Customer Reviews

Star Wars: The Crystal Star (AU Star Wars)

5 star:		(39)
4 star:		(24)
3 star:		(15)
2 star:		(22)
1 star:		(79)

 

 

The Chrystal Star entralles the reader with a pretty cool cover, but that is about all it does. This book is absolutely terrible. Having read every other Star Wars book ever written, I can speak with some authority on the subject. The characterizations are weak and the behavior of the main characters erratic. Leia hates Chewie because he failed to save her children, even though he took a terrible wound attempting to help them? Doesn't make much sense. The Waru villain is simply [weak], it's a vampire blob, and Luke Skywalker, Jedi Master, that Jedi who has fought pretty much every evil in the universe and won is tempted by the blob. Tempted to do what? and why? are two questions that the author never answers. The Empire Reborn angle is almost laughable in its ineptitude. The whole cutting off from the force idea is [weak], and speaking of erratic plotting, if Skywalker is so affected that he and the good Jedi almost die from the slow cutting off of the Force then why aren't the bad guys similarly affected? Yeah, Hethrir can't kill someone when he wants and he can't turn on his lightsaber but other than that he and his minions remain basically unaffected. Speaking of lightsabers, what's up with lightsabers that can only be turned on with the force? It's an impractical and ludicrous idea. The Han Solo/Luke Skywalker relationship is terribly handled, Luke and Han are more like uneasy allies than best friends. Han Solo is done decently well, but overall this story should never have been published. I have never read anything else of McIntyre's, she might be a very good writer, but her talent does not show here. If you wish to read about the Star Wars universe, read Tim Zahn or Michael Stackpole not The Crystal Star.

One of the risks involved in buying any book in a continuing story where different authors combine their distinctive styles to weave a greater tapestry is that the results are often uneven. It is true of Star Trek, where some novelists (David Gerrold, J.M. Dillard) leave you wanting for more, while others (and Vonda N. McIntyre) either leave you indifferent or enraged that you actually paid good money to read that godawful book.

Star Wars, too, has its peaks and valleys as far as the Expanded Universe goes (although, judging from the mixed reviews to Episodes I and II, the movies are not, and have never been, critic-proof). Some SW authors (Timothy Zahn comes to mind) are wonderful, with an eye and especially an ear for the characters we love from the Classic Trilogy. Even when they mix the "canon" cast (Luke, Han, Leia, Chewie, the droids....)with their own characters (Mara Jade, Talon Karrde, etc.), the really good writers carry us into the story and off to that galaxy far, far away.....

Sadly to say, The Crystal Star is not written by a great Star Wars author. Yes, I know that Vonda McIntyre is an award-winning SF writer and wrote three of the 10 Star Trek movies' novelizations (the ones for Star Treks II, III, and IV). She did an OK job with them, even though some of her personal additions to the storylines were often annoyingly distracting. Still, she seemed to get the characters' voices down pat, but then of course she was working from screenplay drafts so it really doesn't seem like a stretch to accomplish THAT.

But if McIntyre's talent was sufficient for Star Trek, it failed her in the SW galaxy. Of all the stories I have read so far (and I have not read any New Jedi Order books as of April 2003), this is one of the weakest and even dull ones I have read. I won't go much into detail about what I don't like about this novel; other customer reviews have pointed out the same flaws that bother me. What I can say is this: I had to make myself sit down and read this book all the way through, just to justify the money I spent on it.

The Crystal Star opens with a bang, of sorts. The children of Han and Leia have been kidnapped while Leia is out on a diplomatic mission. Leia feels that somehow the Dark Side of the Force must be involved, though the diplomats she is meeting with suggests that it is just the local custom of kidnapping for social status and that it is part of a local tradition. Leia feels otherwise and she is right. The children are kidnapped by the Lord Hethrir who takes the children and tells them their parents are dead. Somehow he is able to block their limited and young ability to use the Force. Meanwhile Han is on vacation with Luke. Luke is searching for missing Jedi and their travels take them close to a planet which is slowly dying and turning to crystal. This is messing with Luke's ability to sense with the Force and Vonda McIntyre gives the reader a very different spin on Luke Skywalker. Rather than the hero, we have a despondent and sluggish man who is not thinking rationally. It is a different spin on Skywalker and may be disappointing to many readers. Luke is less of a presence in this novel anyway as the focus is more on the kids in captivity and Leia's attempts to rescue them. Luke and Han are almost a side plot which eventually gets pulled into the main storyline as it all comes together in a mess of villainy.

My biggest problem with The Crystal Star is that it focused far too much attention on the Solo children. Sure, they will eventually become major players in the Star Wars Universe and sure, the readers needs to be introduced to the characters so they don't just show up one novel as fully formed characters who we have not had the chance to get to know, but I think Anakin is three years old, which would put Jacen and Jaina around five. Unless Anakin is only two. I'm not sure, but they are a bit too young to get such a large role. Roger MacBride Allen did a far better job with the children in the Corellian Trilogy which was only set a year or so after this novel. They're no Ender Wiggin, I'll say that much.

After the children my complaints have to do with the storytelling. There is nothing wrong with having Luke's mission go poorly, but everything felt rushed. Leia spent so much time wanting to find her children but not really following them until all of a sudden she knows exactly where they are and the kids and everyone end up in the same place with Han and Luke. Sorry, I guess that is a bit of a spoiler, but come on now. Really? The novel might have been better served by focusing soley on Leia and the children with perhaps a cameo at best of Han and Luke. Not the wasted chapters with no real story development, though we do get a bit of Han's past came to light.

Bottom Line: Even fans of the Star Wars novels should skip this one. It does nothing, or little to build on future stories (a minor character or two from this book may appear in future volumes as Jedi) and it does not resolve any ongoing storylines. The book is essentially self-contained and reading a basic summary would be just as enjoyable as reading this novel.

-Joe Sherry

The Crystal Star by Vonda N. McIntyre has three major flaws: Slow Pace, Weak Characterization, and Overall Predictability. I think that if some research was done on the Star Wars Universe all these problems could have been avoided. Unfortunately, they were not.

First, the characters were very weak. Jacen, Jaina, and Anakin had the most characterization flaws in the novel. The way the children thought, spoke, and acted was not typically how any natural child would act. Their thoughts and dialog seemed more mature than being five-years old and younger. When reading the dialog, I couldn't help but think of them as young teenagers in many places. Furthermore, some of the adults were not written well- especially Luke Skywalker. Luke, being a Jedi would not be compelled into rage, especially against a good friend. Rage leads toward the Dark Side, and by this point in Luke's life (being that he survived Empire, Jedi, Dark Empire, and the Jedi Academy series), Luke has already learned much about controlling his rage. I wish the author would have spent more time reading the Star Wars expanded universe to avoid this problem.

The next problem was the novel's slow pace. Nothing really happens in the first three quarters of the book. During many parts in the novel, the action seems stagnant. The narrative seemed like the author wanted to take the novel somewhere, but it just couldn't seem to quite reach its destination. During the stagnant moments in the novel, the actions and storyline became quite unappealing. It isn't until the last quarter of the book that the pace quickens, but by that time I believe most readers will have lost interest.

Finally, a predictable storyline hurts the book. To avoid giving any major plot details, I'll just say that during the climax of the novel, I was basically screaming at the book because I felt cheated. When the pace begins to quicken it is already evident about what will happen to the new and the old characters.

The book was given two stars instead of one because of a single character - Han's old love interest Xaverri. She is the only well developed character in the novel. I liked her a lot. I certainly hope she reappears in future Star Wars novels.

I've read a lot of Star Wars books, and I will openly admit they are not the greatest books ever. Occasionally there will be a stand out exception to the mediocrity ("I, Jedi" And The Thrawn Trilogy are by far the closest Star Wars books have gotten to art.) but sometimes that stand out is not in a good way, no, sometimes you get a book so bad that years later everyone who has read it still remembers it, still remembers it because its so ridiculously terrible.

When I mention this book, you can always tell who has read it because a massive groan will erupt from them, as they wish you hadn't brought the memories back.

Transdimensional Jello/Cheeseburger like alien? Check.
Awkward discussions between Han Solo and a character who would die if he slept with her? Check.
Horrible, cliched opening line? Check.
Convoluted over the top premise and plot? Check.
Characters not acting like themselves, or even consistently from page to page? Check.

Overall: One of the worst books I've ever read. Skip it. For your own good.

I read this when I was a kid, and I thought it was great. Ten years later, as a 21 year old college student studying Creative Writing, I disagree with what I thought.

I'm going to be blunt: I've read better fanfiction than this.

The main problem I had was with the kids--I forgot they were only 5 year old! They acted twice their age; It was completely unrealistic. The author should have took the time to study how children act before writing this book.

Secondly, there's just no appeal to the book. It's just a badly-written story. I honestly felt like I was wading through the sludge of some random fanfiction.net story.

Maybe this story would have done better if it was targeted towards a younger audience, but then again, I've also read better Young Adult SW books.

Luke Skywalker, the premier Jedi Master of the galaxy, gets sucked into a cult religion way too easily.

The only lightsaber action is the villain cutting Threepio in half.

Has Solo does not fire his blaster even once.

The Millenium Falcon does not engage in combat.

The Solo kids are main characters.

This book is not space opera.

This book was boring and stupid.

This book is the WORST Star Wars novel I have ever read.

This is the only book to ever provoke me to write a letter to the author. I explained to her why I didn't like the book. I asked her if she had ever actually seen a Star Wars movie. I asked politely for my money back. The author never replied.

But most importantly, the author never admitted that this novel was based on a rejected Star Trek: Deep Space Nine script she wrote. If the story wasn't good enough for the worst Star Wreck show of them all, it sure as heck isn't good enough for Star Wars!

Instead of this book, I recommend all of the following 5-star novels:

Cloak of Deception (Star Wars)
Shadow Hunter (Star Wars: Darth Maul)
Labyrinth of Evil (Star Wars, Episode III Prequel Novel)
Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader (Star Wars)
Shadows of the Empire (Star Wars)

If you read the reviews, before reading this book, you'd think that it was one of the worst in print. It was really good. Leia finally does something besides argue or go away on a mission. The Luke and Han part is kinda weak, but hey. The part I thought I was going to hate(the Solo children), ended up being OK. This novel is good, don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

The only reason I gave this book two stars was because it was a trip to the Star Wars universe. This book was terrible. The only book in the series that is worse is "Children of the Jedi". All the characters that we know and love have been destroyed. Luke, Luke Skywalker, the most powerful Jedi MASTER to ever live becomes a whinny little whim who is almost tempted to the dark side! I thought that Kevin J. Anderson already had Luke overcome those temptations. Leia, Princess Leia Organa Solo, Chief of State and President of the Senate for the New Republic turns into a bounty hunter named Lelila?! Han, General Han Solo, becomes a worthless boozer who comes within an millimeter of cheating on Leia! Chewie, the mighty Wookie who would gladly give his own life to protect Han and his family, becomes a CRIPPLE who limps around throughout the whole book. C-3PO, the always stuck-up droid we love, turns into the perfect puppet. He never speaks unless spoken to, always answers correctly, and never rambles. The new characters are completely worthless. Hethrir, a dark Jedi who just so happens to be an alien. This wouldn't be so bad if McIntyre didn't say that the Emporer loved him. I thought the Emporer hated all aliens! Why would he let Vader train one in the Force? And why is Hethrir so annoying and not villianous enough? Dark Jedis are supposed to be completely evil and veil and have LIGHTSABER DUALS!!! The most evil thing Hethrir does is make the twins eat bad food. Waru, I mean come on. What is this thing!!! Everything about him is pointless and stupid. Oh no, he has Anti-Force! I'm real scared. Yeah right. In short this book wasn't worth my time or money. Please, I beg you, stay away from it and don't ruin your view of Star Wars.

This was--by a long shot--the worst Star Wars novel I've read. The only redeeming feature was the absence of yet another super-weapon. But the routine with the evil guy who has plans for Leia & Han's kids is getting tedious. As is the constant separation of those two--doesn't anything ever happen when Han & Leia are together? Also, it was really irritating to see Luke & Han written so out-of-character. Why did all the maturity these characters had gained since their Mos Eisley days get thrown out the window?

I haven't liked this author since I read her "Wrath of Khan" novel some sixteen years ago. I thought perhaps the intervening years would have made her writing more palatable. They have not. Since nothing of import happens in this book, the Star Wars fan would lose nothing by skipping it altogether.

Regarding SW novels in general--since the Alliance to Restore the Republic won (and restored the Republic), why is the prefix "New" almost always used? After all, the Republic was only gone for a few decades. And "old" was only used with "republic" to contrast the Emperor's New Order . . . .