syndrome-- spreads considerably slower of its officers have their spouses and children on board." We also learn what episode was premised on the need to find the rare MacGuffin element. No, wait, that's probably 40% of the things I like. Anyway. I also learned that Roddenbury intended the Ferengi to be more like the Reavers from Firefly. Well, gosh.
Hugely fun.
Hugely fun.
betseywj's review
4.0
Snarky nerd fun for the Star Trek TNG fan. Now I just need Volume 2 and a volume for all other seasons Wil Wheaton particiapted in... C'mon, nerdy good times!
joxertd's review
I love Wil Wheaton and will read other books written by him. This one seems to be a rehashing of episodes of Star Trek TNG with snarky asides. Not something I want to read really. It just wasn't for me.
shinimegami23's review
5.0
An Insider Review of TNG
I love reading anything written by Wil Wheton and this certainly isn't an exception. His sarcasm and inside geek jokes make the reviews of each Trek episode fun by and pleasing to read through. If you're a fan of Next Gen andy's want a little inside scoop from someone that was behind the scenes, this is the book for you. On to Volume 2...!
I love reading anything written by Wil Wheton and this certainly isn't an exception. His sarcasm and inside geek jokes make the reviews of each Trek episode fun by and pleasing to read through. If you're a fan of Next Gen andy's want a little inside scoop from someone that was behind the scenes, this is the book for you. On to Volume 2...!
piburnjones's review
4.0
This one has become a time capsule in a time capsule: the episodes are from 1987, but the references Wheaton drops are starting to feel very 2006-ish. Which makes sense: these were initially written for an internet audience and that's what you do, you drop in the jokes du jour.
I most enjoy Wheaton's behind the scenes memories and the perspective of someone who has known and lived with these stories and characters for a long time. These episodes are Not Good, but the retrospective is fun.
I most enjoy Wheaton's behind the scenes memories and the perspective of someone who has known and lived with these stories and characters for a long time. These episodes are Not Good, but the retrospective is fun.
juliemawesome's review
4.0
Wil Wheaton reviews the first half of the first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation. He writes a summary of each episode, infused with his memories and insider view of what was going on at the time.
It's very interesting, insightful, and incredibly funny. And I hope he'll keep going and review all of the episodes.
My problem with it that reduces it a star is that he's really down on Wesley and makes jokes like 'and all fans everywhere gave a cheer' when Wesley's killed or told to shut up, or whatever. And once or twice is fine, but he keeps doing it. And I was one fan who was not annoyed by Wesley Crusher. He was one of my favorite characters.
My more rambling thoughts on this book are up at Triple Take -- http://www.flaminggeeks.com/tripletake
It's very interesting, insightful, and incredibly funny. And I hope he'll keep going and review all of the episodes.
My problem with it that reduces it a star is that he's really down on Wesley and makes jokes like 'and all fans everywhere gave a cheer' when Wesley's killed or told to shut up, or whatever. And once or twice is fine, but he keeps doing it. And I was one fan who was not annoyed by Wesley Crusher. He was one of my favorite characters.
My more rambling thoughts on this book are up at Triple Take -- http://www.flaminggeeks.com/tripletake
mistymntns's review
5.0
For any Star Trek fan, this is a good read. Written by Wil Wheaton, he gives us a good inside look into the first season of The Next Generation. An A+ in my book.