Thank you to St. Martin's Press, the author, and NetGalley for providing me with this eARC in exchange for an honest review. This book will release October 5, 2021.

This book is WEIRD. Not bad, not necessarily, but truly bizarre. I had no idea what to expect going into it (aside from the fact that it's a fictional mem-noir by an actor whose work I've come to very much enjoy over the past few months), because neither memoir—fictionalized or otherwise—or noir is a category I read very much. So, while I'm not the ideal audience for this, I did find myself enjoying it, to a degree.

We open with a ghastly gift from a Star Trek fan, and close with another (gruesome but slightly better-intentioned). In between is a very odd collection of events that read like... well, like fanfiction. And that's pretty fun. But there's not a whole lot of depth to the story or characters, and I don't know if it's because Spiner wanted to follow what I feel are noir genre conventions or not, but the portrayal of the female characters is... Not Great. So keep that in mind. I don't know how else to phrase it but to say that the overall tone and trappings of the book feel very much like a noir in form and function, but... silly? Over-the-top? Yeah, that's it.

In my opinion, the ending comes a bit too quickly—overall, this is a very short book, and I read it in a couple hours. Once again, I am a silly person who cannot figure out the culprit, but despite the fact that I DO like to make guesses, I actually prefer that in a book. Others will probably have an easier time, although it also felt like the truth came out of left field?

I thought that the bits where Novel!Spiner was ruminating on the nature of the relationship between actors and fans, were the most touching and interesting, and I would have been interested if that had been explored more, but this is... very much not that kind of novel. Still, despite the concern of Novel!Spiner of the nature of his fans (let's be honest, some fans do go overboard, to say the least, and I think he is justified even in this fictional context), I do get the impression that the Spiners both inside the novel and out do in fact like their fans. Just, boundaries, people.

I think that if you like noir and are used to that sort of dramatic yet dry narrative (I assume; I've never read noir, but I have a rough grasp of what the tone is like thanks to, you know, pop culture and osmosis) and you're a fan of something, Star Trek or otherwise, and don't mind knowing what's real and what isn't, you'll probably enjoy this, or at least parts of it!

Or, you know, you could just go watch some Star Trek. That's my plan.

A weird, wild, and unique story the likes of which you haven't seen before. It's immediately entertaining, setting itself deep within the STAR TREK world, but not requiring the reader to be immensely familiar with it. It both leans on the pillars of noir while also subverting them at times, mostly to get a joke in, and Spiner has no qualms about being self-effacing, which informs his character while also allowing him to fit in comfortably with the other exaggerated versions of his cast.

A lot of the impact of a noir crime story is the twist, so I'm definitely staying away from that as to not spoil anything, so I'll focus on the fact that I did find that the true value of this book is its humor and prose; there's no "dead air" to be found, and it's easy as pie to follow the narrative (I say that because I've read my fair share of mystery novels that demanded re-reading due to lack of clarity).

Spiner's prologue does a great job of priming you for the story and precisely what it's going to entail, so allow yourself to absorb that section in. On top of just being a great opening, it's the calibration you need.

I initially latched onto this book because I thought it was an outright autobiography, but the change in scenery doesn't hurt my feelings. If you like noir with some legit comedy in it, go ahead and treat yourself.

Finally: A mention of Jack Lemmon in this with no reference to OUT TO SEA, in which he co-starred with the man? I'm guessing that, within the confines of this story, Spiner hadn't yet performed that role (which I always thought he played a quite viable villain to Lemmon/Matthau). Not a complaint--just was wondering.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advance read.

So ... the actor who plays the android Data on the Star Trek: The Next Generation television series has written a book. And the main character in Brent Spiner's book is ... Brent Spiner. Of thirty years ago. And the supporting cast in the book are Spiner's fellow actors from Star Trek: The Next Generation.

It is 1991 and Star Trek: The Next Generation is a huge, global hit. The young actor from Texas, Brent Spiner, who plays the Pinocchio-like android, Data, receives a horrifying package and some very disturbing fan mail. He seeks advice from his cast-mates, whose quirks make them almost as odd as the fans writing to them, and ultimately he calls for the FBI. Taking his case is FBI agent Cindy Lou Jones, for whom Spiner immediately begins jonesing.

Spiner wants Jones around 'for protection' more often than she can afford to provide, so she gives him her sister's contact information. Candy Lou Jones is Cindy's identical twin sister who runs her own private security company

Brent falls in love (or at least in lust) with the Joneses, but of course the one he prefers is the one not as interested in him.

And through it all, a crazed fan calling herself Lal (Data's daughter from the series) is threatening to kill Brent.

This reminds me of the Ron Goulart 'Odd Jobs' books of the 1970's-80's - a little mystery, a lot of humor, and some wild, crazy shenanigans. Only these characters we think we know because we watch them on TV.

But what worked for Goulart in the 80's is just a little bit tired here as Spiner maybe tries to do a little too much. There's mystery, danger, romance, humor, apparent biography, and always the lure of some ST: TNG insider insight all wrapped up in 250 pages.

There are extremely odd moments, such as when Spiner heads to his favorite video rental store and learns that there's a woman calling herself Mrs. Spiner who also uses the store. And when she is killed in a car accident, he goes to her funeral, where everyone there only knows her as Mrs. Spiner - no one knew her real name. I'm not quite sure why this is in the book other than that it adds to the oddball humor that Spiner is trying to set up in the book. If those scenes with "Mrs. Spiner" were cut from the book it would have zero impact on the mystery or the romance. And as a 'red herring' it falls flat.

The most fun aspects were the scenes with other members of the TNG cast and crew. As Star Trek fans, we of course want to think this is exactly how the other cast members are, and while these characters may be based on real people, they do come across as exaggerated caricatures of themselves.

I did have some fun reading this, though the actual capture of the stalker was kind of a let-down (and most people should have seen it coming). This is the sort of book that I would consider a 'beach read' - something to read that doesn't take too much thought or reflection, and reads pretty quickly.

There is a built-in audience, given the number of Star Trek fans there are who are likely to glom onto this, and most will appreciate the book, but it's not likely to be long-remembered.

Looking for a good book? Fan Fiction is a humorous mystery by Brent Spiner (referred to as a 'Mem-Noir'). Inspired by true events is appealing, but one wonders where the line between truth and fiction lies.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

This is a truly unique title that’s unlike anything I’ve ever read. It will be book porn to trekkies everywhere but there’s a lot for more general audiences to like.

Brent Spiner, Data from Star Trek the Next Generation creates this largely inspired by real life tale of fiction about super fans gone too far.

The plot is a huge draw as the crazy twists and turns seem like they have to be imagined but at the same time you just know some of this happened.

There are two major drawbacks to this that occasionally leave you off kilter but don’t ruin the story.

First, considering Brent Spiner was Data, a lot of people have a very defined interpretation of him. His real life persona serving as narrator seems very much at odds with his show persona and that creates some weird dissonance that in some ways isn’t Spiner’s fault, but still feels off.

Lastly, sometimes you aren’t really sure if this is fiction or nonfiction and the narration mirrors that. As a fiction it could have pushed even a little further into the absurd in order to really sell it as fiction.

A very solid 4 out of 5 and a strong recommendation

This book was very enjoyable! When I saw that this was a non-fiction novel, I wasn't expecting for it to read like a fiction novel with one basic storyline for the entire novel. I think this is the perfect book for readers who don't normally read non-fiction to get into reading non-fiction because it reads so much like a fiction novel. This is a love letter to the fandom that is Star Trek. I really felt the love and dedication that Brent Spiner had for the fandom and Star Trek as a whole, and it was nice to get to see that. Reading the author's note, Brent says that he was told that he should tell the world about this thing that happened to him, and I'm glad he did. The book is well written with chapters that will make any Star Trek: The Next Generation fan to read about. I could see all of this taking place. The ending may have been dramaticized, but it's Brent's story and he can tell it how he wants to. I throughly enjoyed reading this novel. It's a must read for fans of Star Trek. Even if you're not a fan, the story is interesting enough to keep your attention. As I said before, it's really a love letter to the fandom.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for this e-ARC.

This was a decent read. The writing was good and I liked the characters.

Fan Fiction
by Brent Spiner

Star Trek is my fandom. I remember when I became a Trekkie (spring of 1989) and I have loved it ever since. If you re curious, my current ranking of best Trek series as of today is:

LDS
TNG
DS9
DSC
TOS
PIC
TAS
VOY
ENT

But this could change tomorrow. I have been a Next Gen fan since season 2, and have been to more than my fair share of Trek conventions. So when I read an article on SYFY Wire about Brent Spinner’s not-quite-a-memoir noirish novel using the TNG actors as character, I was intrigued enough to request an eARC from NetGalley. My opinion - better than TekWar, but not great. As a memoir, it leaves much to be desired. It doesn’t cover a whole lot of detail about Brent Spiner‘s life. Most of what it does cover, about his terrible stepfather who was physically abusive, was interesting and I would’ve liked more of a traditional memoir or even biography. The mystery of a obsessive fan stalking Brent Spiner started out good, but there were so many red herrings that the final solution to the mystery was quite unsatisfying and somewhat inscrutable. The FBI agent and bodyguard who were beautiful identical twins who were both attracted to Mr. Spiner just seemed like the most blatant wish fulfillment fantasy that added nothing to the plot. Many of the jokes fell flat. I did enjoy it, because it was light and breezy and a fine beach read for the end of summer. But it’s hard to recommend.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of this memoir, mystery film studies book.

Brent Spiner, actor, comedian and singer, can add the occupation author to his lengthy resume now with the release of Fan Fiction: A Mem-Noir: Inspired by True Events. As the subtitle announces this is a fictional memoir about the actor showing his "crazy" life in 1991 as he performed the role of Data on the syndicated show Star Trek: The Next Generation, with stories of his early days as an actor and his childhood. His life is pretty normal as an actor on a popular show, except for receiving pig parts in the mail, a crazed stalker and twins.

As the great Bruce Campbell did, Mr. Spiner works real events from his life and unhappy childhood, plus actor friends and relations into a Chandler-esque story of sinister stalkers, not as dangerous stalkers, fame, unhappy love affairs, Michael Dorn's veterinary background and LeVar Burton's knowledge of the cleansing power of sage.
The book is funny, some jokes more forced than others, and also interesting from a fan's point of view. The book is not a heavy read, another edit might have helped clear up some points that seem confusing, but didn't I say it was like a Chandler novel. Also some things seem a little out of place in 1991, but again its fiction, so a parallel universe explanation can be used.

More amusing is the stories about his fellow actors and how they talk and behave. I would have liked them as sort of a Scooby gang solving mysteries. I think there is something there. Also his celebrity encounter with Gregory Peck. I hope for Mr. Spiner's sake that was a bit of fiction for the book. I must admit I did laugh out loud.
Great for Star Trek fans, or for people who enjoy humorous mystery stories, or readers tired of conventional memoirs. I'd like a sequel further along Mr. Spiner's career with more behind the scenes jokes and stories. A fun read.

Fun Romp Through Star Trek: TNG In Its Heyday. This is a fictionalized loose autobiography featuring Data from Star Trek: The Next Generation - and more specifically, Brent Spiner, the human actor who portrayed him. As one of those Autistics that Spiner mentions during the course of this story as eventually being told so many of us looked up to that character, I can absolutely attest to that being true... and one of the reasons he became so legendary to me. But the story itself is pure light-noir Hollywood, with quite a bit of comedy tossed into a plot that is nominally about obsessive fans and the more serious aspects of how that can go a bit off the rails. Most of the rest of the cast of TNG comes through in various bits, with Jonathan Frakes and LeVar Burton getting the most "screen time" here but even Michael Dorf, Gates McFadden, and yes, Sir Patrick Stewart himself all getting at least one scene of direct interaction with Brent within these pages. Still, as a "fictionalized autobiography" / noir, these scenes aren't meant as literal "this happened" so much as "this is true to who these people were in my experience, even as these exact interactions are fictionalized". As such, it offers a great view "behind the scenes"... without *actually* going "behind the scenes". Great use of the medium, and a quick ish read to boot- I read it in a single afternoon. Very much recommended.

Fan Fiction: A Mem-Noir: Inspired by True Events by Brent Spiner
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Pages: 272 / Genre: Fiction / Release Date: Oct. 5, 2021

Written by Brent Spiner, who’s best known as Data from Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG), this book is loosely based on his life story, including the real people he knows and has worked with and about how he had a real-life stalker who was obsessed with him. He took all that and then embellished to his heart’s content.

It’s a fun idea, but the writing isn’t great. But as a massive fan of TNG and Data in particular, I have to give it three stars for effort, entertainment value, and a grain of salt. It might be better as an audiobook with Data as the narrator. This book releases on October 5.

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the advance copy of this book!

Fan Fiction will go down as one of the most bizarrely entertaining books of science fiction this year.

Inspired by true events, and written by the great Data himself, Brent Spiner weaves a meta tale of how one fan takes fandom a bit too far by blurring the what is real…and what isn’t. It all starts with a mysterious package and threatening letters from a fan that leads to Paramount security and even the FBI being involved.

I liked the meta aspect of the story. What parts of this story are real? The names of those we know and love, such as Gene Roddenberry and Patrick Stewart and Jonathan Frakes, surely. But how do we really know what’s real and what’s fiction?

It’s easy in the days of social media to feel more connected to celebrities, to the point where many people feel they “own” celebrities and their lives, especially people in a “fandom”. I can’t imagine being in that sort of spotlight! Yet, at the same time, people feel they can say whatever they want to on the internet with no consequences. Fan Fiction shows how one fan blurs these lines of being a bit too invested in Star Trek: The Next Generation, and the character of Data.

I really enjoyed Fan Fiction, and whether you’re a Trekkie or a Trekker, or even part of another “fandom”, I think you’ll enjoy it too.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read Fan Fiction as an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

FAN FICTION, by Brent Spiner, is a wonderful tale of what if., written by a man who played one of the most unique characters in the history of television: Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation. Suspicious letters and packages (the first being a pig's member), odd interactions with strangers, and fans who want to get to know Spiner in more ways that one are just the tip of the iceberg in this book.
Spiner makes it clear from the start of the book that this is a piece of fiction, but the reader can't help but wonder how much was inspired and taken from his real life as a star in the world of Star Trek. Spiner's style of writing is whimsical and free-flowing, and he has some truly great one liners that I was cackling out loud at while reading. It's a pleasure too that he brings in most of his cast of Star Trek and because he knows them so well he writes them with such ease and flair. It's clearly a noir comedy, where the character of Spiner spends most of his time ruminating with someone about what's going on and slowly piecing together who is behind all of the crazy correspondence.
A book that kept me smiling from the beginning to end, FAN FICTION's look at fan obsession is uniquely told from someone on the inside that still has a sense of humor about the whole thing. And if the reader is a Trekkie, it's all the more wonderful to digest all the easter eggs in the novel. A feel-good and wonderfully zany read!

I want to quantify this review by saying that I am and always have been a HUGE Trekkie. Star Trek:TNG is my jam! Although I love all the characters, Data was always one of my favorites. Having said this:

This book was every bit as interesting and quirky as I expected it to be. What I did not expect was a Terry Pratchett/Douglas Adams style of writing that I absolutely love! Brent Spiner is an excellent author.

I really enjoyed the interplay between Brent and his TNG cast mates. ESPECIALLY Dorny & Burt. (Once you read the book you'll get it) I also loved getting a peek at Brent's childhood (embellished or not).

This was a phenomenal read. I highly recommend this to any Trekkie!

Thank you to Netgalley and especially to Brent Spiner. You are a gifted actor and author.

All opinions are my own.

When I was fourteen I decided it was time to give up my addiction and turn my life around.

I committed to giving up television.

I was a TV addict. I started with Romper Room and Howdy Doody and went on to the Mickey Mouse Club and Sky King and Lassie. By the time I was nine, Twilight Zone was my can’t miss show. I watched Alfred Hitchcock Presents and The Man From Uncle. When I turned eleven I discovered classic movies on Bill Kennedy Showtime.

I needed an intervention. I gave up the sitcoms I watched with my little brother, with witches and genies and prison camps with inept Nazis. I gave up the late night movies with Mom. But one thing I did not give up was a new television show called Star Trek.

Yes, I am a Trekkie. I watched Star Trek with my mom. I watched all the subsequent Star Trek series, including the new ones on cable, and all the movies. My husband is a Trekkie. My son was raised a Trekkie. (Somewhere, stored in the basement is his Data figurine, along with the rest of the crew.)

How could I resist reading Fan Fiction by Brent Spiner, who played the android Data in Star Trek: The Next Generation? It is set in 1989 during the production of the series.

It is hilarious. It is an insider’s look at fame. It features the Star Trek actors. It’s a mystery.

I enjoy dipping into a book that is pure entertainment in between heavier reads. This one had me laughing constantly. What more could I ask for? We don’t know what is fact and what is fictionalized for zany comedy, but a few things struck me as honest.

About the cast of TNG, Spiner writes, “The long hours and repetitive work either forge lifelong mates or create bitter enemies.” Spiner makes it clear that the cast had great friendships.

The ordeal of turning “a Texas Jew into an android from Omicron Theta” involved lots of gold makeup that wrecked havoc on his skin and floated onto the contacts and obscured his vision.

“Most of my family has been a part of the [family] business,” he explains, but he “was much more attracted to being a starving actor and facing a daily wall of rejection.”

The novel is a humorous retelling of his early career and life on TNG, with the ‘noir’ of the ‘mem-noir’ being central to the plot. Spiner receives death threats from someone who calls herself his daughter Lal, based on one of the episodes where Data creates an android daughter. He enlists the help of Cindy Lou, a detective, and her twin sister Candy as his hired protection. This turns into a complicated romantic triangle. Suspects include a fan who believes is making racy calls to her.

After the killer is identified and Spiner’s life returns to normal, he concludes that the episode has made him a better person and a better actor. “I’ve come to understand so much about the fear that has dominated my life,” he writes, and he advises letting our fears go and to live your life. His step-father was harsh and punitive, the foundation of his fear. Then, the deranged fan mail from Lal sent him into isolation, anticipating threats everywhere he went.

It’s good advice. Sure, we are going to die and there are forces and people out there who threaten us. But living in fear is not really living.

I received a free egalley from the publisher through NetGalley. My review is fair and unbiased.

I have a huge appreciation and love of Star Trek so when the chance to read a book written by Data came along I was so into it and clicked that request button faster than warp speed. Fan Fiction is so extremely well written and this mem-noir is just amazing.It's full of shenanigans that keep you entertained and engrossed.

I have a confession to make- I am an avid fan fiction reader. Thats why when I saw the title of this book I knew I had to read it. The book reads as a biography of sorts about the actor/author Brent Spiner, who starred in Star Trek next gen in the 90s. I didn’t have a problem reading this book initially, the writing was good and first person POV was interesting, but as I continued I came to heavily dislike this book. I really only finished it so I could write an informed review.
First off I want to establish that this is not about fanfiction, it is fanfiction. Attaching itself to a fandom and creating an alternate reality out of a set of prexisting characters is the literal definition of fanfiction! Also there was only one sentence that even referred to fanfiction- a line mid book where Brent remarked that being terrorized by some fan was something out of a fanfic. No Brent, it really isn’t. It’s just ironic that this story is meant to be seen as some result of fanfiction, when its actually Spiners fictionalized more interesting version of his own life.
His fictional world also contains the added appeal of sexy twins, FBI agent Cindy Lou and bodyguard Candy Lou Jones who were tasked with protecting him from this crazed stalker. Both of whom suddenly are attracted to him sexually. These supposed professionals wear slinky robes, say things like "don't worry baby...I won't let anything happen to you," and suddenly sleep with a client without a single thought about being a professional. It was really gross. The way Spiner wrote women was the other major problem I had with this book. All of the women were portrayed as as cheap sluts, obsessed with Brent, or both. The few exceptions were real people who were added as footnotes, and who’s only purpose to pat Brent on the back as he was being stalked by some nut bar who we knew practically nothing about until the 2 last chapters. This entire book reads as some sort of wish fulfillment that was badly thought out and so clearly unrealistic at certain parts. Perhaps I’m not the intended audience but this book was really horrible in my opinion. Change the name to something thats actually relevant to the book.

I only wanted to read this book because I’m a huge Star Trek- The Next Generation fan and it’s by Brent Spiner.
I guess I wasn’t expecting it to be just about one segment of his life. There were some funny parts and it gives some unexpected insight to his life. Of course it could be all made up too.
It’s a fast moving story with some of his colleagues showing up throughout. I enjoyed the book.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

I did not mind Fan Fiction by Brent Spiner, but it is for a specific audience. It works for what it gives, but I had a hard time getting absorbed in it.

I’ve known Brent Spiner was a fantastic storyteller from his panels at conventions, brief interactions with him at those conventions, and from a thing he did on Twitter many years ago where he also wrote a fictionalized noir-esque version of his life. I cannot deny that part of my interest in reading Fan Fiction was because I am a longtime fan of his work. I have, therefore, tried to temper my review in order to counter my own bias.

In a book about improv (it might have been Truth in Comedy) I read that as long as you ground your scene work in emotional truth, the audience will take the journey with you no matter how preposterous things get. Spiner states in this book that everything in the prologue is true, and everything after is not, but he’s put in enough emotional truth that readers will happily stick with the story.

It’s important to remember when reading this, that Brent played Data on TV, but he isn’t an emotionless, perfectly correct android in real life, and in this tale which takes place in a heightened (at the very least) reality gives readers a decidedly earthy version of the actor. Die-hard fans of Star Trek: The Next Generation (in general) and Data (specifically) may find the cursing and references to sex and drugs (nothing scary) off-putting. I personally found them refreshing. Brent-the-character sounds like a real guy, with the sorts of neuroses so many gifted and talented people tend to display. Similarly, the exaggerated versions of his TNG castmates (and the Roddenberries) added humor, but also helped tie the book more closely to reality.

The invented characters, especially Cindy and Candy, were breaths of fresh air, and despite their roles in the story (FBI agent and bodyguard, respectively) also added necessary warmth and light. If they came off as slightly shallow, I can only assume they were meant to be.

And then there are the Daddy issues. Those are a strong theme in this story, both in Brent’s memories and feelings about his stepfather and in the stalker who identifies as the character Lal. The latter leads to a “cameo” from Hallie Todd that is both hilarious and disturbing. The former… I can only hope that some of those instances really are fiction.

Overall, this piece of meta-fiction is a solid entry into the contemporary noir oeuvre and a fast (it took me three hours), enjoyable read. I’ve always felt that some of Spiner’s best work is when he plays darker characters. I’ve often heard that the best comedy comes from pain. In Fan Fiction, Brent Spiner shows that both are true.

Goes well with: Vegetables. Lots of vegetables… or a double espresso and a bagel with cream cheese and lox.

As somebody who has never seen Star Trek, this book was a bit lost on me. Many of the inside jokes and plot points require the knowledge that a fan would have to make the book enjoyable. The many plot points were a bit messy, all over the place, and a bit overwhelming to me, however I'm not sure if it would make more sense to a Trekkie than to me. Overall, I can see how fans could enjoy this book, but I just lacked the hardware to have that same enjoyment.