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caestus 's review for:
The Crystal Star
by Vonda N. McIntyre
The Crystal Star has a reputation for being one of the worst of the Star Wars novels, but I actually didn’t quite agree when I read it. Vonda McIntyre, a longtime Star Trek author, is quite creative and comes up with some neat setting elements like the worldship and the ghostlings, and I felt Waru was actually quite interesting. McIntyre writes Han and C-3P0 well, as well as an unusually adventurous Leia. But what I felt was best was actually Jaina. Jaina’s maybe a little more mature than she should be but still written as a child rather than a tiny adult like some writers write kids, she still has adventures and you can already see her love of gadgets. It also establishes Jaina and Jacen’s friend Lusa, who would return in Young Jedi Knights
On the other hand, I do recognize why it wasn’t well regarded. While McIntyre’s Han and Leia are pretty good, her Luke is just all wrong, He’s rude and ineffective and panicky; it’s supposed to be justified in that he’s losing his connection to the force but he was fully cut off from the Force in Heir to the Empire and he was still an experienced resistance fighter. Without getting in to too many spoilers, while evil enough the villains never feel like a serious threat. They make a good foe for Jaina, but Jaina is five. The villains never seem like a match for Leia or Han; Luke is in danger during the finale but only because he’s totally out of character. Furthermore, McIntyre’s version of the Star Wars galaxy feels notably different than most; I didn’t mind but I could see where some fans would. The book also doesn’t add much to the existing Star Wars universe.
In the end, while I recognized its flaws, I did enjoy the Crystal Star. Still, I’d only recommend it for fans of the Expanded Universe; if you are jumping into the EU, start with Heir to the Empire or Rogue Squadron.
On the other hand, I do recognize why it wasn’t well regarded. While McIntyre’s Han and Leia are pretty good, her Luke is just all wrong, He’s rude and ineffective and panicky; it’s supposed to be justified in that he’s losing his connection to the force but he was fully cut off from the Force in Heir to the Empire and he was still an experienced resistance fighter. Without getting in to too many spoilers, while evil enough the villains never feel like a serious threat. They make a good foe for Jaina, but Jaina is five. The villains never seem like a match for Leia or Han; Luke is in danger during the finale but only because he’s totally out of character. Furthermore, McIntyre’s version of the Star Wars galaxy feels notably different than most; I didn’t mind but I could see where some fans would. The book also doesn’t add much to the existing Star Wars universe.
In the end, while I recognized its flaws, I did enjoy the Crystal Star. Still, I’d only recommend it for fans of the Expanded Universe; if you are jumping into the EU, start with Heir to the Empire or Rogue Squadron.