The Martian Child
Mon., March 27, 10:01 AM
I received one of those messages from Amazon: “…you enjoyed a book by David Gerrold, maybe you would like this one…” I do like Gerrold; you can read my comments here. The title being advertised was The Martian Child, which sounded familiar. Surely this was not a new title? As a matter of fact, it wasn’t; it was an audio of a book published a few years ago.
Bless the internet! I searched and found the Gerrold web site. I also found an excerpt (in nice large print). I’ve gotta hear the rest of the story. But why would I pay $35 for a tape when I can find a used book for a dollar? The type is a little small for me, but there’s plenty of space between the lines. This is possibly the fastest I’ve read a book since my sight began to deteriorate.
Sorry, David, I know you don’t get royalties on used books. But when I can afford a house like yours, then I’ll buy my books retail. And you know that won’t happen because I lost my last good job around the same time you met Dennis.
The Martian Child is “a novel about a single father adopting a son, based on a true story.” It’s well written; I’m right in there with them. There are universal truths about parents and kids that arise, as well as situations unique to this child and this father. Adopting an older child – and having to re-form some of his perceptions – is a tough job. I don’t know whether I could do it. How do you find that kind of love within yourself? At one point David’s philosophy closely parallels an old Hasidic myth; I found myself wondering if he knew that.
Depending on how closely the novel follows a real time line, I think the boy must be a young man by now. I wonder what he’s doing. Did he go to college? Did he choose a career? Most of all, I wonder whether he’s interested in writing and whether he’d choose the same kind of writing as his dad.
