The Martian Child
Encyclopedia
"The Martian Child" is a novelette
by David Gerrold
. It won the 1995 Hugo Award for Best Novelette
, Locus Award
and HOMer Award and the 1994 Nebula Award for Best Novelette
, and was nominated for the Theodore Sturgeon award
for best short fiction. The novelette was expanded into a novel and made into a film of the same name
.
books and screenplays for a living, adopts a son who claims he is from Mars
. The adoptive father comes to be intrigued by the possibility his son might really be a Martian
. Ultimately, the father realizes that he loves his son whether or not he is a Martian. The son uses a magical "Martian wish" to be a human so he can remain with his father.
The main difference between the story and Gerrold's own experience is that Gerrold's son, Sean Friedman, never actually believed he was a Martian
; the Martian identity was simply a game that the two of them played. The initial idea for the story actually came from a remark the author overheard about a child who told her teacher that she was really a Martian. Although nothing specifically science fictional occurs in the story, Gerrold does drop hints.
David Gerrold was out about his homosexuality
when he adopted his son. In the novelette, the sexuality of the protagonist is not disclosed although the novel identifies him as gay
. In the feature film, the protagonist was a straight widower (with a female love interest), causing criticism from the LGBT community.
Novelette
A novelette is a piece of short prose fiction. The distinction between a novelette and other literary forms is usually based upon word count, with a novelette being longer than a short story, but shorter than a novella...
by David Gerrold
David Gerrold
Jerrold David Friedman , better known by his pen name David Gerrold, is an American science fiction author who started his career in 1966 while a college student by submitting an unsolicited story outline for the television series Star Trek. He was invited to submit several premises, and the one...
. It won the 1995 Hugo Award for Best Novelette
Hugo Award for Best Novelette
The Hugo Awards are given every year by the World Science Fiction Society for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was once officially...
, Locus Award
Locus Award
The Locus Award is a literary award established in 1971 and presented to winners of Locus magazine's annual readers' poll. Currently, the Locus Awards are presented at an annual banquet...
and HOMer Award and the 1994 Nebula Award for Best Novelette
Nebula Award for Best Novelette
Winners of the Nebula Award for best Novelette. The stated year is that of publication; awards are given in the following year. Winning titles are listed first, with other nominees listed below.-External links:* * *...
, and was nominated for the Theodore Sturgeon award
Theodore Sturgeon Award
The Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award is given each year for the best science fiction short story of the year and is the short fiction counterpart of the Campbell award , published in English....
for best short fiction. The novelette was expanded into a novel and made into a film of the same name
Martian Child
Martian Child is a 2007 American comedy-drama film about a writer who adopts a strange young boy who believes himself to be from Mars. Martian Child was released on November 2, 2007. The film was directed by Menno Meyjes and produced by New Line Cinema. It stars John Cusack and Bobby Coleman...
.
Plot
A single man who writes science fictionScience fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
books and screenplays for a living, adopts a son who claims he is from Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
. The adoptive father comes to be intrigued by the possibility his son might really be a Martian
Martian
As an adjective, the term martian is used to describe anything pertaining to the planet Mars.However, a Martian is more usually a hypothetical or fictional native inhabitant of the planet Mars. Historically, life on Mars has often been hypothesized, although there is currently no solid evidence of...
. Ultimately, the father realizes that he loves his son whether or not he is a Martian. The son uses a magical "Martian wish" to be a human so he can remain with his father.
Background
The story is based on the author's own experiences as a single adoptive parent, with most of the key moments drawn from actual events.The main difference between the story and Gerrold's own experience is that Gerrold's son, Sean Friedman, never actually believed he was a Martian
Martian
As an adjective, the term martian is used to describe anything pertaining to the planet Mars.However, a Martian is more usually a hypothetical or fictional native inhabitant of the planet Mars. Historically, life on Mars has often been hypothesized, although there is currently no solid evidence of...
; the Martian identity was simply a game that the two of them played. The initial idea for the story actually came from a remark the author overheard about a child who told her teacher that she was really a Martian. Although nothing specifically science fictional occurs in the story, Gerrold does drop hints.
David Gerrold was out about his homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
when he adopted his son. In the novelette, the sexuality of the protagonist is not disclosed although the novel identifies him as gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
. In the feature film, the protagonist was a straight widower (with a female love interest), causing criticism from the LGBT community.