The Starlight Crystal [Import] [Paperback]

Christopher Pike (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Hodder Children's (1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0340619147
• ISBN-13: 978-0340619148
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (71 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #537,361 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Christopher Pike is the author of over forty teen thrillers, including series REMEMBER ME, FINAL FRIENDS and CHAIN LETTER.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Moving, March 16, 2002

By 

Li (PJ, MY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Starlight Crystal (Mass Market Paperback)

It's a pity Pike has been known mostly as a teen hack-and-slash writer (as one reviewer thinks so). Granted his novels do fall into the horror genre, it's his writing style that sets him apart from the mindnumbing blandness that plagues the teen fiction market. He's obviously an intelligent man with a dark yet remarkable sense of humour.

The Starlight Crystal is one of my favourite books. I first read it when I was 14; I'm 20 now. Since then, I've read it many times more and each time, I'm still as moved as the first. If you're expecting lots of blood and gore, look elsewhere. Pike is one of those authors who knows that it's possible to instill greater fear without using sentences like "he stabbed her until her intestines spilled out onto the floor."

This novel starts off with Paige, who gets herself involved in a relationship with a young man, Tem, just before she's set to follow her father on a journey into space for a very long time. Tem is a wonderful character whose faith that their love will prevail against all odds is especially sweet. Pike masterfully weaves an ancient theme with a futuristic one, resulting in a tale full of witty lines and excellent character development. I especially love Paige and Tem's first meeting.

As mentioned earlier, one of Pike's best points is his adeptness at building characters, and making you fall in love with them. Paige's strength and courage, Tem's wit and persistence, the relationship between Paige and her father... all memorable. At times, admittedly, the story might get a bit confusing but in the end, everything falls into place and you'll go, "Geez, that was brilliant."

Read this book. I highly recommend it. And when you're done, pick up "Remember Me" and "The Midnight Club." If only there were more authors like him.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Glorious, January 22, 2001

By 

Jenny - See all my reviews

This review is from: Starlight Crystal (Mass Market Paperback)

At 20, I might not belong to the intended age-group for Pike's YA novels. But I can still remember reading them a couple of years ago, and every now and then I re-read one or two of them, just because they are so amazing.

This is one book that I have read a lot of times, because it's so astonishing! I just love the melancholy that simmers within every page until the very end. Still there is so much hope embedded in this story, along with a very philosophical approach to life. The thought of life living itself on and on again is scary, although fascinating.

When I picked up the first one of Christopher Pike's books, I had no idea what to expect. But I was totally blown away by the mystical drama about love and hate that was "See you later". Of course I didn't stop at that one.

The starlight crystal is trully one of the best YA novels Pike has written. I even wish it wasn't called a YA novel, since nobody is too old or too mature to appreciate the wisdom printed on the pages of this wonderful book.

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible story, March 30, 2003

By 

Jane James "homeschoolmum" (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Starlight Crystal (Mass Market Paperback)

I have to agree with another reviewer of this book - this is one of the best stories I have ever read.

This book is not a "science fiction" tale - it's a spiritual journey, told through the medium of science fiction. This is one of the best explanations I've seen of the Buddhist/Hindu goal of spiritual enlightenment.

Reading this story was an incredible experience - one of those rare moments, when I feel my deepest contemplations have been understood by another.

Very, very well done!