Fan Fiction
By Brent Spiner
He had me at pig penis.
You didn’t expect a book by Brent Spiner to have a typical start, did you? Especially when the book is based on the relationship between a celebrity and his fans.
Spiner provides a brief autobiography in the prologue. He then introduces his mem-noir by making it clear that he is presenting a fictional version of his life and those people with whom he interacts. He’s putting the reader into a parallel universe, where the events in his story could happen. Instead of presenting one scenario, he combines multiple encounters to shine the light on some of the lengths people will use a celebrity they barely know and turn that celebrity into a key focal point of their lives.
Spiner takes the reader into an alternate reality to hilariously explore the connection between a celebrity and his fans. @BrentSpiner @StMartinPress Click To TweetFans who send strange gifts, such as a pig penis. Fans who lash out if they do not get their desired response from a celebrity. Fans who fulfill fantasies by inserting their version of a celebrity into their lives. Fans who want their moments at a celebrity convention to be significant. Fans who turn into predators and believe that if they can’t have that celebrity then no one can.
It’s not just the fans. People are so focused on what a celebrity could do for them that they neglect their jobs and responsibilities. They want a leg up in the industry, either in front of the camera or behind the scenes. Spiner plays up the trope about everyone wanting to sell a screenplay when one he rejects ends up on a hilarious journey of its own.
I enjoyed meeting the characterizations of his fellow actors. It’s more personal to put names to faces instead of using generic characters as stand-ins. Spiner did not present full personification but honed in on a few traits that fit into the story. I could picture them in my head, and their interactions felt credible from my point of view as a fan.
Are you looking for a fun read? Do you enjoy science fiction? Are you a superfan of a show and/or a celebrity? Do you envision a personal relationship with your favorite actor or character? You would enjoy reading this book.
