The San Bernardino County Sun from San Bernardino, California • Page 48

EO BOOKS ARTS The Sun SUNDAY, October 29, 1995 Nimoy sets record straight in 'Spock' The reading list The New York Times weekly best-seller lists are based on computer-processed sales figures from 3,000 bookstores and from representative wholesalers. An excerpt from 'I Am Spock' Paperback Spock. I was there. Here's another exchange: Nimoy: How did you feel about meeting the crew of the Enterprise-D Captain Pic-ard and Data some 80 years after your last mission aboard the Enterprise-A? Spock: Oh. I found them to be fascinating and worthy individuals.

But to be candid, meeting them did remind me of one distinct disadvantage to being Vulcan. Nimoy: Disadvantage? Spock, you have changed I can hardly believe you'd admit such a thing! So what is it? Spock: Being long-lived, I miss my human friends. Hardback FICTION 1. "Ifca Uat Wortd," by Michael Crichton (Knopf) 2. hWmH Night," by Mary Higgins Clark (Simon Schuster) 3.

"Tfca Ham WMaaarar," by Nicholas Evans (Oela-Y code) 4. "Marafag, Nm, -ft Night," by Sidney Sheldon (Morrow) 5. "CoMtaf Mow," by Rosamunde Pitcher (Dunne SL Martin's) 0 6. "Caa.a te ttriaf," by Dick Francis (Putnam) 7. "Lav la Amomt Towa," by Barbara Taylor Brad-t ford (HarperCollins) 1 8.

"Ika CalaeMae Ptoplmy," by James Redfietd (Warrw) 9. "Dm Mu'i Walk," by Larry McMurtry (Simon Schuster) 10. MaaleT by Pat Conroy (TateseDoubleday) NON-FICTION 1. Aa.ar.caa Jaaway." by Colin Powell, with Jo- seph E. Persico (Random House) 2.

Urtml laWlajaaca," by Daniel Goleman (Bantam! 3. "A Oaaaj Ufa," by Ben Bradlee (Simon Schuster 4. Fatal aaJ I Da Kava Oaa," by Elien DeGener- es (Bantam) 5. "tpeataaaaaa Haalhuj," by Andrew Weil (Knopf) 6. "A Oaa Walk Saottatf," by John Feinstein (little.

Brown) 7. "Aa Uaaatat Wad," by Kay Redfieid Jamison (Knopf) 8. "MMakflrt la Hm ftaraaa of toad aad IvH," by John Berendt (Random House) 9. "High Ttda la Tacaaa," by Barbara Kingsolver (Har perCollins) 10. "HaUra," by Carol Saline, with photographs by Sharon J.

Wohlmuth (Running Press) By AndySeiler Gannett News Service Leonard Nimoy's first book was titled "I Am Not Spock." His new book is called "I Am Spock." Highly illogical, Mr. Nimoy. But after all, 20 years have passed, and the man inextricably associated with the pointy-eared "Star Trek" Vulcan would like to dispel the idea that he resents the Spock connection. He does not. "In the first book I was just being a little contentious for the sake of controversy," says Nimoy, 64.

Nimoy has lived well and prospered thanks to Spock. He hosts the new CD-ROM "Leonard Nimoy Science Fiction: The Gold Collection," although he openly admits that he hasn't the slightest idea how to operate a PC. He even once recorded such albums as "Mr. Spock's Music From Outer Space" and "Music to Watch Space Girls By," and his interpretations of such hits as "Proud Mary" and "If I Had a Hammer" highlight all three of the infamous Golden Throats novelty compilations. But it was he "I Am Not Spock" idea, he says, that turned out to be one of the worst mistakes of his life.

But with the entertaining, informative "I Am Spock" (Hyperion, Nimoy boldly goes where he has rarely gone before and straightens up a couple of misconceptions that have been nagging him. Misconception No. 1: Everyone from the original Star Trek cast hates each other. "These reports of conflict amongst the cast are not true," says Nimoy. "Whatever there is, Personal pick Gannett News Service Peppering the reminiscences of "I Am Spock" are imaginary dialogues between the ever-logical Mr.

Spock and the decidedly human Leonard Nimoy. Some excerpts follow. Spock: I was born in the year 2230 on the planet Vulcan, to Sarek of Vulcan and Amanda of Earth. Nimoy: Wrong again! You were born in the year 1966, on a Desilu soundstage in Hollywood, California. Spock: I suggest you re-check your data.

Nimoy: I don't have to. Pictures, almost refused to let Nimoy direct a later film in the series. "He said, 'How can I give you this picture to direct when you hate "Star Trek" and you want the character Nimoy insisted that Eisner check the contract, and the next day he had the job. Nimoy says that his "Live long and prosper" Vulcan salute was based on a hand signal from Orthodox Judaism that "enchanted" him when he was a young boy growing up in Boston. Nimoy has long since transcended his Vulcan persona, having gone on to direct films such as the massive hit "Three Men and a Baby" and the controversial "The Good Mother." After all that, however, mothers still stop him on the street to a new Oz references to the movie: Dorothy's last name is Gale), have begun rounding up the talking animals, exiling them from their homes and reducing them to cheap labor.

Elphaba, The Witch of the West, is indeed green, but she's hardly evil, just misunderstood. Born an outcast because of her color, Elphaba has no patience for the hypocrisy of her peers. She's a lonely pariah attempting to live an honest life in a fearful totalitarian state, a social activist who is hated for refusing to let apathetic Ozians live in blissful ignorance of the Wizard's evil ways. "Wicked" is an outstanding work of imagination, a completed work of fiction not incumbent upon the film for meaning. Fifty-six years after Judy Garland went over the rainbow, we're once again off to see the Wizard.

"HZ ROMUUaa Featuring MRovik'HMtidl'Sihiri Surdiul Shmtou Muim LV HDio bolikfAMdii-PikeSllioi Bait Quail' Rio Suit Had gffl 909-684-3636 800-438-7555 sassa a.ajl hjMM 'Wicked' conjures up tell their children, "Look! It's Leonard Spock!" But that's OK. "I am more comfortable today in Spock's skin than I have ever been before," he says. "If someone called me Spock today, I would be proud." Well, what has made the difference? "I now have no fears about whether or not he's going consume me. I understand it has been a very successful way of life and way of work." He pauses. "I guess the truth is," he adds finally, "that if I had any complaints today, I should have to consider myself a severely neurotic person.

I'm a very happy guy. By playing Spock for a long time, I have learned how to become myself." Seaside Escape. Beach Getaway for 2 Retort Atmosphere Deluxe Accommodations Complimentary Champagne Upon Arrival Free Deluxe Continental Breakfast Dinner for Two: Your choice of The Brigantine Restaurant or The Chart House Restaurant 104 RAMADA INN Soleuta, 717 S. Hwy. 101, Solana Beach, CA 92075 1-800-BEACH-07 FICTION 1.

"Minor Itaaga," by Tom Clancy and Steve Piecze- nik (Berkley) 2. "Tfca Lattaiy Waaar," by Mary Higgins Clark (Pocket) 3. "D-rte Rtvars of the HaarV by Dean R. Koontz (Ballantine) 4. "HoOUnd Lasts Foravar," by Sidney Sheldon (Warner) 5.

"Wtacs," by Danielle Steel (Dell) 6. "Ifca Dake," by Catherine Coulter (Topaz) 7. "taaacanrWIa," by Nelson Demille (Warner) 8. "Ska Walk Tbaaa Wits," by Sharyn McCrumb (Signet) 9. Oka Staaa Maria," by Carol Shields (Penguin) 10.

Tka tody Fana," by Patncta Cornwell (Berkley) NON-FICTION 1. "Caaalafcsad," by Paul Reiser (Bantam) 2. Allen (Hyperion) 3. "WavMagOaksMa." by Mary Pipher iBallanbne) 4. Tfca Hat Zaaa," by Rchard Preston (AnchorDoub- leday) 5.

"Haviag Oar toy," by Sara Delany and A. Eliza beth Delany. with Amy Hill Hearth (Dell 6. "MTVs tka Raal ftaal WnM," by Hillary Johnson and Nancy Rommetmann (MTV Pocket Melcher Media) 7. Tfca toad Ua Travahtd," by M.

Scott Peck (Touchstone SiS) 8. "Rata: My Mary," by Reba McEntire. with Tom Carter (Bantam) 9. "Cara af tka toal," by Thomas Moore (Harper Per ennial) 10. "Wesaaa Wko Raa wttk Tka Wetvaa," by Clarissa Pinkola Estes (Ballantine) Barbara Lyon Read 'The Reckoning' books I choose to read are fiction based on historical fact.

The characters in this type of book were actually there, but a story is built around the facts. "When I'm not on the telephone, I'm reading. With the audio tapes I can even wash my hair and read at the same time. The only thing is if you can't see the words on the page sometimes it's hard to remember it." Read a good book lately? Let us know. Send name, address, phone number and a brief description of the book to Maria CIs-neros Toth, Living Section, The Sun, 399 N.

San Bernardino, Calif. 92401 or call her at (909) 386-3862. Arts Award won INLAND EMPIRE The Inland Cities Harmony express Barbershop Chorus placed fourth in the recent Far Western District chorus finals in Bakersfield. Twenty choruses competed. Barstow writers a BARSTOW Students who live in the Barstow area school If vu By Cathy Hainer Gannett News Service Gregory Maguire has written a timely book for Halloween: a biography of a witch.

Not just any witch, but the most famous one of all: Oz's Wicked Witch of the West. Oz purists beware. This is a very different land from the one Dorothy and Toto traversed. $24, 406 pages) is no Mel Brooksian spoof of the beloved movie. This is not "Oz: Munchkins in Tights." "Wicked" has more in common with George Orwell's "Animal Farm," with its talking animals and anti-totalitarianism.

Or with J.R.R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings." Maguire gives us a vividly imagined Oz, complete with detailed geography, creation myths, languages, even architecture. But his Oz characters are briefs district, as well as those who live in Helendale, who are in grades 5 through the community college level, are eligible to compete in the 11th annual Desert Heritage Writing Contest. The contest has categories for poetry, fiction, nonfiction and impromptu writing. Deadline for every category except the inpromptu competition is Dec.

4. The impromptu contest is ad Leonard Nimoy As the Vulcan Mr. Spock I'm oblivious to it. Bill Shatner and I had our differences, but to me, that's not what 'Star Trek' was about. We were a family and this is going to happen in any family." In the book, Nimoy does reveal that when Shatner first discovered Nimoy had been hired to direct "Star Trek III," he showed up with a lawyer and the announcement that he wanted nothing to do with the script.

Misconception No. 2: Nimoy tried to have Spock killed off. "It was not my idea to kill Spock," he adds. "There was this misconception that I had insisted that Spock die in "Star Trek II," that it was in my contract. That rumor went a long way in the media and the fan world." It went so far that Michael Eisner, then head of Paramount Book review barely recognizable from their movie counterparts.

The Wicked Witch of the West is a radical socialist, a freedom fighter for Munchkinland independence. The Wizard is an evil autocrat. Glinda the Good Witch is a dippy blond socialite looking for a rich husband. Heck, the Munchkinlanders aren't even small. "Any (Munch-kinlander) with bloodlines worth tracing married into height somewhere along the way." Sixteen years earlier, the Wizard blew in aboard a balloon and usurped the throne from the rightful Oz Regent.

He's become an Ozian Marie Antoinette, living in an opulent palace while peasants starve in the streets. The Wizard's forces, storm troopers called The Gale Force (Maguire loads the book with sly ministered in schools and students write an essay in 50 minutes on a topic chosen by the contest committee. Information about the writing contest has been sent to Bar-stow area schools and teachers. But information is available by calling (619) 952-2381. Send arts-related news Items to Mar-go Wilson at The Sun, 399 N.

San Bernardino, Calif. 92401, call (909) 386-3896, or fax (909) 384-0327. FRIDAY NOV. 1995 consecutive alants, not valid with any otber mm Here's what one Southland resident is reading. Barbara Lyon, 7 1 a San Bernardino resident and a retired central office clerk for Pacific Telephone for 24 years, recently read Sharon Kay Penman's "The Reckoning." At the age of 24, Lyon was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa and is now legally blind.

The Braille Institute in Los Angeles provides her with books on audio cassette. "The story takes place in England and Wales during the 1 3th century between 1 244-1270. King Edward I of England conquers an island off the coast of Wales by starving the Welsh people out. He takes away all of their wheat. The Prince of Wales, Llewelyn Ap Gruffydd, tries to regain his country's freedom.

"He diverts the river to flow past the stone castles he's built, so he can bring ships in and have full control the river. King Edward is a pretty smart warrior, even though the things he did weren't so nice. The description of Wales and way the thing were back then are a lot different. "I enjoy history, so the Play auditions RIALTO Auditions are planned for the Rialto Community Players' production of "Corpse!" at 7 p.m. Nov.

7-8 at the Rialto Playhouse, San Bernardino and Riverside avenues, Rialto. Roles are available for three men and one woman. The show runs Jan. 19-Feb. 3.

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