Customer Reviews

Beyond Uhura - Star Trek and Other Memories

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This autobiography by Nichelle Nichols reflects upon her life, as a black actress, facing racism of her times and breaking them with certain amount of courage and skills. First half of the book retells the story of her life prior to Star Trek, her education, training and people whom she met, some who were helpful while others who were not. Her occasional slide into self praise is typical of many memoirs, not atypical.

But for most people who read this book, they read it because they are Star Trek fans and second part of the book don't disappointed them at all. She goes into all sort of interesting tales about her experiences in Star Trek that brought her to the forefront. Her story on how Martin Luther King talked her into staying on the show, her frustration with the limited role she was having and her relationships with her co-workers while still fighting occasional racism at the studios proves to be an set of very interesting and telling stories. She continued on with her stories on the Star Trek movies as well as her work with NASA.

Like Jimmy Doohan and George Takei books, Nichols seem to have problems with William Shatner. From the three of them, Shatner does not seem to be a very generous actor and by design or not, William Shatner often end up sounding like a self centered cad. Its interesting that almost every Star Trek actor have problems with Shatner. But she was generous enough to say that Shatner as a director of Star Trek V, was most wonderful person. Doohan and Takei had no kind words for Shatner in their books.

Intersting reading material for all Star Trek fans. Story of Nichelle Nichols proves to be one of courage and determination that marked her a very special woman. In some ways, that make the color of her skin immaterial in the end.

I really enjoyed Nichelle Nichol's autobiography, which lived up to its title. Like many fans of Star Trek, I'm interested as much in the actor's histories as I am in their experiences on the show. I very much enjoyed the chapter devoted to her family history,that led up to her life-long struggle to be treated with respect as a black performer during very racist times. It made me appreciate her accomplishments even more, and the unofficial campaign by network suits to diminish her role. Her autobiography goes beyond just an actor's memoir; she shares with the reader what it was like to be a struggling female minority actress (adversity times 3!), facing producers' lascivious advances, attempted rape, open racism, and stereotyping, and ultimately triumphing. The most fascinating part was her description of her experiences with black performers she met or worked with, from Redd Foxx to Sammy Davis Jr. Anyone who quibbles that she was the target of advances by many famous people only needs to see her photos; they'll change their opinions. This book is written in her own voice, without a ghostwriter or "editor". Definitely recommended.

I really enjoyed this book. Nichelle tells lots of great stories. A couple of times it would get a little bogged down in details about all her various gigs, but for the most the book moved quickly. She begins with her multi-racial family living thru segregation. She goes on to tell stories about how her carreer evolved, her brush with gangsters running the entertainment industry, her relationship with Gene Roddenbery, how insensitive Bill Shatner was to his cast mates, and by contrast, how egalitarian Leonard Nimoy was, and about her work with NASA recruiting astronauts. There are many, many fascinating stories in this book.

Where some have mentioned the author as coming across a bit narcissistic and perhaps as having embellished her memoirs, the read is still quite enjoyable. Having done as many different things and having met as many interesting people as Ms. Nichols has indeed done, it's not surprising that she may seem a little self impressed or perhaps even proud of her accomplishments. Regardless of what you think of her, the book itself is a light, good hearted, at times funny diversion. Trekkers will like the latter half more, but even the non-Trek stuff was rather interesting (not screamingly so, but nevertheless more than I had imagined.)

This is a fascinating read from beginning to end! Ms. Nichols struggle to achieve success as a black woman in a white-male dominated industry is enlightening and inspiring. She is a talented, compassionate, giving person which shines forth from the written word. I encourage you to purchase her cd as well, "Out Of This World" to hear her lovely voice and one of the best interviews I've heard. Also, check out the animated star trek series from the 70s where Lt. Uhura gets to finally serve as Captain (The Lorelei Signal episode)! She is also prominently featured in "The Slaver Weapon", "Once Upon A Planet" and "The Practical Joker" episodes and yes, it's her voice as the character. I read she and George Takei (Sulu) almost weren't a part of the animated series until Leonard Nimoy went to bat for them. My fantasy is to see Nichelle get a leading role in a movie, "Uhura's Song" (one of the Star Trek novels by Janet Kagan) perhaps? : - ) All hailing frequencies are eternally open for this dynamic lady.

What self-respecting male adolescent of the 1960's did not get turned on when he heard those words uttered by Nichelle Nichols in her sexy role as Lt. Uhura on the starship Enterprise? My sister had this "thing" for Leonard Nimoy's Mr. Spock; wherein, I knew that I wanted to "boldly travel" with Miss Nichols.

Her autobiograpy chronicles not just the Trek years, but her career as dancer before and NASA representative after the initial cancellation of the series. She has written a most interesting book which features the famous and not-so-famous she has encountered in her long career. I was especially captivated by her work on the film "Porgy and Bess" and her encounters with tempermental star Dorothy Dandridge. Miss Nichols reflections are insightful and poignant. Like the other Trek cast members, she carefully "rates" her co-star William Shatner in a tactful, yet revealing portrait.

Yes, the book is a must for Trekkers, but it is a good read for the "non-initiated. It is another look at the world of entertainment and its pros and cons in the dealing of minority performers.

Great work, the true queen of outer space!

In many ways, this is the most interesting of all the memoirs penned by the stars and producers of the original Star Trek series. For Nichelle was a double minority, black and female, at a time when there were few acting roles depicting either competent blacks or competent females. Her career path took many turns and included an attempted rape by a man with strong political connections.
Star Trek was groundbreaking in so many ways; among other things it presented the first interracial kiss on television in an episode that was otherwise mediocre. However, the most significant new events were the depiction of black people in positions of command. Although Uhura never occupied the command chair in the original series, she was an officer and was depicted as one of the most talented people in her field. Furthermore, when the occasion demanded it, she was perfectly capable of engaging in hand-to-hand combat, even pulling a knife. This is the story of the very strong woman that made the role one of the first where a black woman played an active, energetic and intelligent character.

Nichelle Nichols, originally named Grace, knows from an early age that she wants to perform. Originally a singer and dancer, she marries early despite parental disapproval and quickly regrets everything about that union except the son it produces. Her life on the road, as a Black performer during the 50s and early 60s, evokes an America in transition. It's an exciting time, but a dangerous one, too. Eventually she relocates her entire family (the support system she needs in order to keep raising her son) to Los Angeles, and lands her first television role in The Lieutenant - a series produced by Gene Roddenberry, who becomes her close friend. When Roddenberry casts her as a member of the bridge crew aboard the starship Enterprise, in what critics call the first intelligent science fiction series on television, she finds herself filling another role on which she didn't bargain: that of role model for an entire generation of American young people. Especially for small girls, young women, and minorities.

This is not just another Star Trek memoir, although I'll admit I picked it up with that expectation. I was pleasantly surprised to find much more than that in its pages: the autobiography of a woman living through a time of extraordinary changes, who not only survived those changes but helped to shape them. The Star Trek reminiscences, my original reason for buying this book, wound up being the least interesting part of it for me. Instead, I found myself intrigued by the actress's pre-Star Trek career and - especially - by her work for NASA, in the years after the TV series ended. To me it reads like a volume of transcribed oral history instead of a celebrity tell-all.

--Reviewed by Nina M. Osier, author of HIGH PLACES and 2005 EPPIE winner REGS

My review is more from the memory of reading this book years ago than from any current readings. The short & sweet of this autobiography is that Nichelle writes about her life before, during, & after Star Trek. Rather than go the same route as other ST alumi, she tries her hardest to avoid badmouthing the Shatner (even though he makes it VERY hard for her to stay neutral) which she mostly succeeds at.

Miss Nichols has lead an amazing life. She not only starred in one of the most popular & well known series ever, but she's met famous political figures & Hollywood stars. She's gone through incredible hardships in order to get where she is today, and she writes a fantastic book to boot! The autobiography is easily accessible to both fans of ST & those who just want a nice book to read. Unfortunately this book has gone out of print, but it's well worth the time to track down a copy to own. The book has to be one of the most well written autobiographies I've read in a while, and that includes the ones I've read in the years since.

5/5

If you want 400 pages of Star Trek, this may not be the book for you. If, on the other hand, you want to read a biography of a woman who has broken down barriers and lived a life few people even dream of, this book will have you enthralled. Nichols has done so much in her life, and rubbed elbows with so many incredible people--Maya Angelou, Duke Ellington, the astronauts of the space shuttle Challenger--that she's lived far beyond her role as Uhura on Star Trek. She does talk about her Star Trek career, but there's so much more to her than that. This memoir is inspirational, sometimes hysterical, and always a great read. You won't be disappointed in this book!