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The View from the Bridge: Memories of Star Trek and a Life in Hollywood
"Essential reading for any Star Trek and movie fan."
-trekmovie.com
When Nicholas Meyer was asked to direct the troubled second Star Trek film, he was something less than a true believer. A bestselling author and successful director, he had never been a fan of the TV series. But as he began to ponder the appeal of Kirk, Spock, et al., he realized that their story was a classical nautical adventure yarn transplanted into space and-armed with that insight-set out on his to revitalize Trek .
-trekmovie.com
When Nicholas Meyer was asked to direct the troubled second Star Trek film, he was something less than a true believer. A bestselling author and successful director, he had never been a fan of the TV series. But as he began to ponder the appeal of Kirk, Spock, et al., he realized that their story was a classical nautical adventure yarn transplanted into space and-armed with that insight-set out on his to revitalize Trek .
272 pages, Paperback
First published July 21, 2009
31 people are currently reading
506 people want to read
About the author
Nicholas Meyer
40Ìýbooks244ÌýfollowersNicholas Meyer graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in theater and film-making, & is a film writer, producer, director and novelist best known for his involvement in the Star Trek films. He is also well known as the director for the landmark 1983 TV-Movie "The Day After", for which he was nominated for a Best Director Emmy Award. In 1977, Meyer was nominated for an Adapted Screenplay Academy Award for adapting his own 1974 novel, The Seven-Per-Cent Solution, to the screen.
In addition to his work on Star Trek, Meyer has written several novels, and has written and/or directed several other films.Most notable being the 1983 made-for-television anti-nuclear movie The Day After.
Meyer wrote three Sherlock Holmes novels: The West End Horror, The Canary Trainer, and The Seven-Per-Cent Solution. The latter was Meyer's most famous Holmes novel and the project for which he was best known prior to his Star Trek involvement. It was also adapted into a 1976 film, directed by Herbert Ross, for which Meyer wrote the screenplay.
In addition to his work on Star Trek, Meyer has written several novels, and has written and/or directed several other films.Most notable being the 1983 made-for-television anti-nuclear movie The Day After.
Meyer wrote three Sherlock Holmes novels: The West End Horror, The Canary Trainer, and The Seven-Per-Cent Solution. The latter was Meyer's most famous Holmes novel and the project for which he was best known prior to his Star Trek involvement. It was also adapted into a 1976 film, directed by Herbert Ross, for which Meyer wrote the screenplay.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
January 4, 2012
While Star Trek fans may never agree on which series is the best (it will always be Original Series, hands down), most fans will agree that Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is the best entry in the long-running film franchise. In fact, were it not for Khan and it's success, it's likely we'd only have the original 79 episodes and a couple of movies to discuss when it comes to one of the greatest franchises in modern entertainment history.
A lot of ink has been spilled in recent years on the "kiss and tell" behind the scenes looks at the making of Star Trek. This time the behind the scenes look comes from director Nicholas Meyer, who admits that he had very little familiarity with Star Trek before he took on the task of crafting the story for Khan and serving as director for the second installment. And yet it's Meyer, along with Harve Bennett, who arguably have had the biggest impact on the Trek franchise outside of Gene Roddenberry himself and the oft-overlooked classic Trek producer Gene Coon.
The View from the Bridge offers a look at Meyer's life and career pre and post Trek and it's every bit as interesting as you'd hope it would be. It's also refreshingly honest from Meyer, who admits that all he ever wanted to do is grow up to write the kind of stories he liked. Meyer examines his career with honesty and little self-delusion. He is quick to point out things he believes he did right, but also to call himself for shortcomings or mistakes made along the way. (Most telling are a few comments about how Roddenberry was treated by the time Meyer assumed the director's seat for the sixth installment in the franchise).
If you're a Trek fan like I am, you're likely to eat this up with a spoon. But this memoir holds more than just the standard look at the franchise or serving as another kiss and tell book. Reading it made me want to re-visit much, if not all of, Meyer's output over the years to examine them again after seeing this inside look. I will admit I've never been a huge fan of his Holmes pastiche The Seven Percent Solution but after reading this book, I'm curious to look at it again, taking into account the behind-the-scenes information Meyer details here. And, of course, after reading this book, I want to dust off my oft-watched copy of Wrath of Khan and view it again.
A lot of ink has been spilled in recent years on the "kiss and tell" behind the scenes looks at the making of Star Trek. This time the behind the scenes look comes from director Nicholas Meyer, who admits that he had very little familiarity with Star Trek before he took on the task of crafting the story for Khan and serving as director for the second installment. And yet it's Meyer, along with Harve Bennett, who arguably have had the biggest impact on the Trek franchise outside of Gene Roddenberry himself and the oft-overlooked classic Trek producer Gene Coon.
The View from the Bridge offers a look at Meyer's life and career pre and post Trek and it's every bit as interesting as you'd hope it would be. It's also refreshingly honest from Meyer, who admits that all he ever wanted to do is grow up to write the kind of stories he liked. Meyer examines his career with honesty and little self-delusion. He is quick to point out things he believes he did right, but also to call himself for shortcomings or mistakes made along the way. (Most telling are a few comments about how Roddenberry was treated by the time Meyer assumed the director's seat for the sixth installment in the franchise).
If you're a Trek fan like I am, you're likely to eat this up with a spoon. But this memoir holds more than just the standard look at the franchise or serving as another kiss and tell book. Reading it made me want to re-visit much, if not all of, Meyer's output over the years to examine them again after seeing this inside look. I will admit I've never been a huge fan of his Holmes pastiche The Seven Percent Solution but after reading this book, I'm curious to look at it again, taking into account the behind-the-scenes information Meyer details here. And, of course, after reading this book, I want to dust off my oft-watched copy of Wrath of Khan and view it again.
May 17, 2023
I think the title of this book was foisted on Nicholas Meyer by the publisher, because there's maybe a chapter devoted to each of the three Trek movies he was involved with, and most of those chapters are spent in describing his writing process, and how the Writer's Guild determines screen credit, in agonizing detail. I was hoping for a book about the making of the films...This is a detailed, birth to 2009, autobiography, which is very dry and Inside Baseball most of the time. A lot of fights over budgets, credits, locations, sets, etc. Very little about the experience of working with the original cast, aside from Leonard Nimoy being an angry producer.
A quick read, and mildly entertaining, but not what I expected, or what was advertised.
A quick read, and mildly entertaining, but not what I expected, or what was advertised.
December 27, 2024
A must for “Trekkies� but in addition to his work on the best Star Trek movies, Meyer discusses all his other quirky projects, from his Sherlock Holmes novels to The Day After. A great raconteur.
August 10, 2014
As the author himself notes at one point, “Everyone connected with Star Trek writes a memoir.� Some have been honest and candid, others perhaps more self-serving than others. The View From The Bridge by Nicholas Meyer, the man who brought us not only three of the better Trek films but the Sherlock Holmes meets Sigmund Freud novel The Seven Per-Cent-Solution and the classic 1983 TV movie The Day After, certainly falls into the former category rather than the latter and also presents the reader with an overview a career of which Trek is only a highlight.
Meyer is perhaps best known for his work on three of the best Star Trek films (II, IV and VI respectively) so it is no surprise then that the bulk of the book is made up with his recollections regarding them. Those who've seen or heard Meyer in the extras on the DVD releases of those films will likely find some stories being retold (such as his directing Ricardo Montalban's first scenes as Khan and how one Paramount executive wanted subtitles translating what the mysterious alien probe in Star Trek IV was saying to name just two examples). In other cases there are interesting and candid thoughts being shared as well such as Meyer's thoughts in retrospect about his dealings with Gene Roddenberry on Star Trek VI of which Meyer is understandably less than proud. It's also interesting reading his thoughts in hindsight on the two films he directed (II and VI) with a couple of decades worth of perspective, particularly in regards to the plot of Star Trek VI in relation to the world we live in today. For Trek fans (which I suspect makes up the majority of those reading this book), these chapters make the book well worth a read.
While Meyer's Star Trek work takes up the larger portion of the book, Meyer takes plenty of time to talk about the other projects he's worked on. The book covers everything from the author as struggling writer to his big break with the surprise bestseller The Seven Per-Cent-Solution to directing his first feature film (1979's Time After Time) and later films such as Volunteers with Tom Hanks and the Merchant Ivory period piece The Deceivers with Pierce Brosnan, Meyer covers the ups and downs of his career with a refreshing candidness that allows to him to both point out his own shortcomings as well as those of others (and how they helped and hindered various projects) without being self-serving. Good examples of that is the somewhat lengthy chapter on The Day After, the nuclear war centric TV movie that Meyer directed for the ABC network in 1983 that gained both large amounts of controversy and the highest viewing figure for any TV movie ever aired, where Meyer details the uphill fight to not only make it as he wanted but even to get it broadcast at all and a later chapter on the film Company Business where Meyer's clashes with actor Gene Hackman undermined the film considerably.
The View From The Bridge then is a look at the extraordinary career of a man who, while not a household name, has nevertheless created some of the best known tales in popular culture from the last couple of decades. From Star Trek to Sherlock Holmes and The Day After, Meyer shows us how his talent and determination allowed him to entertain millions with novels and films that were entertaining and at times thought provoking. The results, for fans of Trek and Meyer's work at large, make for fascinating reading.
Meyer is perhaps best known for his work on three of the best Star Trek films (II, IV and VI respectively) so it is no surprise then that the bulk of the book is made up with his recollections regarding them. Those who've seen or heard Meyer in the extras on the DVD releases of those films will likely find some stories being retold (such as his directing Ricardo Montalban's first scenes as Khan and how one Paramount executive wanted subtitles translating what the mysterious alien probe in Star Trek IV was saying to name just two examples). In other cases there are interesting and candid thoughts being shared as well such as Meyer's thoughts in retrospect about his dealings with Gene Roddenberry on Star Trek VI of which Meyer is understandably less than proud. It's also interesting reading his thoughts in hindsight on the two films he directed (II and VI) with a couple of decades worth of perspective, particularly in regards to the plot of Star Trek VI in relation to the world we live in today. For Trek fans (which I suspect makes up the majority of those reading this book), these chapters make the book well worth a read.
While Meyer's Star Trek work takes up the larger portion of the book, Meyer takes plenty of time to talk about the other projects he's worked on. The book covers everything from the author as struggling writer to his big break with the surprise bestseller The Seven Per-Cent-Solution to directing his first feature film (1979's Time After Time) and later films such as Volunteers with Tom Hanks and the Merchant Ivory period piece The Deceivers with Pierce Brosnan, Meyer covers the ups and downs of his career with a refreshing candidness that allows to him to both point out his own shortcomings as well as those of others (and how they helped and hindered various projects) without being self-serving. Good examples of that is the somewhat lengthy chapter on The Day After, the nuclear war centric TV movie that Meyer directed for the ABC network in 1983 that gained both large amounts of controversy and the highest viewing figure for any TV movie ever aired, where Meyer details the uphill fight to not only make it as he wanted but even to get it broadcast at all and a later chapter on the film Company Business where Meyer's clashes with actor Gene Hackman undermined the film considerably.
The View From The Bridge then is a look at the extraordinary career of a man who, while not a household name, has nevertheless created some of the best known tales in popular culture from the last couple of decades. From Star Trek to Sherlock Holmes and The Day After, Meyer shows us how his talent and determination allowed him to entertain millions with novels and films that were entertaining and at times thought provoking. The results, for fans of Trek and Meyer's work at large, make for fascinating reading.
May 31, 2013
I didn't want to have to say this: there is more to this book than Star Trek. So, it should get a wider read. If you are a movie fan at all, a writer of any kind, or appreciate the mediums they operate in, then you would enjoy this little peek behind the curtain.
That being said, I bought it *specifically* because a large part of it was about him directing Wrath of Khan. Its ultimately his story, and he has a wonderfully relatable voice, great dry humor and valuable insight to "how dreams are made."
I didn't realize how many of his films I had seen, which was a delightful surprise. Seeing his perspective of the Star Trek stars was entertaining, just serving to personalize (in my humble opinion) one of the most iconic science fiction movies of all time. Hearing about these titans of the franchise being actors, and as such having human failings and triumphs, was a bit faith shattering, but amazing at the same time.
As a writer, it was refreshing, and cringe inducing, to see how screenplays get written, sacrificed, recycled, so either discarded or pushed into production.
I was so pleased to find this when I did, when the reboot of the Star Trek franchise is in full swing. Of course I've already seen it. At a gift of an advance screening.
By the way, "the undiscovered country" WAS pulled directly from Hamlet.
Told you so.
That being said, I bought it *specifically* because a large part of it was about him directing Wrath of Khan. Its ultimately his story, and he has a wonderfully relatable voice, great dry humor and valuable insight to "how dreams are made."
I didn't realize how many of his films I had seen, which was a delightful surprise. Seeing his perspective of the Star Trek stars was entertaining, just serving to personalize (in my humble opinion) one of the most iconic science fiction movies of all time. Hearing about these titans of the franchise being actors, and as such having human failings and triumphs, was a bit faith shattering, but amazing at the same time.
As a writer, it was refreshing, and cringe inducing, to see how screenplays get written, sacrificed, recycled, so either discarded or pushed into production.
I was so pleased to find this when I did, when the reboot of the Star Trek franchise is in full swing. Of course I've already seen it. At a gift of an advance screening.
By the way, "the undiscovered country" WAS pulled directly from Hamlet.
Told you so.
March 8, 2019
I received this as a gift quite awhile ago and sadly, I let it sit on my shelf way too long. This is a great autobiography by storyteller Nicholas Meyer from the standpoint of his career. Full of anecdotes about his journey into Hollywood and his ups and downs along the way on the many projects he has worked on. Meyer is transparent and paints a picture of himself that is seemingly truly self-aware. He doesn't run from his faults and in doing so, he emboldens the reader to face their own faults as well. His creative philosophy is strong and it is fascinating to follow which battles he chose to stand his ground on, which ones he won, which ones he lost and which ones he walked away from. There are countless "what ifs" in this book that are food for thought.
I highly recommend this. And while good chunk of the book does focus on his work on Star Trek, a great deal of it does not. If you are looking for insights into the mind of a creative person, but find Star Trek off-putting, I would still recommend you check this out.
I highly recommend this. And while good chunk of the book does focus on his work on Star Trek, a great deal of it does not. If you are looking for insights into the mind of a creative person, but find Star Trek off-putting, I would still recommend you check this out.
May 23, 2021
Director, screenwriter and novelist, Nicholas Myer, has had a distinguished career with films like The Seven Per Cent Solution, Time After Time, The Day After (TV show) and others but he's probably best known for the Star Trek films. He directed Star Trek: The Wrath Of Khan, and Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country and had a hand in writing several others. This memoir discusses his Hollywood career in detail and especially the world of Star Trek as he experienced it, focusing on the films themselves and what they mean both to himself, other people, and the world at large. - BH.
August 26, 2013
I’m going to start out with a confession that will surprise almost everybody who has never met me or read anything I write.
I am pretty much the biggest nerd there is.
That said many of my heroes are nerd heroes. Nicholas Meyer is one of them.
For the uninitiated Nicholas Meyer is the one responsible for making Star Trek good again, or maybe making it good enough to keep going? He wrote and directed Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan where, famously, Spock dies. He co-wrote Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home and returned to write and direct in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. He is arguably the reason why the ‘every even number Star Trek is awesome� mantra started (or conversely ‘every odd numbered Star Trek sucks�).
When I heard he had written memoirs I bought the book without reading anything else about it.
Nicholas Meyer is not the most prolific writer, he’s written a few novels and a handful of screenplays, but he makes up for it in quality of story. Not only are his scripts fun, but they also mean something.
Star Trek, at it’s heart is about something (forgive me if this descends into a rant about the new movies, I’ll try to keep it under check) and, like all good science fiction, can give a message about social, political, economic, and even literary upheaval with power and conviction that is simply not possible in other genre. Throughout its convoluted history many writers have forgotten that but the general sense of Star Trek is a story that is fun and entertaining but also about change, race, slavery, political and religious freedom, equality, justice, etc.
What Nicholas Meyer brought back to Star Trek was that aspect. He turned it into a movie about people aging together, dealing with being obsolete, and in the middle of it he also taught us about revenge, creation, death, sacrifice, and life.
And that was only one movie.
Meyer writes with an easy, friendly voice that made me sad this book wasn’t longer. I would have gladly read three hundred more pages of his stories and memories, even if they didn’t talk about Star Trek. Which is a good thing because there are only three chapters about Star Trek, because Meyer has done other things and he has had other experiences.
This is one of my favorite books. Probably I am biased because he is one of my heroes, but it is also a touching look at the life of a man who has tried to do his job the best he can and the struggles, successes, and downright heartaches that he has had along the way.
Read this if you are a fan of Star Trek, or movies, or writers, or Meyer himself. If you are none of those things then you should read it anyway. It will be worth it.
I am pretty much the biggest nerd there is.
That said many of my heroes are nerd heroes. Nicholas Meyer is one of them.
For the uninitiated Nicholas Meyer is the one responsible for making Star Trek good again, or maybe making it good enough to keep going? He wrote and directed Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan where, famously, Spock dies. He co-wrote Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home and returned to write and direct in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. He is arguably the reason why the ‘every even number Star Trek is awesome� mantra started (or conversely ‘every odd numbered Star Trek sucks�).
When I heard he had written memoirs I bought the book without reading anything else about it.
Nicholas Meyer is not the most prolific writer, he’s written a few novels and a handful of screenplays, but he makes up for it in quality of story. Not only are his scripts fun, but they also mean something.
Star Trek, at it’s heart is about something (forgive me if this descends into a rant about the new movies, I’ll try to keep it under check) and, like all good science fiction, can give a message about social, political, economic, and even literary upheaval with power and conviction that is simply not possible in other genre. Throughout its convoluted history many writers have forgotten that but the general sense of Star Trek is a story that is fun and entertaining but also about change, race, slavery, political and religious freedom, equality, justice, etc.
What Nicholas Meyer brought back to Star Trek was that aspect. He turned it into a movie about people aging together, dealing with being obsolete, and in the middle of it he also taught us about revenge, creation, death, sacrifice, and life.
And that was only one movie.
Meyer writes with an easy, friendly voice that made me sad this book wasn’t longer. I would have gladly read three hundred more pages of his stories and memories, even if they didn’t talk about Star Trek. Which is a good thing because there are only three chapters about Star Trek, because Meyer has done other things and he has had other experiences.
This is one of my favorite books. Probably I am biased because he is one of my heroes, but it is also a touching look at the life of a man who has tried to do his job the best he can and the struggles, successes, and downright heartaches that he has had along the way.
Read this if you are a fan of Star Trek, or movies, or writers, or Meyer himself. If you are none of those things then you should read it anyway. It will be worth it.
February 21, 2012
I picked up this book because I might be doing a book of my own on The Day After, a TV movie from 1983 that Meyer directed.
Like Meyer, I've never been much of a Star Trek aficionado, and I expected to skim through the Star Trek bits and focus instead on The Day After. I'll confess that I did read The Day After chapter first, but I was so pleased by the writing style and Meyer's ability to lace in bits of artistic advice/insight, that I went back to the beginning and read the whole thing cover to cover -- not quite in one sitting, but darn near it.
I didn't know much about Nicholas Meyer before reading this book. I only knew about The Day After and the Star Trek series and that led me to make certain assumptions. I'm not sure I could articulate exactly what those assumptions were; I only know that once I started reading and learned more about Meyer, that what I read surprised me. It made me like him, relate to him, respect him and just a little bit afraid of him.
Meyer doesn't shy away from pointing out times when he may have been difficult to work with. Some readers unfamiliar with show business (or any business) may find that off putting. But I know from experience that powers-that-be types have a habit of putting people in unreasonable positions and often the only way of dealing with that unreasonableness is being even more unreasonable yourself. You have to fight for your vision sometimes, you have to remind people of the promises they've made and hold their feet to the fire. Sometimes this involves quitting or threatening to quit, which, like Meyer, I've had to do myself a few times.
As a writer I'm always interested in a successful writer's take on the craft and the business. Most writing advice comes from people in no position to give it. That's why books like and are so rare. I think I could throw on a list with those books without fear of hyperbole.
Judging by the cover, this book is obviously marketed toward Star Trek fans and I doubt many writers would stumble across it otherwise, which is a shame.
Like Meyer, I've never been much of a Star Trek aficionado, and I expected to skim through the Star Trek bits and focus instead on The Day After. I'll confess that I did read The Day After chapter first, but I was so pleased by the writing style and Meyer's ability to lace in bits of artistic advice/insight, that I went back to the beginning and read the whole thing cover to cover -- not quite in one sitting, but darn near it.
I didn't know much about Nicholas Meyer before reading this book. I only knew about The Day After and the Star Trek series and that led me to make certain assumptions. I'm not sure I could articulate exactly what those assumptions were; I only know that once I started reading and learned more about Meyer, that what I read surprised me. It made me like him, relate to him, respect him and just a little bit afraid of him.
Meyer doesn't shy away from pointing out times when he may have been difficult to work with. Some readers unfamiliar with show business (or any business) may find that off putting. But I know from experience that powers-that-be types have a habit of putting people in unreasonable positions and often the only way of dealing with that unreasonableness is being even more unreasonable yourself. You have to fight for your vision sometimes, you have to remind people of the promises they've made and hold their feet to the fire. Sometimes this involves quitting or threatening to quit, which, like Meyer, I've had to do myself a few times.
As a writer I'm always interested in a successful writer's take on the craft and the business. Most writing advice comes from people in no position to give it. That's why books like and are so rare. I think I could throw on a list with those books without fear of hyperbole.
Judging by the cover, this book is obviously marketed toward Star Trek fans and I doubt many writers would stumble across it otherwise, which is a shame.
July 2, 2014
A very interesting book, more about writing and directing in Hollywood than about just Star Trek. Having said that, it would help mightily to be a fan of the series. It's not that you have to be a fan to enjoy it; it's that Star Trek, in some way, takes up probably 50% to 75% of the book.
Still, there are other interesting things here:
--It takes about two seconds for directors to become nobodies in Hollywood. I thought it was fast for actors...
--If you're not going to act, you'd better be able to write. And fast.
--Meyer culled five or six screenplay drafts of Star Trek II and wrote Wrath of Khan by combining the best elements of those unfilmed drafts, plus his own ideas.
--And he wrote the screenplay for free.
--In twelve days.
--And didn't take a screenplay credit for it.
--I watched Wrath of Khan again last week, after finishing this book. It holds up surprisingly well.
--He insists those are Montalban's real pecs. Says so repeatedly. I still don't believe it.
--And there's no way a genius like Khan doesn't get the twice-repeated "If we go by the book" coded message from Spock to Kirk near the end.
--The latest Star Trek movie is, of course, a parallel-universe version of this. Abrams clearly liked Wrath of Khan and honors it constantly in his film.
--Which is in some ways better. But mostly I don't think one is better than the other. Just...different. Each couldn't have been made in their respective eras.
--(Back to the book. Sorry for the digression.)
--Nicholas Meyer somehow survived very successfully in Hollywood despite very powerful depressive and neurotic tendencies. By his own frequent admission.
--He says the Trek movies he wrote and wrote / directed (II, IV and VI) were the best ones. He is, of course, correct. One had its moments; III was okay but too predictable and violent; and V was just plain awful.
--His first novel, one that made Sherlock Holmes meet Freud, was very good. I haven't read his others, but plan to. His books overall have done pretty well, especially his Holmes.
It's an easy read. If you're a fan of movies, writing, Hollywood, and / or Star Trek, give it a shot.
Still, there are other interesting things here:
--It takes about two seconds for directors to become nobodies in Hollywood. I thought it was fast for actors...
--If you're not going to act, you'd better be able to write. And fast.
--Meyer culled five or six screenplay drafts of Star Trek II and wrote Wrath of Khan by combining the best elements of those unfilmed drafts, plus his own ideas.
--And he wrote the screenplay for free.
--In twelve days.
--And didn't take a screenplay credit for it.
--I watched Wrath of Khan again last week, after finishing this book. It holds up surprisingly well.
--He insists those are Montalban's real pecs. Says so repeatedly. I still don't believe it.
--And there's no way a genius like Khan doesn't get the twice-repeated "If we go by the book" coded message from Spock to Kirk near the end.
--The latest Star Trek movie is, of course, a parallel-universe version of this. Abrams clearly liked Wrath of Khan and honors it constantly in his film.
--Which is in some ways better. But mostly I don't think one is better than the other. Just...different. Each couldn't have been made in their respective eras.
--(Back to the book. Sorry for the digression.)
--Nicholas Meyer somehow survived very successfully in Hollywood despite very powerful depressive and neurotic tendencies. By his own frequent admission.
--He says the Trek movies he wrote and wrote / directed (II, IV and VI) were the best ones. He is, of course, correct. One had its moments; III was okay but too predictable and violent; and V was just plain awful.
--His first novel, one that made Sherlock Holmes meet Freud, was very good. I haven't read his others, but plan to. His books overall have done pretty well, especially his Holmes.
It's an easy read. If you're a fan of movies, writing, Hollywood, and / or Star Trek, give it a shot.
December 18, 2010
I enjoyed this a lot, though you could argue that it's a bit mendacious in marketing - surprise, surprise. It is, in fact, a memoir of Meyer's career in film, as the subtitle suggests, though I'm sorry that it short-changes the fifteen years that followed his last excursion into Star Trek, probably to maintain the fiction that it is really a "Star Trek" book. Anyway, as someone who loved The Seven Percent Solution (chiefly in book form - didn't see the film until much later), but also loved the three ST:TOS films with which Meyer was associated as writer, director or both (II, IV, and VI), I'm very happy with the content. It's an interesting POV - Meyer never really was assimilated into the Borg that is the Star Trek phenomenon, although he is clearly an intelligent and sensitive man, who "got it" as myth and as pop culture phenomenon. The extent to which he refused to buy into the optimistic ideology of that universe makes both interesting and painful reading, especially where it clearly caused distress to Gene Roddenberry, who was shut out from the movie behemoth after the failure of the first ST - not Meyer's doing, but he certainly didn't make it any easier on the old visionary. Meyer also sensibly refuses to take any sides in the bitter internecine wars of the original cast, though he does comment on the apparent solidity of the friendship between Nimoy and Shatner. He also recounts stories of disputes with both those worthies, apparently without bitterness. His ego is a match for either one, I am quite sure.
The tales of how movies get made (or do not) are instructive, and made less dispiriting by Meyer's own matter-of-fact attitude towards the whole thing. He also dismisses much of his own work, including "Company Business", which, as a fan of Baryshnikov, I probably liked better than its creator. I didn't see "the Day After", the TV movie about nuclear disaster which is the other very high-profile project for which he is known. It was, of course, censored every which way from Sunday, to his great distress.
This one earns space on my bookshelf.
The tales of how movies get made (or do not) are instructive, and made less dispiriting by Meyer's own matter-of-fact attitude towards the whole thing. He also dismisses much of his own work, including "Company Business", which, as a fan of Baryshnikov, I probably liked better than its creator. I didn't see "the Day After", the TV movie about nuclear disaster which is the other very high-profile project for which he is known. It was, of course, censored every which way from Sunday, to his great distress.
This one earns space on my bookshelf.
February 13, 2011
A really enjoyable read about Nicholas Meyer, writer and director. He is probably best known for his work on "Star Trek", but he's done other things like "Time After Time", which seems to be a favorite of people.
Most people who buy this book will probably buy it for the ST stuff, but I thoroughly recommend reading the other sections as well. His personal life is not so interesting, except for when he discusses bonding with Pierce Brosnan (best known as James Bond) over being a widower and having to raise young children. It's sweet and tender, although slightly awkward as Meyer discusses being "annoyed" with his young daughters at the time in his grief.
That aside though, Meyer is a good storyteller, as people probably already known. He breaks the narrative down movie by movie and has some interesting tidbits on each one. Even if you are a hardcore ST fan, it's still interesting to read it from his point of view. As he points out in his book, this is only HIS memoirs and his perspective. He knows he could be wrong, but it's how he remembers things. Still, I really found his thoughts on say "Time After Time" or "The Day After Tomorrow" really fascinating, although I've seen neither. I've seen both movies mentioned here and there on various message boards or in connection with Meyer's name. It didn't make me want to watch them per se, but I encourage people to read this book not just for Meyer's stuff on ST.
I had read Meyer had been in consideration/negotiation for working on the ST movie prior to the JJ Abrams' one (Star Trek: Nemesis) and that it didn't go forward because then-executive producer Rick Berman didn't like the direction. As a fan more of "The Next Generation" show, this book REALLY made me wonder what might have been.
Most people who buy this book will probably buy it for the ST stuff, but I thoroughly recommend reading the other sections as well. His personal life is not so interesting, except for when he discusses bonding with Pierce Brosnan (best known as James Bond) over being a widower and having to raise young children. It's sweet and tender, although slightly awkward as Meyer discusses being "annoyed" with his young daughters at the time in his grief.
That aside though, Meyer is a good storyteller, as people probably already known. He breaks the narrative down movie by movie and has some interesting tidbits on each one. Even if you are a hardcore ST fan, it's still interesting to read it from his point of view. As he points out in his book, this is only HIS memoirs and his perspective. He knows he could be wrong, but it's how he remembers things. Still, I really found his thoughts on say "Time After Time" or "The Day After Tomorrow" really fascinating, although I've seen neither. I've seen both movies mentioned here and there on various message boards or in connection with Meyer's name. It didn't make me want to watch them per se, but I encourage people to read this book not just for Meyer's stuff on ST.
I had read Meyer had been in consideration/negotiation for working on the ST movie prior to the JJ Abrams' one (Star Trek: Nemesis) and that it didn't go forward because then-executive producer Rick Berman didn't like the direction. As a fan more of "The Next Generation" show, this book REALLY made me wonder what might have been.
June 5, 2021
If you have an interest in ClassicTrek, you'll probably enjoy this book.
If you don't, you'll no doubt wonder "Who the heck is Nicholas Meyer, and why is he writing his memoirs?"
*
The above text is what I wrote when I read the book in 2010, shortly after it was published. Imagine my surprise when I went to add the title to Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ as “currently readingâ€�, and discovered I'd already read it. I have no memory of doing so. Since I had a milestone birthday yesterday, I find this more worrying than I normally would...
This time I listened to the book on audio. It only recently became available in that format, and I was especially eager to hear it because it was read by the author. The book annoyed me so much that I started a review when I was only about 30% in. The primary trigger for my anger was his complete disregard/disdain for television, even as he lionized movies and moviemaking. And where did he start learning about movies? By watching them on television, of course.
By the end, he's not quite apologetic about his initial disrespect for Star Trek: TOS, but he is at least making the right noises and showing some respect, even if he's only pandering to the fans.
Still not sure why it annoyed me so much on this read, when it didn't seem to in 2010. Or perhaps it did, but I didn't want to trash a generally beloved figure in Trek fan circles in public. Getting older has its advantages, one of them is total candor in book reviews. I left the three star rating from 2010 alone.
If you don't, you'll no doubt wonder "Who the heck is Nicholas Meyer, and why is he writing his memoirs?"
*
The above text is what I wrote when I read the book in 2010, shortly after it was published. Imagine my surprise when I went to add the title to Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ as “currently readingâ€�, and discovered I'd already read it. I have no memory of doing so. Since I had a milestone birthday yesterday, I find this more worrying than I normally would...
This time I listened to the book on audio. It only recently became available in that format, and I was especially eager to hear it because it was read by the author. The book annoyed me so much that I started a review when I was only about 30% in. The primary trigger for my anger was his complete disregard/disdain for television, even as he lionized movies and moviemaking. And where did he start learning about movies? By watching them on television, of course.
By the end, he's not quite apologetic about his initial disrespect for Star Trek: TOS, but he is at least making the right noises and showing some respect, even if he's only pandering to the fans.
Still not sure why it annoyed me so much on this read, when it didn't seem to in 2010. Or perhaps it did, but I didn't want to trash a generally beloved figure in Trek fan circles in public. Getting older has its advantages, one of them is total candor in book reviews. I left the three star rating from 2010 alone.
July 30, 2011
Nicholas Meyer's entertaining look at his life in movies and Star Trek is not to be missed.
This book takes a good look at internecine Hollywood studio power struggles, and repeated battles to keep creative control.
Because I'm a Trekkie, my favorite chapters deal with making Star Trek II and Star Trek IV.
Meyer killed Spock in STII, a move that he said enraged Trek creator Gene Roddenberry. But he felt it was necessary both to assauge star Leonard Nimoy (who was tired of the ears) and to generate big box office.
He also introduced racist Starfleet officers in STIV, further upsetting a very ill Roddenberry. He defends this by saying they were critical his allegory of the end of the Cold War.
I agree. STIV was an excellent parallel to the end of the Soviet Union, and vthe fear among Cold Warriors of the aftermath.
Imagine Starfleet without Klingons to hate.
Meyer also talks about the anti-nuclear film The Day After, a disturbing ABC movie about a nuclear attack on America that provoked a response from President Ronald Reagan.
Meyer again battled studio censors who tried to neuter his script. Meyer ignored them, and it was one of the highest-rated TV films of all time.
This book is for film buffs and sci-fi fans.
And since Meyer is an accomplished author, the book isa terrific read.
This book takes a good look at internecine Hollywood studio power struggles, and repeated battles to keep creative control.
Because I'm a Trekkie, my favorite chapters deal with making Star Trek II and Star Trek IV.
Meyer killed Spock in STII, a move that he said enraged Trek creator Gene Roddenberry. But he felt it was necessary both to assauge star Leonard Nimoy (who was tired of the ears) and to generate big box office.
He also introduced racist Starfleet officers in STIV, further upsetting a very ill Roddenberry. He defends this by saying they were critical his allegory of the end of the Cold War.
I agree. STIV was an excellent parallel to the end of the Soviet Union, and vthe fear among Cold Warriors of the aftermath.
Imagine Starfleet without Klingons to hate.
Meyer also talks about the anti-nuclear film The Day After, a disturbing ABC movie about a nuclear attack on America that provoked a response from President Ronald Reagan.
Meyer again battled studio censors who tried to neuter his script. Meyer ignored them, and it was one of the highest-rated TV films of all time.
This book is for film buffs and sci-fi fans.
And since Meyer is an accomplished author, the book isa terrific read.
May 4, 2012
I knew of Nicholas Meyer as a novelist long before I knew he was involved with Star Trek. His first book, , was the first Sherlock Holmes pastiche I ever read and remains one of my favorites. So although I picked up The View from the Bridge because I'm interested in Star Trek, I ended up liking it better for his stories about writing The Seven-percent Solution and then producing the movie based on it. The View from the Bridge is organized chronologically, divided into sections about each of the movies he's worked on, either as a screenwriter or director. It gets a little same-ish after a while, and there were a few too many "of course the movie didn't do well because of blah blah blah stuff beyond my control" moments, but there are a few real gems. Meyer had a major hand in developing Star Treks II, IV, and VI (known to fans as "the good ones"), so I like it that he started out as the guy who, when asked to help out with The Wrath of Khan screenplay, referred to Star Trek as "that show about the guy with the ears."
December 9, 2014
As a fan of Meyer the filmmaker ("Time After Time" is a sentimental favorite of mine going back to 1980's cable when I first watched it) and of course, Star Trek, I had this film autobiography on my wish list for some time. When I saw a used deal for a HC of the book, I grabbed it. (By the way, nice Miller allusion and pun in the title.)
Meyer is at least as prolific as a writer as he is a director, and the book shines because of it. Yes, the Trek anecdotes are plentiful and interesting, but I appreciated at least as much Meyer's angle throughout -- he's a guy from the outside who got a shot in Hollywood and appreciates and acknowledges the fickle nature of the beast. Surprisingly and sadly, some tragedies and valleys in his life give levity to the proceedings. Even if you are not a Trekker, you owe it to yourself to read it. It's a bit short, but "The View from the Bridge" certainly can't be guilty of wearing out its welcome, either. I also need to seek out his "The Deceivers" -- sounds like a possible lost classic.
Meyer is at least as prolific as a writer as he is a director, and the book shines because of it. Yes, the Trek anecdotes are plentiful and interesting, but I appreciated at least as much Meyer's angle throughout -- he's a guy from the outside who got a shot in Hollywood and appreciates and acknowledges the fickle nature of the beast. Surprisingly and sadly, some tragedies and valleys in his life give levity to the proceedings. Even if you are not a Trekker, you owe it to yourself to read it. It's a bit short, but "The View from the Bridge" certainly can't be guilty of wearing out its welcome, either. I also need to seek out his "The Deceivers" -- sounds like a possible lost classic.
September 28, 2009
I normally don't do memoirs, I'm not much interested in reading about someone's abusive childhood in a war zone where they grew up with a cleft palate. Or whatever. Or the converse, I don't give any measurable amount of shits about how some billionaire lied, cheated and schemed his way to the top, or how much he (was lucky) believed in himself. Or she. Whatever.
But Star Trek. Well, shit, yeah.
Mostly I was interested in hearing some behind the scenes stuff on Shatner. Meyer claims he's not as much of a shit as, well, everyone else I'd read an opinion from.
The View from the Bridge encompasses all of Meyer's career, not just the two Trek movies he directed (which were the best ones, btw) and the one he just wrote (which was pretty good). The writing is simple and easy to read, conversational, one might say.
Meyer had never seen an episode of Star Trek before working on Wrath of Khan, so you needn't own a pair of ears to enjoy this book.
But Star Trek. Well, shit, yeah.
Mostly I was interested in hearing some behind the scenes stuff on Shatner. Meyer claims he's not as much of a shit as, well, everyone else I'd read an opinion from.
The View from the Bridge encompasses all of Meyer's career, not just the two Trek movies he directed (which were the best ones, btw) and the one he just wrote (which was pretty good). The writing is simple and easy to read, conversational, one might say.
Meyer had never seen an episode of Star Trek before working on Wrath of Khan, so you needn't own a pair of ears to enjoy this book.
July 15, 2013
An interesting read from the director of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn. He deals mainly with his life in show business and breaks the book up into periods of his life based on books he wrote, screenplays he wrote, and films he directed. I was most interested in the Star Trek references and found it most informative on the author's take on Star Trek II, which he directed, Star Trek IV, that he wrote much of the screenplay for, and Star Trek VI, which he also directed. The books shows that what has come down to us as Star Trek "canon" isn't the monolithic idea that many seem to think but brings with it a lot of the people involved. In this case Nicholas Meyer admits to not being a fan, no liking many of the shows and how he was more concerned with the message to today than he was with a story that fit in the Star Trek universe.
October 7, 2013
This was a keeper. Not only is it a "Star Trek" book, it's also a book about writing, screenwriting, movies, and being an artist. I'll just go ahead and say my biggest complaint upfront -- Nicky Meyer's politics are entirely too distracting when he is writing his life story. His casual use of "George Bush's war crimes" as an analogy just makes you want to stop. But I learned to ignore them while reading, and I managed to enjoy the book. He truly is an artist, and I enjoyed learning about his life in the business. I think he does a great job "being honest" about himself. I, of course, enjoyed the chapters about Star Trek II, IV, and VI. It's evident that he still doesn't "get" Star Trek, but as someone who wrote all those movies, I can't begrudge him at this point! It's a great read about what it is like to be an artist. Definite recommend! Easy read.
March 10, 2011
Meyer's memoir of how he started his career as a publicist, then accidentally became a novelist and finally a filmmaker is a must-read for everyone who wants to make movies. Witty, honest and chock-full of great anecdotes (and at times painful realizations about himself and his decisions) "View" was hard to put down. The "Star Trek" stuff is informative for even the casual fan, but what I really enjoyed learning more about is his love of Sherlock Holmes and authorship of The Seven-Per-Cent Solution: Being a Reprint from the Reminiscences of John H. Watson, M.D. (Norton Paperback), his take on life and the genesis (pardon the pun) of his career. If my novel Pilate's Cross was ever picked up by Hollywood (ha!), I would hope a director/screenwriter like Meyer was at the helm.
July 31, 2011
I first experienced Nicholas Meyer with "The Seven-Percent Solution" which spurred my interest in Sherlock Holmes. I ran into his work again when he helped save the Star Trek franchise with his work on "Star Trek II - The Wrath of Khan". This memoir tells of his Hollywood career focusing on the impact of Star Trek on his life and vice versa. It is a well-written, enjoyable story. His observations are memorable and not preachy. He tries to tell the whole story: recounting events as he remembers them but also adding others perspectives that he has learned over the years. What was impressive about the book is its optimism. He does not gossip. He does not dwell on the negative parts. He tells his story with humor and wit. It was fun to read.
November 14, 2010
I almost stopped reading this book on page four, where Nicholas made a political metaphor that so enraged me I was sorely tempted to put the book down. Instead I gave him one more chance, just one, and he never gave me cause to regret for the remainder of his tale. Instead I found the rest of the book to be very enjoyable.
He relates the story of his life in Hollywood, including directing Star Trek II and VI. Admittedly this was the hook that drew me in, but his story as a whole as he is involved in many projects (some of which surprised me) gives an interesting glimpse into this strange, quirky business of making movies.
He relates the story of his life in Hollywood, including directing Star Trek II and VI. Admittedly this was the hook that drew me in, but his story as a whole as he is involved in many projects (some of which surprised me) gives an interesting glimpse into this strange, quirky business of making movies.
July 2, 2010
Star Trek gets top billing here -- no surprise when you consider the Trekkie sales factor, and heck, it caught my eye in the library too. But most of the book about the life and evolving work of a guy who "loves movies and tries to make good ones." I've enjoyed Meyer's writing for a long time -- I think I first ran into The Seven Percent Solution back in Thorntown -- and reading from his perspective just adds a little more to it.
Unfortunately, it also added several movies to my DVD queue. Curse him for making them sound so interesting!
Unfortunately, it also added several movies to my DVD queue. Curse him for making them sound so interesting!
January 16, 2016
Maybe a quarter of the book is about Star Trek. I appreciate this book more for Meyer's musings on movies as art and how difficult it was and still is to make them. His thoughts about going to the movies as a community experience sheds light on my continual irritation with people who use their cell phones. When you turn that damned thing on, you separate yourself from the group, breaking the unwritten pact. Anyway, the book is a quick read and worth your time if you like Hollywood memoirs that don't sink to gossip.
January 6, 2014
Received this as a gift, given it's Star Trek content, but enjoyed it as a memoir of an observer of the Hollywood machine. I've been interested in movies and movie making almost as long as I've been a Star Trek fan, so enjoyed Nick's insights into how scripts get written, rewritten, dropped, rewritten and eventually, occasionally made into movies. I did enjoy the Star Trek information, but as others have noted, this book deserves a broader audience. It covers much more about movie making than just the Star Trek films he made.
January 23, 2017
Nicholas Meyer directed two of my three favourite Star Trek films (II and VI). I didn't know he wrote the 4th movie, either. So I picked this up and figured I'd get an interesting look at my favorite movies. I did, and I got more. I didn't know about Meyer's oeuvre but now I'm interested. He is a good storyteller who keeps you wrapped up in his history of Hollywood. I really found it fascinating, and don't worry, it's not all about Star Trek. (But there's a lot of Star Trek). I have some movie watching (and more reading, of course!) to do!
June 12, 2023
*4.5/5
I've had the pleasure of reading Nicholas Meyer's memoir about Star Trek. He reveals insight that only someone who has been personally involved in the creation of something as beloved as Star Trek can provide. His writing is engaging and honest; it's an intimate look into the world of production for a fan-favorite series. While not all readers may agree with his perspective, they will certainly get a better understanding on how to think outside the box when creating something truly unique or remarkable.
I've had the pleasure of reading Nicholas Meyer's memoir about Star Trek. He reveals insight that only someone who has been personally involved in the creation of something as beloved as Star Trek can provide. His writing is engaging and honest; it's an intimate look into the world of production for a fan-favorite series. While not all readers may agree with his perspective, they will certainly get a better understanding on how to think outside the box when creating something truly unique or remarkable.
August 10, 2011
Smart and informative, like reading old war stories written by your favorite brilliant uncle, "Memories" offers all kinds of treasures Trek and otherwise. Written in the same eloquent and economic use of language that made Khan and Country the classics they've become. Wonderful stories about how his career began, then petered out, then came back around - has a rare candor, without becoming too self-indulgent or (worse) boring.
July 17, 2012
I came to Meyer's book as a less-than-fanatical fan of Trek and found an interesting overview of how ideas and scripts get turned into movies. The author gains some credibility by being self-effacing and turning the blame for some failures inward, though when he makes other claims (he's the single-handed reason for the studio disclaimer you see at the beginning of DVD commentary tracks?) it does cause the reader to wonder about the perspectives of the other players in these stories.
August 3, 2011
Most of the Trek anecdotes are interesting, but I got a little bored with Meyer's discussions of his other film work -- which is my own fault, since they're written with the same flair and humor as the Trek bits. An interesting read from the guy who directed the two best ST films: Wrath of Khan and Undiscovered Country.
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