I’m relieved and happy to hear that you confused my book (a memoir, DeFOREST KELLEY: A HARVEST OF MEMORIES) with Rioux’s (a biography, FROM SAWDUST TO STARDUST) and that you will NOW give my book a try. It’s very different and mostly lots of fun — except at the end, of course, where it’s sad (alas, no miracle recovery for our beloved De)!

That said, I do believe that Rioux’s book fills in so many blanks about De’s life and pre-Trek career struggles. I feel very strongly that reading both books gives fans as well-rounded a look at the man and his times as is possible to glean at this late date.

While Rioux’s book is much more scholarly and academic (she is an academic, a professor, after all), she did a terrific job of tying the available facts together into a cohesive narrative, in my opinion. Her tome, FROM SAWDUST TO STARDUST, isn’t, by any stretch of the imagination, to be considered easy reading — it takes patience and tenacity — where my book is a lark to read (except at the end, where living it out was as far from a lark as you can get)… but with the tenuous threads Rioux had to work with, she did an amazing job! She spent months traveling and researching in public and private libraries, and interviewing all who would agree to speak with her. The threads of Kelley’s life were not well-documented. (As one librarian told Rioux, genuinely good people don’t often have as much “detritus” in their files worth keeping around — no bad behaviors, drunken brawls, spouse abuse, ungentlemanly conduct, and the like — so they fly under the radar and their files remain slim.)

I’m very sorry you found her book “unreadable.” Others who have read it have delighted in it. Perhaps after you read mine you may want to give hers a go again and see if the new perspective and insights from mine make Rioux’s book more engaging than it seemed to be to you before.

It pains me when I learn that fans can leave “an encounter with De” (in book form) disappointed or unhappy. That is never the intent of any author. I can only pray that readers and fans will remember that and do their best to express their displeasure with less heat and more light. (In physician’s terms: “Do no harm.”) People’s feelings matter — and authors are people, too.

Rioux poured her heart and soul into her book, and I believe De would have loved the book and that he would have been astonished by all the subtle details and elements she was able to uncover. Some of it seems rather mystical, but being a spiritual man, De would have appreciated even that and been impressed. (The sun rotating across Myrtle the Turtle’s shell, for example, would have given him a grin a mile wide.)

Where one book misses the target and your expectations, another might be a bulls-eye, and may well encourage you to give the “disappointing” book a re-read to see what you missed the first time around.

Again, my thanks for allowing me (and others) to know that it was not my book that disappointed you. (At least, it hasn’t YET!)

God bless!

Best wishes to you all

I miss the original “Bones”, and from what I have read—-so does everyone who knew DeForest Kelley, and the kind of man he was off camera. Watching “Where No Man Has Gone Before” always leaves me with the feeling that something is missing from the dynamics of the show. Figuring out what it is requires little effort…thank the stars that Gene recognized what was missing and found it in Mr. Kelley.

McCoy was the human soul of the big three, and we can all thank Mr. Kelley for bringing that to life as we continue to mourn his passing.

Peace. Live long and prosper.
The Vulcanista :-|

Now I fully expect you to post against me and attack me. Shame I don’t bother reading replies when I do post online. It has proven a waste of my time.

Bye Pal. And YOU get a life ok? You got off easy this time kid.

Speak for yourself. This is TrekMovie … get with the views of ‘everyone’.

People respect Mr Kelley, can’t you read that.

Are you suggesting some are critical? I personally support the crew of the new movie. That includes all the respected / established actors and artists involved.

Some people speak like they ‘own’ things, Welcome to democracy friend.

BTW–Has anyone else noticed a Charlie Rose(PBS)/Dr. McCoy similarity?

What a gracious, kind and humorous man he was! I envy anyone who has half the charm he had. He spoke fondly of the entire cast and Gene Roddenberry… and especially of his wife. He had the audience in tears talking about his long and happy marriage.

Many may not know this, but he enjoyed writing poems… and the younger audience members probably never saw his numerous pre-TREK performances where he more often than not, was the bad guy… (you always knew who the bad guys were back then– they wore black). ;-)

They don’t make stars (and he would never call himself that) like him anymore.