Starlight Crystal [Library Binding]

Christopher Pike (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1996

Joining the crew of the spaceship Traveler in order to study Earth for two centuries, Paige Christian survives a terrible tragedy that befalls the planet and her fellow crew members.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

It is two hundred years in the future and 18 year old Paige Christian has been given a chance to join the crew of the Traveler, a special spaceship designed to circle the solar system at near light speed. One day aboard the Traveler is equal to ten years on Earth. It is a time capsule as well as a spaceship whose purpose is to study the changes on earth throughout two centuries, and then return home. Something awful happens to the ship and the Earth and the years pass, billions of them, and still Paige Christian lives, and remembers all those she left behind. Until the day she finally does come home to a world and a future no human being could have imagined! Christopher Pike is a mastery storyteller with a long list of outstanding teen novels to his credit. The Starlight Crystal continues to demonstrate his skills at conjuring up an exciting tale that will engage young readers ages 14 and up. -- Midwest Book Review --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Library Binding
• Publisher: Tandem Library (February 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0785775544
• ISBN-13: 978-0785775546
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (71 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,102,134 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!