The Dark Symphony by Dean Koontz

This collection of excerpts introduces a futuristic society where sound is the fundamental force, used to construct cities and even manipulate genetics. The narrative centers on Guil, a young man, as he navigates his "Coming of Age Day" – a perilous rite of passage involving tests against sound-formed creatures in an arena, and an encounter with the Pillar of Ultimate Sound. Simultaneously, the text follows Loper, a "Popular" (mutated human), on a mission to kidnap a Musician child. As Guil discovers he is also a Popular, adopted into Musician society, he must grapple with his identity and choose between the seemingly civilized Musicians and the despised Populars, leading to a planned rebellion to destroy the Musician's sound-based infrastructure. His journey is complicated by relationships with Rosie, a deformed but brilliant Musician, and Tisha, a Popular who mirrors his own mixed heritage.