Just a Geek, by Wil Wheaton

Just a Geek: Unflinchingly Honest Tales of the Search for Life, Love, and Fulfillment Beyond the Starship Enterprise

Many people have come to know Wil Wheaton in his many evolutions of being Wil Wheaton. Some of us recall seeing him on Star Trek episodes, as Wesley Crusher - for better or worse, depending on one's perspective. More lately, he's become known for his writing - from his weblog at WilWheaton.net.

I'm ambivalent about Wil Wheaton. I don't know the guy, and I never visited his site more than once since he put it up - I think it was a story on Slashdot that got me to click into his private world, however shortly. My memory of that event wasn't good or bad, just a factual thing - like telling the cops where you were at 11 p.m. on February 30th, 2001. Only this really happened.

When I got the opportunity to review this book, I took it because I'm not really for or against the guy, and also because I didn't blame him for ruining Star Trek TNG as much as I blamed the writers. Truth be told, at that age I was more interested in the women (Troi was always a fav) than what they had 'The Kid' doing. I haven't read his weblog, and I even found I didn't spell his name right for the website he has - using two 'l's instead of one for Wil.

On top of that, it's a biography of sorts - and I've never really reviewed anything like that. I typically don't read biographies of anyone alive because - well, because I don't believe people are larger than life. So who better to review the book?

I got the hard copy book last week, and I haven't been able to read more than a few chapters at a time not because it was bad - instead, because it's really good. And when I say 'really good', I'm not talking about some 'used-to-be' actor redeeming himself through his memoirs. This stuff is rich in the sense of roses, not the fertilizer. It would seem that Wil has seen his share of fertilizer. And perhaps because of all that fertilizer... he was able to share this rose.

The challenges of being an actor are outlined and contrasted with a homelife, a loving wife and two stepkids that you can't help but like, especially with Wil's anecdotes about grinding wax, vacation and popcorn. They are much more part of his story than all the auditions where, "It was between you and the other guy, and the other guy got it. Sorry."

What's coolest about this book is that we all know these people. Not literally, but in other ways - the special Aunt who dies suddenly, or your grandfather dieing, or your father very ill. The woman who holds dieing kittens in the freeway. The guy who keeps fighting when the chips are superglued to the table, keeps his chin up even when people keep painting a target on it...

If you're critical of the character Wesley Crusher, and you're stuck in a comic book convention somewhere - don't read this book. It's not for you. It's for the people who have either felt the lows and hit the highs, not escaping reality through a communicator and tricorder. This is a harsh book and a gentle book, a calm book and a raging book. It's an epic of one man's life so far, the trials and tribulations of being human.

Here's a newsflash: Wil Wheaton is human. For the same reasons I always liked Spiderman, I now like Wil Wheaton. It wasn't the stories that won me over. It wasn't the words. It was the tapestry of reality woven with unbridled words, the screams we often hear ourselves screaming and the victory dances we get to dance now and then.

Does this mean I'm going to start reading his blog all the time? No, I don't think so. I'd rather wait for Wil Wheaton's next book - and I'd encourage him to write it. If you weren't impressed with the characters this man has played, then you haven't read about his most interesting characters, and his leading and supporting roles.

Wil, if you read this, thank you for writing this book. I know you'll be checking your logs. :)

Just a Geek: Unflinchingly Honest Tales of the Search for Life, Love, and Fulfillment Beyond the Starship Enterprise