"The Martian Child" is a novelette by American writer David Gerrold, originally published in Fantasy & Science Fiction.

A single man who writes science fiction books and screenplays for a living, adopts a son who claims he is from Mars.

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.

Although nothing specifically science fictional occurs in the story, Gerrold makes suggestive hints.

In the feature film, the protagonist was a straight widower (with a female love interest), causing criticism from the LGBT community.