Star trek fans may remember the controversy surrounding leonard nimoys funeral in 2015. That was never the point, but these days nimoys willing to admit that he probably should have called the book something else. The conversations between nimoy and spock by themselves make it worth the buy. In 1975, when he was embarking on a poststar trek career, nimoy published an. Few actors are as inextricably associated with one role as leonard nimoy is with star treks mr. I found i am not spock fascinating sorry and reading it has left me wishing that leonard nimoy would write a sequel bringing his career to the present day. Buy i am not spock by leonard nimoy online at alibris. An excellent autobiography by a multitalented performer, i am spock is a direct followupresponse to nimoys somewhat controversial original autobiography i am not spock, which alienated him in some fan circles. The motion picture, the book was criticized by some fans because of the perception that nimoy was rejecting the character spock.
His original outlook is understandable, since the average man on the street probably still thinks of him as mr. The book was published in 1995, four years after the last star trek motion picture starring the entire original cast was produced. But nimoys relationship to his character was ambivalent. I am spock leonard nimoy star trek audiobook full youtube. During this scene, nimoy read the these are the voyages monologuewhich, until then, was used only to begin star trek stories, thus implying spocks story might not be over. Which is probably why it made me wonder what such a book would have been like if it had been written by a nonhuman.
According to nimoy, i made an enormous mistake choosing the title for the book. Nimoy and shatners relationship goes back all the way to the 1960s. I am not spock by leonard nimoy 1976, paperback for sale. I am spock by leonard nimoy 1995, hardcover for sale. On the original star trek series, leonard nimoy played mister spock and william shatner played captain kirk. Some fans criticized this book, believing nimoy was rejecting the character spock. At the outset of his documentary for the love of spock, the director adam nimoy son of leonard nimoy imparts its origins. Nimoy says he was wrong when he said i am not spock in the 70s. This book was written after the book by the similar name, i am not spock, and was very interesting and informative regarding nimoy.
Nimoy brought to spocks metamorphosis not only warmth, compassion. Leonard nimoy books list of books by author leonard nimoy. Im sorry, nimoy says to spock, with whom he has periodic conversations throughout the book. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. This book gives the reader a behind the scenes look into the original star trek series and how it developed.
In his 1975 autobiography, i am not spock, leonard nimoy wrestles with the way the spock character from star trek came to dominate his career, opening some doors, but also leading to expectation that. I am spock is the second autobiography written by leonard nimoy. In it, he wrote as an entertainer, starting with his early schoolage acting roles. He knows that his is spock and will forever and always be famous for being this beloved character in my heart as. Moreover, both books give insight into how nimoy created the character spock the martian according to studio heads and this explains how the character developed and, indeed, became a living being to so many fans of star trek. That controversy centered on william shatner, who did not attend the ceremony. Leonard nimoy was promised spock could have an operation. Also, i find nimoys maturer style more insightful, as well it should be. Though nimoy has left us, spock lives on in the star trek franchise, most notably in the novels based on the original series that are still being published today. That said, this is a witty, well written work that keeps you chuckling while revealing alot of his character. See all books authored by leonard nimoy, including i am spock, and i am not spock, and more on.
The chapter title became the book title, which nimoy later called a big mistake as he felt that people assumed that it was an attack on the. What was one of the most memorable moments of star trek. Written in 1995, it does not address the newest star trek movies. Whereas william shatner always admitted that he initially considered star trek just another job and approached the character of captain kirk as an idealized version of himself, nimoy went to the opposite extreme and completely lost himself in the character the way that. Nimoy, a classically trained actor, had a complicated relationship with his most famous creation, at least in the early days. Some readers do prefer the young, unjaded personality that comes through in i. The relationship between the two soured when spock quickly became the most popular character on the show.
I am not spock is leonard nimoys first autobiography. William shatners new memoir leonard is surprising and. Nimoys portrayal of him over the years and yes, he is fantastic in the current movie, and if there are any trek fans of any kind who refuse to go see this movie, you are a complete fool, it is that good i am much more impressed with leonard nimoy the person. The original series and the production of star trek. The animated series and the production of star trek. But while the second books title affirmed nimoys basic allegiance to spock, the cover showed him in an actors head shot pose, with a. Spock in the enormously popular television and film series star trek, nimoy takes us along with him on a soulsearching journey in which he explores his innermost thoughts, feelings, and fears, exposing loves fragility, warmth, and overwhelming presence in his life. This is an excellent vintage book written by leonard nimoy who portrays mr. In an interview taped two days before leonard nimoys death, william shatner reflects on nimoys legacy. William shatner says goodbye to leonard nimoy in his new book.
The books title was a reference to the first volume of his autobiography, i am not spock, which had been published in 1975. Leonard nimoy, who died on friday at 83, was known the world over as spock, the vulcan logician and cool counterpoint to william shatners hotheaded captain kirk on star trek. It took me a bit to get used to the dialog between nimoy and spock throughout, but eventually they were amusing rather than confusing. Leonard nimoy was not only spock the new york times. I am not spock is a decent little memoir, though, even at under 150 pages, much of it feels like rambling. In fact, nimoy apologizes for his more controversial 1975 memoir, i am not spock. Written with humor and reflective musings, nimoy delivers a great story of how he and the character he plays, spock, became one.
Having read this book and the other, i felt that not only had nimoy died, but spock as well. To a watching world he is the logical, powerful, s. Since this was an audio book, leonard nimoy was reading it, which was very nice and poignant to hear. In 1975, nimoy wrote a book titled, i am not spock, then 20 years later wrote a followup, i am spock. Nimoys voice in i am not spock is clearly the voice of a youth of the 1960s, and in that respect, it does take one closer to the source, as this 60s cultural identity was influential in the formation of the spock character. Many anecdotes from this first book are incorporated into the second, but not all. Following the death of leonard nimoy this year, i felt compelled to again explore space, the final frontier once again and especially the character spock who i thought was so completely brought to life by nimoy. He maintained he was only clarifying the difference between himself and spock, whom he always enjoyed playing. The man who was spock leonard nimoy, best known for playing the character spock in the star trek television shows and films, died at 83.
An image of spock from richard michelson and edel rodriquezs new childrens book, fascinating. Nimoy admitted in later years that titling the book i am not spock. Leonard nimoy has 60 books on goodreads with 16186 ratings. Listen to leonard nimoy on reluctance to do star trek, how spock almost lost his pointed ears and more. Having read this book and the other, i felt that not only had nimoy died, but spock as. Leonard nimoy was promised spock could have an operation if he hated the ears. William shatner felt unwelcome at leonard nimoys funeral. While he initially chafed at being typecast, he eventually embraced his association with the. This is not an autobiography for the person who wants the details of nimoys childhood or family life, he focuses almost exclusively on his work. As the title suggests, the book focuses on nimoys involvement with star trek as a director and as the portrayer of spock.
At that time nimoy had sought to distance his own personality from that of the character of spock, although he nonetheless remained proud of his time on the show. I was just trying to find a way to come to terms and explain. This book has light wear around the edges and slight yellowing to the pages, otherwise it is in very good condition, the pages are free from notations and the binding is tight. This is a book to tell us about the process leonard nimoy went through when he wrote i am not spock. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2. Director nicholas meyer objected but did not obstruct the changes, and even nimoy did not know about the new scene until he viewed the film. Spock of the star trek series, nimoy is also the author of i am not spock. There is one appropriately bizarre section where leonard nimoy interviews dr.
Npr coverage of i am not spock by leonard nimoy and leonard nimony. A new childrens book about leonard nimoys immigrant. Listen to leonard nimoy on reluctance to do star trek. Spock on star trek as he discusses his feelings and views of the public and how he is associated with mr. Lastly, but not least, the book covers leonard nimoys career from his decision to become an actor up until the point of writing. Whether theyre in their kirk and spock guises, or just being themselves, its hard to prefer william shatner to leonard nimoy.
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