In which Memories of the Future Volume One is released

Memories_of_the_Future_by_Wil_WheatonI am beyond excited to announce the release of my newest book, Memories of the Future, Volume One.

I worked harder on this book than anything since Just a Geek, and it wouldn't have been possible without a bunch of people, who I thank in the book, but wanted to thank here, as well:

Andrew Hackard, Brent Spiner, David Gerrold, Jamais Cascio, John Rogers, Keith McDuffee, Memory Alpha, Phil Plait, Will Hindmarch, .tws, everyone who read and commented on my original posts at TV Squad, and especially to my wife and kids, who watched more TNG than they ever thought possible while I was working on this.

If you've just heard about Memories of the Future for the first time, and are wondering what it is, I'd like to share the introduction with you, which I think explains the whole thing rather well:

Introduction to Memories of the Future

In August 2006, Brad Hill, an editor at Weblogs, Inc., hired me to write humorous reviews of Star Trek: The Next Generation from my unique point of view as an actor and a fan of the show.

I started at the beginning of the first season, re-watching episodes that I hadn’t seen in a decade or longer, faithfully recording and sharing the memories they released. Along the way, I came up with some silly episode recaps, and an interesting perspective on the first season, twenty years after we brought it to life. The columns were very well-received, and tons of readers asked me if they’d be collected into a book. I didn’t plan on it originally, but AOL cut TV Squad’s budget before I’d even made it to the halfway point of the first year, and I decided that putting the entire season into a book wasn’t just a good way to finish the season, it was a moral imperative.

A few months after I began working on this book in earnest, at the 2009 Nebula awards dinner, I sat at a table with David Gerrold, who is best-known for writing the original series classic The Trouble With Tribbles. (Fun fact: David wrote and sold The Trouble with Tribbles when he was 19. My wife Anne asked him how he had the courage to do that, and David told her, "Because nobody told me I couldn't." That's so awesome, and everyone who is creative should commit that to memory.)

We were talking about all kinds of writerly stuff, and I mentioned to David that I was working on this book. As I started to describe it to him, I could see that he wasn't into it, but was too polite to tell me why.

After a minute, he said, "You have to be careful with your tell-all book…"

"Ah, that's why he wasn't into it." I thought.

"It's not a tell-all book. I hate those things," I said. "It's more like you're flipping through your high school yearbook with your friends."

I called on all my improv skills and held an imaginary book in my hands.

"It's like, 'Hey! I remember this, and I remember that, and did you know that this funny thing happened there, and … oh God … I can't believe I thought that was cool…'"

His face lit up. "That sounds like a book I'd like to read."

Here it is, David. I hope you enjoy it. (Additional fun fact: David Gerrold suggested me for the role of Wesley. If he hadn't done that, I don't know that I'd have ever voluntarily worn a pumpkin-colored sweater.

Despite that, though, I'm extremely grateful to David for convincing Bob Justman and Gene Roddenberry to take a chance on me.)

Volume One takes you from the pilot to Datalore. Volume Two will take you from Angel One to The Neutral Zone. During our journey together, we’ll certainly be going where no one has gone before, except those times when we go 20% to the left of where the original series went and talk about stuff a whole bunch without actually doing anything … but that’s part of what makes the first season so much fun to watch, especially knowing how greatThe Next Generation eventually became.

Put on your shoulder pads, set a course for 1987, emit an inverse-tacyon pulse into the heart of the anomaly, and engage! By Riker’s beard, you shall be avenged! (Um, as soon as Riker’s beard shows up, next season.)

Namaste,

Wil Wheaton
Pasadena
June 2009

Man, I can't believe I wrote that all the way back in June. This really has taken a long time to get across the finish line, hasn't it?

For the last six weeks, I've been doing podcast previews from the book. I think they're pretty amusing, and they're also a pretty good way to figure out if this book is something you'll enjoy:

I've also put up an extensive preview on the book's product page at Lulu, so you can take a look inside the book and read the chapters that cover Encounter at Farpoint Part 1 and Justice. If you have this thing called The Internet, you can also read the chapters in their original, unedited form at TV Squad.

There are bound to be some FAQS about this book, so let me attempt to answer a few of them now:

Q: Will there be an audiobook?

A: Maybe. I'm hopeful that this book sells well enough to justify the amount of time and energy that goes into creating an audio version.

Q: Will there be a digital version, a version for my Kindle, or [my electronic reading device]?

A: Probably.

Q: When?

A: Soon. 

Q: Why not now?

A: Because I haven't decided how I want to release a digital version (how to make different formats available or just do the PDF that is easy at Lulu) and what a fair price for it will be.

New Answer: Yes. The PDF is $10 at Lulu, on the same page where you can order the print version. Enjoy!

Q: Can I buy a signed copy?

A: Well, you can buy a copy and bring it to a con or something, and I'll be happy to sign it for you there, but since this is printed on-demand, when you order it, there's no way for me to sign it before it makes its way into your hands, tentacles, clamps, or whatever you use to hold a book.

Q: Will there be a 300 like you did for The Happiest Days of Our Lives?

A: I hope I can do that; it's just a matter of making the economics work.

Q: Will this be in regular bookstores?

A: Probably not. I'm an indie publisher with razor-thin margins, and since the vast majority of my customers are online, it just doesn't make sense to end up with a few cents on the dollar per sale, which is what would happen if I were to get this distributed into bookstores. I've blogged extensively about how and why I publish the way that I do. If I can find the links to those posts, I'll add them here.

Q: What about Amazon? Can I get it at Amazon?

A: Sometimes Lulu sells books through Amazon. If this is one of the titles they choose, then you'll be able to get it there. If you can, I'll update this post. I think it ends up costing the same whether you get it from Amazon or Lulu, though.

Q: Why is shipping so expensive?

A: That's a Lulu question, not a me question.

Q: So why did you put it here?

A: Because it's frequently asked.

Q: I'm not in the US. Do I need to wait for a World edition?

A: No. One of the many cool things about using print on demand from Lulu is that the book will be printed in whatever country you place your order, which keeps jobs closer to home, limits delivery and shipping fees and time, and makes everyone happy. Yay!

Q: You didn't answer my question.

A: That's not a question, it's a statement. But go ahead and ask it in comments, and I'll do my best to answer it there.

So there you go. As always, thank you for your support. I hope you enjoy my Memories of the Future.  

117 thoughts on “In which Memories of the Future Volume One is released”

  2. Wil,
    I just read the preview on Lulu. I could not stop snickering through the whole thing. I would have been ROFLMAO if I hadn’t been at work.
    Great job!

  3. I know I haven’t even read Vol. 1, but I’ve read your work before & know I’ll love it. Do you have a timeline for the rest of the series?

  4. I have a tentative timeline, but I’m not disclosing it, because something always seems to come up and delay my best-laid plans.

  6. Yeah, but I’m in Canada. $6.99 is the cheapest shipping option. Bought another lulu book at the same time (Farewell Great Macedon, the unproduced early Doctor Who script) so that brought the shipping for each item down to $6.50.
    (Oh, and thanks for the quick reply! FWIW, I already have two of your other books, so I’ve been looking forward to this one. Just a little sticker shock.)

  7. Oh, I see. Well, I’m sorry it was so expensive, and I sincerely hope you feel it’s worth the cost. I’ll continue to seek different ways to keep costs down for future volumes.

  9. Looks awesome, Wil. I’ll likely purchase both the paper and digital when they come out. My only request is the other volumes are similar in size and design. Let’s just say I have OCD issues about “sets” of books. 😉

  13. I am still hoping you make it to OK or the East Coast for a con sometime. Even if I can’t make it to OK, I have connections that I can send my copies of your books to so I can hopefully get them autographed 🙂

  14. I thought I’d be in Tulsa at the 2009 Trek Expo. I planned on it, actually, and then it fell through. I’m hopeful that I can get out there for the Trek Expo next year, because it’s a really fun con, especially when Anne and I take a road trip to get there!

  15. If you make it, I am going to try REALLY hard to make it out there. Would love a chance to get to meet you and Anne. Maybe your wife can help my wife relate to how it is to live with/be married to a geek 😉
    We’ll have a 3-month-old at that point along with my 2 boys (oldest pictured), so it may be tricky to make the roadie; however, I know my adopted mom AND my birth mom would appreciate seeing us. My birth mom actually works as a volunteer during Trek Expo 🙂

  19. I’ll follow the gentle suggestion to buy online.
    I find that side-effect of the POD business model to be quite bizzare — although I would guess most of Lulu’s customer do not tour the convention circuit.
    I wonder how POD will affect demand at the cons. I imagine it will decrease demand, but I have no idea by how much. May I suggest also printing some autograph cards with instructions on how to buy the book online that you can give to people in lieu of a book purchase when you (hopefully) run out of hardcopies at the conventions?

  21. Congratulations on the release Wil! I can’t wait to get my copy.
    To the greater geekdom – I’m not sure if there is a reason that Wil hasn’t mentioned it on his blog but Just a Geek is being published again by O’Reilly (paperback release). If you don’t yet have a copy, you can get it from most online booksellers (Amazon at the least).
    Wil, if there is any reason that you have deliberately not mentioned the paperback release, please feel free to delete this comment!
    Congratulations again!

  22. I downloaded all your podcasts and i’m going to listen to them on my Zune.
    Is it weird that i want your books but i’ve never seen you Star Trek episodes? or at all?
    I know, i’m a bad sci fi fan. I haven’t even seen Firefly yet.. i’ve seen Serenity and that’s cause my best friend is a brown coat for life ;D

  23. Thanks for taking the time to write this (book) and share your memories with the rest of us.
    I placed my order this evening when I got home and I’m pretty sure I’ll not put it down till it’s done on the day I get it.
    Then I’ll get the DVDs out and make my wife watch them with me while I giggle at remembering your commentary about getting your sweater colours picked out.

  25. What would make you potentially decide to extend the series? I realize the episodes get much, much better as time goes along, but I would hope you would at least touch on the later episodes where you made an appearance (hey …. that could be a special edition Volume 9 ;))

  27. Congradulations on the Release. I orded my copy and hopefully will have it my hands next week. Both my husband and I are fans and look forward to reading your stories. We have all 7 season of TNG on DVD. Some fun facts about me, I am a lefty, my First Name is Debbie. Middle Name is Ann and I was born 8/23/69. Have a great night. Debbie

  30. Yay! I’ve just ordered a copy! I also ordered a copy of Sunken Treasure while I was at it. After totally enjoying your Memories of the Futurecasts, I know I will love reading the book. I’m also curious to see how these print-on-demand books actually look and feel, as I’ve never ordered one before.

  31. I am so glad that this book and episode 6 of Memories of the Futurecast came out today. This was the highlight of my day.
    This weekend was Thanksgiving in Canada, and after baking pumpkin pie and cooking Thanksgiving dinner all weekend, I was exhausted and overslept. I was an hour late for work and scatterbrained all day because of it. Also I kept thinking it was Monday, until I got your twitter update announcing the pending release. For the rest of the day I walked around my office with a huge smile on my face.
    I got the update announcing the release while I was at the gym and first thing I did when I got home was go to lulu and by the book. In a few days, it will be mine.
    Thank you for giving me a huge happy beacon to save my Monday/Tuesday.

  32. After listening to the MotFcasts, I think I’d love an audiobook of this.
    I love your narrative style – it’s a combination of both your writing and your acting.
    Due to the recent economic hilarity, I’ve been unemployed for almost a year now, so money is getting tight. I’d like to hold my spare pennies and see if you announce an audiobook before buying the .pdf, version, as I’ll probably be limited to one or the other. Any idea what the chances of you audiobooking this are?
    PS. Finally got hold of Stand By Me last week – *Awesome*

  33. Hmm… I think I’m going to want you to sign directly in my copy, but I can see how that would be appealing for someone who plans to buy online after getting the autograph. I wouldn’t want my bookplate to be an obvious advertisment though. It seems like the bookplate design might be a delicate balance between attractive and promotional. Unless it was double-sided, but that would increase the cost.
    The thing I really like about the autographed bookplate is it is something the person will keep and it will keep reminding them to buy the book. It seems like a perfect marketing tool.

  34. Hi Will.
    For what it’s worth, I was really disappointed when your TV Squad posts stopped appearing, and I was always wondering whether or not your reviews would continue on your site. But, your decision to publish them all together (in book form, for me) is very much welcome.
    Looking forward to Vol 2.

  35. Wil, I can’t wait to get the book! I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed Just A Geek, and I know this one will be just as great! As A HUGE fan of TNG, this will be icecream with the cake all in one!! You are very talented in the writing field and hope I have the chance one day to meet and shake your hand and say thanks for inspiring me to write…you did that! You are not by chance coming anywhere near Texas anytime soon are you???……yeah I don’t blame you. The best to you and your family Wil:)

  36. Wil,
    Congratulations on the new book! I have been anxiously awaiting the announcement of its debut, and have ordered it gleefully.
    I am a long time reader of your awesome blog, although I am not a frequent commenter. I did want to say I have been very entertained by the podcasts, and appreciate the time you take to make them each week.
    humbly submitted,
    Gina

  37. Perfect timing! Here I was just wondering to myself about what I was going to start reading once I finish Zahn’s Outbound Flight in a few short pages. Well…errr…probably The Ravenor Omnibus or K.S.’s Batman: Cacophony but, fear not, old friend. Your new book will certainly be hoisted to the top of the Must-Read book heap once those are finished :).
    Seriously, I’m glad that you finally “gave birth” to your bouncing bundle of bookly joy. Looking forward to going back in time to a period in my life when TNG and the other Trek shows really warped my plasma manifold…um, I mean, were sort of special to me.
    Thanks for the memories!

  38. Just bought Memories. Your podcasts got me to buy the audio versions of Just a Geek and Happiest Days of Our Lives, and man, it’s eery how many of my own emotional experiences are right there, even though the shape of our lives (the geekdom aside) are so very different. I gotta get my husband to listen to them; his are even closer. Thank you for being so emotionally raw. That takes guts and insight.

  41. Since I’m mentioned in the book (“… commenters on TVSquad”) I’m buying this right friggin now. Thanks for the PDF Version, I’ll read this on my iPhone.
    Man I could hug you so much. “Imperative” is the understatement of the year. I jumped up and down in glee every time you posted a new article on TVS and couldn’t stand it when your show got canceled. I mean your column. I mean whatever.
    Please don’t make this into an Audiobook. It’ll delay the next volume. Do the “Memories of the Futurecast” and then compile those into collections when you did one for every episode of each volume and add them as an extra for free or for a buck fifty or whatever but please don’t make this into a complete audiobook it will delay things so much. I bought “Just A Geek” in audiobook form and considering you put so much effort into that to now have it pirated on the net – please get the other reviews out first. I want more stories first. Maybe do it once you’re done with Season One.

  42. I just ordered my copy. Don’t know how long it will take to make it out here to country Western Australia, but I can’t wait!
    I’ll just have to keep listening to the podcast taster in the meantime.

  43. alright…It’s time for me to finally get the rest of the Complete Writings of You, Wil Wheaton…which for me is pretty much everything but Just A geek, which i LOVE! My only hope is that you might…just might be at San Diego ComicCon next year to sign some of them. Being from NY, I’ve not be to a west coast con before, but I’ve heard such fantastic things about SDCC, I’m planning it as my big vacation next year. To meet some of the people that I’ve admired for many a long year (yes, you are on that list) would be icing on the cake. Just a wish.

  44. Wil,
    I like that it’s priced at $19.87. Are the books for the next seasons going to be $19.88, and so on?
    Or was that just a coincidence?

  45. That will be interesting to see..
    My band has had an album on Lulu for a bit… sales haven’t been huge, and we put it up for less than $8.00 (we don’t want to make money, just get it out there)… but the fluctuations have been… really weird!
    one of the things on my list of crap to do is trend the sales and compare to times i’ve “plugged” it and such. having it on a POD site made sales at our shows actually a bit better.
    Once we also put our stuff on iTunes, amazon, and rhapsody, however, Lulu sales took a bit of a hit… which is weird… the lulu cd was $8, but it was almost twice that for… m4a/mp3! heh. odd. and not our choosing. that’s just the rules of the sites. we were surprised that people would pay more for downloads and not want a real, actual, material possession to rip/encode if need be.
    myself, i ordered a hardcopy of Memories and am looking forward to the night it arrives to read it all in one shot with no distractions before i go to bed. of course, that’s how i listen to CDs I buy these days too. maybe i’m weird. ugh. who knows.

  46. Hey, Wil,
    How cool was it to see an email from WIL WHEATON in my in-box a few minutes after ordering Memories of the Future, Volume 1, from Lulu? It was FUCKING awesome (even if the email was sent by some autobot or perhaps a Gollum-type creature who works for fish heads and rice cakes, but is a whiz on the computer)! I could tell, at least, that you DID compose the email (it has the Wil Wheaton touch–unless, perhaps, it was done by your heretofore unknown evil twin, Wilknot Wheatbread). I’m so looking forward to your take on the first 13 episodes! All awesome is yours (bow, bow, grovel).

  48. I feel okay with that correction after reading “brining” in your latest delve posting. Please don’t assail me with lightning bolts!

  49. Hey Wil
    I’m so pleased MOTF V1 is finally releasd! I placed my order straight away! Fingers crossed you do make it to the Phoenix Comicon, so you can scribble in it for me. What a cool system Lulu is! The postage for me is no more than sending a small package with in the UK. I’m off to a UK Sci Fi convention in a couple of weeks. I’ll be spreading the word about your books there.
    Maybe, one day, we might just get to see you over here on British shores?
    Take care
    Julian

  50. Hi Wil,
    Thanks for releasing the PDF; grabbed it straight away. One small thing though – I tend to read books via MobiPocket, and the importer got a little confused – all the headings aRe in WeiRD CapS…
    Any chance of feeding the book source into the free Mobipocket Creator software? It’s really a cosmetic issue, so if you don’t have time or inclination then that’s cool, don’t worry. 🙂
    Thanks!
    Paul

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In order to survive, I disassociated for much of my childhood, but I clearly remember the books. That's where I found comfort, companionship, inspiration and validation. It's where the imagination that powers everything I do creatively in my life today was born. And it all started in that library, with that librarian. She was one of the first people I can remember asking me, "What do you like? What's important to you? What do you want to know more about? How can I help you find it?"

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