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Summary: The Truth I See...
Review: .
I know what the professional reviewers have written. And I know what it says on the book's jacket overleaf. But I have read this book. Twice in as many days. I see a truth in this story different from the words others have used to discuss it.What I see is the truth of being human. Of the trials and tribulations, the exuberance and joys, the pains and sorrows, the failures and successes of living as a human being. Of living as a person, regardless of being man or woman, gay or straight, martian or human. I think everyone should read this book. If they are honest with themselves I'd be willing to bet that they will find a piece of themselves lurking in David Gerrold's heart wrenching story of self discover and self identity. Highly recommended. Q
Rating:
Summary: The Truth I See...
Review: .
The Truth I See... I know what the professional reviewers wrote. And I know what the book's jacket overleaf says. But, I bought the book and read it. Twice in as many days. And I see a different truth than the words others use to discuss it. The truth I see is the truth of being human. Of the trials and tribulations, the exuberances and the joys, the pain and the sorrow, the failures and the successes of living life as a person regardless of being man or woman, gay or straight, Martian or human. I think everyone should read this book. If they do and are honest with themselves I think they will see pieces of themselves lurking in David Gerrold's heart wrenching story. Highly recommended. Q
Rating:
Summary: Everyone's a Martian
Review: Although I think this thinly-disguised autobiography is quite amazing, and I had tears in my eyes more than once as I read it, I also think the author "cleaned up" the relationship between himself and his adopted son for the sake of narrative. However, if this tender and touching book doesn't make you want to adopt, nothing will. Well worth the short time it takes to read it.
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Summary: Right from Outer Space
Review: Books about gay men adopting children are becoming more prevalent nowadays. With a strong interest in children myself, I always like learning about how gay men have overcome the "obstacles" and charged ahead with creating their own families. "The Martian Child", David Gerrold's book, is an attempt to add a voice to that genre, but I'm afraid, a somewhat weak one, overall. David Gerrold chronicles his decision to expand his little family by adopting a child. After seeing a picture of a smiling blond boy riding a bike, he eagerly elects to choose that child. But after finding out the host of issues this child brings to life, including the fact that he insists he's a Martian, the author momentarily struggles with his decision, eventually adopting the boy. The story that follows is a somewhat surface level glimpse into this world which Gerrold created for himself. Based on his own experiences, which would lend itself to having the two "characters" more deeper and complex, I found them to be somewhat shallow. The father, whose only role is to slurp unconditional love on his son, seems to be one dimensional. It's only towards the end of the book where he opens up and we seem more dissension and questioning about his decision. The boy, who's riddled with emotional issues, also comes across as flat, but who should be an intriguing character. Because I didn't hook into the characters, the plot, as it meanders through the establishment of their relationship and the eventual adoption, never brought forth strong emotions or attachments. By the end of the story, I came to appreciate Gerrold's decision to have such a challenging child in his family, but still not truly understanding why. Maybe the entire "Martian" theme through me. If you are looking for books on gay men adopting kids, I'd recommend Dan Savage's "The Kid" or Jesse Green's "The Velveteen Father", both worthy, emotional books that get to the heart of the matter. Otherwise, I'd leave this book on Mars itself.
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Summary: On Being a Father
Review: David Gerrold was caught off guard when trying to adopt his son when the caseworker said that the boy thought he was a Martian. I was a bit put off by the cover, which seemed to be poking fun at "the Martian child". But the story itself is excellent. A child's "I am a Martian" comment CAN be handled without ridicule, and in a way which makes the truth of that statement irrelevant to the relationship. The important part of this book IS the relationship, and the process of becoming a father. In fact it shows what it MEANS to be a father much better than any book I have read. This is not "Father knows best", where the father is perfect and knows all the answers. It isn't a cute story for children, though I would recommend it for adopted children AND their parents. Instead it is a process of discovery from the father's perspective, where he learns and grows as he goes on. It about the FATHER's insecurities, worries and joys -- something that is rarely discussed or explained. I strongly recommend this for anyone considering adoption, for any parents with "problem" children (ALL perents, in other words) and for the children themselves, so that they can gain a rare look into what it means to be a parent.
Rating: 
Summary: Memoir or Science Fiction?
Review: I agree with the Publishers Weekly review. It starts as a sentimental yet instructive biography - very useful for anyone considering adopting an older child. The author is a science fiction writer, so I guess he couldn't help embelishing the science fiction aspect, which was weak compared to the rest of the book. I was left not knowing what parts were real, so its instructive aspects are diminished.
Rating:
Summary: Memoir or Science Fiction?
Review: I agree with the Publishers Weekly review. It starts as a sentimental yet instructive biography - very useful for anyone considering adopting an older child. The author is a science fiction writer, so I guess he couldn't help embelishing the science fiction aspect, which was weak compared to the rest of the book. I was left not knowing what parts were real, so its instructive aspects are diminished.
Rating:
Summary: An unexpected discovery.
Review: I happened upon this in the local bookstore today, and read it in one sitting. Quite effective novel that appears to be very closely tied to the author's own experience as a single father in adopting an 8 year old boy. Mr. Gerrold doesn't sugarcoat the experience, as chroniclers of adoption often do. He makes very clear the doubts and indecision that can bedevil anyone taking this step. But he also doubly underlines the rewards.He has found a unique way to give a structure to the story, by wrapping it in the concept of a child who thinks he's an alien. But for the first half, this book seems pretty much a typical journal of the the adoptive experience, when it makes a 180 degree turn. Not right or left either, but up. I was really worried at first at what the heck Gerrold was up to, but by the ending, it all makes more than sense--or logic. This book has has helped me realize that I really do want to make this the next step in my life.
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Summary: Reply to negative reviews
Review: I just bought and read this book, after reading the original novella in an anthology (Probably the Hugo winners for that year, but I'm not sure). I just wanted to say that the reviewers who don't understand the "whole martian concept" or who wonder why the book is presented as fiction are missing what I see as the central point. That is, if the book is nonfiction, we must immediately leap to the conclusion that Dennis's social worker does in the book (and that many reviewers do), that saying he's a martian is a psychological defense mechanism. However, since the book is presented as fiction, and is written by a science fiction author, we the readers are forced to wonder if Dennis *really is* a Martian. Casting the book as fiction also allows the author's real-life adopted son to maintain some privacy--we, the general readers, don't know which details are made up and which come from real life. I do agree that if you're only going to read one book in order to form an impression of older-child adoption, this one probably shouldn't be it. However, no one is limited to only reading one book, so that isn't really a problem.
Rating:
Summary: Reply to negative reviews
Review: I just bought and read this book, after reading the original novella in an anthology (Probably the Hugo winners for that year, but I'm not sure). I just wanted to say that the reviewers who don't understand the "whole martian concept" or who wonder why the book is presented as fiction are missing what I see as the central point. That is, if the book is nonfiction, we must immediately leap to the conclusion that Dennis's social worker does in the book (and that many reviewers do), that saying he's a martian is a psychological defense mechanism. However, since the book is presented as fiction, and is written by a science fiction author, we the readers are forced to wonder if Dennis *really is* a Martian. Casting the book as fiction also allows the author's real-life adopted son to maintain some privacy--we, the general readers, don't know which details are made up and which come from real life. I do agree that if you're only going to read one book in order to form an impression of older-child adoption, this one probably shouldn't be it. However, no one is limited to only reading one book, so that isn't really a problem.
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