Wil would be funnier if he stopped trying so hard. ( )

I really enjoyed this book. I laughed so much while reading Memories of the Future, more than I have for any other book in recent memory.

The episode recaps are the real stars of the book, and I would often stop to read a particularly hilarious passage out loud to my girlfriend. However, this isn't just a book of condensed snark; Wheaton's love of Star Trek TNG comes through on every page. His profound respect for his fellow actors, and his affection for what the show will become gives the recaps a humane quality. As a result, the snarky episode recaps, feel less like a nasty internet posting (the natural habitat of undiluted snark), and more like the playful ribbing of a friend at the dinner table, while reminiscing about that embarrassing event that everyone had to go through back in high school.

It's a great book, but I do have a tiny niggling complaint. There's a lot of references in the recaps to later episodes by their title, which I wouldn't mind if the recaps of those episodes were in the same volume, however a few of them are slated for volume two, and since I don't have the 1st season of TNG around the house to figure out what Wheaton's referring to, I felt left out of a joke that probably won't make sense to me until the second volume comes out (soon, I hope).

There were also a couple episodes where Wheaton didn't actually recall anything from behind the scenes, so for those entries the "Behind the Scenes Memory" section would be a little weak.

To sum up: I loved this book and can't wait for volume two. However, I knock off one star for the two small complaints I mention because I am a bit of a prick despite Wil Wheaton's sage advice: "Don't be a dick!" ( )

This is a compendium of reviews of the first half of season 1 of Star Trek: Next Generation by Wil Wheaton. I take it that no volume 2 is forthcoming as volume 1 was published 4 years ago. Each episode gets a recap, some quotable dialog, Wheaton's personal memories of filming, and a critical "bottom line" for the episode.

I think that Wheaton is at his best when he is direct and airing his own views, and not writing so that he will be "liked" by all his fans. (I understand where his impulse comes from, but it really isn't his best work.) The recaps are snarky, but often feel forced; his pop culture references are sometimes non sequitors and date the book unnecessarily (especially considering that TNG aired over 20 years ago). By far the best parts of the reviews are his recollections and reflections, which are entertaining and thoughtful. A modest and mostly entertaining book. ( )

A hilarious in-depth lampooning of a few Star Trek episodes. You may have hated Wesley (who didn't?) but you will love Will Wheaton. ( )

An entertaining review of the first half of the first season of TNG (and *total* snarkfest). As Wil's synopses show, many of the episodes have not stood the test of time even when the writing wasn't decidedly ropey to begin with... Relive: Wesley's sweaters! Troi not doing much! ("Pain! Pain!") Annoyingly precocious Wesley! 80s hair! Annoyingly precocious Wesley! Wearing sweaters! Wil's love for the series is clear and the fact that he doesn't approach it from a perspective of everyone involved being infallible is quite refreshing. ( )