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The Visitor
183 pages, Paperback
Published June 2, 2025
About the author
Mitchell Waldman
20 books30 followersMitchell Waldman's latest novel, The Visitor, is now available from All Things That Matter Press! The Visitor is a unique blend of science fiction, social commentary, and human drama. It stands out for its exploration of identity, alienation, and the human condition, themes that may resonate with readers of speculative fiction and literary works alike. It may appeal to readers who enjoy introspective narratives and stories that challenge perceptions of reality, much like works of Philip K. Dick of Kashuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go. Its unique blend of genres and themes may make it a compelling read that stands out in the literary landscape. (For more info on the book and reviews, see https://mitchellanddiana.com/books/th...)
His last story collection is entitled Brothers, Fathers, and Other Strangers. Of the work readers have said "Waldman has crafted a nuanced and engaging collection. His stories set us on an emotional tightrope, daring us to forgo a safety net, while seducing us to look down and discover who we are. Sometimes poignantly devastating, and other times savagely funny, he guides us through family trauma, corporate America, and faithful understanding to remind us if we can be less of a stranger to the world, maybe we can be less of a stranger to ourselves." (Josh Penzone, author of The Court of Vintage Woods: Linked Stories). Readers have also said that "Brothers, Fathers, and Other Strangers is remarkable for its scope, honesty, imagination, social sensitivity, and moral concern." (Robert Wexelblatt, author of The Thirteenth Studebaker, Hsi-wei Tales, etc.) And it has been said that "[i]n Brothers, Fathers, and Other Strangers, Waldman explores masculinity, but not stereotypical masculinity. In these stories, you will see men battling their memories and emotions as they attempt to come to grips with their pasts and make a way for their lives. Waldman sets his work in reality with a dash of fantasy and the occasional twist ending. Waldman is doing something special in the short story form, and his stories will entertain, enlighten, and elate." (Hardy Jones, author of Resurrection of Childhood: A Memoir, and Every Bitter Thing). The Academy of the Heart and Mind recently said of Brothers, Fathers, and Other Strangers that "Waldman’s short story collection will resonate with readers who are seeking a deep dive into how others have a massive influence on the people we are inside and out." For more information on the book, visit https:https://mitchellanddiana.com/books/br...)
Waldman's fiction and poetry has appeared in many journals and anthologies. He is also the author of the story collection Petty Offenses and Crimes of the Heart and the novel A Face in the Moon.
Waldman serves as Fiction Editor for Blue Lake Review (http://bluelakereview.weebly.com), and was co-editor (with Diana Waldman) of the anthologies WOUNDS OF WAR: POETS FOR PEACE, and HIP POETRY (originally published by Wind Publications).
His book reviews have appeared at Scribes World and Midwest Book Review.
Waldman studied with Mark Costello (author of THE MURPHY STORIES and MIDDLE MURPHY) and Paul Friedman (author of AND IF DEFEATED ALLEGE FRAUD and SERIOUS TROUBLE) at the University of Illinois (Champaign-Urbana), studied advertising at the University of Texas at Austin, and has a J.D. from Southern Illinois University.
Mitchell worked as an attorney/editor in the legal publishing field for over 35 years, before retiring in 2022.
Born in Chicago, he currently lives in Rochester, New York, with his partner, Diana Waldman, a journalist, editor, and poet, and the author of the poetry anthology, A WOMAN'S SONG.
Mitchell is working on a new short story collection which should be available soon.
For more information on Mitchell's and Diana's books and writings, see their web page at: https:
His last story collection is entitled Brothers, Fathers, and Other Strangers. Of the work readers have said "Waldman has crafted a nuanced and engaging collection. His stories set us on an emotional tightrope, daring us to forgo a safety net, while seducing us to look down and discover who we are. Sometimes poignantly devastating, and other times savagely funny, he guides us through family trauma, corporate America, and faithful understanding to remind us if we can be less of a stranger to the world, maybe we can be less of a stranger to ourselves." (Josh Penzone, author of The Court of Vintage Woods: Linked Stories). Readers have also said that "Brothers, Fathers, and Other Strangers is remarkable for its scope, honesty, imagination, social sensitivity, and moral concern." (Robert Wexelblatt, author of The Thirteenth Studebaker, Hsi-wei Tales, etc.) And it has been said that "[i]n Brothers, Fathers, and Other Strangers, Waldman explores masculinity, but not stereotypical masculinity. In these stories, you will see men battling their memories and emotions as they attempt to come to grips with their pasts and make a way for their lives. Waldman sets his work in reality with a dash of fantasy and the occasional twist ending. Waldman is doing something special in the short story form, and his stories will entertain, enlighten, and elate." (Hardy Jones, author of Resurrection of Childhood: A Memoir, and Every Bitter Thing). The Academy of the Heart and Mind recently said of Brothers, Fathers, and Other Strangers that "Waldman’s short story collection will resonate with readers who are seeking a deep dive into how others have a massive influence on the people we are inside and out." For more information on the book, visit https:https://mitchellanddiana.com/books/br...)
Waldman's fiction and poetry has appeared in many journals and anthologies. He is also the author of the story collection Petty Offenses and Crimes of the Heart and the novel A Face in the Moon.
Waldman serves as Fiction Editor for Blue Lake Review (http://bluelakereview.weebly.com), and was co-editor (with Diana Waldman) of the anthologies WOUNDS OF WAR: POETS FOR PEACE, and HIP POETRY (originally published by Wind Publications).
His book reviews have appeared at Scribes World and Midwest Book Review.
Waldman studied with Mark Costello (author of THE MURPHY STORIES and MIDDLE MURPHY) and Paul Friedman (author of AND IF DEFEATED ALLEGE FRAUD and SERIOUS TROUBLE) at the University of Illinois (Champaign-Urbana), studied advertising at the University of Texas at Austin, and has a J.D. from Southern Illinois University.
Mitchell worked as an attorney/editor in the legal publishing field for over 35 years, before retiring in 2022.
Born in Chicago, he currently lives in Rochester, New York, with his partner, Diana Waldman, a journalist, editor, and poet, and the author of the poetry anthology, A WOMAN'S SONG.
Mitchell is working on a new short story collection which should be available soon.
For more information on Mitchell's and Diana's books and writings, see their web page at: https:
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 25, 2025
Note from the reviewer: My sincere apologies. An overcrowded library of recently read books led to an initial review that inadvertently blended thoughts from other titles. I have since revisited The Visitor and offer this corrected assessment.
Mitchell Waldman's The Visitor presents a quiet and thoughtful exploration of identity through the eyes of Ash, a consciousness who awakens in the body of a man named Edward. The novel's strength lies in its nuanced handling of Ash's disorientation and his delicate, often poignant, efforts to build a life in a world that is intimately familiar yet entirely foreign. Waldman grounds the speculative premise in a very human story, focusing on the emotional weight of navigating a stranger's relationships and a body that feels like a borrowed suit. The prose is restrained and effective, creating a sense of introspection rather than high-stakes drama.
The novel further distinguishes itself by resisting the expected tropes of paranoia, opting instead for a more challenging inquiry into the quiet complexities of domestic life. Waldman examines how a marriage functions when one partner is, in essence, an imposter striving for authenticity. The relationship between Ash and Edward’s wife becomes a subtle study in grief, perception, and the fragile architecture of trust. This focus on the psychological ramifications, rather than overt conspiracy, lends the story a resonant, literary gravity. It is a patient examination of the self as a construct, built not in isolation but through our interactions with others.
This is a kind and perceptive novel for readers who appreciate character-driven stories that ponder the nature of self with empathy and intelligence.
Mitchell Waldman's The Visitor presents a quiet and thoughtful exploration of identity through the eyes of Ash, a consciousness who awakens in the body of a man named Edward. The novel's strength lies in its nuanced handling of Ash's disorientation and his delicate, often poignant, efforts to build a life in a world that is intimately familiar yet entirely foreign. Waldman grounds the speculative premise in a very human story, focusing on the emotional weight of navigating a stranger's relationships and a body that feels like a borrowed suit. The prose is restrained and effective, creating a sense of introspection rather than high-stakes drama.
The novel further distinguishes itself by resisting the expected tropes of paranoia, opting instead for a more challenging inquiry into the quiet complexities of domestic life. Waldman examines how a marriage functions when one partner is, in essence, an imposter striving for authenticity. The relationship between Ash and Edward’s wife becomes a subtle study in grief, perception, and the fragile architecture of trust. This focus on the psychological ramifications, rather than overt conspiracy, lends the story a resonant, literary gravity. It is a patient examination of the self as a construct, built not in isolation but through our interactions with others.
This is a kind and perceptive novel for readers who appreciate character-driven stories that ponder the nature of self with empathy and intelligence.
October 18, 2025
Mitchell Waldman’s book, The Visitor, presents an interesting premise: someone wakes up in some else’s body on what might be a completely different world. From the start you wonder, is it for real, what happened to Ash, or is he just feeling the effects of the accident?
Pin Asher9919 new name is Edward, and his confusion is palpable.
An accident can present these symptoms, but what if he is really who he says he is?
What if Pin Asher9919 is indeed in someone else’s body?
What is an alien on Earth to do?
He wanders through Edward’s daily life, becoming more involved in questions of consciousness, memory, and truth, which creates a psychological puzzle that obscures the line between reality and illusion.
I liked the concept and the nuance of today’s America as this passive observer begins to ‘learn to be human.’
The story’s strongest point is its offbeat observations, as the protagonist sees the world in an entirely different context to most people, making it quite insightful at points.
Here is where author Waldman did an excellent job in making this fantasy a ‘thinking fantasy’ for this reader.
If you want to laugh and think, this is the book for you today.
Pin Asher9919 new name is Edward, and his confusion is palpable.
An accident can present these symptoms, but what if he is really who he says he is?
What if Pin Asher9919 is indeed in someone else’s body?
What is an alien on Earth to do?
He wanders through Edward’s daily life, becoming more involved in questions of consciousness, memory, and truth, which creates a psychological puzzle that obscures the line between reality and illusion.
I liked the concept and the nuance of today’s America as this passive observer begins to ‘learn to be human.’
The story’s strongest point is its offbeat observations, as the protagonist sees the world in an entirely different context to most people, making it quite insightful at points.
Here is where author Waldman did an excellent job in making this fantasy a ‘thinking fantasy’ for this reader.
If you want to laugh and think, this is the book for you today.
August 24, 2025
A unique blend of sci-fi and culture-fiction, this is a story unlike you’ve ever read before.
“The Visitor” by Mitchell Waldman is an emotional thrill ride through otherworldly storytelling. Our protagonist, Ash, is a leaper of bodies, hopper of existences, and other-worldly explorer. He jumps into different races to explore their cultures, but by doing so, contemplates his own. Ash begins to ask are we explorers in a flesh-prison or unique individuals who deserve to have their souls intact to what the universe gave us. One doesn’t have to squint too hard to see the parallels in the plot and our current circumstances with our own global perspective—a theme that borders on the whims of those in power, and the abuses they commit against everyone else outside their administrative circle. Check out “The Visitor” if you’ve been in a place where you want introspection and a change of sci-fi pace.
“The Visitor” by Mitchell Waldman is an emotional thrill ride through otherworldly storytelling. Our protagonist, Ash, is a leaper of bodies, hopper of existences, and other-worldly explorer. He jumps into different races to explore their cultures, but by doing so, contemplates his own. Ash begins to ask are we explorers in a flesh-prison or unique individuals who deserve to have their souls intact to what the universe gave us. One doesn’t have to squint too hard to see the parallels in the plot and our current circumstances with our own global perspective—a theme that borders on the whims of those in power, and the abuses they commit against everyone else outside their administrative circle. Check out “The Visitor” if you’ve been in a place where you want introspection and a change of sci-fi pace.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews