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Crystal Singer #1
Crystal Singer
This is an alternate cover edition for ISBN 0552120979/9780552120975.
ENTER THE WORLDS OF ANNE McCAFFREY...
Worlds of old legends and strange guilds, of fearless characters and lands both beautiful and terrible...
THE CRYSTAL SINGER
takes you to the world of Ballybran...
with its mountain ranges of crystal...
and its brave, beautiful, tragic people...
the Crystal Singers...
ENTER THE WORLDS OF ANNE McCAFFREY...
Worlds of old legends and strange guilds, of fearless characters and lands both beautiful and terrible...
THE CRYSTAL SINGER
takes you to the world of Ballybran...
with its mountain ranges of crystal...
and its brave, beautiful, tragic people...
the Crystal Singers...
302 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1982
About the author
Anne McCaffrey
578 books7,404 followersAnne Inez McCaffrey was an American writer known for the Dragonriders of Pern science fiction series. She was the first woman to win a Hugo Award for fiction (Best Novella, Weyr Search, 1968) and the first to win a Nebula Award (Best Novella, Dragonrider, 1969). Her 1978 novel The White Dragon became one of the first science-fiction books to appear on the New York Times Best Seller list.
In 2005 the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America named McCaffrey its 22nd Grand Master, an annual award to living writers of fantasy and science fiction. She was inducted by the Science Fiction Hall of Fame on 17 June 2006. She also received the Robert A. Heinlein Award for her work in 2007.
In 2005 the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America named McCaffrey its 22nd Grand Master, an annual award to living writers of fantasy and science fiction. She was inducted by the Science Fiction Hall of Fame on 17 June 2006. She also received the Robert A. Heinlein Award for her work in 2007.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 645 reviews
January 14, 2014
I loved this book when I was about 14. Alas, it has not stood the test of time.
The story opens with Killashandra Ree (incongruously named after a small town in county Cavan, notable mainly for its dairy co-operative) being told that she'll never make an opera singer and storming off in a huff. She falls in with one Carrik, who chats her up in a by modern standards somewhat creepy manner, and takes her off on holiday with him, where they have a lot of sex. Subsequently, partly because Carrik's lifestyle is one to which she would like to become accustomed, and partly because her erstwhile mentor tells her not to, she heads off to Ballybran to become, like Carrik, a crystal singer (miners of Ballybran's special crystals use sonic cutters which have to be accurately tuned, apparently by means of the human voice).
And that's it. I can only assume all that sex (which is not described in detail, by the way) seemed terribly daring and exotic to me when I was 14. It all seems terribly dated now.
The story opens with Killashandra Ree (incongruously named after a small town in county Cavan, notable mainly for its dairy co-operative) being told that she'll never make an opera singer and storming off in a huff. She falls in with one Carrik, who chats her up in a by modern standards somewhat creepy manner, and takes her off on holiday with him, where they have a lot of sex. Subsequently, partly because Carrik's lifestyle is one to which she would like to become accustomed, and partly because her erstwhile mentor tells her not to, she heads off to Ballybran to become, like Carrik, a crystal singer (miners of Ballybran's special crystals use sonic cutters which have to be accurately tuned, apparently by means of the human voice).
And that's it. I can only assume all that sex (which is not described in detail, by the way) seemed terribly daring and exotic to me when I was 14. It all seems terribly dated now.
April 7, 2024
The Good: The late great Anne McCaffrey had a wonderful way with words, as is evident here. Crisp writing and lots of details took me to another galaxy without leaving my chair. Killashandra was a likable heroine; despite dire circumstances, she refused to give up, and overcame her shattered longtime dream.
The Bad: Unfortunately, Ms. McCaffrey also decided to include some bedroom scenes which include sexual details that smack of a trashy paperback romance at times. Those who are sensitive to such content should avoid this.
The Bad: Unfortunately, Ms. McCaffrey also decided to include some bedroom scenes which include sexual details that smack of a trashy paperback romance at times. Those who are sensitive to such content should avoid this.
January 17, 2024
Anne McCaffrey has creative ideas in forming new worlds. I also deeply enjoy reading her books even though they are not literature. Even so, it should be noted that McCaffrey has a general formula which simplified would be something like this:
1 - Girl has exceptional ability
2 - Girl is repressed unfairly by those close to her
3 - Someone recognizes girl's unique abilities
4 - Girl becomes successful
5 - Along the way girl finds romance with man who appreciates her strength, and he is primarily there to support her in her role of being wonderful
I actually take my hat off to McCaffrey that she can rework this general theme and that I continue to read most of everything she has written, even when I know what will happen.
Also there are generally sexual relationships within McCaffrey's books though not very graphic. Language is also generally clean or with epithets that she has created for that particular world. Because of the casual sex...
To read the full review go to http://talesuntangled.wordpress.com
1 - Girl has exceptional ability
2 - Girl is repressed unfairly by those close to her
3 - Someone recognizes girl's unique abilities
4 - Girl becomes successful
5 - Along the way girl finds romance with man who appreciates her strength, and he is primarily there to support her in her role of being wonderful
I actually take my hat off to McCaffrey that she can rework this general theme and that I continue to read most of everything she has written, even when I know what will happen.
Also there are generally sexual relationships within McCaffrey's books though not very graphic. Language is also generally clean or with epithets that she has created for that particular world. Because of the casual sex...
To read the full review go to http://talesuntangled.wordpress.com
July 21, 2022
This book is one of my old favorites from when I was first discovering Science - Fiction back in my teenaged years. Back in the day, when sci-fi covered ALL types of fiction that were not mainstream.
This is a book I have re-read so often over the years and yet it never grows old for me. I has, most definitely, dated somewhat but I think that in many small areas this has good predicative elements, such as the use of voice recording with voice locks, personal recorders, the use of the computer systems in the sorting areas - all things that were not around when the book was written.
Killashandra herself is a very dramatic often melodramatic character. She is one of the stronger women that I had read at the time the book was written and as a teenager I loved her degree of self autonomy and lack of self doubt. Having a main woman character who is not in any way depicted as a carer, nurturer or someone who is sensitive to every one elses needs - that was quite an exceptional heroin in the day. It charmed me back then, even now while I see Killashandra as quite young, I still enjoy the strength of her character.
It is a fun adventure, very much of a type; our main heroine travels across the universe to join a small, unique and influential yet slightly sinister group. The Guild is about cutting crystals that are unique to their planet of origin and in order to live on that planet one must form a symbiotic relationship with a spore in the atmosphere.
I always have loved the detail and the complexity that went into the construction of Ballybran and the Guild, I think McCaffrey did a superb job of inserting the information into the story and the journey of Killashandra becoming a crystal singer.
This is a book I have re-read so often over the years and yet it never grows old for me. I has, most definitely, dated somewhat but I think that in many small areas this has good predicative elements, such as the use of voice recording with voice locks, personal recorders, the use of the computer systems in the sorting areas - all things that were not around when the book was written.
Killashandra herself is a very dramatic often melodramatic character. She is one of the stronger women that I had read at the time the book was written and as a teenager I loved her degree of self autonomy and lack of self doubt. Having a main woman character who is not in any way depicted as a carer, nurturer or someone who is sensitive to every one elses needs - that was quite an exceptional heroin in the day. It charmed me back then, even now while I see Killashandra as quite young, I still enjoy the strength of her character.
It is a fun adventure, very much of a type; our main heroine travels across the universe to join a small, unique and influential yet slightly sinister group. The Guild is about cutting crystals that are unique to their planet of origin and in order to live on that planet one must form a symbiotic relationship with a spore in the atmosphere.
I always have loved the detail and the complexity that went into the construction of Ballybran and the Guild, I think McCaffrey did a superb job of inserting the information into the story and the journey of Killashandra becoming a crystal singer.
February 10, 2018
I read this first back when it was originally published, in 1985. Back then, I didn't care much for the heroine, Killashandra Ree. She wasn't very sympathetic. To me, she was stuck up, arrogant, obnoxious. Reading it again, 32 years later, I see her more sympathetically. She starts off devastated by failure at her chosen profession in music-- not just music, but as a concert singer and operatic star, possibly for the first time. Then she stumbles across a man who is tormented just like she is by the sound of a space shuttle with a mistuned engine. They are fascinated with each other, spend some time together while he's on vacation, and she learns about the cutting of crystals that much of galactic technology is based on. It's available on only one planet, sold by only one guild of crystal singers, and she is determined to not only become a crystal singer, but the very best. And most of the rest of the story is about how she becomes what she wants, and what the crystal does to her. It's good stuff. It was good back when and it's good now. Good Read.
May 5, 2008
My wife is an avid fan of McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern series, so wanted me to read this one to her because of the author (she enjoys being read to aloud, as well as reading by herself); but neither of us liked this particular book, nor wanted to pursue the rest of the series after finishing it. Killashandra is far too self-centered to be a very appealing or involving character. And while the use of a symbiotic relationship, with psi features, between a human and an alien life form is characteristic of McCaffrey's fiction, the bond between the "crystal singers" and their crystals (unlike the one between Pernese dragonriders and their dragons) is ultimately destructive of the former's sanity, which gives the book a depressing feel.
January 13, 2017
That was just as enjoyable to reread as the other 15 times or so I've read it. On to book 2. Love me some Anne McCaffrey!
January 14, 2023
I have read this book at least 6 times over time. I've indicated the last date I read it. It is my all time favorite. The story is about a young woman in the distant future from a far away planet who is dissillusioned after finding out she can never be a solo singer due to a latent burr in her voice. She travels to another planet and becomes a part of an unusual ecosystem by singing to and with Crystal rock formations. This crystals are used in communication and spaceship drive systems. Well written and filled with imagery and drama.
I am reading this book again for the 7th time...summer of 2009. I'm not sure why I like it so much except it's very creative and about a strong woman. :)
I am reading this book again for the 7th time...summer of 2009. I'm not sure why I like it so much except it's very creative and about a strong woman. :)
Read
June 3, 2019I could never carry a tune, but that in no way ever deterred me from playing “Crystal Singer” with my other precociously adult book-reading childhood friend.
March 29, 2023
3 perfect pitch stars
Killashandra Ree tiene la ambición de ser una solista operática famosa, la mejor soprano, y para ello ha estudiado por diez años. Pero a la hora de pasar a la mejor etapa de su vida, se encuentra desengañada bruscamente por hallar los jueces una falla en su voz. Furiosa y sintiéndose engañada por su mentor, decide dejar todo atrás en vez de contentarse con una vida en el coro una otra labor relacionada.
Bueno, debo decir que la protagonista no es una persona muy agradable. Es egoista y resentida, obcecada y contraria, asi que cuando le dicen que no vaya a ser un Crystal Singer tanto por su amante de turno como por su maestro, pues eso es lo que hace. Esto la hace una persona bastante real, pero no que simpaticemos con ella. Las divas se comportan así. Su ambición la sigue guiando a ser la mejor de todos.
Así la seguimos por su jornada queriendo unirse al secreto Gremio Heptite que se dedica a extraer cristales que usan en comunicación y viajes interplanetarios (piensen en Duna), se rumorea que tienen buen crédito , tienen paso en todos lados, tienen muy mal genio, y son pocos. Hay un secreto alrededor del planeta . prohibido a todos excepto a los de ese Gremio y clasificado altamente peligroso.
Destaco la idea de que Killa es independiente, aquí no hay romance , ella tiene varios amantes sin verlos más que a 'amigos con ventaja'. Hay celos profesionales , porque ella es spechul pero bue... por algo es la prota.
Ademas es interesante lo de las
Hay bastante info-dump cuando ella llega a Ballybrand, y a ratos se hace bastante tedioso leer, y quieres que llegue a algo de acción.
Aunque no termina en cliffhanger, te quedas con la idea de que esto es un episodio y debe seguir algo más. Y bueno de hecho es una trilogía.
En fin, creo que After Long Silence de Tepper es mejor.
Killashandra Ree tiene la ambición de ser una solista operática famosa, la mejor soprano, y para ello ha estudiado por diez años. Pero a la hora de pasar a la mejor etapa de su vida, se encuentra desengañada bruscamente por hallar los jueces una falla en su voz. Furiosa y sintiéndose engañada por su mentor, decide dejar todo atrás en vez de contentarse con una vida en el coro una otra labor relacionada.
Bueno, debo decir que la protagonista no es una persona muy agradable. Es egoista y resentida, obcecada y contraria, asi que cuando le dicen que no vaya a ser un Crystal Singer tanto por su amante de turno como por su maestro, pues eso es lo que hace. Esto la hace una persona bastante real, pero no que simpaticemos con ella. Las divas se comportan así. Su ambición la sigue guiando a ser la mejor de todos.
Así la seguimos por su jornada queriendo unirse al secreto Gremio Heptite que se dedica a extraer cristales que usan en comunicación y viajes interplanetarios (piensen en Duna), se rumorea que tienen buen crédito , tienen paso en todos lados, tienen muy mal genio, y son pocos. Hay un secreto alrededor del planeta . prohibido a todos excepto a los de ese Gremio y clasificado altamente peligroso.
If you say there are more Singers these days, how does that affect individual profit with so many cutting in the ranges?” asked Carigana.
“It doesn’t,” Borella replied, “not with the expanding galactic need for the communications link provided only by black quartz from Ballybran; not when Singers are capable, quick and cautious; not when there are people, like yourself, motivated to succeed in joining our select band.”
Destaco la idea de que Killa es independiente, aquí no hay romance , ella tiene varios amantes sin verlos más que a 'amigos con ventaja'. Hay celos profesionales , porque ella es spechul pero bue... por algo es la prota.
Ademas es interesante lo de las
Hay bastante info-dump cuando ella llega a Ballybrand, y a ratos se hace bastante tedioso leer, y quieres que llegue a algo de acción.
Aunque no termina en cliffhanger, te quedas con la idea de que esto es un episodio y debe seguir algo más. Y bueno de hecho es una trilogía.
En fin, creo que After Long Silence de Tepper es mejor.
March 26, 2022
Rereading a book is always an interesting proposition, especially when there's a significant chunk of time (at least 20 years for this one, I think) between reads.
Fortunately, The Crystal Singer remains a good book. There were elements of the story that I recalled, others that I'd forgotten, so there was both a familiarity and unfamiliarity to it. Anne McCaffrey writes space fantasy, I think, merging science and mysticism in her worlds.
I am as enthralled by her words as Killashandra is by crystal.
I hope that you will be too.
Fortunately, The Crystal Singer remains a good book. There were elements of the story that I recalled, others that I'd forgotten, so there was both a familiarity and unfamiliarity to it. Anne McCaffrey writes space fantasy, I think, merging science and mysticism in her worlds.
I am as enthralled by her words as Killashandra is by crystal.
I hope that you will be too.
March 7, 2017
First published in 1982.
Good to know. In this case, I'm going to be milder and only say: this book didn't age well.
The Con:
I absoltely have no sympathy for authors who can't keep the physical traits of their (secondary) characters straight throughout a book.
Neither do I have any sympathy for authors who spoil their own books, not once, but twice during the first story
A 30+ yo white, privileged female throwing a tantrum and running off with the first male she meets at an airport shortly turns into Mary Sue. What interesting plotline. So new and compelling.
Interesting philosophical points: up to the 17%-mark: none. 17-20%: privacy, consent, personal borders; >20%: none.
What worldbuilding! In space on planet with 3 moons!! You can run around without life-supporting gear - actually, you can even run around naked (as a human). All air is completely breathable, the only alien germ is the symbiont you want to have anyway; drink all the water from puddles unfiltered! All is good. Sing to the crystals and be sung at by them - and then take out the supersonic screwdriver!
Attitude of the characters, archaic and pre-technology guild rules, the lack of any scientifc engagement with the crystal's properties and the ridiculous non-worldbuilding finally convinced me that this book is just the first in a series of a sub-par romance with a spacey backdrop.
Good to know. In this case, I'm going to be milder and only say: this book didn't age well.
The Con:
I absoltely have no sympathy for authors who can't keep the physical traits of their (secondary) characters straight throughout a book.
Neither do I have any sympathy for authors who spoil their own books, not once, but twice during the first story
A 30+ yo white, privileged female throwing a tantrum and running off with the first male she meets at an airport shortly turns into Mary Sue. What interesting plotline. So new and compelling.
Interesting philosophical points: up to the 17%-mark: none. 17-20%: privacy, consent, personal borders; >20%: none.
What worldbuilding! In space on planet with 3 moons!! You can run around without life-supporting gear - actually, you can even run around naked (as a human). All air is completely breathable, the only alien germ is the symbiont you want to have anyway; drink all the water from puddles unfiltered! All is good. Sing to the crystals and be sung at by them - and then take out the supersonic screwdriver!
Attitude of the characters, archaic and pre-technology guild rules, the lack of any scientifc engagement with the crystal's properties and the ridiculous non-worldbuilding finally convinced me that this book is just the first in a series of a sub-par romance with a spacey backdrop.
July 27, 2011
As pure entertainment, this is a great book. It's not pure junk reading, though, since it deals with coming of age and choosing the path least traveled. There's a lot to ponder here, if you're the pondering type. Otherwise it's a fun book to speed through, visit another world for a while, go on a little adventure. Perfect escapist reading. You'll get out of it what you bring to it. I consider it one of Anne McCaffrey's best.
The main character, Killashandra Ree, has been studying music intently for ten grueling years, only to learn that she's judged not to have the vocal ability (because of an unfortunate, barely audible burr in her voice) to be an operatic diva, one who will sing lead roles or solos. Not being the type to settle for any less, she drops everything, leaves the music academy, and takes up with a charming off-worlder named Carrik, who takes her on a tour of her home planet, Fuerte, showing her how to live extravagantly and freely, enjoying herself for once in her, to this point, studious and dedicated life. Then she learns that he's a Crystal Singer, and she grows curious to know exactly what that is.
I won't say more, because it's so much fun to read the first time. I pick it up every few years when I want something light and fast to read.
As far as pondering goes, I can see Killashandra's character appeal as an exploration of my shadow, since I'm the complete opposite, not wanting the limelight at all. I'm not the adventurous sort either. So Killa's need to reach for top billing in her chosen occupation, and her drive to succeed at nearly all costs, is foreign territory to me. Perhaps that's what makes the story so intriguing to me through numerous readings.
The main character, Killashandra Ree, has been studying music intently for ten grueling years, only to learn that she's judged not to have the vocal ability (because of an unfortunate, barely audible burr in her voice) to be an operatic diva, one who will sing lead roles or solos. Not being the type to settle for any less, she drops everything, leaves the music academy, and takes up with a charming off-worlder named Carrik, who takes her on a tour of her home planet, Fuerte, showing her how to live extravagantly and freely, enjoying herself for once in her, to this point, studious and dedicated life. Then she learns that he's a Crystal Singer, and she grows curious to know exactly what that is.
I won't say more, because it's so much fun to read the first time. I pick it up every few years when I want something light and fast to read.
As far as pondering goes, I can see Killashandra's character appeal as an exploration of my shadow, since I'm the complete opposite, not wanting the limelight at all. I'm not the adventurous sort either. So Killa's need to reach for top billing in her chosen occupation, and her drive to succeed at nearly all costs, is foreign territory to me. Perhaps that's what makes the story so intriguing to me through numerous readings.
May 26, 2012
Like a lot of Anne McCaffrey books, I'd read this before. About 25 years ago. How perspectives change. At the time, I loved it and would've given it 5 stars. Now, unfortunately, it just didn't stack up for me. Killashandra was an unlikeable character - self centred. Very quick to judge. Judged others for being parochial and naive when she'd hardly traveled or done anything exceptional. In fact, before becoming a crystal singer, she'd never left her home planet before. What cheek! Had an annoying habit of comparing some of the men she encountered with her music maestro. Felt like telling her to get a life.
My memory must be failing too. I seemed to remember lots more crystal singing when I'd read it earlier. The reality was somewhat different. She only really had one experience with cutting real crystal herself in the mountains. I would've loved to read more about that. Wasn't that the title of the book afterall?
In terms of characters, apart from the Guild Master, all the others were one dimensional. In fact, the Guild Master wasn't very likeable either.
Jeeze - I sound harsh and I really admire and respect McCaffrey too. This is just not one of her best. I might revisit the smallest dragon rider or some of her other Pern novels to wipe the taste from my mouth.
My memory must be failing too. I seemed to remember lots more crystal singing when I'd read it earlier. The reality was somewhat different. She only really had one experience with cutting real crystal herself in the mountains. I would've loved to read more about that. Wasn't that the title of the book afterall?
In terms of characters, apart from the Guild Master, all the others were one dimensional. In fact, the Guild Master wasn't very likeable either.
Jeeze - I sound harsh and I really admire and respect McCaffrey too. This is just not one of her best. I might revisit the smallest dragon rider or some of her other Pern novels to wipe the taste from my mouth.
November 5, 2017
An old favourite
I've lost count of the number of times I've read this book and it has been a few years since the last time. It holds my attention as much now as it did the first time, when I was a teenager. Into my 40's now, maturity has brought greater understanding of some of the themes but not lost any of the compelling story. The character of Killashandra delights me in many ways but also brings recognition of her flaws. McCaffrey was always a genius at creating human characters that you could empathise with.
I've lost count of the number of times I've read this book and it has been a few years since the last time. It holds my attention as much now as it did the first time, when I was a teenager. Into my 40's now, maturity has brought greater understanding of some of the themes but not lost any of the compelling story. The character of Killashandra delights me in many ways but also brings recognition of her flaws. McCaffrey was always a genius at creating human characters that you could empathise with.
September 23, 2009
My husband has a habit of leaving his books lying around and when a cover intrigues me, I'll pick it up. This is actually a re-read from many years ago. I liked it just as much the second time as I did the first. I've never liked any of McCaffrey's other books (yes, Hub has many of them). There's something about Killashandra Ree's character that makes me happy. A strong woman, doing what she wants, when she wants. It's all good.
July 22, 2011
This book generally felt like an earlier work from McCaffrey. I would have given it more of a 2 ½ star rating if Goodreads would allow—somewhere between okay and likeable.
I did appreciate the entire concept of the Crystal Singers. The planet, the profession, the resulting sub-culture... It was beautifully depicted. And the author got to flex her extensive personal knowledge of the musical arts, which gave the whole thing a more cohesive and authentic feel.
But to me the main character, Killa, was difficult to empathize with. Self-entitled and dramatically bitter, I had some trouble caring about her enough to track with her motivations. The story arc also perplexed me a bit. The tension was fairly low throughout, and I couldn't identify an obvious climax. It was almost more like reading a futuristic biography with lots of nifty scenery. Interesting, but not exactly a page-turner.
I did appreciate the entire concept of the Crystal Singers. The planet, the profession, the resulting sub-culture... It was beautifully depicted. And the author got to flex her extensive personal knowledge of the musical arts, which gave the whole thing a more cohesive and authentic feel.
But to me the main character, Killa, was difficult to empathize with. Self-entitled and dramatically bitter, I had some trouble caring about her enough to track with her motivations. The story arc also perplexed me a bit. The tension was fairly low throughout, and I couldn't identify an obvious climax. It was almost more like reading a futuristic biography with lots of nifty scenery. Interesting, but not exactly a page-turner.
December 23, 2017
This was a good story but also a lot of world building. I've read it before, a number of years ago. Killashandra has been rejected from her dream career in music as a soloist. She ends up on Ballybran singing crystal. We learn a lot about the world and the items that make this world unique in the Federation. Because of the world building, the plot is a bit disjointed and rushed. I'm interested in rereading the second one and just discovered there is a third that I'm fairly certain I have never read. Addendum: I'm wrong. I own the third one and I'm not sure if I've read the second one. However, I plan on tossing both of these. BTW I thought the cover was pretty awful on this one! It did get the color of her hair correct, which my copy of the third one doesn't.
October 26, 2019
I read this book as a child and loved it and have reread it now as an adult and loved it so I think a high ranking is well deserved!
June 2, 2019
Pure unadulterated entertainment and pretty good entertainment at that. Killashandra Ree is a rather self-centered, intelligent, young woman. She's told that, after 10 long years of study, that she will never be a soloist because she has a burr in her voice in the higher octaves. Killa is not going to be any other type of singer so she quits school and decides to leave her planet. While at the spaceport she encounters an "older" man (Carrick), who just happens to be a crystal singer who saves the port from destruction. He induces Killa to enjoy the generosity of the port officials with him and then to travel around her planet with him. When he describes what a crystal singer is, she decides she wants to be one. And after a few weeks of decadence, Carrick informs her he must return to his planet, called Ballybran. He tries to dissuade her from coming but doesn't work. At the spaceport, as they are delayed because Killa's teacher and school have alerted local authorities about her, another shuttle goes haywire but this time Carrick is too weak and he collapses and dies. Killa escorts his body home, takes the tests, and is admitted to the guild that contains the crystal singers. Turns out Killa is a natural and sensitive to black crystal, which is the rarest and most desired of the crystal on the planet. The Master of the Guild takes her under his wing (in more ways than one) and she is soon cutting crystal and appreciating how addictive it is.
This is not a deep nor a complex book but it was fun.
This is not a deep nor a complex book but it was fun.
January 8, 2020
I forgot to update GR when I finished this one! Lol! Oh well~ quite enjoyed reading this tome and quite looking forward to the next one! Crystals crystals crystals! I don't know why but I see tragedy on the horizon... I always expect it when characters are long-lived. Huhu.
First finished: 24dec2019
Source: Bookdepository (birthday gift from Cel! ty!)
First finished: 24dec2019
Source: Bookdepository (birthday gift from Cel! ty!)
December 17, 2020
Sometimes going down an internet rabbit’s hole can lead you to an author you had never thought to read before. This is the scenario with Crystal Singer by Anne McCaffrey. Every time I go to my local used bookstore here in San Antonio, I see many of the McCaffrey books in the science fiction and fantasy section. I will admit that the dragon covers from her famed Pern Series never interested me. I don’t read fantasy novels for dragons. Sorry, epic fantasy readers.
However, I read several internet articles recently about the influence McCaffrey had on the genre and each article said the Crystal Singer Trilogy were her best non-Pern books. I took a chance and bought a copy of Crystal Singer.
Killashandra Ree is a world-class singer and spends most of her life preparing for a musical career. She gets rejected during her final exam to become a lead singer. She is devastated and leaves her home planet in order to heal. Killashandra meets a man named Carrik who is connected to the mysterious crystals from the planet Ballybran. She develops feelings for Carrik and sets on a course that will change her life forever.
On Ballybran, Killashandra works her way up the ladder and discovers that she has what it takes to become a Crystal Singer. There is a high price that she pays for reaching that kind of status. I must write that I thought the novel would be a lot more fantastic than scientific. McCaffrey does an excellent job of world building and laying out how the crystals affect each singer.
This is the first book of the trilogy. But I thought McCaffrey did a solid job with creating an interesting protagonist that made me care about her as reader despite the subject of crystals. I’m glad that I fed my curiosity and read an author I never would have before. Anne McCaffrey is gateway author for many readers and after reading Crystal Singer I can see why. If you are looking for a solid escape read for a few days, then Crystal Singer could fit the bill.
However, I read several internet articles recently about the influence McCaffrey had on the genre and each article said the Crystal Singer Trilogy were her best non-Pern books. I took a chance and bought a copy of Crystal Singer.
Killashandra Ree is a world-class singer and spends most of her life preparing for a musical career. She gets rejected during her final exam to become a lead singer. She is devastated and leaves her home planet in order to heal. Killashandra meets a man named Carrik who is connected to the mysterious crystals from the planet Ballybran. She develops feelings for Carrik and sets on a course that will change her life forever.
On Ballybran, Killashandra works her way up the ladder and discovers that she has what it takes to become a Crystal Singer. There is a high price that she pays for reaching that kind of status. I must write that I thought the novel would be a lot more fantastic than scientific. McCaffrey does an excellent job of world building and laying out how the crystals affect each singer.
This is the first book of the trilogy. But I thought McCaffrey did a solid job with creating an interesting protagonist that made me care about her as reader despite the subject of crystals. I’m glad that I fed my curiosity and read an author I never would have before. Anne McCaffrey is gateway author for many readers and after reading Crystal Singer I can see why. If you are looking for a solid escape read for a few days, then Crystal Singer could fit the bill.
August 6, 2016
This book sucks you in with a compelling protagonist, who is given an unfair hardship in life and strives to overcome it. It then introduces a new job for her that she is warned against, as it is incredibly dangerous and life -altering. She is told of the dangers again and again, and bravely accepts these challenges.
And then she goes on to experience none of them. This is what's so bothersome about the book to me. To live in the new planet's biome she must first become acclimated to a symbiotic spore of some sort. She is warned that this process may kill her, if it takes at all, and afterwards she will never be the same. Some who were affected by it go blind or deaf, or become deformed in some way. Some can never leave the planet again because they will die from withdrawal. And the body is ravaged by illness for weeks. Well, none of this happens to her. She just wakes up one day and her 'handicap' is that her senses are heightened. That's it.
Also, singing crystal (the profession in this book that can only be done by the super special and talented) makes you really, really sleepy and really, really hungry. I know because half this book is about her eating or feeling tired, or having sex with some random guy who she holds no emotional attachment to.
I also thought it was wierd that one of the characters was mean, because she thought the spore wouldn't take, and she'd just die anyway, so everyone hated her. Then the spore wouldn't take and she died. Apparently because she 'didn't want it enough'. What the hell was that about?
Not a bad book- I'd give it more of a 2.5 if i could-, but the main character just isn't compelling after a while. Its like halfway through you go, I get it, nothing bad can happen to the main character, so your brain just starts falling asleep. There's no tension!
And then she goes on to experience none of them. This is what's so bothersome about the book to me. To live in the new planet's biome she must first become acclimated to a symbiotic spore of some sort. She is warned that this process may kill her, if it takes at all, and afterwards she will never be the same. Some who were affected by it go blind or deaf, or become deformed in some way. Some can never leave the planet again because they will die from withdrawal. And the body is ravaged by illness for weeks. Well, none of this happens to her. She just wakes up one day and her 'handicap' is that her senses are heightened. That's it.
Also, singing crystal (the profession in this book that can only be done by the super special and talented) makes you really, really sleepy and really, really hungry. I know because half this book is about her eating or feeling tired, or having sex with some random guy who she holds no emotional attachment to.
I also thought it was wierd that one of the characters was mean, because she thought the spore wouldn't take, and she'd just die anyway, so everyone hated her. Then the spore wouldn't take and she died. Apparently because she 'didn't want it enough'. What the hell was that about?
Not a bad book- I'd give it more of a 2.5 if i could-, but the main character just isn't compelling after a while. Its like halfway through you go, I get it, nothing bad can happen to the main character, so your brain just starts falling asleep. There's no tension!
March 23, 2014
I'm working my way slowly through Anne McCaffrey's sci-fi books. I've read some of the ones she's written with Elizabeth Moon and Jody Lynn Nye. Now I'm reading some of the ones she wrote on her own.
This one was better than I thought - I just want to say both covers with this one and the other one with Killashandra bending backwards are pretty bad. I showed this to my husband and said, "This is supposed to be a beautiful woman." (With constipation and sucking on a sour lemon!) There's a lot of free and easy loving going on, no details but whoever strikes your fancy. The last one seems to the one who'll stick. I'm planning on reading the rest of this triology.
This one was better than I thought - I just want to say both covers with this one and the other one with Killashandra bending backwards are pretty bad. I showed this to my husband and said, "This is supposed to be a beautiful woman." (With constipation and sucking on a sour lemon!) There's a lot of free and easy loving going on, no details but whoever strikes your fancy. The last one seems to the one who'll stick. I'm planning on reading the rest of this triology.
October 11, 2011
Oh. My. God. This book is so BORING! I tried to reading it first but couldn't get halfway through it, so I borrowed the audio book from the library to listen to it while I drove home from college one weekend--absolute failure!
This is a book that cures insomnia. Seriously. If you can't sleep, crack open CRYSTAL SINGER--you'll be out like a light in no time. I'm not making this up.
At least I finished it in audio book form. It was still god-awful! & I can't believe McCaffrey wrote a sequel. Why? Did she feel like she had to inflict further harm on her readers?
This is a book that cures insomnia. Seriously. If you can't sleep, crack open CRYSTAL SINGER--you'll be out like a light in no time. I'm not making this up.
At least I finished it in audio book form. It was still god-awful! & I can't believe McCaffrey wrote a sequel. Why? Did she feel like she had to inflict further harm on her readers?
July 17, 2024
You know, my opinion about Harry Potter can be summarized by that "Chernobyl" meme - "Not great, not terrible". But even when I was reading it as a teenager, I thought that the whole 'Magic Academy' thing, with its friendships and rivalries, could make a good enough plot, without dumping poor Harry on his first years into the apocalyptic good vs evil fight (putting aside if a nose-less villain who can't conquer a high school qualifies as an apocalyptic enemy).
Seems I was wrong. Because the entire plot of "Crystal Singer" is the main character just training in the Crystal Singer Guild, without any deeper plot and I kept wishing for something to start happening. Perhaps it's the execution, not the concept that is to blame. Our protagonist didn't make any friends or rivals with anyone, she barely interacted with anyone - apart from fucking everyone, that is, but even that was way more boring than I'd have thought. Her interactions with other characters felt stilted and fake (second time today when I put that in a review) and there was nothing interesting about her. Her training on the other hand constituted of fate handing her everything wrapped up and not even because she's a Mary Sue who is just THAT GOOD or a NATURAL TALENT, a PRODIGY or something - these are more often than not annoying, but when written well, there is enjoyment to be taken from seeing a character being good at something. No, in her case there is no effort at all, with all the wins being handed to her just by a quirk of her genetics, giving her just the right set of superpowers that is perfect for her job.
I'm sure I'll have forgotten about the book in half a year.
Seems I was wrong. Because the entire plot of "Crystal Singer" is the main character just training in the Crystal Singer Guild, without any deeper plot and I kept wishing for something to start happening. Perhaps it's the execution, not the concept that is to blame. Our protagonist didn't make any friends or rivals with anyone, she barely interacted with anyone - apart from fucking everyone, that is, but even that was way more boring than I'd have thought. Her interactions with other characters felt stilted and fake (second time today when I put that in a review) and there was nothing interesting about her. Her training on the other hand constituted of fate handing her everything wrapped up and not even because she's a Mary Sue who is just THAT GOOD or a NATURAL TALENT, a PRODIGY or something - these are more often than not annoying, but when written well, there is enjoyment to be taken from seeing a character being good at something. No, in her case there is no effort at all, with all the wins being handed to her just by a quirk of her genetics, giving her just the right set of superpowers that is perfect for her job.
I'm sure I'll have forgotten about the book in half a year.
October 26, 2022
Pure science fiction world building escapism. Not great literature, not much of a plot, pointless final third and yet I enjoy it each time I read it, which is at least 3 times.
May 10, 2020
Chapter 1: Main character can't be #1 in her field, rage-quits after 10 years of training despite infinite other career possibilities in the field
Chapter 2: Main character physically restrained by stranger, thinks it's not yet time to call for help despite help being readily available because she's apparently somehow not technically in "personal-liberty infringement" zone yet
Me: Nope
Chapter 2: Main character physically restrained by stranger, thinks it's not yet time to call for help despite help being readily available because she's apparently somehow not technically in "personal-liberty infringement" zone yet
Me: Nope
April 15, 2011
Hmm, vaguely mixed feelings. Crystal Singer is all about Killashandra's journey to become a, well, obviously, crystal singer. She had spent years training in music only to have her dreams dashed because of a burr in her voice that couldn't be corrected and so she throws all of her training and her hopes away, and races off after the first thing that seems promising--and where she feels she wouldn't be second best--which is crystal singing. Many people tell her not to go down that path, as crystal singers are a select group that can never truly leave their planet, not to mention the personality problems they all seemed to have, but she recklessly throws herself forward anyway.
The book details her life as she goes about becoming a crystal singer--the training, the background of the world she's on, her relationships with others. To become a crystal singer, one of the requisites is adapting to a symbiote, which happens when people touch down on the planet. If you don't adapt well enough you can't become a crystal singer. Instead, you're placed within another job, one that apparently never leaves the planet. Which is strange, to me, considering that crystal singers can leave for short periods of time, so why couldn't the other people who live on the planet (ignoring the costs of doing such a thing).
Killashandra is interesting. I don't particularly like her, but I don't particularly hate her either. She has a huge ego, is so very convinced that she must be better than everyone else, and is more than a little stubborn (and dramatic). She throws away ten years of her life because she can't be the best, only to dive herself head first into something where so much depends on chance and not on her training. This baffled me on a large scale, though part of the allure for her was the fact that there are so few crystal singers. Still, the ability to become one isn't contingent on one's skills, but also how they adapt to the symbiote, which is something she would have to take a chance on. For someone so determined to be the best, the worries that she might be shunted to the side never really seemed to cross her mind.
The other characters are a bit flat. There's the universally hated girl who is a real bitch, and of course gets her comeuppance (in a way). There's the person jealous of her, an awkward person who is never shown to grow out of it, and a love interest who Actually, her entire class is jealous of her because of the way things seem to fall in Killashandra's lap and it's slightly annoying seeing her isolated because of it.
This book is certainly about the journey that Killashandra takes, as there's no other overarching plot. It goes from the beginning and her cutting away her old life, all the way to the end where she really does stand as a crystal singer. Overall, it was pretty good, about 3-4 stars, rounding down to 3 because I wanted just a bit more from Killashandra and those around her.
The book details her life as she goes about becoming a crystal singer--the training, the background of the world she's on, her relationships with others. To become a crystal singer, one of the requisites is adapting to a symbiote, which happens when people touch down on the planet. If you don't adapt well enough you can't become a crystal singer. Instead, you're placed within another job, one that apparently never leaves the planet. Which is strange, to me, considering that crystal singers can leave for short periods of time, so why couldn't the other people who live on the planet (ignoring the costs of doing such a thing).
Killashandra is interesting. I don't particularly like her, but I don't particularly hate her either. She has a huge ego, is so very convinced that she must be better than everyone else, and is more than a little stubborn (and dramatic). She throws away ten years of her life because she can't be the best, only to dive herself head first into something where so much depends on chance and not on her training. This baffled me on a large scale, though part of the allure for her was the fact that there are so few crystal singers. Still, the ability to become one isn't contingent on one's skills, but also how they adapt to the symbiote, which is something she would have to take a chance on. For someone so determined to be the best, the worries that she might be shunted to the side never really seemed to cross her mind.
The other characters are a bit flat. There's the universally hated girl who is a real bitch, and of course gets her comeuppance (in a way). There's the person jealous of her, an awkward person who is never shown to grow out of it, and a love interest who Actually, her entire class is jealous of her because of the way things seem to fall in Killashandra's lap and it's slightly annoying seeing her isolated because of it.
This book is certainly about the journey that Killashandra takes, as there's no other overarching plot. It goes from the beginning and her cutting away her old life, all the way to the end where she really does stand as a crystal singer. Overall, it was pretty good, about 3-4 stars, rounding down to 3 because I wanted just a bit more from Killashandra and those around her.
June 3, 2016
This book is part of an ongoing minor project of mine to read some SF/F books by women that were written before 2000 or so. This one hails from 1982.
Crystal Singer was originally four short stories, and while it comes together decently as a novel, it was easy to see the seams where the various plot arcs came and went.
The main thrust of the book is largely wish fulfillment, with our heroine Killashandra coming quickly, through a combination of natural talent and circumstance and with very little personal discomfort, into the highest ranks of the workers on Ballybran: the Crystal Singer. A Singer cuts crystal from the earth that gets used in instantaneous interplanetary communication, among other things. Lucky Killashandra! Her self-confidence is reinforced by the very universe around her.
Speaking of wish fulfillment, Killashandra never lacks for male companionship. Sexuality was an odd mix. On the one hand, you have Killashandra sleeping with a handful of men over the course of the book, everything being consensual in an easygoing way. On the other, men's interactions with Killashandra were on the paternalistic side. I couldn't count how many times men took her by the arm to steer her here or there, or called her "dear," or took charge of trivial matters that she could quite easily take care of herself. Two different men end up shoving food in her mouth to make her eat, which I thought was kind of weird.
On language: "It would have taken a far more punctilious person [...] to depress his ingenuous manner" is a good example of McCaffrey's style in this novel. She's precise with her vocabulary; the only times I ever tripped up were obvious typos or machine-reader slip-ups, so she wasn't misusing long words in an attempt to look smart. But while I got used to the prose, it always felt too clinical, too syllable-inflated for the simple things it was expressing: fluff that reads like a legal document.
Weak characterization didn't help matters. Killashandra is all right, I suppose--and shares my fondness for beer!--but no one else has more than one simple personality trait: cheery, sneer-y, pushy, sweet. And some characters don't get even that. This was one of those books with a bunch of secondary characters that I had to search on Kindle to remember where I'd seen them before.
Ballybran was neat, though. The crystals are a fun and fanciful concept, and the descriptions of the landscape and the dangers of the planet were the most enjoyable parts of the novel for me.
That said, Ballybran's social structure was unconvincing. The population of the whole planet is quite small (less than 30,000, I think) and the society has a guild setup where reward and punishment is meted out in debits and credits. Commerce is great and all, but I doubt it could create a utopia where there's no need for justice. There was no mention of a security or police force, jails or courts.
Crystal Singer was interesting as an artifact of SF's history, but even as a light entertainment it fell short.
Crystal Singer was originally four short stories, and while it comes together decently as a novel, it was easy to see the seams where the various plot arcs came and went.
The main thrust of the book is largely wish fulfillment, with our heroine Killashandra coming quickly, through a combination of natural talent and circumstance and with very little personal discomfort, into the highest ranks of the workers on Ballybran: the Crystal Singer. A Singer cuts crystal from the earth that gets used in instantaneous interplanetary communication, among other things. Lucky Killashandra! Her self-confidence is reinforced by the very universe around her.
Speaking of wish fulfillment, Killashandra never lacks for male companionship. Sexuality was an odd mix. On the one hand, you have Killashandra sleeping with a handful of men over the course of the book, everything being consensual in an easygoing way. On the other, men's interactions with Killashandra were on the paternalistic side. I couldn't count how many times men took her by the arm to steer her here or there, or called her "dear," or took charge of trivial matters that she could quite easily take care of herself. Two different men end up shoving food in her mouth to make her eat, which I thought was kind of weird.
On language: "It would have taken a far more punctilious person [...] to depress his ingenuous manner" is a good example of McCaffrey's style in this novel. She's precise with her vocabulary; the only times I ever tripped up were obvious typos or machine-reader slip-ups, so she wasn't misusing long words in an attempt to look smart. But while I got used to the prose, it always felt too clinical, too syllable-inflated for the simple things it was expressing: fluff that reads like a legal document.
Weak characterization didn't help matters. Killashandra is all right, I suppose--and shares my fondness for beer!--but no one else has more than one simple personality trait: cheery, sneer-y, pushy, sweet. And some characters don't get even that. This was one of those books with a bunch of secondary characters that I had to search on Kindle to remember where I'd seen them before.
Ballybran was neat, though. The crystals are a fun and fanciful concept, and the descriptions of the landscape and the dangers of the planet were the most enjoyable parts of the novel for me.
That said, Ballybran's social structure was unconvincing. The population of the whole planet is quite small (less than 30,000, I think) and the society has a guild setup where reward and punishment is meted out in debits and credits. Commerce is great and all, but I doubt it could create a utopia where there's no need for justice. There was no mention of a security or police force, jails or courts.
Crystal Singer was interesting as an artifact of SF's history, but even as a light entertainment it fell short.
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