The Autobiography of James T. Kirk (2015) by David A. Goodman

The Gist:

For the original Star Trek’s 49^th anniversary, we are treated to what is the autobiography of Starfleet’s most famous starship captain, chronicling several of James T. Kirk’s adventures in his own words.

The Review:

After writing Star Trek Federation: The First 150 Years, author David A. Goodman, otherwise known as writer on shows such as Futurama and Family Guy, hardly has to prove his Star Trek nerd cred to anyone.

He shows no less enthusiasm and love to detail with his this new work, however, working hard to emulate a beloved character under the watchful eye of many fans.

The Autobiography… can be seen as an addition to the Star Trek universe, even though it is explicitly described as such. It will definitely need a fan to be appreciated, as it will make no sense to those without rather intimate knowledge of the TV series and the accompanying films.

In that sense, this book might be perfect for your next, or even very first Star Trek marathon.

While Goodman catches the spirit of Kirk and offers some decent writing, The Autobiography Of James T. Kirk often reads like a simple retelling in the style of TV novelizations and not like an in-depth look at events offering anything astounding or new.

With so much material to work with, from his time at Starfleet Academy up to the Enterprise’s last battle, this is a shame.

Still the effort that went into making it seem like a real autobiography, including a spread of full-colour pictures that look to be “straight from the archives”, as well as little corrections by an unseen editor who puts Kirk’s recollections in order.

All those who would simply love to revisit the Star Trek universe through a rare book format and who enjoy the guaranteed nostalgia will enjoy The Autobiography Of James T. Kirk no matter what.

The Verdict:

Mean for the most fannish of fans, The Autobiography makes up what it lacks in detail with sheer enthusiasm, making it a nice little homage to pass the time until the 50^th anniversary.

Publisher: Titan Books

Publishing Date: Sept. 8th, 2015