Crystal Singer

by Anne McCaffrey

Paperback, 1982

Status

Available

Call number

PS3563.A255 C7

Series

Crystal Singer Trilogy (1)

Federated Sentient Planets Universe

Genres

Science Fiction

All Topics

Fiction

Publication

Del Rey (1982), Edition: 1st, 311 pages

Description

Fiction. Science Fiction. Thriller. HTML:�??No dragons, but [Crystal Singer] has all of [Anne] McCaffrey's gifts for world-building and characterization . . . an excellent book.�?��??Chicago Sun-Times Her name was Killashandra Ree; and after ten grueling years of musical training she was young, beautiful�??and still without prospects. Then she heard of the mysterious Heptite Guild on the planet Ballybran, where the fabled Black Crystal was found. For those qualified, the Guild was said to provide careers, security, and the chance for wealth beyond imagining. The problem was, few people who landed on Ballybran ever left. To Killashandra the risks were acce

Media reviews

Scifi-Universe.com

Anne Mc Caffrey nous emmène avec talent dans un nouvel univers futuriste, passionnant et coloré. Son héroïne, fière et égoïste, est pourtant singulièrement attachante. Nous découvrons avec elle la mystérieuse Ballybranet la non moins mystérieuse Ligue Heptite, et vibrons à l'unisson de

ses aventures. Sans conteste mon cycle préféré de cet auteur après "La Ballade de Pern" !

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User reviews

LibraryThing member LisaMaria_C

This book by Anne McCaffrey isn't as well-known as her Pern books, but it is just as entertaining as any. First, I should say I'm not rating this book nearly 5 stars because it's a mindblowing classic a la Left Hand of Darkness or because it has any pretensions to literary merit. Rather, what this

is, is a thoroughly entertaining bit of fluff--sci-fi romance, a comfort food of a book. But sometimes that really hits the spot, and it's done really well--a quick, fun read.

I like the imaginative premise: this involves singers who act as miners, not entertainers. Killasandra herself aspired to be that other kind of singer at one point--an opera singer. It's interesting to see her rebuild herself here; she's not all that likable at first, diva that she is, but she grows through this tale. And I'd note--strong female protagonists are rare enough in science fiction that alone makes this book stand out to me.

One of McCaffrey's greatest strengths is her world-building, which shows off to advantage here as she creates another original and engrossing world, Ballybran, whose intricacies are welded into the story. I'd also add this is as much romance--an appealing one--as science fiction.

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24 more

LibraryThing member Katissima

Killashandra Ree only wants to do something if she can be the best at it. When a final test at the end of long years of musical training prove that she will never be the star she hoped, she decides to chuck it all and start over. A chance meeting at the spaceport leads her in the direction of the

planet Ballybran, the home of the Crystal Singers--a wealthy, glamorous and mysterious group of people who use their perfect pitch to mine precious crystal that is used in all walks of life. Stories and rumours abound about these crystal singer. Can Killashandra make it into their elite group?

This is the beginning of Ms. McCaffrey's Crystal Singer trilogy. In my opinion, the second book, Killashandra, is the best of the three, but this one is also excellent--especially if you like stories that have lots of description about new worlds and societies.

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LibraryThing member willowcove

One of McCaffrey's best outside of the Pern series. MUCH better than Acorna.

LibraryThing member Kellswitch

One of my favorite books growing up, I may even prefer it to the Pern books in many ways.

I loved how realized and detailed the world of Ballybran felt while reading it and I remember wanting to be a Crystal Singer myself (though I don't have anywhere near perfect pitch), and I probably would have

accepted being one of the support staff.

I do remember finding Killashandra Ree to be both annoying and at times unsympathetic in many ways, but believable as a diva so she felt like a real and natural character and I wanted her to succeed and felt very caught up in her story.

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LibraryThing member shadrachanki

This was a reread for me, and I am fairly certain the last time I read this book was at least fifteen years ago. All things considered it holds up pretty well, but it is definitely science fiction from the late 70s/early 80s.

LibraryThing member fuzzi

More sci fi than fantasy, this story evolves around a young woman who is driven by talent and ambition to seek a place as a Crystal Singer, despite the dangers involved in the work. A very good read, and reread.

LibraryThing member Krumbs

It's been a while since I've read something so character-driven. Yes, there are some exciting bits in the book but it doesn't seem to follow the standard intro/buildup/arc/end format of what I've been reading lately. What's really interesting is how much I disliked the character but that I felt

compelled to find out what happened. I'm not sure if this is because I've already read the last book in the trilogy and know that the character is more mature later, or if it's because the author stayed completely true to the character throughout the novel--There's no revelation of self, really, but that fits with the character. She's ego-driven and selfish and remains that way. It will be interesting to see how she develops from where this book ends to where the third book begins--time for book 2!

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LibraryThing member emrya

Short, surprised me how much was put into the character and how far her personality progressed in such a short book.

LibraryThing member kawgirl

I was fascinated by the idea of this book, which I read when I was in high school. Worth a quick read.

LibraryThing member Elphaba71

After being unable to get into the Pern books by Anne McCaffery, I was recomended the Crystal Singer series by a friend & fan of McCaffery's books.
I have to say I was doubtful if I'd get past the first two chapters! But to my surprise I have really enjoyed the Crystal Singer, it didn't grab me so

I couldn't but the book down, but an enjoyable read all the same. I shall definately be reading the other two Crystal Singer books.

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LibraryThing member meersan

Disgruntled voice student quits school and joins glamorous-for-some-reason guild of irascible miners. Fits in perfectly.

LibraryThing member Gord.Barker

The character of Killashandra and the detailed story telling about her cutting crystal out of the mountain ranges of Ballybran really gets you involved. This book is hard to put down once you start to read it and although I can't sing my way out of a paper bag, I appreciate the diva that Ree is.

LibraryThing member barbgarcia1987

I have re-read the three books of this series many times and enjoyed them a lot. You can still recognize the basic story from the four short stories that she wrote before writing the three books. I much prefer the outcome of the book series over the short story series.

LibraryThing member SunnySD

Killashandra Ree doesn't settle for second best - if she can't be a top-rank singer, well then she'll use her talents elsewhere. She has both requirements for successfully singing crystal: an ear for perfect pitch and the ability to reproduce it exactl. And the odds of singing crystal successfully

appear to be much in her favor.

But the Hepatite Guild doesn't reveal all it's secrets easily - the planet Ballybran with it's rich trove of crystals is a deadly master, surrendering its crystal singers only in death. And dying is fairly easy - it's remembering to stay alive that's hard. Can Killashandra master her new craft in time to save herself?

Classic sci-fi that doesn't get any less readable with age.

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LibraryThing member thelorelei

It's rather refreshing to read a book whose protagonist is...well, kind of a jerk. I think that this sci-fi series has kept me coming back because it's so different from many of the other "space-colony" types out there. The premise lends itself very well to provoking the imagination and in the end

you feel like you've not only seen a great film with spectacular special effects, but heard and smelled and felt an entirely different world, one that could never possibly exist in nature (at least, not on our planet).
The characters are all well-developed and McCaffrey keeps the narrative spinning along on a good pace. It's engaging and satisfying.

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LibraryThing member jarno87

I had this book on my to read stack for more than a year now. It's one of the first science fiction books that read. I really liked the story and the world it is set in. There are hints that there is more going on than that we see.

Although it is a nice read, the plot was relatively straight

forward, with not a lot of twist. Also I found the characters a bit flat, with not a very detailed personality. However I may be biased as the last few years I have read a lot of epic fantasy, and my expectations are high.

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LibraryThing member ConalO

After finishing the Talent series by the author, I decided to re-read one of my other favorites by her. This series is always a pleasure to read. i love the world/universe she has built along with the characters she details in this one.

5 stars for one of my all time favorite stories.

LibraryThing member phyllis2779

Read it many years ago. Kept it all these years as a keeper but I finally decided to let it go. Must have liked it a lot since it was a keeper for so many years.

LibraryThing member Citizenjoyce

Very intricate (for me too much so) world building with good descriptions of music, ambition and accomplishment plus a fun story.

LibraryThing member Serenova_Phoenix

I wasn't sure what to expect going into the novel but I genuinely enjoyed it. The writing does show i's age on a few levels, but overall it was still good.

LibraryThing member haloedrain

I don't understand why a computer couldn't match the pitches rather than requiring people with perfect pitch, and the whole operation doesn't seem very efficient, but it's an entertaining read anyway.

LibraryThing member jshillingford

Anne McCaffrey is the first author that I chose to read for myself and I have been a lifelong fan since. The Crystal Singer showcases her truly original world-building, and excellent character development. Anne created a richly complex character: brave, impetuous, brilliant and flawed. Though it

was the dragons that first attracted me to her writing, it was Killashandra and Helva and Rowan that kept me coming back for every series she wrote.

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LibraryThing member SirCrash

Coming of age story against a science fiction backdrop. Fascinating tapestry in character and world building.

LibraryThing member TS_Simons

As a late teen I devoured Anne McCaffrey's works. Strong women, interesting sci fi concepts and I loved this series above others. Still a wonderful read.

LibraryThing member xaverie

Another from my uncle's box of paperbacks, this is my first Anne McCaffrey (I know) and it was an oddly compulsive read yet also weirdly dull.

The novel starts with Killashandra, a young musician in her late twenties, being turfed from the music school she has been studying at for the past decade.

Her pitch is perfect but her higher register isn't good enough. She meets a Crystal Singer and basically decides this is how she's going to spend her life, cutting crystal for an obscure guild on a remote planet. The rest of the novel is Killashandra going to the planet, joining the guild, being trained and cutting crystal. Once.

Killashandra is a strange character. She's driven, but she's also not quite sure what she's driving towards. There's virtually no romance, yet she sleeps with pretty much every second guy she meets. There's a nebulous quality to her character that actually makes her quite compelling.

I enjoyed McCaffrey's writing style enough to try more, though I do hope her other novels have a little more happening than just a woman learning a trade.

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