"Unaccompanied Sonata"

Submitted by admin on Wed, 02/03/2016 - 16:29
Title"Unaccompanied Sonata"
Year for Search1979
AuthorsCard, Orson Scott(b. 1951)
Secondary TitleOmni
Volume / Edition1.6
Pagination50-52, 120-24
Date PublishedMarch 1979
KeywordsMale author, US author
Annotation

Dystopia. People are categorized through tests given almost from birth and are required to do only the thing that they are supposedly best suited to do. The story focuses on a musical genius who is only allowed to make music uninfluenced by hearing anyone else's music. When he hears other music and incorporates it, he is no longer allowed to make music. When he does, his hands are cut off; when he sings, his vocal cords are removed.
Additional Publishers

Rpt. in The 1980 Worlds Best SF. Ed. Donald A. Wollheim with Arthur W. Saha ([New York:] DAW Books, 1980), 73-91; in The Best of Omni Science Fiction. Ed. Ben Bova and Don Myrus (New York: Omni Society, 1980), 38-44; and in The Fourth Omni Book of Science Fiction. Ed. Ellen [Sue] Datlow (New York: Zebra Books, 1985), 185-206. Separately published [Eugene, OR: Pulphouse Publishing, 1992]. 
Holding Institutions

MoU-St, PSt
Author Note

(b. 1951)
Full Text

1979 Card, Orson Scott (b. 1951). “Unaccompanied Sonata.” Omni 1.6 (March 1979): 50-52, 120-24. Rpt. in The 1980 Worlds Best SF. Ed. Donald A. Wollheim with Arthur W. Saha ([New York:] DAW Books, 1980), 73-91; in The Best of Omni Science Fiction. Ed. Ben Bova and Don Myrus (New York: Omni Society, 1980), 38-44; and in The Fourth Omni Book of Science Fiction. Ed. Ellen [Sue] Datlow (New York: Zebra Books, 1985), 185-206. Separately published [Eugene, OR: Pulphouse Publishing, 1992]. MoU-St, PSt

Dystopia. People are categorized through tests given almost from birth and are required to do only the thing that they are supposedly best suited to do. The story focuses on a musical genius who is only allowed to make music uninfluenced by hearing anyone else’s music. When he hears other music and incorporates it, he is no longer allowed to make music. When he does, his hands are cut off; when he sings, his vocal cords are removed.