Please ID this SI-FI novel

October 31, 2005 6:48 AM

Please ID this SI-FI novel

This was a DAW paperback I read in the late 70s or early 80s.
Details are sketchy but here’s what I remember.
It takes place in the far future. Humans are more or less immortal and have stopped having children. All except our hero’s parents, thinking they would start a cool fad the have a child (boy) And when everyone reacts with horror they are forced to keep the kid hid and deny his existence as much as possible.
As he grows older he bugs his parents for a pair of wings (large artificial strap on wings with an anti-grav unit that enable humans to fly). He leaves home and hooks up with a young woman
They both get a pair of wings from the bodies of people who have committed suicide? Like I said, details are sketchy, I though the title of this book was “One On Me” but I don’t get any hits for that title.
I know if this aint much to go on but if any of it rings a bell let me know. Thanks!

posted by jeffr062 to media & arts (6 comments total)

I'll ask Peter Stampfel, who is a senior editor at DAW. Someone will probably get a reply in first, tho'.
posted by scruss at 7:28 AM on October 31, 2005

Yep, called "One on Me" according to this site, DAW #368. Quoted: "Humorous coming-of-age story of the last kid born on Earth," by Tim Huntley, 1980. Also, a non-commissioned Amazon.com link.
posted by vanoakenfold at 7:37 AM on October 31, 2005

For future reference: try the ISFDB when searching for SF books.
posted by edd at 7:44 AM on October 31, 2005

It's been years since I read it, but I do believe you have the right book: One on Me by Tim Huntley ... make that Timothy Wade Huntley, an Oscar-nominated filmmaker and author, according to this site. The site includes an image of the cover of One on Me, featuring two winged beings in flight.

It was nominated for the 1981 Locus Award for best first novel, here, but lost to Dragon's Egg by Robert L. Forward.

For DAW Book collectors, Huntley's was No. 368.
posted by Seabird at 8:12 AM on October 31, 2005

Peter Stampfel sez:

That could be One on Me by Tim Huntly. I'll dig up a copy and see if that's the one. Give me a goose later this week.

Peter's married to Betsy Wollheim, daughter of DAW founder Donald A. Wollheim. Stampfel's been mentioned on mefi before, but for entirely other reasons.
posted by scruss at 9:24 AM on October 31, 2005

Thanks for all Your help everyone I ordered a used copy from the Amazon link.

Jeffro
posted by jeffr062 at 10:53 AM on October 31, 2005