When it comes to raising the reader's eyebrows in incredulity,… Bernice Rubens takes some beating. Spring Sonata is the edited journal of Buster, a foetal genius who refuses to be born, evades detection during a Caesarian operation, and lurks in his mother's womb for over three years. While she is accused of indulging in a phantom pregnancy, he makes use of materials sneaked into the womb during the Caesarian—a prescription pad on which to write his thoughts and a violin to express his musical talent. Bach wells out of the proud mother. And her relatives, finally convinced that she has a child, greedily plan a profitable concert tour for the odd duo. Whereupon, realising that the world will only exploit and harass him, Buster commits suicide by sawing through the umbilical cord with his violin bow.

Presumably making some sort of statement about creativity—those who refuse...