Can You Name This Story? (Part 14)

Posted on May 15, 2009 by John DeNardo in Books // 6 Comments

Another reader writes in with a story description looking for a title.

Do any of our readers out there know the title of this story?

[A] Musician plays in bars, he plays an electronic instrument that creates holograms rather than (or in addition to) sound. He was recruited to be part of a crew on a ship that went to sample the sun’s corona. During the dip into the corona, the crew shut down the ports but he opened a port and looked into the sun. It blinded him, but it also impacted his music.

– Bill B.

Can you name this story?

Name the Story

Tim Walters // May 15, 2009 at 1:09 am //

Samuel R. Delany, <i>Nova</i>.

Blue Tyson // May 15, 2009 at 2:20 am //

Corona, Samuel R. Delany.

Mark // May 15, 2009 at 6:43 am //

No, it’s definitely “Nova” by Chip Delany

Dan // May 15, 2009 at 7:05 am //

Yes, it’s absolutely “Nova” by Samuel R. Delany – I started reading it a few days ago! Good timing!

Michael // May 15, 2009 at 7:54 am //

Here’s a link to the Wikipedia for “Nova”.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nova_(novel)

And a link to the short story “Corona”

http://www.scifi.com/scifiction/classics/classics_archive/delany/delany1.html

Bill B. // May 15, 2009 at 10:56 am //

Thanks!!

It definitely sounds like it’s “Nova”, the description of Mouse and especially the sensory syrynx matches the part of the story that stuck with me. It’s definitely not “Corona”.

One funny thing, I don’t remember much of the rest of the tale, and I don’t remember it the way Wikipedia describes it, but for sure that description of Mouse is spot on.

Now I’ve absolutely got to go get a copy and read it again.

Thansk loads, everyone!!