The Crystal Star is a 1994 Star Wars novel written by Vonda N. McIntyre[1] and published by Bantam Spectra. The novel is set ten years after the Battle of Endor in the Star Wars expanded universe.
 | |
| Author | Vonda N. McIntyre |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Drew Struzan |
| Language | English |
| Series | Canon C |
| Subject | Star Wars |
| Genre | Science fiction |
| Publisher | Bantam Spectra |
Publication date | Hardcover: December 8, 1994 Paperback: December 4, 1995 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Hardcover & Paperback |
| Pages | Hardcover: 309 Paperback: 313 |
| ISBN | 0-553-57174-5 |
| Preceded by | Starfighters of Adumar |
| Followed by | Before the Storm |
Plot
editBackground
editJacen and Jaina Solo are now five years old, and their brother Anakin is three, all at an age where they are easily manipulated.
Summary
editOn Munto Codro, Jacen, Jaina and Anakin are kidnapped by a man named Hethrir. Their mother Leia Organa Solo immediately dispatches a rescue operation. Meanwhile, Leia's husband Han Solo and brother Luke Skywalker go to Crseih Station on a supposed "vacation", and learn of a secret cult that influences the Crystal Star, which could possibly threaten the very existence of the galaxy.
Hethrir continues to manipulate the children for several days, as he leads the Empire Reborn, an organization looking to resurrect the Galactic Empire. Eventually, Leia and Chewbacca manage to rescue the children, but Hethrir is still connected to the events that transpire around the Crystal Star. After an intense series of events, Hethrir is killed, the Crystal Star explodes, Crseih station moves out of the area beforehand, and Luke, Leia, Han and the children are safe.
Reception
editThe Crystal Star was a New York Times Bestseller, and the sixth consecutive Star Wars novel to reach the bestseller list.[1]
Critical reception was generally hostile. It was dubbed "The most derided novel in the entire Expanded Universe" in a 2013 Gizmodo retrospective with criticized elements including recycled plot elements from other EU novels such as the Solo children being kidnapped and Luke losing his Force powers, as well as the novel's stranger aspects making little sense, such as centaurs and werewolves in a science-fiction settings and Luke joining Hethrir's "transparently evil" cult.[2] In 2016, it was called the worst Star Wars book ever by Gizmodo.[3] Game Rant wrote in 2023: "The Crystal Star is fascinating in all the ways it fails. The book is like a trainwreck."[4] Publishers Weekly said: "While this is easily the best of a bestselling series [...], its flaws are still obvious."[5]
Editions
edit- The Crystal Star, 1st hardcover, 1994. Vonda McIntyre, ISBN 0-553-57174-5
References
edit- ^ "The Crystal Star". PenguinRandomHouseAudio.com.
- ^ "The 12 Worst Things in the Star Wars Expanded Universe". Gizmodo. March 4, 2013. Archived from the original on March 30, 2019.
- ^ Trendacosta, Katharine (November 9, 2016). "Crystal Star Really Is the Worst Star Wars Book Ever". Gizmodo. Keleops Media. Archived from the original on January 23, 2022. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
- ^ Heindl, Joseph (October 2, 2023). "5 Weird Star Wars Novels That Are Entertaining To Read". Game Rant. Valnet. Archived from the original on October 24, 2024. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
- ^ "The Crystal Star". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on October 23, 2024. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
Further reading
edit- Cassada, Jackie (November 15, 1994), "Star Wars: The Crystal Star", Library Journal, 119 (19), Library Journals, LLC: 89, ISSN 0363-0277
- Hays, Carl (October 1, 1994), "The Crystal Star.(Young Adult Review)(Brief Article)", Booklist, 91 (3), American Library Association: 188, ISSN 0006-7385
External links
edit- The Crystal Star on Wookieepedia, a Star Wars wiki