Waldman's Alien Visitor

Bruce Von Stiers

The term “stranger in a strange land” comes from the title of the sci-fi novel by Robert A. Heinlein. It also is referenced in the Bible several times. And it has been used in countless articles, books, films and television shows.

The term came to mind as I was reading a novel by Mitchell Waldman. The title of the novel is The Visitor and was published by All Things That Matter Press.

The novel begins with someone, or something, waking up in a different body. He is some kind of spiritual entity. He is actually a Pin and his name is Pin Asher9919. His soul has been plucked from his existence and made to travel to this new planet and to a new physical entity.

At least, this is what Asher9919, later referred to in the novel as Ash, believes. When he awakens in this body, Ash learns that he is known as Edward and had been in a coma for six months. Edward had been in a car wreck that resulted in an injury which caused him to slip into a coma.

Although Ash has a bit of Edward's memories, most everything is foreign to him. In fact, Edward's wife, Lucielle, is a complete stranger to him.

As things move forward, Ash learns about life in the United States and the world in general. He quickly becomes disturbed by the violence in the world. War, genocide and worldwide poverty overwhelms him. He tries to live out the life of “Edward” but finds it a bit too much at times.

All the while, there is a U.S. President who is using fear to rile up citizens against both illegal and legal immigrants and people, aliens, from other countries. The President, Wolff, bears more than a casual resemblance to Donald Trump.

In fact, a good portion of the novel could have been “ripped from the headlines” as they say. The rounding up of illegal immigrants, detaining them in long term facilities and then the deporting of them in mass that occurs in the novel is what is actually happening in the U.S. at this time.

When Edward tries to tell people that he is actually Ash9919, there are devastating consequences. But is he truly Ash9919? Or is he truly Edward, whose coma provided him with false memories of a different, alien, existence?

The Visitor melds sci-fi with human drama. It also throws in biting commentary of a dystopian nature. That nature is pretty much what is currently unfolding in the U.S. The strong-arm type of arresting and detaining of illegal immigrants in the novel is exactly what is happening in the U.S. right now. The messages in the media that are being constrained by the government in the novel appears to be happening in real life in the U.S. And the unhinged President in the novel, Wolff, parallels a lot of Donald Trump's words and actions.

If you like a good story that blends science fiction with human drama with dystopian elements thrown in, The Visitor is something you should read. Even if you're a die-hard conservative who aligns with the current U.S. President, this is a good read. It just might get you to think about your choices.

The Visitor is available at amazon and other book retailers.

You can learn more about The Visitor and its author at http://mitchwaldman.homestead.com/

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© 2025 Bruce E Von Stiers