Malcolm Brenner (writer)
Malcolm J. Brenner (born 9 May 1951) is an American author from New Jersey, journalist, and zoophile;[1] He is best known for his controversial novel Wet Goddess (2009), about a love affair between a college student and a bottlenose dolphin in the 1970s. As a journalist, he has covered local news in New Mexico and Florida since the early 1990s.
Malcolm J. Brenner | |
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![]() Malcolm Brenner in San Francisco circa 2005 | |
Born | Perth Amboy, New Jersey, U.S. | 9 May 1951
Occupation | Novelist, journalist |
Language | English |
Nationality | American |
Education | B.A. Communications |
Alma mater | New College of Florida[1] |
Notable works | Wet Goddess |
Career in journalism
In the 1990s, Brenner worked as an investigative reporter covering the Navajo Nation and surrounding area. A 1998 article on the American Indian Movement (AIM) and Russell Means which Brenner wrote for the Gallup Independent is featured on the AIM website.[2]
From 1992 to 1994, Brenner worked at the Farmington Daily Times. After being terminated, Brenner filed a federal lawsuit claiming that he had been terminated for practicing Wicca.[3]
Wet Goddess
Since 2010, Brenner has gained international notoriety for his novel, Wet Goddess.[4][5] The novel details several months in the life of fictional college student Zachary Zimmerman, in which the protagonist meets a dolphin named Ruby at a local theme park and falls in love with her.[6] Brenner claims the book is autobiographical, and based on a series of events that happened to him in the 1970s. In an article in the Huffington Post, Brenner said: "I wrote this book for dolphins because we are mistreating these animals by keeping them in captivity."[7]
Zoophile
Brenner claims to have had sex with a female dolphin named Dolly in the 1970s. Describing the experience, he stated they “stared into each others eyes” for moments after they made love and they tried seven different poses.[8] He is a zoophile activist.[9]
Works
- Say "Rooo-beee!" (1974), Mind in the Waters, A Book to Celebrate the Consciousness of Whales and Dolphins, assembled by Joan McIntyre
- The Wet Aliens (May 1978), Future Life[10]
- Making Waves (October 1978), Penthouse
- Whale Museum Surfaces (July 1979), Future Life
- Dolphin (November 1979), Future Life
- Your God Isn't Big Enough – An Interview with John Lilly (August 1980), Future Life
- Interview – Poul Anderson (May 1981), Future Life
- Attack of the Laughing Warthogs (March 1981), Future Life
- Nikola Tesla – The Man Who Turned on the World (November 1981), Future Life
- Walkers bring peace message to Gallup (May 4, 1995), Global Emergency Alert Response 2000, originally published in The Gallup Independent
- The Us-Them Dichotomy (1995), Witchcraft Today IV. Living Between Two Worlds: Challenges of the Modern Witch[11]
- AIM seeks distance from Russell Means (January 5, 1998), The Gallup Independent
- Shiprock Miners Plot Radiation Act Amendments (January 26, 1998), originally published in The Gallup Independent
- Air, earth and water: Former miner was contaminated by uranium three ways (January 26, 1998), originally published in The Gallup Independent
- Volunteers Use Straw To Build Home For 86-Year-Old Woman (May 10, 1998), The Seattle Times, originally published in The Gallup Independent
- Navajo Ethics Investigator (August 1998), Investigative Reporters & Editors, originally published in The Gallup Independent
- A Witch among the Navajos (Summer 1998), Gnosis
- The Decline and Fall of Zuni Arts and Crafts Enterprise (October 1998), Investigative Reporters & Editors, originally published in The Gallup Independent
- Premium hikes leave self-employed uninsured (January 28, 2003), Charlotte Sun[12]
- Wet Goddess (2009)
- Masters of the Garden (September 2011), Harbor Style[13]
Awards
- 1992 – New Mexico Associated Press Managing Editors Awards: First Place, Investigative
- 1993 – New Mexico Press Association: Second Place, Columns
- 1994 – New Mexico Associated Press Managing Editors Awards: First Place, Columns
- 1995 – New Mexico Associated Press Managing Editors Awards: Best of Show and First Place, Investigative
- 1996 – New Mexico Associated Press Managing Editors Awards: First Place, Investigative
- 1996 – New Mexico Associated Press Managing Editors Awards: First place, Spot News Photo
- 1998 – New Mexico Press Association: First Place, News Writing
- 1998 – New Mexico Associated Press Managing Editors Awards: First Place, Columns
- 2004 – Florida Society of Newspaper Editors: Honorable Mention[14]
- 2004 – National Newspaper Association: Best Business Story
- 2004 – National Newspaper Association: Honorable Mention, Best Breaking News Story
References
- "Sleeps with the Fishes: Author Details Love Affair with Dolphin". HuffPost. 23 September 2011. Archived from the original on 2017-10-07. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
- "Attachment 1 – AIM seeks distance from Russell Means". Archived from the original on 2009-03-04. Retrieved 2012-04-05.
- Bill Papich, "Neo-Pagan Sues Farmington Paper.(New Mexico)", June 11, 1997
- David Farrier, "Dolphin man Malcolm Brenner follow-up Q&A" Archived 2012-01-13 at the Wayback Machine, 3 News, September 23, 2011
- Maureen O'Connor, "Man's Dolphin Sex Memoir Suddenly Very Popular" Archived 2012-01-30 at the Wayback Machine, Gawker, September 23, 2011
- Annalee Newitz, "Human-Meets-Dolphin Love Story Takes You Where Avatar Won't" Archived 2012-06-21 at the Wayback Machine, io9, January 14, 2010
- Simon McCormack, "Malcolm Brenner Chronicles His Sexual Relationship With Dolphin In 'Wet Goddess'" Archived 2017-10-07 at the Wayback Machine, Huffington Post, September 23, 2011
- "Dolphin Lover - the Real Life "Shape of Water"". Archived from the original on 2019-04-13. Retrieved 2020-01-01 – via YouTube.
- "The Zoophile Advocate Who Had Sex with a Dolphin is Now the Star of a New Documentary". 3 February 2015. Archived from the original on 2016-06-10. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
- "Future Life: The Entire Run". Archived from the original on 2012-03-19. Retrieved 2012-04-06.
- "The Witchcraft Today Series". Archived from the original on 2012-03-16. Retrieved 2012-04-06.
- "Articles & Images of Note". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-04-06.
- "HARBOR STYLE Magazine Online". Archived from the original on 2012-09-06. Retrieved 2012-04-06.
- "FSNE 2004 Newspaper Competition Winners". Archived from the original on 2012-04-01. Retrieved 2012-04-05.