Mary Robinette Kowal's "For Solo Cello, op. 12" (short story, science fiction): A man faces an impossible dilemma

The single most interesting plot idea in a short story in this year's Nebula preliminary list - at least among the may be a half dozen I've read. But execution left something to be desired.

Idea is not entirely new, & extremely controversial - using the cells of an unborn embryo to grow lost tissue in an adult, effectively killing the embryo.

This was a perfect story for an ambiguous ending, or where ending is left to reader - in the tradition of Ayn Rand's "Night of January 16th". For an issue this controversial, opinion is likely to be very divided, & you will likely feel unhappy siding either way. Author's choosing sides messed it up for me.

"Cello" in the title is a string-based musical instrument. "op. 12" is some piece of music. I'm not personally familiar with either.

Full text of the story is available for download.

Story summary.

Julius Sanford is a musician who has recently lost a hand in an accident, & is feeling miserable. His wife Cheri is pregnant, & supportive.

That is when he gets a call from his agent Leonard. Leonard tells him of a new stem cell treatment, getting a "blastema bud". This procedure can regrow his hand in place - provided the treatment is received "before scar tissue forms", & embryo is related.

He wants the hand back - at the expense of their unborn child. Wife reluctantly consents, but their relations are strained: "You’re offering me a choice between giving you your hand back and raising a child that you hate. What choice do you think there is?"

Fact sheet.

"For Solo Cello, op. 12", short story, review
First published: COSMOS magazine, Issue 13 (February/March 2007).
Rating: B
Passed first round of nominations for Nebula Awards 2007 in short story category.