Roddenberry bios - which is best?

[Allyn Gibson]

There's also a biography by James Van Hise (though I want to say that it was "compiled by James Van Hise," as much of the book seemed very familiar to me when I read it).

The only reason to read that one is the chapter on Roddenberry's Tarzan script, which shows that Roddenberry missed his called as a writer of porn.

 

[HaplessCrewman]

Engels is covering things I first read in the Solow/Justman book such as the incident with John D.F. Black and reinterpreting these "pranks" as less than friendly.

The gist of the gag - Roddenberry sent Majel in to Black's office under the pretense of auditioning for a role. As the "interview" progressed, she began to undress, saying "There's nothing I wouldn't do to get this role, etc." The story goes that everyone had a great laugh and that this was an example of the fun/crazy times of the '60s.

Engels interprets Roddenberry's hazing of Black as a reaction to Black's idealistic standards that Roddenberry long before abandoned to "reason".

An admittedly cynical view.

 

[Christopher]

^^That story about John D. F. Black was in The Making of Star Trek as well, except the actress was left nameless. I think Solow and Justman were the first to reveal that it was Majel, at least as far as I know.