Martian Dawn and Other Novels

Michael Friedman is the author of two full-length books of poetry, including Species (2000), and four chapbooks. His work has been included in many journals and anthologies, including Great American Prose Poems. His first novel, Martian Dawn, was published in 2006 by Turtle Point Press. Previously, he was the chair of The Poetry Project at St. Mark’s Church and an adjunct faculty member of Naropa University’s MFA writing program. He is the cofounder of the literary journal Shiny. He lives in Denver, Colorado, where he practices law.

“On every page there is something funny, sad, weird, or some combination thereof, conjured by Friedman’s deadpan tone, pile-up of cliche and detail, and the placement of quotidian characters into absurd situations (or vice versa).” —The L Magazine“Friedman’s urbane silliness and élan hark back to the glittering twilight of high camp—without seeming to hark back. Hats off to Little A for reissuing Martian Dawn and Other Novels. I didn’t know anyone could still make it look so easy to have so much fun on the page.” —Lorin Stein, editor-in-chief of The Paris Review“Michael Friedman has one of the best sensibilities in contemporary lit. Martian Dawn possesses the impeccable construction, low gravity, and shimmering surface of something written with a magic wand.” —Dennis Cooper“Michael Friedman’s novels are analytical, fun to read, and profoundly nourishing. He takes fiction seriously by not taking it seriously.” —Wayne Koestenbaum“Reading Martian Dawn is like watching an ultra-cool comedy of the future where familiar movie types develop into idyllic interplanetary characters in order to make yet more movies. It’s as though Star Trek, Pretty Woman, and There’s Something About Mary had been sublimated in an unlikely fusion that is both comforting and hilarious.” —Harry Mathews“Michael Friedman’s metrosexuals are direct descendants of characters in Ronald Firbank and Ivy Compton-Burnett. Their wisecracking rises consistently to the level of poetry.” —John Ashbery