SOLVED. Space opera - main characters are teenagers but book is not YA [s]

[Brin]

I have been trying to track down a book I read probably around mid-late 90s (it may have been written well before this though).

The novel took place on a spaceship and all the characters were teenagers (not sure what happened to all the adults). I clearly remember that leaders were selected on a rotation basis (and were referred to as Pan's and Wendy's??). The ship is run by an artificial intelligence.

The main character was a teenage boy. At the start he is actually married to another boy but has fallen in love with a girl and wants to be with her. (view spoiler)[An accident occurs and both the boy he is married to and the girl he is in love with are killed. (hide spoiler)]

The main character becomes a 'Pan' and has a somewhat antagonistic relationship with another girl who by the end of the book has become a leader herself.

I unfortunately cannot really remember any other details but this book has been bugging me for years!!

[Kris]

This isn't your book, but it might be of interest. The Comet's Curse by Dom Testa.

[Kris]

Perhaps the Deepwater series by Ken Catran, for example: Deepwater Black: The Complete Story

[Brin]

The Comet's Curse looks interesting - will have to check it out. :)

No I don't think it was the Deepwater series - thanks for the suggestion though!

[[deleted user]]

I'm quite certain this is Anvil of Stars by Greg Bear.

There's a synopsis below, but it includes major spoilers about this book and the first book , which "anvil" is a sequel to, The Forge of God. I've tried to find one without spoilers, but because of the nature of the two books it's difficult to describe the second one without giving away the end of the first.

http://www.enotes.com/anvil-stars-for...

[Brin]

It's definitely Anvil of Stars. Thanks so much! This one has plagued me for years!!