The Longest Trek: My Tour of the Galaxy - Hardcover

Whitney, Grace Lee; Denney, Jim; Nimoy, Leonard

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 188495605X ISBN 13: 9781884956058

Publisher: Linden Publishing, 1998

Synopsis

She opened for jazz great Billie Holiday, shared the set with Marilyn Monroe, and flirted on-screen with Jack Lemmon. In her dream role, Gene Roddenberry beamed her aboard the Starship Enterprise as Yeoman Janice Rand in the original Star Trek” series. But a terrifying sexual assault on the studio lot and her lifelong feelings of emptiness and isolation would soon combine to turn her starry dream into a nightmare.

About this title

From the Author:

I wrote THE LONGEST TREK for my fans, because they've been asking for this book for years. I wrote it for my two sons, because they have never before heard the full story of the things I did and the things I went through when they were young. And I wrote it for myself, because I needed to purge those events from my memory and my soul, and get them down on paper.

It has been a liberating, exciting adventure to tell my story, and to witness the response it has gotten from people around the country. During the writing of the book, I was worried that the fans would hate me because of some of the awful things I've done in my life, which I freely disclose in THE LONGEST TREK. But no! Everyone has been wonderful to me, showering me with love and support! To everyone I've talked to or heard from since the book came out, THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart!

After the manuscript was completed, the first person I wanted to show it to was my friend Leonard Nimoy--Star Trek's Mr. Spock--who literally saved my life in those terrible days after I was written out of Star Trek. I sent the book to him, then I fretted and wondered, What will Leonard think? What if he hates the book? I didn't have long to wait.

A couple days later, my phone rang. It was Leonard. Grace, he said, would you like to hear the foreword I've written for your book? Here, in part, is what he read to me:

I call her Amazing Grace.' She rejects that name and denies that she is amazing, but I insist, because she is. ...

If you think this is simply another book of Star Trek anecdotes and inside jokes, take a deep breath and plunge in. This is a Star Trek book which will transform people's lives. It will give insight into a human condition and guidance to many in need.

It is a blessing to all of us that she has put this life of hers to such generous use.

My thanks to Grace--always amazing.

I cried when I first heard those words from my dear friend, Leonard Nimoy.

The very first day of the book's release, I was a guest at a science fiction convention in Pasadena, and I signed a copy for Ann Lockhart, a beautiful young actress you'll remember from Battlestar Galactica and many other shows. The next morning, she came up to me and her face was alight, and she said, Grace, your story is so incredible, I couldn't put it down until I'd finished it! Your book kept me up all night! It has been one of the great blessings of my life to have heard that same comment from dozens more people in recent weeks.

When I called Harlan Ellison and told him I had written an entire chapter on my cookies and milk days with him, I think it scared him half to death! Oh, no! he groaned. What did you write about me?! But after I sent him a copy, he called back and said, Grace, you're terrific! Thank you for sharing your story with the world!

I go to Star Trek conventions and book signings around the country, and everywhere I go, people line up around the block to get a copy. In Detroit, Portland, New York, New Jersey, L.A., Las Vegas--everywhere I go, I take cartons of books and they sell out in a few hours! And when I'm out of books, I tell people, Check Amazon.com--they'll never run out of copies!

And after you read the book, please drop me a note in care of my publisher (the address is in the book), and tell me what you think!

With love, GRACE LEE WHITNEY

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.:

The Longest Trek: My Tour of the Galaxy by Grace Lee Whitney (ISBN: 1884956033)

I heard a male voice call, Grace Lee! Wait up!

I turned. It was The Executive. He was smiling and his face was a little flushed. He'd had a few drinks, just as I had.

I returned his smile. You want to walk me back to the party? I asked.

He waved his hand dismissively. The party's breaking up. I wanted to talk to you. I have some ideas for changes we could make in the show--changes that would affect you. I'd like to get your thoughts on those ideas before the next production meeting.

Oh? I was intrigued. What kind of changes?

I think Yeoman Janice Rand has been under-utilized. The character has been developing some interesting possibilities in the past few episodes. I have some ideas. Why don't we find a place to sit down and talk about it?

Well-- I hesitated for the briefest moment, a thrill of excitement at the thought that The Executive wanted to talk to me about my character. I was always looking for ways to advance my career, to enlarge my part and get more lines. He had reached the very thing that made me tick: my ambition. Where would you like to talk? I asked.

How about the E building? We can find an empty office over there.

I'd had a few drinks. My inhibitions were down and my judgment was impaired. Fine, I said. Let's go.

The sun was down, but it was still light outside as we walked out of the hangerlike sound stage. We crossed the driveway from the Gower Avenue entrance of Desilu Studios, and entered the office building. I don't remember exactly what we said as we walked--small talk, I think, about the show. We had nearly finished shooting the first dozen episodes of Star Trek, and the premiere broadcast was less than two weeks away. The excitement among the cast, creators and crew of the show was growing as our first airdate neared. We believed we had a hit on our hands, and the suspense of waiting for the audience response was exciting--and a little nerve-wracking.

The building was unlocked and we walked right in. The Executive put his arm on mine as we made our way down the darkened corridor. There were lights on in some of the offices, but the building was quiet, empty and mostly dark. There was no one in the building but The Executive, me, and possibly a janitor somewhere. The Executive opened a door, flipped on a light, and ushered me in. He indicated a chair for me. I was alone with him, but I didn't care. We were one big happy family on Star Trek, and I trusted him.

There was a stereo in the room. I settled into the chair he offered me, and he put on some soft music. The office had a private wet bar. He went and poured a couple of drinks, not bothering to ask if I wanted one. He knew I did. He handed me a glass, then sat down behind the desk.

We talked. And we laughed. And we drank.

He told me about upcoming scripts, and suggested story angles that could bring out a stronger relationship between Yeoman Rand and Captain Kirk. He put himself in Kirk's place, saying, Now I'm the Captain and you're the Yeoman. What would Rand say to Kirk in this situation? Put yourself into the role. Pour your heart out to me. And we did some very sexy role-playing--purely across the desk, about 10 feet apart. In my mind, we were simply improvising with the characters to explore the Kirk-Rand relationship for story possibilities. In his mind, I later realized, it was all part of a carefully laid strategy

You know, he said after we'd been talking a while, the thing that is so fascinating about Janice Rand is her repressed desire--her hunger for sex.

Not sex, I said. Love. She loves the Captain.

Same thing, said The Executive. She wants the Captain so badly but she represses it. She doesn't admit it--not even to herself. We all know what she really wants--but she herself doesn't know. She denies it. Janice Rand can't face her own desires, her own sexuality.

Absolutely, I agreed. That's the key to the character.

And you're just like Janice Rand.

I'm-- What? What did you say? I was vaguely aware that our discussion had just turned a sharp corner. But the buzz in my brain prevented me from grasping where The Executive was steering the conversation.

You're hungry inside, he said, just like Janice Rand. Hungry, needy, full of desire. But you repress it. You bottle it up. That's not healthy Grace.

There were no alarms going off, no warning bells. I just laughed, settled back, and smugly replied, I'm not bottling up anything. If there is anyone who is completely uninhibited, it's me.

Oh? he said lightly. Well, good, then. Let's see how uninhibited you are. Undress for me.

What?! I burst out laughing. You're kidding!

The Executive rose and came around the desk, towering over me. I'm not kidding, Grace. We both know what we want--if we're willing to be honest with each other. I'm being honest with you right now. I want you. I want to see you as you are, underneath ... all of that. With a gesture, he indicated my clothes, from my neck to my feet. I want you to undress for me, he repeated.

Then he unbuckled his belt and unbuttoned his shirt. Suddenly I knew he was completely serious. This man had a lot of power over my future, and he expected me to come across. If I didn't-- At that moment, I had a sinking feeling of horror, a sense of impending doom.

About this edition

• Publisher: Linden Publishing
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 188495605X
• ISBN 13: 9781884956058
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 208