Cut Him Out in Little Stars

A young Timothy Truitt encountered aliens each week in his role as the star of a popular science fiction TV series. Many years and reruns later, the aging British actor is now in demand at science fiction conventions across America. During the tour, Truitt confides to fans that he's seeing aliens again-this time without benefit of the special-effects department. In her first novel, Wood draws on personal experiences at science fiction coventions to provide a convincing setting for the adventures of a small-time celebrity and the look-alike FBI agent assigned to investigate his alleged extraterrestrial activities. Insightful observations into fandom and fame are woven throughout the story line and Wood's descriptive narrative is used effectively to evoke Truitt's struggles wtih his celebrity status. Fans of science fiction will appreciate references to cult films and TV shows throughout the book, while the appealing characters populating this novel should attract additional readers whose main interest is not necessarily science fiction. (Oct.)