Inside Trek: My Secret Life with Star Trek Creator Gene Roddenberry

by Susan Sackett

A behind-the scenes look at Star Trek, with intriguing stories about the world of Trek -- especially Gene Roddenberry. For over 17 years, Sackett was Roddenberry's assistant - and lover - giving her a... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1930709420
• ISBN13: 9781930709423
• Release Date: May 2002
• Publisher: Hawk Publishing Group
• Length: 230 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 7.1" x 10.0"

Customer Reviews

Very Interesting Look inside Star Trek behind the scenes

I enjoyed Susan Sackett story about her relationship with Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry. I was a ST fan from the very beginning in 1967. Sometimes in real lives of our heroes can be less than what we expect. I have learned to not hold movie and TV star in too high esteem because they are still humans just like us who makes mistake and don't live up to the level we expect. This book is worth the cost and every ST fan should add it to your collection.

Gene Roddenberry: Human at last

To my way of thinking, "Inside Trek" is one of the two most important Star Trek memoirs, presenting series creator Gene Roddenberry in breath-takingly sharp focus from about 1974 till his death in the eary 1990's (five years after the original series' cancellation, and up through the movie, "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country"). As unflinching in detail as the book by Herbert Solow and Robert Justman, Ms. Sackett manages to create a far more lively portrait of her boss, from the point of view of long-time office wife, and long-time secret lover. The portrait often not flattering, but invariably rings true. Almost as heart-breaking as "My Tour of the Galaxy" (Grace Lee Whitney), with as strong a narrative as "Beam Me Up, Scotty" (James Doohan), "Inside Trek" also serves as a cold hard slap in the face for anyone with more than one or two illusions about Hollywood. Perhaps the only unresolved question by the end of the book revolves around the role of Majel Barrett (Roddenberry's second wife) in his life. Based on Ms. Sackett's very convincing and detailed information, and my own reading between the lines, Ms. Barrett (Nurse Chapel, and other roles) comes off looking as utterly self-absorbed as William Shatner (and, to a lesser extent, Leonard Nimoy), to the great detriment of Mr. Roddenberry. As this "testimony" is not exactly corroborated elsewhere (notwithstanding NBC execs' complaints in the Solow/Justman book) we should probably not jump to any conclusions about Ms. Barrett (though she certainly seems awful in several of Ms. Sackett's colorful anecdotes). New stories abound in this well-written (unauthorized) biography, which should make it extremely interesting to the Trek afficianado, and invaluable to any student of the Film & TV industry.

Gut Wrenching and Haunting Story of the Price of Fame

This is not a biography nor is it an autobiography. It is a unique kind of document. It is Susan Sackett's story and it is the story of Gene Roddenberry's final days, showing the roots of those final events within the years of Star Trek The Motion Picture, and Star Trek: The Next Generation and the deepening and developing intimacy between Susan Sackett and Gene Roddenbery. Susan Sackett has taken an odd point of view to tell this story of her position in the world of Star Trek. As a writer, I have to admire the tight, disciplined writing. The story she tells is searingly gut-wrenching, harrowing and filled with anguish dotted with moments of joy and happiness. It haunted (still haunts) me day and night for a number of reasons. As primary author of the Bantam paperback Star Trek Lives! and a professional sf/f writer active through those years in Star Trek fandom, I was aware of these events but from an entirely different perspective. This book has filled in the blanks and answered many questions for me. During the intervening years, I have likewise been aware of the private lives behind the scenes of several very famous and popular writers who ended their days enmeshed in very similar kinds of situations. Reading this book awakened the feelings of watching such events from the sidelines, helpless to affect the course of things. It also brought home how very ordinary such an extraordinary situation is among the famous and powerful figures of this world. Sackett's writing style is factual, the language prosaic, completely devoid of purple prose, hyperbole, or passion. And that showcases the realities of this happy/sad situation that surrounded Gene Roddenberry as he fought to give the millions of dedicated fans the show they so richly deserved.The point of view is entirely Susan Sackett's. These are the events behind the miraculous achievements of Gene Roddenberry, and this is what it felt like to be involved inside those events, and this is the enormous price Roddenberry paid to give us this miracle. Not once in this narrative is there any speculation, accusation or finger-pointing. There is no blaming, no "flaming" and no attempt to present the motives of others which Sackett could not possibly have known except as supposition through a veil of emotion. This document is an amazing piece of work, a tour de force of the writer's craft and a bit of history that may one day prove invaluable to researchers if enough copies survive here and there. Put one away for your grandchildren today. I can't tell you that every word is true. I can tell you that you will not find a more objectively written account of a purely subjective experience anywhere in your public library. Just for that achievement, this book should be studied by every would-be writer. And while you're studying this book, do tally up the price of fame and the cost of glory and ask yourself if you really do want to be a writer after all. Live Long and Prosper,Jacquelin

The best insider book I've ever read

Susan Sackett's unique perspective brings new insight into Gene Roddenberry, the amazing creator of "Star Trek" who changed the face of filmed sci-fi forever. Their love story is touching and heartrending, and Susan's personal influence on Roddenberry's inventiveness has never before been revealed. Susan is a remarkable woman who has lived a one-of-a-kind life that's both fascinating and inspiring. I'd recommend this book to anyone who's ever seen "Star Trek" - or ever been in love.