Book Highlight: Fan Fiction by Brent Spiner

Title: Fan Fiction

Author: Brent Spiner

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Publication Date: October 12, 2021

Genre: Fiction, Mystery

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.”

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Why This Book

I have fond memories of watching reruns of Star Trek: The Next Generation with my mom, and then my husband, and I have plans to watch it with my kids when they’re a little older. When I saw Brent Spiner had written a book inspired by his time on the show, I decided to write to the publisher for an ARC of Fan Fiction. Did I expect to hear back or receive one? Absolutely not. But it was worth a try, right? As the publication date drew closer, I gave up hope and moved on, thinking I would eventually purchase it one day. I was shocked when it arrived on the publication date. There was a package waiting for me and I could not for the life of me figure out who sent me something, so this will remain the most surprising piece of mail I’ve ever received, topping even my college acceptance letters, and I’ll always be thankful to the publisher for this one.

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Reviews

My review: “This was a fun and quick mystery read that flitted in and out of a noir-style that had me remembering the episodes where Data got to role play as Sherlock Holmes. I loved that I couldn’t tell what was fact and what was fiction. Some of it felt a little clunky, but, by the end of the book, I just really enjoyed the story”

Quirky Cat’s Fat Stacks gave this a 4, saying “Fan Fiction was a highly entertaining read, one that is the oddest and most unique thing I’ve read in a long time”

Bibliotica said “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”

Looking For a Good Book said “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’”

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Purchase Links

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | Powell’s | Target | Booktopia (Australia) | Books-A-Million | Flipkart (India) | !ndigo (Canada) | Kobo | Audible | Google Books | Apple Books | Book Depository | Abe Books | Audiobooks | Dymocks (Australia) | Blackwell’s (UK) | Quail Ridge Books | Malaprop’s | Bookurve (Malaysia) | The Haunted Bookshop | Libro.fm

Check out all the other books featured this month on The Curated Bookshelf.

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