From Publishers Weekly
It is Roddenberry’s time in the book world, as witnessed by Gene Roddenberry by Joel Engel (Nonfiction Forecasts, Mar. 21) and Star Trek Creator by David Alexander (Nonfiction Forecasts, May 16)–and now this volume, which is the most reverential. The tone is set by the book’s inclusion in a new UC series, Portraits of American Genius. Fern, an ex-nun and a Trekkie, lived with Roddenberry and his wife during the last year of his life (1990-91) and views him as a visionary. Their discussions dealt with questions like “What is life,” “What is the role of faith in human existence?” and other staples of pop metaphysics, plus a bit about Roddenberry’s psychology. The book will appeal primarily to the most devoted Trekkies, who will not be daunted by such terms as “mind-meld,” “Borgs,” “IDIC” and “pon farr.” $30,000 ad / promo; author tour.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. –This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Booklist
Fern’s access to Star Trek creator Roddenberry during the last days of his life afforded her the opportunity to help him with one of his dearest wishes, the chance to address humanity in propria persona and expand openly on the parts of his personal philosophy hitherto expressed only implicitly in his work. Presented as literary conversation (rather than in question-and-answer interview format), the colloquies make clear Roddenberry’s deep concern for the future of the human race. The dialogue exhibits Roddenberry’s multifaceted approach to the world as it ranges topically from the problems of leadership to his love for his family. On everything, Roddenberry had well-formed opinions and no reticence in expressing them. Dennis Winters