From Powells.com
Wil Wheaton means a lot of things to different people. To some, hes the kid from that coming-of-age movie
Stand By Me. To others, hell always be Wesley Crusher from
Star Trek: the Next Generation. But this was years ago. Today, hes getting attention with his award-winning weblog, wilwheaton.net, and is drawing a whole new audience with his first book,
Dancing Barefoot.
Published in 2003, Dancing Barefoot has made quite an impression. Wil sold out of all his books at our reading at Powells Technical Books and drew an equally rabid crowd at his appearance at our Beaverton store. Word of mouth pushed Dancing Barefoot to our best-seller lists. Whats the appeal? Charm, humor and darn fine writing.
Wils personal, inviting, inclusive voice plays as well in his first book as it does on his weblog. Dancing Barefoots five short stories are alternately reminiscent about his youth, and then glad to be done with it all. His Houses in Motion chapter finds Wil clearing out the house of a favorite aunt who recently passed away. The story has a sort of honesty and lack of pretense that flavors the whole book. Wil doesnt put up any fronts, hes not trying to look cool, hes just being Wil. And that quality makes his book a delight to read.
In Ready or Not Here I Come and Inferno, different aspects of a youth gone by are explored in vivid detail. Wils good-natured knowledge of himself makes these stories really touching and fun to read, like peeking over the shoulder of someone writing in their diary. We Close Our Eyes basically confirms the readers suspicion that hes a big softie.
Wil even puts something in for the Trekkies in The Saga of SpongeBob VegasPants. Wil takes us into the world of die-hard Star Trek fans and writes what its like for him to go to Trekkie conventions and be on display, how he feels about William Shatner, and why he really is a true Star Trek fan to this day.
Wil offers something for everyone in this engaging, fast-paced collection of short stories in Dancing Barefoot. This book has been such a hit that OReilly will soon publish it. Get a copy of this particular edition; itll be a collectors item. Emily Arnold, Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
In this wonderful freshman effort, actor and author Wil Wheaton shares five short-but-true stories about life in the so-called Space Age:
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Houses in Motion
Memories fill the emptiness left within a childhood home, and saying goodbye brings them to life.
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Ready Or Not Here I Come
A game of hide-n-seek with the kids works as a time machine, taking Wil on a tour of the hiding and seeking of years gone by.
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Inferno
Two 15-year-olds pass in the night leaving behind pleasant memories and a perfumed Car Wars Deluxe Edition Box Set.
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We Close Our Eyes
A few beautiful moments spent dancing in the rain.
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The Saga of SpongeBob VegasPants
A story of love, hate, laughter and the acceptance of all things Trek.
About the Author
Wil Wheaton started acting at age 7. As a teenager, he starred in the Academy Award nominated classic, Stand By Me, and the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. After leaving Next Generation in its 4th season, he went on to star in several award-winning independent films before taking an extended hiatus from acting to write full time.