[PW] Answer to an old question -- "Query: Anyone recognize this book? (a SciFi title)"

[Gabriel Mckee]

This question is old-- from last March-- but a late answer is better
than none at all. The book in question is "Homegoing" by Frederik
Pohl, first published in 1989.
Here's the fantasticfiction.co.uk page for it:
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/p/frederik-pohl/homegoing.htm

The main character is named Sandy; the aliens tell him his mother is
Marilyn Monroe; his best pal is a froglike alien named Oberon; the
food animals are called "hoo'hiks."

I'm in the middle of reading it right now, and some of the plot points
seemed familiar-- then I remembered this request. (The last clue gave
away the ending for me, but it's worth it for the satisfaction of
getting an answer to this question!)
--Gabriel Mckee

>Greetings collective brain,
>
>We recently had a query as to the title of a book... and the info we
>have is such:
>
>- It was most likely published in the 1980's (most likely sent out as a
>title in a SciFi book club around that time)
>
>- A teenager or adult male main character was lied to and told his
>parents were Marilyn Monroe and a cosmonaut or astronaut (he was told he
>was human, though he was not)
>
>-  The aliens resembled frogs
>
>- The main character was something like a 'food animal' made sentient by
>the frog-like aliens
>
>- The main character's name may have been something like Chet or Chaz
>(or something short-ish that beings with a C), the best friend of the
>main character was maybe called something that started with Oz- or Os-
>like Ozzie or Oslow
>
>The usual places have been searched (paper sources, databases from Books
>in Print to WorldCat and more, Google,
>http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk, etc.), our SciFi reading staff has
>been consulted, we have checked with the noted Science Fiction bookstore
>Uncle Hugo's, etc.  And so far, we have zilch.
>
>So now, to Wombats.... Anyone recognize this book and can recall the
>tile (or maybe more detail/s)?  If so, please let us know.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Susan B.
>Shakopee Branch Library
>Scott County (Minnesota) Library System
-- 
The Gospel According to Science Fiction: From the Twilight Zone to the
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