Beyond the Beyond [Hardcover]

Lee Goldberg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1997

Ex-cop Charlie Willis is assigned to a security detail for Pinnacle Pictures and finds himself dealing with an agent who eats human flesh, an assassin with a love for power drills, and a well-endowed actress who kills with her breasts.

Editorial Reviews

From Kirkus Reviews

When a Hollywood studio, as part of its ambition to launch a new TV network, decides to remake a science-fiction series that became a cult hit after cancellation 25 years ago, all hell breaks loose. This time out, ex-cop Charlie Willis (My Gun Has Bullets, 1995, TV writer-producer Goldberg's debut audit of filmdom's ranking grotesques) has what could prove a mission impossible. As security head at Pinnacle Pictures, he's responsible for protecting a considerable corporate investment in the revival of Beyond the Beyond. But, unfortunately, the actors and production talent associated with the futuristic fantasy's renaissance soon find themselves under intense, often deadly, pressures. Initially, Charlie suspects Clive Odett, head of a rapacious agency known only as The Company, which will stop at nothing to control hit programs. While Odett and his murderous minions are indeed making key players offers they can't refuse, the down-and-dirty work is being done by a band of maniacally devoted fans who view any changes in the cast or format of Beyond the Beyond as sacrilege. Abetting their homicidal efforts to maintain the status quo ante is Guy Goddard (a deranged has-been who starred as Captain Pierce, heroic helmsman of the starship Endeavor on its abortive treks through the dark side of a vividly imagined cosmos). As the death toll mounts, an increasingly desperate Charlie makes himself a target by purporting to replace a slain teen idol in the role of Captain Pierce. In costume (if not character), the down-to-earth house dick, in a fashion befitting the La La Land setting, tempts a host of hostile fates to save the studio's prize property. Black comedy from the Left Coast--and an outrageously entertaining take on the loathsome folkways of contemporary showbiz. -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Review

"The novel's satiric slant is strong enough to have an effigy of Goldberg beamed into outer space at the next Star Trek convention."

--Los Angeles Times

"A stingingly funny novel."

--Entertainment Weekly

"Goldberg uses just about everything he can think of to send up the studio system, fandom, Star Trek, Trekkies, agents, actors... you name it, he'll make you laugh about it." 

--Analog

"Mr. Goldberg has an observant eye and a wicked pen!" 

--Washington Times

 "[It] reads like a modern-day Alice in Wonderland set against the venal world of the TV industry. It's wonderfully revealing and uncannily accurate."

--Vancouver Sun (Canada) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 292 pages
• Publisher: St Martins Pr; 1st edition (March 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312150644
• ISBN-13: 978-0312150648
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,833,303 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Book I've Read In A Long time!, February 15, 2011

By 

Buddy Gott (New Castle, DE USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dead Space (Paperback)

I made the mistake of starting this book late at night when I had to get up very early the next day for work. I told myself I'd only read for a half hour or so. Well, that didn't happen. I loved the book right from the beginning and I ended up reading about a hundred pages that night. I was tired at work the next day, but it was well worth it!

I loved this book. The story is very compelling and the characters are fantastic. Also, what I loved most is that DEAD SPACE is hilarious. I laughed out loud many, many times while reading it.

As I got towards the end of the book, I got a little bummed out knowing that my time with the book was close to ending. To me, that's always the ultimate indicator of a great book.

Like I said, I loved this one!

P.S. - I'd like to also suggest two other of Lee's books that I love: MY GUN HAS BULLETS and THE MAN WITH THE IRON-ON BADGE. If you're looking for great reads, you can't go wrong with them!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Over-the-top fun!, February 15, 2011

By 

alchemyofscrawl "Millions saw the apple fall,... (Southwest) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dead Space (Charlie Willis) (Kindle Edition)

Making fun of Hollywood isn't new. There are a lot of TV shows and movies that do it. Heck, Kathy Griffin is making a career out of it. But this is the first time I've seen a book hit the mark. Mr. Goldberg uses his extensive behind-the-scenes knowledge of Hollywood to make fun of movie stars, showbiz, Trekkies, Star Wars fan boys, and all the other movers and shakers. There are two relatively 'sane' people the story revolves around and, well, the rest are pretty much bat poop crazy! I hope you laugh, gasp, and chuckle as much as I did.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Complicated satire, January 17, 2011

By 

Ginahmk "Ginahmk" (King of Prussia, Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dead Space (Charlie Willis) (Kindle Edition)

This is a very, very funny book, but as one other reviewer said...really 3 books in one. The beginning was complicated with so many characters, in such twisted subplots, I was half-way through the book before I had them straight. That said, this bizarre story is on-target with the sci- fi crowd, those die-hard Trekkies (and die hard they do). Snork (Spock), Pierce (Kirk) are ready to annihilate the evil aliens (the Company) who have are replacing the starship crew with the young and beautiful in the new TV remake. You smile, you laugh and you keep turning the pages. The private investigator part, was forced...how long did this guy have to go until he guessed who may be behind all the murders, explosions, etc??? Yet the action never lets up and you are car-jacked into the third weakest subplot, the killer agents of Hollywood. If you think your boss is bad, wait till you meet these. This was the least funny, just lots of blood. Beware, Goldberg is like Bentley Little, there is no sexual situation or blood bath too extreme to include, so not for the squeamish. Overall, great read, written in the 90's but still better than many over the last decade.