I Just Read About That…

SOUNDTRACK:

[READ: December 1, 2024] “In the Stacks”

This year my wife ordered me The Short Story Advent Calendar.  This is my seventh time reading the Calendar–it’s a holiday tradition!  Here’s what H&O says about the calendar this year.

Ten years of stories! Yikes, where does the time go?
When the first Short Story Advent Calendar launched, in 2015, we frankly had no clue we’d still be sitting here today, continuing to offer up batches of tasty stories fresh from the oven. To celebrate this milestone, we’ve packed the 10th SSAC with a mix of new and familiar names—ideal company for those chilly winter nights ahead.

The author of this story was Robin Sloan.  Each day has an online component with the author with a brief interview.  Although today doesn’t have an interview just this blurb:

It’s December 1. To officially kick off the 2024 Short Story Advent Calendar, here’s a story about librarians, patrons, and one unusual musical instrument, from the author of Moonbound.

I didn’t realize that I knew Robin Sloan’s work, but I read Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore about ten years ago and loved it.  I’m going to have to put his other books on my list, especially Moonbound.

This short story was fantastic.

Set in a library (bonus points), the librarian learns of the death of a favorite patron.

This patron was an elderly woman who spend one day every week in the library’s music room (this library sounds amazing frankly).  The music room was soundproofed and was mostly used by teens who banged away on instruments.  But there was also an ancient modular synthesizer that someone had donated years ago.  The patron spent her time learning how to make patches and how to generate sounds out of nothing.

The last time she was in the library, she left a note that the machine shouldn’t be touched until her song was heard by Dr Ozy, a famous music producer.

The ay this short but powerful story unfolds is simply beautiful. And of course now I want to explore a modular synth (yea, good luck buddy).