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Un-Birthday Boy

analog feb 96

 

Un-Birthday Boy
7500 words


Every morning he tried very hard not to waken into his uhappy world, but the wall bleeper would only get louder until he turned it off to let his mother know that he was awake and would be out for breakfast as soon as he had washed and dressed.

Normality “involves comaprison to a standard – but how do you judge the standard?” (blurb).  How, indeed?  The initally unnamed boy hates waking up on a birthday, because he’s never had one.  I can almost hear you ask: “But why not, Graham?”  for the very good reason . . . but that would be telling.  ‘Un-Birthday’ is another James White story that was denied its rightful Hugo award.  I suspect some jiggery, and a whole lot of pokery.


Synopsis by Graham Andrews
 
First Publication:
  • ANALOG, February 1996
    (Shortlisted for International Science Fiction Award, HUGO, 1997. came second by 17 votes.)
     

Publication history:
  •   Shortlisted for International Science Fiction Award, HUGO, 1997. came second.

 

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