STARDUST

by Nan Ryan ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 14, 1988

A cheerfully fatuous roman ti clef about a Texas boy who grows up to be a famous rock-and-roller. ""He burst upon the music world with the sudden energy and heat of a shooting comet""--that's C.C. McCarty, otherwise known as the Chief. After a poor childhood in West Dallas, the ""slim young giant"" (part Comanche Indian) picks up a guitar and hip-wiggles his way into the hearts of every female in 50's America. Except, that is, Valentina Trent, owner of Bluebonnet Records. Chief--who is promiscuous but has a certain moral code--refuses to sleep with her in order to get a big contract, and thus makes a lifelong enemy. As he gets richer and more famous, she bribes doctors to hook him on uppers and downers that disguise the real nature of the pain he's been feeling in his gut--an ucler. By 1975, then, Chief is an overweight drugged-up wreck living in a huge mansion, surrounded by bodyguards and syncophants--and dies at age 39 of a perforated ulcer. The story now becomes that of his daughter, the beautiful Laura, who discovers that Valentina has secretly bought up Chiefs record company and is tying up the royalties. And that a lunatic named Ryker Rawley is out to get Laura herself because her father got his sister pregnant (the girl died after an abortion). More, Laura learns that her beloved husband, Stephen, can make love to her only after she does her famous imitation of Chief singing (Stephen is gay, you see, and in love with C.C.'s memory). But Laura eventually finds another man and starts a Las Vegas singing career (""Hello, everybody. I'm C.C.'s daughter""). Meanwhile, Valentina and the vengeful Ryker Rawley meet, have an affair, find out they're brother and sister (don't ask) and destroy each other. Everything but the kitchen sink--plenty of money, sex, violence and lunacy--adds up to a silly but fairly entertaining first effort.

Pub Date: Oct. 14, 1988

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Donald Fine

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 1988

Categories: FICTION