The Martian Child: A Novel About A Single Father A by David Gerrold - SF - SFBookcase.com - Reference of Science Fiction and Fantasy Novels/Authors.

The Martian Child: A Novel About A Single Father A (Misc)

Series: Misc
Genre: SF
ISBN: 0765306026
Pages: 192 pages
Publisher: Tor Books
Price: 12.95
Reader Rating: Not rated

The Martian Child: A Novel About A Single Father A by David Gerrold

Description: Ten years ago, sf and fantasy writer Gerrold, a single, gay man, saw a photo of a towheaded kid bursting with life and fell in love. It wasn't what small minds might think, for Gerrold was looking for an adoptive son in California, which allows gays and singles to adopt. Gerrold eventually took Dennis, the child in the photo, home and began the work of earning the acceptance of a hyperactive, severely insecure eight-year-old who desperately wanted a father but thought of himself as a Martian and, therefore, probably unworthy. Gerrold's memoir of the first two years Dennis was with him ends with the crisis of Dennis running away and waiting in a city park at night for the saucers to come and whisk him back to a world he might be able to manage. Although Dennis is the reason for the book, Gerrold keeps the focus on himself and his responses to Dennis, not to mention his insecurities over perhaps having bitten off more than he-maybe because he is gay-can chew. The heart-searing moments are many but never overwritten, thanks to Gerrold's bright, efficient exposition. And yes, the crisis was overcome. Dennis, now 17, "shows dangerous signs of maturity and responsibility.