Lucius Shepard's "Stars Seen Through Stone" (novella): Rise & fall of a musician

Main story - that is most of the text - is a non-genre story. Of a man who launches new musicians & manages their careers - he's also the narrator. Through him, we learn of his wild protegee's rise & eventual fall. In the background is a bit of romance. This part is a good story, if you are into this kind of stories.

Then there is sf part - I'll call it fantasy, but I know of some who call it science fiction. This part is spread throughout the main non-genre story, & keeps recurring in bits & pieces. Mostly to build anticipation to some kind of a climax, but it's a dull climax. I'll call this part bad.

This fantasy part appears inspired by Eric Frank Russell's "Sinister Barrier" - but Russell's version was, at least, comprehensible. Rather than Russell's globes that harvest human "nervous energy", Shepard's waves (or is it wavefronts?) harvest human "creativity" & also harvest & nurture ghosts of particularly evil men!

Full text of the story is available for download.

Story summary.

Story is set in small town called Black William, Pennsylvania, US. Vernon is the owner of music label "Soul Kiss Records". He was once married to Andrea, is currently divorced & has a girlfriend Mia. By the end of the story, Mia will be gone, & Andrea will be back in his life. This romance of Vernon & Andrea runs through the story - in small pieces.

A major thread of the story deals with Joseph Stanky, a despicable young man but a talented musician. Vernon will help him get recognition. Stanky's fall will come near end of the story - when the waves suck his "creativity" out!

A relatively short thread of the story deals with Vernon's friendship with Rudy Bowen - his partner in "Crucible" - some kind of a local club. Rudy will die near end of the story - a victim of the mysterious waves.

About the waves themselves - I'm actually still clueless. Totally incomprehensible stuff.

Fact sheet.

"Stars Seen Through Stone", short story, review
First published: F&SF, July 2007.
Rating: B
Passed first round of nominations for Nebula Awards 2007 in novella category.
Nominated for Hugo Awards 2008 in novella category.