Rating: 
Summary: Walter Koenig presents a pulls-no-punches biography
Review: "Warped Factors" is a strong autobiography that grabs your attention and won't let go, no matter if you start reading from the beginning or randomly flip to a page. (On a personal note, I have Walter Koenig's book to blame for a horrible 24-hour period. While reading this, I missed my train stop on the way home from work; after staying up late that night to read it, I overslept and missed my train TO work. Thanks loads, Walter!)The most surprising and unique thing about Walter Koenig's biography is that it is brutally honest, including a lot of details that many performers in the media would flat-out refuse to admit to, much less publish... and each incident, described as fully as possible, always has a kicker at the end of it, reflecting Koenig's dry wit. At one point, he tells about going to a video store opening with James Doohan and George Takei, in a bus whose air conditioning system broke; he ends the paragraph with, "For the record, I threw up." So much for the vaulted star image, but it's a welcome relief to see that Koenig is not so engulphed in his celebrity that he fools people into forgetting that he's human. Koenig freely admits that there is always more than one side to every story, and in "Warped Factors" he is not afraid to step away from his tale and examine how other people felt or perceived his situations. He should take center stage-- it's his book-- but he is a confident enough writer and performer to share the spotlight with others. The only real flaws that I found included the lack of "Babylon 5" details (being his most recent project) and the proofreader's mistakes with punctuation. Other than that, it made for a very good read.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent book
Review: Easily one of the best books by a television celebrity. Amusing and candid, it shows how life in Hollywood really is, how Walter Koenig coped with a difficult childhood and early days in Hollywood and how he feels about his fellow Star Trek stars. Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: Insight into a complex and talented man
Review: Having watch Walter Koenig on TV since he appeared on Star Trek and later seeing him as Al Bester on Babylon 5. I wanted to know more about this talented and complex man. I bought the book. I think most of us can identify with his story of life's many insecurites, our own periods of self doubts. Walter found a way to use all of his life experiences, good or bad, to become the gifted actor that has shared his talents and gift with us all in many theatrical productions, movies and television. The book is wonderfully funny and profoundly touching. Walter is a kind, caring man. This book is a must read for all Star Trek and Babylon 5 fans. Walter is special and unique in today world of famous inaccessible people, he has time for his fans.
Rating:
Summary: Laughter And Insight--The Perfect Complement
Review: I recieved this book in the post yesterday, it was a schoolday and I had 3 hours of homework yet I still set apart enough time to read this masterpiece. I haven't had the pleasure of reading the other Trek star's autobiographies except the Memories books by William Shatner which are quite reasonable reads. It starts off with perhaps the most ingenious begining to a book that I have ever read - I won't spoil it for you. Unlike Shatner he isn't so much interested in his career but the FACTORS that created it. There are some wonderful annecdotes, all of which are original and well written. He doesn't re-use old material. Also unlike the other Trek stars he doesn't just critise William Shatner without cause, that is included in this book. He writes with unique style and with a power that I have never encountered before in a book - to use a cliche, it's the best of the bunch! The pictures in the centre of the book make it an even more enjoyable experience. In short, READ THIS!!!
Rating:
Summary: Simply the best book that I have ever read!
Review: I recieved this book in the post yesterday, it was a schoolday and I had 3 hours of homework yet I still set apart enough time to read this masterpiece. I haven't had the pleasure of reading the other Trek star's autobiographies except the Memories books by William Shatner which are quite reasonable reads. It starts off with perhaps the most ingenious begining to a book that I have ever read - I won't spoil it for you. Unlike Shatner he isn't so much interested in his career but the FACTORS that created it. There are some wonderful annecdotes, all of which are original and well written. He doesn't re-use old material. Also unlike the other Trek stars he doesn't just critise William Shatner without cause, that is included in this book. He writes with unique style and with a power that I have never encountered before in a book - to use a cliche, it's the best of the bunch! The pictures in the centre of the book make it an even more enjoyable experience. In short, READ THIS!!!
Rating:
Summary: Great book
Review: I've just got into Star Trek and decided to read some of the books the cast wrote. The first book I read was Walter's book. He told some hilarious stories, but yet he told about the serious stuff too. I've heard that some, if not all of the cast had issues with William Shatner. Walter could've made this a dirt book and tell about every dirty thing Shatner ever did to him. Walter didn't do that. He let it be known that he wasn't happy with some of the things Shatner did it on the set, but the whole book wasn't about that. I've read other books where stars and costars just let out all the bad feelings and the book turns out negative because it turns into 'I hate him because he did this and that, this and that, this and that- etc' I repeat that Walter's book ISN'T like that. It's worth a read if you are a Star Trek fan.
Rating:
Summary: Great book
Review: I've just got into Star Trek and decided to read some of the books the cast wrote. The first book I read was Walter's book. He told some hilarious stories, but yet he told about the serious stuff too. I've heard that some, if not all of the cast had issues with William Shatner. Walter could've made this a dirt book and tell about every dirty thing Shatner ever did to him. Walter didn't do that. He let it be known that he wasn't happy with some of the things Shatner did it on the set, but the whole book wasn't about that. I've read other books where stars and costars just let out all the bad feelings and the book turns out negative because it turns into 'I hate him because he did this and that, this and that, this and that- etc' I repeat that Walter's book ISN'T like that. It's worth a read if you are a Star Trek fan.
Rating: 
Summary: It has appeal beyond Star Trek
Review: I've written about my early life in the 40's. About my first brushes with acting as a kid. About McCarthyism and its effect on my family. About the struggles of a young (and not so young) actor-writer in Hollywood and certainly about my Star Trek decades. I consider myself an "everyman". The anxieties and neuroses that plague us all are very much a part of my life and this book. I believe the reader will be able to identify with the story. There is a lot less breast beating than there are laughs, however. If I can't tell it in a funny way I generally do a pass. It's important to me that the reader gets a candid look at who I am, the people I've known and is entertained along the way. It helps to be a Star Trek and Babylon 5 fan, I suppose, but it's not essential. Read and enjoy!. Check my e-mail address if you want your copy with a personalized autograph. I will e-mail you back with an address.
Rating: 
Summary: Do you like Woody Allen?
Review: If so, then you'd probably like this book. I don't like WA, and couldn't decide if I liked it or not, then decided on not. He never tells us any meat of anything interesting. All he seems to want to do is look down upon himself, and tell anecdotes showing how annoying and neurotic he could be. I left myself wondering if I was being toyed with as well. Did some of these events (like the FBI incident at the Intern Housing) *really* occur, or only occur in the mind of a self described neurotic? I'd bet on the latter. On the other hand, my husband, who loves Woody Allen's brand of humor, laughed continuously while reading this, keeping me awake. He loved it. If you like that style of humor, try it out. I never thought his acting was even passable on Star Trek, although I do think he's brilliant as Bester on Babylon 5. I have a feeling the difference in his acting has to do with his neuroses as well. I imagine he relishes the role of Bester in a way that Chekov never fit him. On that note, this is not a book about Star Trek, or even about Babylon 5. Much too much of it is about his childhood years, and very little of it is interesting. I did find the chapter about his father (a Communist) during the McCarthy era to be fascinating. I would have liked to have heard more about that, as well as his relationship with his father, rather than on Walter's pranks and neurotic (and there is a reason he uses that word--it fits) behavior. This is not a terrible book, but I can't in good conscience recommend it, either as an autobiography, or as a Star Trek or B5 book. If you want autobiography of a Trek star, get Grace Lee Whitney's book. If you want a fun ST book, get "Get a Life" by Shatner: you will laugh hysterically for days. If you want a B5 book, get the series by Jane Killick.
Rating:
Summary: A fascinating book, an insightful writer, a gentleman
Review: Mr. Keonig was kind enough to autograph my copy, but that in no way influences my review of his book! Those who are able to write their own books, such as Mr. Koenig and Takei have, make for far more interesting reading. The "real" person comes through more clearly than when someone co-writes with them. His story is one that does not go on the predicate that you be a Star Trek fan to enjoy this book. Anyone can, and will, enjoy it. Some parts of it at first reading seemed to be a bit "self-serving" if you will, but really what they were, upon reflection, was Mr. Koenig's forthrightness and honesty, especially about himself. In short, the book is both well-written, fascinating, and very interesting. We learn that he is so much more than Commander Pavel Chekov. He really just one of us who happens to earn a modest living on the stage and screen.
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