David Gerrold (born January 24, 1944 )

[reviews_and_ramblings]

David Gerrold (born January 24, 1944 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American science fiction screenwriter and novelist known for his script for the popular original Star Trek episode "The Trouble With Tribbles", for creating the Sleestak race on the TV series Land of the Lost, and for his novelette The Martian Child, which won both Hugo and Nebula awards, and was adapted into a 2007 film starring John Cusack.

The Martian Child is a semi-autobiographical novel, expanded from a novelette of the same name, based on the author's own experiences as a single adoptive father, with most of the key moments drawn from actual events. The novelette won both the Hugo and Nebula awards, and a movie version was released in November 2007, with John Cusack playing the adoptive father. There is some controversy surrounding this character, as David Gerrold and his character in the novel are both gay, but in the movie he is a straight widower.

In 2005, Gerrold was awarded the Telluride Tech Festival Award of Technology in Telluride, Colorado.

In 2013, Gerrold wrote a Starcraft 2 short story titled In the Dark for Blizzard Entertainment's series of short stories.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Gerrold

Further Readings:

The Martian Child: A Novel About A Single Father Adopting A Son by David Gerrold
Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: Tor Books; 1st edition (September 4, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0765320037
ISBN-13: 978-0765320032
Amazon: The Martian Child: A Novel About A Single Father Adopting A Son
Amazon Kindle: The Martian Child: A Novel About A Single Father Adopting A Son

Basis for the major motion picture from New Line Cinema —starring John Cusack, Amanda Peet, and Joan Cusack—in theaters November 2007

When David Gerrold decided he wanted to adopt a son, he thought he had prepared himself for fatherhood. But eight-year-old Dennis turned out to be more than he expected—a lot more. Dennis suffered from fetal alcohol syndrome, the son of a substance abuser and alcoholic who abandoned him in a seedy motel at the age of one-and-a-half. His father died of an overdose. Seized by the state, Dennis was shuffled between eight different foster homes in less than eight years. He was abused and beaten severely in at least tow of his placements. Dennis was diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and put on Ritalin and then Disipramine. He was prone to violent emotional outbursts. His case history identified him as “hard to place” —a euphemism for “unadoptable.” But for David Gerrold it was love at first sight…

More Spotlights at my website: www.elisarolle.com/, My Lists/Gay Novels

Comments

David Gerrold

[pabrown.livejournal.com]

Wow, thank you for reminding me of this man. I had forgotten all about his science fiction books. I remember decades ago reading his Matter of Men book. I thought at the time it was one of the best SF books I'd ever read and back then that's all I read. I had no idea he was gay, that was a delightful surprise. I'm going to have to look into getting the rest of his War of Chtorr books and reread them in anticipation of his new ones coming out.

Oh, and The Trouble with Tribbles was also my favorite Star Trek episode.

Re: David Gerrold

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

David Gerrold told me that this is not his best gay novels (he for example suggested "The Man Who Folded Himself (1973)") but since I consider only books released after 2000, this is the most shared of this author. And I like the theme, the single fatherhood. Elisa

Re: David Gerrold

[pabrown.livejournal.com]

As I recall his War of the Chtorr were not gay books. My memories of them are vague but I'm pretty sure the main character in it was straight although I did only come across the first 2 of the series.

Re: David Gerrold

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Yes, from what I understood he is not a strictly "gay novels" author. He suggested some titles on his biblio, and in particular the one I said above. Maybe you can read that one if you want to "taste" him from this perspective. Elisa

Re: David Gerrold

[pabrown.livejournal.com]

I would recommend The Matter for Men. It was very well conceived and kind of creepy in a very believable way. One of the best alien invasion books I've ever read.

[eraila.livejournal.com]

Oh, it sounds like a wonderful movie. The sort that makes you cry your eyes out and in the end smile through your tears. Will definitely check it out.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Yes, I think also the movie should be interesting. I focused more on the book, but with that actors, I bet also the movie is good. Elisa

[eraila.livejournal.com]

Just saw a trailer on youtube and one of the commentators mentions that David Gerrold gets reedited as a widower instead of as a single gay man. A little surprising since that ruins a little of the appeal for me, I think a little of the book's premises. But the youtube trailer DID bring a little moistness to my eyes, so will still watch it. If it makes me really cry, I be looking into this author:)

[marymonroe.livejournal.com]

Coincidentially, I just read a book by this author, "The world of Star Trek" (I went crazy about all things ST after seeing the movie). I had never heard of David Gerrold before but I really liked his voice in this book and I had resolved to seek out some of his fiction. Thanks for providing me with a title to begin with :-D I like the adoption angle.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

This is a mostly autobiographic book, so no sci-fic here, but I think you could like it nevertheless. Elisa