The Crystal Star (Star Wars)
by Vonda McIntyre
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Book Summary Information
Author: Vonda McIntyreEdition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1995-11-01
ISBN: 0553571745
Number of pages: 432
Publisher: Spectra
Book Reviews of The Crystal Star (Star Wars)
Book Review: Misunderstood Gem
Summary: 5 Stars
The problem this book faced upon release was the fact that a number of vocal internet fans derided it for daring to move Star Wars away from the harder sci-fi trappings of authors like Stackpole and into more experimental fantasy terrain. Bantam's Star Wars line was beginning to fall into a creative lull as a too-terrestrial, too-familiar element began to dominate books like the X-Wing series (with its overuse of stock aliens, American anachronisms and pervasively homogenous culture) causing the Star Wars universe to suddenly feel a bit tired and prosaic. Vonda McIntyre sought to fix that by taking her story in a completely different creative direction.
The Star Wars Expanded Universe existed in both comics and novels long before Zahn wrote his first word, and diversity-of-storytelling was built into it from the start. The Crystal Star gets a lot of points for remembering that part of the films' strengths was its sense of awe and mystery. McIntyre doesn't just regurgitate the same planets, alien races and situations, but creates fascinating new ones! To be sure, there is a lot of weirdness to be found (and it's one of the book's charms!) Years later, the Yuuzhan Vong would bring horrific weirdness to new levels, and years before, Alan Moore brought Lovecraftian weirdness to the SW universe. Dark Horse's Tales comic series and Visionaries would see even more experimental narratives in the forefront. But prior to the prequel trilogy and at the height of corporate cloned and neutered Seattle grunge bands, things that were different were hardly appreciated.
McIntyre was also the first to utilize the Solo kids as main characters, which was another factor some fans didn't like. True, in highlighting the uniqueness of the kids and their special abilities with the Force, McIntyre may have created overly precocious children. But the real issue was that some resented the kids because of what they represented: the start of a new era, and one in which the Solo children would grow up to take the mantle from the older generation (and which is seeing fruition now in the brilliant Legacy novels.) Back then, however, many simply weren't ready for that or for stories in which kids handle mature situations in intelligent ways (a staple of classic children's fantasy-lit.)
Some have also cited McIntyre as failing to present correct characterizations, Luke being the most misunderstood in this regard. Here the book suffered due to the fact that Bantam released it out of chronological sequence and prior to the book which revealed that he lost Callista. Thus, Luke is affected not just by the proximity of an imploding star (which is causing strange effects in the Force), nor just by Waru's influence, by the painful loss of an important love interest. McIntyre presents Luke as a human being, not a superhero, and one in which external and internal factors contribute to cause deep emotional turmoil.
On his own, without his wife or steady conscience (in the form of Chewie), Han finds himself looking back upon an old life that he'd enjoyed but left behind to become more responsible. Now with kids that old life is forever gone. So at this bittersweet stage of his life walks back into his life an old girlfriend and potent reminder of headier days! Han's response to her is realistic, and so is Luke's to his! Xaverri herself is robust and fascinating, and a welcome addition to the cast.
Finally, Leia's characterization was attacked as overreactive (primarily by those who don't understand that to be a parent is to overreact.) But rather than become crippled by her fears and worries, Leia goes into action and takes charge! Her perspective is an important one in the book and one that continues to bolster the character as a woman, as a leader, as a politician, and as a mother.
On the antagonist front, Hethrir in many ways seems to be the standard Star Wars villain, cut from the cloth of Palpatine but without the years of Machiavellian wisdom. His relationship with his son Tigris and later young Anakin are of interest, as is his Achilles Heel, his greed, which turns him into a pawn of Waru, truly one of the weirdest Star Wars villains ever created. Something from EC horror comics and Call of Cthulhu combined, Waru is a refreshingly different creature (in the SW milieu) and a lot of fun to boot!
I find The Crystal Star refreshing and a lot of fun, with some intriguing and well-drawn characterizations that portray heroes struggling with important issues. Abandoning the hard sci-fi tedium that had crept into the series with a more fantasy flavored element, the book remains one of the most interesting and diverse of the Star Wars novels, a thematic predecessor of sorts to the New Jedi Order and a continuation of the more mysterious, experimental Star Wars outings like Dark Empire and some of the old Marvel tales. Highly recommended!
Summary of The Crystal Star (Star Wars)
Hugo and Nebula award-winning author Vonda N. McIntyre continues the bestselling Star Wars saga as the ultimate space adventure unfolds in The Crystal Star.Princess Leia's children have been kidnapped. Along with Chewbacca and Artoo-Detoo, she follows the kidnappers' trail to a disabled refugee ship, from which children are also missing. Here she learns of a powerful Imperial officer with a twisted plan to restore the Empire. Meanwhile, Han Solo and Luke Skywalker are cut off from Leia by the death of a nearby star, which has caused a disruption in the Force. They have gone to the planet Crseih to investigate a report of a lost group of Jedi. Instead they find a charismatic alien named Waru whose miraculous healing powers have attracted a fanatic following. As Leia follows the path of her children across space, Luke and Han draw closer to the truth behind Waru's sinister cult. Together they will face an explosive showdown that will decide the survival of the New Republic . . . and the universe itself!
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