Customer Reviews

Crystal Singer

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Anne McCaffrey first wrote about Killashandra in a serialized short story. She expanded the story in Crystal Singer,which is the first of a trilogy of novels.

Killashandra fails her final exam in music school and faces a life of second-billing as a choir soloist and not a top performer as she had dreamed. She will not settle for second place, and impetuously takes off with a mysterious companion for Ballybran, a forbidden planet with an alluring secret.

Ballybran is the home of Crystal, which is mined and used for vital starship drives, interplanetary communications systems and most other types of equipment. It is controlled by the powerful and secretive Heptite Guild. Killashandra applies for membership and is accepted. She goes through the intensive schooling and special adaptation to become a Crystal Singer.

But singing Crystal has not only its rewards (and they are many) but its heavy price. Killashandra learns about the price as she becomes a full-fledged member of the Heptite Guild and becomes involved with its enigmatic Guildmaster Lanzecki.

This is one of those wonderful kinds of sci-fi novels that can create an entirely new world, complete with its slang, customs and characteristics. It's sci-fi at its best.

Crystal Singer starts off with an immature, melodramatic perfectionist whose philosophy seems to be that if she can't be the star, then she won't even play the game. But her stubborness and ingenuity prove to be incredible assets when she discovers the opportunities and risks in the Heptite Guild.

Anne McCafferty has provided us with a true treasure. A dynamic character that we can actually feel for, in a situation that grabs the immagination and the dreams of the reader. A true five star story.

This is a different kind of sci fic series. Well written, interesting, but mostly, its a romance so if that is not what you want, most of Ms McCaffreys' books are not for you. However this is as good as this kind of story gets, and has several unique concepts. An interestiong story about losing what you thought you wanted only to find what you really love. All three books in the series are comparable.

The Crystal Singer series is a must read for anyone who loves imagining what the distant future might bring. The author creates fantasy future worlds that are so very believable - I feel I have been to the places she describes.

The additional treat is the characterizations - Anne McCaffery is a genius when it comes to creating strong characters with a variety of interesting traits.

Put these two things together and you end up with the very best of storytelling. The only complaint I have is that there's not an unending supply of this series!

One important note: I highly recommend that you read these books in order. (Crystal Singer, Killashanra, Crystal Line)

This is the book which introduced me to Anne McCaffrey. Until I read the Crystal Singer Trilogy I had never read anything of this author. Yes, I had heard of her, but never had had the chance of reading one of her works. I now lament the time I passed without reading anything from this wonderful author.

Killashandra Ree is a character with whom you will find yourself very much connected with. She has spirit, she has determination and she has what is needed to become a Crystal Singer. So when she is given the chance to become one, she doesn't look behind. She doesn't believe in unnoticeable careers. She is ambitious and when she is told her voice is not enough for her to succeed in solo, she decides to pursue the Crystal Singing career, a dangerous job only few can suceed in. Besides, the Heptit Guild has only scarce members and she believes she can make something out of herself there.

I highly recommend this book. It is like something I never saw and explores an idea I never heard of. Not only for the musically challenged... ::smiles::

The Crystal Singer is one of my top 10 favorite Sci-fi books of all time. The concept of Crystal Singing, the planet Ballybran (and all of it's unique characteristics), black crystal communications... are wonderful. I almost wish that I could be a Crystal Singer too. I re-read this book almost yearly and I love it every time.
The main character Killashandra is a very strong female character so I think that this book might appeal to women more than men.
If you love sci fi I would highly recommend this book.

I was in heaven reading this book. It felt like I had barely started reading before I was turning the last page.

I have read this book many times over the years. I can read it and the character Killashandra is inspiring in her quest for her own personal best! Quite an enjoyable read.

I haven't read these in a few years but remember really enjoying them. All in all this has everything I look for in a series: imaginative scenes with understandable explanations and interesting, likeable characters who you care what happens to. Also, it has an end. There are so many authors who keep a series alive long after they should have wrapped it up. If you enjoy sci-fi or fantasy with female leads, then give this series a try.
The first book opens us to the lead character, Killashandra Ree, and the very imaginative and detailed world of crystal singers. Killashandra was studying to be a professional stage singer on one planet, but when that lifelong dream is blown, she meets a crystal singer and decides to try to become one herself. Broken down, singers are basically miners of crystals used all over the galaxy for numerous things such as inter-galactic communications. Why they're called singers is that they have to be able to sing in perfect pitch in order to "tune in" to the crystal frequency so that it can be cut properly. This job is fraught with danger, the first of which is surviving the organism that invades their bodies as they land on the planet where the crystals are to be cut. The organism allows them to live on the planet and allows them a long life with a much slower ageing process (hundreds of years). Unfortunately, it cannot protect them from the memory-loss that all crystal singers suffer due to crystal exposure. They do get paid a ton, but of course, like a mining community of old, the "Guild" charges singers for all their equipment and multiple fees, making it hard for them to earn enough credits to get off planet and far enough away from the crystals' negative effects. Also, different crystals are worth different prices, depending on their color, cut and potential usefulness.
*** SPOILER ALERT ***
In the second book, we find Killashandra, now an established "singer", sent to another planet to install some type of crystal for producing musical sound (an enormous concert organ which is used by the planet's government in a diabolical way to control the citizenry). She's kidnapped by rebels on the planet and meets Lars Dahl, the series' primary love interest. I really don't remember all the book specifics on this one, but I remember really enjoying the book as well as the developing romance.
*** MAJOR SPOILER ALERT ***
In the last book Killashandra and Lars have been cutting crytals together for years (as in hundreds, I think). He has kept an electronic journal which reminds him of things so he can minimize the memory damage of the crystal. She has not. You think, "OMG! How sad! Oh no!", quite a bit throughout this book. It can be hokey at times, but also beautiful. I warned of spoilers, but I will not give away the ending.

I would want it to be Killashandra Ree.

What a strong female character. Sure, she starts out as being a bit of a brat, but her character grows and matures throughout the series into a wonderfully strong, independent and competent person. This is still one of my favorite sci-fi collections. The concept of Ballybran Crystal and a job as a "cutter" was just so inspired. When I was younger I SO wanted to go to Ballybran.