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Memories of the Future is Wheaton's tribute to his days on Star Trek. As he describes it, the book isn't a salacious tell-all, revealing all of Trek's dirty secrets. It's more like "you're flipping through your high school yearbook with your friends." It's an honest look at the first half of the first season, described only as someone who truly loves it can do: with snark, sarcasm and admiration for the work, but no illusions about when it was... shall we say, less than up to snuff.

It starts with Encounter at Farpoint and goes up to Datalore, covering the first twelve episodes of Season 1 (the summaries of the remaining episodes are forthcoming in volume 2). Each episode is... More > summarized, in a hilarious and sarcastic fashion. True to his geek roots, he manages to work in references to all of the sacred touchstones: Monty Python, collectible card gaming, Dungeons and Dragons, and of course, the other Star franchise which we shall not name. He isn't afraid to call out the writers when they make stupid choices, such as Dr. Crusher asking to bring Wesley onto the bridge during a major diplomatic/security crisis (Code of Honor) or having him casually solve a major plot point that all the experts in the room have been breaking their brains over, and then leave with a snide, "Heh. Adults." (The Battle).

There's quotable dialogue included for each episode, ("Oh, your species is always suffering and dying" - Q, Hide and Q) and Obligatory Technobabble ("Come off the main lead, split off at the force activator, then reversing the power leads through the force activator, repulsor beam powers against Tsiolkovsky!" - Wesley, The Naked Now). There's also a Behind the Scenes Memory, giving us a good look at what it was like for Wheaton to work on the show, often showcasing how little he really knew about what was going on, and a section called The Bottom Line, which looks at each episode in the context of the whole series.

The episode recaps are at once both sentimental and brutally honest. Where there are flaws in the creative process, Wheaton points them out with a kind of rabid glee. Where there are gems of creativity, he shows us where they are as well. It's the kind of look at TNG that could only have been done by someone who was a part of the show and loved it. He writes with clarity and honesty and, just to be sure I point it out again, humor. Lots and lots of humor.

It's a very quick read, and a very enjoyable one. For bonus points, go find the "Memories of the Futurecast" podcast, wherein Wheaton reads selections from the book. It's even funnier than reading it, and is a good way to kill fifteen or twenty minutes. And we podcasters have to stick together, right Wil? You and me, right? Right?

I may be overestimating our camaraderie.

If you're a Trek fan, this book will be a nice visit to a better time. What's more, this will probably make you want to go watch the first season again, if only to see if some of those early episodes are nearly as bad as he's making them out to be. I can't wait for volume 2. < Less

While I can't yet rate this because I've not yet read it, if his twitter feed (@wilw) or his website (http://is.gd/ihF4) are even the smallest indication of his writing style, this book will be abso-frackin-lutely hilarious. Will writes with a charm and wit just not seen often enough these days. He's a thoughtful writer with a great sense of humor and the TNG reviews of his that I've read are wonderfully done. I'm buying this today - you all should too :>

I downloaded the PDF version to read on my Droid. I wasn't that this would be a great medium for reading but I thought I'd give it a shot. Turns out I am fan of the format and the book. A really fun read now that I'm rewatching TNG for the first time since I was a kid. Revisiting the show is like getting a hug from a favorite uncle you haven't seen in years. Reading this book was like hanging out with the cool cousin and making fun of the family that you both love and love to mock. I hope everyone enjoys it despite my horrible family metaphor.

This is REALLY funny! No TNG fan should be without it. Sort of a Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy meets Southpark. -Anxiously awaiting Vol. 2 - ?

While this book contains a great retrospective on half of the first season of TNG, it also contains nothing more than a bunch of blog entries you can read for free on TVSquad. I'd already read all of those and now regret paying for what I'd already seen.