The Involuntary Human

by David Gerrold, Gary A. Lippincott (Illustrator), David G. Grubbs (Editor)

Welcome to David Gerrold's imagination. In this volume, some of Gerrold's finest writing is brought together in an eclectic mix of pieces that display his many voices in one unique package. From outer space to earthly concerns, from human sensibility to inner darkness, David Gerrold offers us real characters to care for, varied perspectives to consider, and exciting worlds to explore.

Contents:
Interlude #1: Solomon Short (2007)
The Martian Child (1994)
Pickled Mongoose (2007)
Interlude #2: Solomon Short (2007)
Blood and Fire (2007)
A Shaggy Dog Story (2007)
The Strange Death of Orson Welles (2007)
Interlude #3: Solomon Short (2007)
It Needs Salt (2007)
The Satanic Limericks #1 (poem) (2007)
...And Eight Rabid Pigs (1994)
The Satanic Limericks #2 (poem) (2007)
The Baby Cooper Dollar Bill (2007)
Interlude #4: Solomon Short (2007)
Digging in Gehenna (2003)
King Kong: Behind the Scenes (2005)
King Kong: The Unanswered Questions (2007)
The Kennedy Enterprise (1992)
Chester (2005)
Interlude #5: Solomon Short (2007)
Chess with a Dragon (2007)
The Green Man (2000)
The Diamond Sky (2005)
Interlude #6: Solomon Short (2007)
Riding Janis (2003)
Dancer in the Dark (2004)
thirteen o'clock (2006)

Genres: Science Fiction, Short Stories

479 pages, Hardcover

First published February 16, 2007

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gerrold's one of those sci fi writers I've made a point of following ever since my first encounter with his imagination, when I happened upon "The Man Who Folded Himself" 15 years ago. Later I read H.A.R.L.I.E. (revised version, natch), and The War with the Chtorr, and I think having read all those, I could appreciate the in-jokes scattered throughout this collection. But it was the final story in this collection that reminded me of why I love Gerrold's writing. Gerrold himself calls "thirteen o'clock" the "meth-induced ranting of the love-child of William Burroughs and Harlan Ellison," which is apt, but I appreciate it because it's brave. Gerrold's characters tell truths that I've not encountered in other writers' fictions, and that's why I'll continue to page through his oeuvre. Well, and he's got a wickedly weird sense of humor, with a tendency to perpetuate puns and dirty limericks, quite a few of which are sprinkled in between the stories of this fine collection.

[Susan]

♦The Martian Child • (1994) • novelette by David Gerrold
love Love LOVE!!! this novella ... read it when it first appeared in F&SF and adored it... have forced many friends to see the movie, despite the changes

Pickled Mongoose
Blood and Fire
A Shaggy Dog Story
The Strange Death of Orson Welles
It Needs Salt
... And Eight Rabid Pigs
The Baby Cooper Dollar Bill
Digging in Gehenna
The Kennedy Enterprise
Chester
Chess With a Dragon
The Green Man
The Diamond Sky
♦Riding Janis • read in Stars 12/9/2003
♦Dancer In The Dark 4/6/2004 read in MF&SF -- it was the cover story
thirteen o'clock

[Reforming · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Martian Child is one of my top ten movies, so kudos to Mr. Gerrold for writing the story AND the screenplay. But this book was a tremendous disappointment. I enjoyed the Star Trek script and his asides and prefaces, but didn't care for his stories or aphorisms. Lots of name dropping, too.

[Joey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caught the last chapter on Spider's podcast, and this is good stuff.