The Martian Child: A Novel About A Single Father Adopting A Son

Rating:
Summary: so far, I have read the back of the book.
Review: I know the author. His son, is my best friend. And The Book is amazing. I can't wait to read it. I am ready to buy it asap. Mr.David Gerrold is a awesome, and cool dad. In my opinion, I wish more fathers were like him. Honestly, to God, I wish my dad was like him!!!

Rating:
Summary: Bring Kleenex
Review: I may have heard this story maybe a dozen times, first I read (more than once) the novella which won the coveted Hugo award, and which I recommended to everyone. Then I listened to the story on CD, and I have now read the expanded story in book form. I have to confess that David is a good friend and I know "the martian child" personally. While I loved the novella, the expanded book blew me away. I thought I was immune to the emotion that it evoked, but the book sent me back to the Kleenex box as I re-read the story of the adoption of David's son. Yes, this is a fiction book (I don't *think* Dennis is really a Martian--if so, I can think of a couple of Martian wishes he owes me), but so much of this book is factual that it reads like an autobiography. I gave this book to everyone I care about for Christmas and am still ordering copies of it to share with people. It's a short read, but one of the best books I read in 2002. And I don't just say that so David will send me chocolate either.

Rating:
Summary: Bring Kleenex
Review: I may have heard this story maybe a dozen times, first I read (more than once) the novella which won the coveted Hugo award, and which I recommended to everyone. Then I listened to the story on CD, and I have now read the expanded story in book form. I have to confess that David is a good friend and I know "the martian child" personally. While I loved the novella, the expanded book blew me away. I thought I was immune to the emotion that it evoked, but the book sent me back to the Kleenex box as I re-read the story of the adoption of David's son. Yes, this is a fiction book (I don't *think* Dennis is really a Martian--if so, I can think of a couple of Martian wishes he owes me), but so much of this book is factual that it reads like an autobiography. I gave this book to everyone I care about for Christmas and am still ordering copies of it to share with people. It's a short read, but one of the best books I read in 2002. And I don't just say that so David will send me chocolate either.

Rating:
Summary: Recommended to a friend already
Review: I'm currently in the process of adoption (as a single father) and have been reading all kinds of books on adoption; yet, this one has, although it's quasi-fictional, painted the personal side of adoption. In fact, it brought tears, and, chuckled while waiting for my truck to be repaired. I've loaned the book to my friend and cannot wait for him to finish reading it so i can read it again.

Rating:
Summary: David Gerrold's best book yet!
Review: In 1992, David Gerrold adopted 8 year old Dennis. Two years later, he wrote a surprising novelette about the adventure of adoptive parenthood. The novelette version of The Martian Child won well-deserved (and long overdue) Hugo and the Nebula awards. Now, David Gerrold has expanded his original story to novel length and answers the two questions he raised in the original story: Why did he want to adopt a son, and who is the real Martian child here? Gerrold writes about parenting as if it is a privilege. Dennis is a very lucky boy to have a dad who cares so much. The people who like David Gerrold's other fiction (The War Against The Chtorr, The Dingillian series) might be puzzled by this book, because it's such a departure from his usual style of hard-nosed adventure. This book is light-hearted and intensely personal, but it's also courageously honest in several startling ways, because David Gerrold has been neurotically candid about his own journeys; in many ways, it's a breakthrough effort. Parts of this story made me cry, other parts had me laughing out loud. (Pickled mongoose!) I read it in a single sitting. It's a feel-good book with an ending that's both satisfying and uplifting. This is the very best story that David Gerrold has ever written. I'm giving a copy to my Dad for Father's Day.

Rating:
Summary: Growing Up Martian
Review: The Martian Child is a singleton novel. Although the novelette on which this novel is based won the Hugo and Nebula in 1995, it is probably not really science fiction. However, it has the feel and flavour of SF and it is by one of our authors, so it has been claimed by the SF community.

In this novel, David decides to adopt a child. Being a writer (and a SF one to boot), he researched the subject of adoption extensively. After finally being approved by the authorities, he faces the decision as to who to adopt.

As he browses through the adoption catalogs, he notices that most available children have moderate to severe problems. He resolves to only adopt one with minimal problems, since he is not sure that he can handle the stress of raising a child with very demanding needs. Then he sees the picture of Dennis at the very back of a listing and instantly relates to the boy. This is the one!

After meeting the boy in his group home surroundings and then visiting with him twice a week for a while, David is finally ready to keep the boy overnight. However, the boy's caseworker then calls and requires a go/nogo decision on that very day, for the group home is closing and all the children must be reassigned. While feeling uncertain about his parenting ability, David discovers that he can't let the boy go back to the foster/group home environment. He has already made his commitment and has already adopted Dennis in his own mind. When Dennis declares that he would like to be adopted by David, the match is made.

In this story, Dennis goes through the whole gamut of behaviors listed in the adoption manuals. However, David responds to everything with love and humor; in fact, one of his first big successes is teaching Dennis the enjoyment of jokes and the use of inside jokes as play. In the end, David's insight and Dennis' intense desire to be loved overcome all obstacles.

It should be said that David is an exceptionally empathic person and Dennis has an unusual willingness to lower his walls to David. Many children with a similar history would have not been able to overcome their defenses against rejection even with someone as empathic as David. So this is an unusual story, but not totally unique. Sometimes things just work out, despite all the odds against it.

This story is about aliens -- others -- dwelling among humanity. As with the autistics in Moon's The Speed of Dark, these children differ from most of their peers. Often such children are rejected by their parents and peers and are ignored by most adults. Unfortunately, there are too many damaged, abused and neglected children in our society who don't have happy endings to their stories; either they can't be adopted because of legal intanglements or never find an empathic person to adopt them or the adoption occurs after their defenses have become impossible to breach.

The story is an unusual protrait of a person during a crucial time in his life. His frank self-appraisal and willingness to change are unusual in themselves. Add to that his insight into his own history and self-image (David realizes late in the story that he is as much a Martian as Dennis is) and the story becomes exceptional. Then, too, Dennis is a real scene stealer.

Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys stories of human compassion and self-enlightenment.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Rating:
Summary: Growing Up Martian
Review: The Martian Child is a singleton novel. Although the novelette on which this novel is based won the Hugo and Nebula in 1995, it is probably not really science fiction. However, it has the feel and flavour of SF and it is by one of our authors, so it has been claimed by the SF community.

In this novel, David decides to adopt a child. Being a writer (and a SF one to boot), he researched the subject of adoption extensively. After finally being approved by the authorities, he faces the decision as to who to adopt.

As he browses through the adoption catalogs, he notices that most available children have moderate to severe problems. He resolves to only adopt one with minimal problems, since he is not sure that he can handle the stress of raising a child with very demanding needs. Then he sees the picture of Dennis at the very back of a listing and instantly relates to the boy. This is the one!

After meeting the boy in his group home surroundings and then visiting with him twice a week for a while, David is finally ready to keep the boy overnight. However, the boy's caseworker then calls and requires a go/nogo decision on that very day, for the group home is closing and all the children must be reassigned. While feeling uncertain about his parenting ability, David discovers that he can't let the boy go back to the foster/group home environment. He has already made his commitment and has already adopted Dennis in his own mind. When Dennis declares that he would like to be adopted by David, the match is made.

In this story, Dennis goes through the whole gamut of behaviors listed in the adoption manuals. However, David responds to everything with love and humor; in fact, one of his first big successes is teaching Dennis the enjoyment of jokes and the use of inside jokes as play. In the end, David's insight and Dennis' intense desire to be loved overcome all obstacles.

It should be said that David is an exceptionally empathic person and Dennis has an unusual willingness to lower his walls to David. Many children with a similar history would have not been able to overcome their defenses against rejection even with someone as empathic as David. So this is an unusual story, but not totally unique. Sometimes things just work out, despite all the odds against it.

This story is about aliens -- others -- dwelling among humanity. As with the autistics in Moon's The Speed of Dark, these children differ from most of their peers. Often such children are rejected by their parents and peers and are ignored by most adults. Unfortunately, there are too many damaged, abused and neglected children in our society who don't have happy endings to their stories; either they can't be adopted because of legal intanglements or never find an empathic person to adopt them or the adoption occurs after their defenses have become impossible to breach.

The story is an unusual protrait of a person during a crucial time in his life. His frank self-appraisal and willingness to change are unusual in themselves. Add to that his insight into his own history and self-image (David realizes late in the story that he is as much a Martian as Dennis is) and the story becomes exceptional. Then, too, Dennis is a real scene stealer.

Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys stories of human compassion and self-enlightenment.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Rating:
Summary: Uplifting True Tale
Review: This book attracted my attention because I also have adopted sons. The author, a screen writer (from STARTREK fame) decides to adopt a son and ends up with one who thinks he's a Martian. The best parts were the beginning, the various thoughts, the worries, doubts and hopes - and the first few meetings with the growing love and suspense.

Gerrold remembered something very important throughout the story - he is the adult, the father, and as such must act in an adult manner when confronted with childish behavior. He seems to have got the combination of love and authority down pat though the rough times are glossed over in parts. This is a short book, almost a novella, but one that is definitely worth the read.

Rating:
Summary: Uplifting True Tale
Review: This book attracted my attention because I also have adopted sons. The author, a screen writer (from STARTREK fame) decides to adopt a son and ends up with one who thinks he's a Martian. The best parts were the beginning, the various thoughts, the worries, doubts and hopes - and the first few meetings with the growing love and suspense.

Gerrold remembered something very important throughout the story - he is the adult, the father, and as such must act in an adult manner when confronted with childish behavior. He seems to have got the combination of love and authority down pat though the rough times are glossed over in parts. This is a short book, almost a novella, but one that is definitely worth the read.

Rating:
Summary: Awesome Book
Review: This book was based on true events but had enough magic in it to really make you think about things. An excellent, engrossing read and thoroughly enjoyable look at adoption and single parenthood...the highs and the lows.