SOLVED. Sci Fi book takes place in or around London: Children in it are named after English writers? (Written prior to 1980 I believe) [s]

[Jeff]

I read this book back around 1980 or so. It is a sci fi book that takes place in London. The story is based around a group of children as they grow up. If I remember correctly, the children are all named after famous writers.

As the two main characters (one boy and one girl) come of age, they start to notice that the other children are not quite the same. They notice that the other children grow in spurts, can survive things that would kill a human, etc. (view spoiler)[ Eventually, the two main characters realize that the London they live in is a fake world created for them (the other children are androids) so that they can eventually repopulate the human race. (hide spoiler)]
Does anyone remember who wrote this and what the title is?

[David]

Children in London being named after famous writers sounds familiar. I haven't read the book, but read something about it, maybe a book description. It's been a long time so I don't remember the title or author.

[Jeff]

Thanks David. There is one part in the book when the children find their way to a library. That is when they notice that their names are the same as some of the authors. For some reason, Emily Bronte sticks out in my mind as one of the characters? (but could be totally wrong)

[Kris]

Jeff, do the boy and girl have any special powers or unusual traits?

Are there any adults in the story?

Do you think the children's first names only were based on famous writers - or both their first and last names?

[Jeff]

I just found it! It was the Overman Culture, written by Edmund Cooper in 1971. Here is the description from Goodreads:

"Michael had a good memory. He could remember things significant & insignificant. He remembered--if hazily--when he was young enough to be fed milk only. He remembered the odd child who disappeared from playschool & he remembered the other child who fell (or was pushed?) from the high window & lay all smashed & crumpled on the ground, but not bleeding & he remembered how he'd wanted to know about words, how you could keep them, how you could fix them--perhaps like a drawing--forever."
"Time seems to have run amok. London is governed by Queen Victoria & Winston Churchill, populated by young people called 'fragiles' & others called 'drybones' because they don't bleed. The young fragiles come to realize that they're the last of their kind--whatever kind that might be.
Thus is established the setting for a brilliant novel of adventure that speaks to the largest questions facing young people everywhere--questions of identity, of purpose in life & of responsibility for themselves & their kind."

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

[Kris]

Great! Thanks for update, Jeff.