A rock scientist is tortured by depression. He falls in love with the music of famed rock star Buddy Holly, who had died in 1959 at the age of 22 with so many plans and so much to live for. After becoming fanatical about Buddy Holly himself, his scientific genius drives him to work on building a time machine and try to save Buddy Holly from the plane crash that ended his short life and musical career. This novel delves into depression, while meandering off into philosophy of life and the universe, and as well is interspersed with comic relief.