The Harmony of the Stares

by Charles Wilkinson

Ten diversely strange tales, steeped in menace, linked in the most unexpected ways by an auricular theme... These are tales in which music often plays a role: music as ritual, music as language, impossible music, lethal music. But here also are the silences, the stop-gaps between notes, the attempted retreats from the audible world.

The table of contents is as follows:

The True Accompanist
Quiet Heaven
The Oboists
The Missing Part
A Gift from the Borders
The Festival of Conformity
The Harmony of the Stares
The Different Chapters
Walking in from the West
Music in the Age of Sheep

224 pages, Hardcover

First published December 2, 2022

About the author

A Birmingham-born poet and short-story writer, Charles Wilkinson attended school in a small town on the Welsh Marches, later studying at the University of Lancaster, the University of East Anglia and Trinity College, Dublin. His publications include The Snowman and Other Poems (Iron Press, 1987) and The Pain Tree and Other Stories (London Magazine Editions, 2000). A Border Poet member, Ag & Au, a pamphlet of poems, appeared from Flarestack Poets in 2013. Today, he lives in Powys, Wales.

Reviews

[W.T.H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of strange, unsettling tales centered around the theme of music. Wilkinson's prose is phenomenal, the fully realized worlds he creates vary wildly and completely consumed me. These are fantastic stories filled with the supernatural and the mad with some leaning into the esoteric and the occult. Highly recommended.

[Vultural · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wilkinson, Charles - The Harmony Of The Stares

A strong grouping of musically themed works.

During a local recital, Philippa notices her pianist is not the usual Nigel. The replacement, a somewhat furtive sort, is intense and perhaps better suited to her voice. Tracking him down, however, proves difficult in “The True Accompanist”.

Amersham, the second oboist, is delighted to learn he will solo in the premier of a newly composed work. Pity that the first-chair oboist disappeared like that. In “The Oboists” – well – no cause in airing unpleasantness here.

Rules, restrictions, obligations. The bane of neighborhood associations and villages. And for individualistic souls who forego norms, there are always reprisals. “The Festival Of Conformity” makes one wonder why Trevidge ever moved to the village in the first place.

After he disposed of his manservant, Windrell had to deal with the inquisitive neighbors. As well as the flooding, the rising river levels that keep forcing locals onto his higher ground. What comes “Walking In From The West” adds to his anxiety. This story features a touch of SciFi.

For me, most of these stories are more accessible than previous Wilkinson I have read. Could be I am simply grasping him better.