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featheredpages07's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
peterparker's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This is my favorite so far of the star trek novels I've read. With a loving dedication at the start to one of my other favorite authors of star trek novels (Vonda N McIntyre) I knew I was in for a good time.
While most of this is just recontextualizing what we knew of Spock's life already, I do like reading about it directly from Spock's perspective. Especially given how funny Spock is. The Bones chapter getting the brunt of it with how sassy Spock is to him.
I love Saavik so having her Romulan-Vulcan upbringing (and ignoring how it was implied Spock married her blehh) brought up in this was a treat. This book definitely doesn't help in my opinion of Sarek though I still don't like him a lot although his relationship with Amanda has always been super sweet.
Overall if you like star trek you'll like this book, and get some cool recipes at the end.
Jim... I knew I was in for a hard time when the last chapter was entitled Jim. I was not prepared for the absolute gut punch that is the shortest but most devastating chapter of this book. I'm just in awe that Spock got to say he loved Jim in a published novel. A far cry from censoring a book in later editions because of how their relationship was portrayed.
While most of this is just recontextualizing what we knew of Spock's life already, I do like reading about it directly from Spock's perspective. Especially given how funny Spock is. The Bones chapter getting the brunt of it with how sassy Spock is to him.
I love Saavik so having her Romulan-Vulcan upbringing (and ignoring how it was implied Spock married her blehh) brought up in this was a treat. This book definitely doesn't help in my opinion of Sarek though I still don't like him a lot although his relationship with Amanda has always been super sweet.
Overall if you like star trek you'll like this book, and get some cool recipes at the end.
rat10rd's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
jmacleod's review against another edition
4.0
Probably the best of the Star Trek autobiographies out there.
The format is more uniquely put together. And provides a more insider perspective instead of the idea of it being a directors cut of the characters life.
As well by the end we aren’t just reliving scenes from episodes.
All in all a fun good read if you’re a fan of Star Trek.
The format is more uniquely put together. And provides a more insider perspective instead of the idea of it being a directors cut of the characters life.
As well by the end we aren’t just reliving scenes from episodes.
All in all a fun good read if you’re a fan of Star Trek.
siborg237's review
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
adriannakreads's review against another edition
slow-paced
3.25
This book requires a solid background of information from the Star Trek Universe. I would’nt recommend it to anyone who wasn’t already familiar. That said, the personal and political struggles discussed are relatable. I don’t usually read autobiographies (yes I know that Spock isn’t actually a real person) but this was an honest and deeply accounting of the life of an individual who learned enough in his life to know he knew nothing.
alongreader's review against another edition
5.0
I don't remember ever not being a Trekkie. First run Next Gen and, later, Voyager were always my shows...I was too young for TOS and too easily bored for DS9, although I later went back to, and enjoyed very much, both of them. Like a lot of people, the outsider characters Data, Odo and Spock were the ones who fascinated me, and I jumped at the chance to read this autobiography of Spock.
This isn't a book for someone who's not at least vaguely familiar with the original series, the movies, and Discovery, one of the newer series. It references all of those, but only in passing, so if you don't already know the background, you're likely to be very confused. You should also be at least a little familiar with the first of the three most recent movies, as this is written just before that and makes reference to it.
I did love the touch of this being written to Captain Picard, the man who probably now knows Spock better than anyone else alive. It's so clever and perfect, although it did lead to a couple of "As you know, (explanation of something Picard knows but we the readers don't)" moments. I can forgive that, though, because it's such an inspired idea overall. (Also for the image of Spock and Picard sitting in the vineyard at La Barre, which I adore.)
The tone is firmly Spockian throughout, not surprising as this is an older Spock looking back, not an accumulation of then-current writings. I was surprised that he mentioned Jim Kirk so very little, but Jim does better than most of the other original crew. Only McCoy is mentioned in any kind of detail, and I was a little sad about that. However, from Spock's perspective, those were crewmates for a very small portion of his life, so I can understand it a bit.
Overall I really enjoyed reading this; it's clever, it's fun, and it gave Saavik an ending to her story, which I thought was fantastic. I'm off to look for more from the same series now!
This isn't a book for someone who's not at least vaguely familiar with the original series, the movies, and Discovery, one of the newer series. It references all of those, but only in passing, so if you don't already know the background, you're likely to be very confused. You should also be at least a little familiar with the first of the three most recent movies, as this is written just before that and makes reference to it.
I did love the touch of this being written to Captain Picard, the man who probably now knows Spock better than anyone else alive. It's so clever and perfect, although it did lead to a couple of "As you know, (explanation of something Picard knows but we the readers don't)" moments. I can forgive that, though, because it's such an inspired idea overall. (Also for the image of Spock and Picard sitting in the vineyard at La Barre, which I adore.)
The tone is firmly Spockian throughout, not surprising as this is an older Spock looking back, not an accumulation of then-current writings. I was surprised that he mentioned Jim Kirk so very little, but Jim does better than most of the other original crew. Only McCoy is mentioned in any kind of detail, and I was a little sad about that. However, from Spock's perspective, those were crewmates for a very small portion of his life, so I can understand it a bit.
Overall I really enjoyed reading this; it's clever, it's fun, and it gave Saavik an ending to her story, which I thought was fantastic. I'm off to look for more from the same series now!
graff_fuller's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This is an autobiography, written by Spock...to everyone who'll read it, but he sent it to Jean Luc Picard, which I found refreshing.
It isn't linear in the sense that he wrote from birth to death, but it IS linear, that he wrote about certain profound influences within his life at each portion of his life. For example, the first part has the following people has profoundly changing his life: Amanda (his mother), Michael (his adopted sister), T'Pring (his intended/betrothed), Sybok (his half-brother) and Surak (the greatest philosopher in Spock's life, and the life of all Vulcans).
Within that portion of this life, we weave in and out of different perspectives...in the very Spock way. Love his directness, and his unique view of how these people molded and shaped him...into the person that we all love...I'm speaking for everyone, for we all DO love him.
The second part has the following people: The Angel (red, that he saw as a child - ie. Star Trek: Discovery), Captain Christopher Pike (who we also ALL love), the Enterprise (for this ship was his home for MANY years...under many notable captains and even some admirals), "Bones" (Dr. Leonard McCoy, his cantankerous friend, that he left his Katra in), and Saavik (who he took on as a refugee, and molded into a unique and strong friend for his entire life...loved this portion of the story).
...and the last part, which deals with a number of his failures and ultimate successes: Valeris (the traitor to the Federation, but she never waivered within herself), Sarek (his contentious relationship with his father...and how, eventually he followed after his father into the area of Diplomacy), Captain Jean Luc Picard (who he only met ONCE, but what a POWERFUL meeting/experience it was, and one that no other could have supplied/shared), and lastly [I am tearing up on this one] Captain James T. Kirk (oh what a life they shared...and how much they meant to each other, in life, death, resurrection, and life and death of the other, again).
I really loved this book. Spock has always been my favourite character within Star Trek (in all his iterations, Leonard Nimoy, Zachary Quinto, and currently Ethan Peck).
If you haven't read this book, please pick it up and I feel you will devour it...like I did.
#BucketListathon2023
It isn't linear in the sense that he wrote from birth to death, but it IS linear, that he wrote about certain profound influences within his life at each portion of his life. For example, the first part has the following people has profoundly changing his life: Amanda (his mother), Michael (his adopted sister), T'Pring (his intended/betrothed), Sybok (his half-brother) and Surak (the greatest philosopher in Spock's life, and the life of all Vulcans).
Within that portion of this life, we weave in and out of different perspectives...in the very Spock way. Love his directness, and his unique view of how these people molded and shaped him...into the person that we all love...I'm speaking for everyone, for we all DO love him.
The second part has the following people: The Angel (red, that he saw as a child - ie. Star Trek: Discovery), Captain Christopher Pike (who we also ALL love), the Enterprise (for this ship was his home for MANY years...under many notable captains and even some admirals), "Bones" (Dr. Leonard McCoy, his cantankerous friend, that he left his Katra in), and Saavik (who he took on as a refugee, and molded into a unique and strong friend for his entire life...loved this portion of the story).
...and the last part, which deals with a number of his failures and ultimate successes: Valeris (the traitor to the Federation, but she never waivered within herself), Sarek (his contentious relationship with his father...and how, eventually he followed after his father into the area of Diplomacy), Captain Jean Luc Picard (who he only met ONCE, but what a POWERFUL meeting/experience it was, and one that no other could have supplied/shared), and lastly [I am tearing up on this one] Captain James T. Kirk (oh what a life they shared...and how much they meant to each other, in life, death, resurrection, and life and death of the other, again).
I really loved this book. Spock has always been my favourite character within Star Trek (in all his iterations, Leonard Nimoy, Zachary Quinto, and currently Ethan Peck).
If you haven't read this book, please pick it up and I feel you will devour it...like I did.
#BucketListathon2023
saturnserina's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
geesammy's review
emotional
informative
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Thanks to the author for giving depth to my dearest imaginary friend