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A review by kyroka
The Autobiography of Jean Luc Picard by David A. Goodman
1.0
Picard deserves better.
I don’t read many autobiographies; in fact, I tend to avoid first person altogether. As an autobiography of some random Starfleet person, this is fine. The writing is fine but also tends towards a very straightforward chronicle of events instead of a memoir-like little insight into them.
If you haven’t seen much TNG, then this might be acceptable. Indeed the amount of references and name dropping with characters from TOS and ENT leads me to believe that’s where the author’s spent their time.
But if you picked this up as a fan of TNG eager to get the gaps in Picard’s life filled in and insight into his life... you’ll get one of those things as well as several head slaps in disbelief at what you’re reading.
Even all this could be forgiven except for the biggest flaw: there is nothing of Picard’s voice in this book. Not once did I read anything that came through like he was saying it. From his actions to vocabulary to pace to even pop culture references (yeahhhh), none of it is accurate. Even making this a biography (so clearly written by someone else) would have done some justice.
I don’t read many autobiographies; in fact, I tend to avoid first person altogether. As an autobiography of some random Starfleet person, this is fine. The writing is fine but also tends towards a very straightforward chronicle of events instead of a memoir-like little insight into them.
If you haven’t seen much TNG, then this might be acceptable. Indeed the amount of references and name dropping with characters from TOS and ENT leads me to believe that’s where the author’s spent their time.
But if you picked this up as a fan of TNG eager to get the gaps in Picard’s life filled in and insight into his life... you’ll get one of those things as well as several head slaps in disbelief at what you’re reading.
Even all this could be forgiven except for the biggest flaw: there is nothing of Picard’s voice in this book. Not once did I read anything that came through like he was saying it. From his actions to vocabulary to pace to even pop culture references (yeahhhh), none of it is accurate. Even making this a biography (so clearly written by someone else) would have done some justice.