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Vonda N. McIntyre
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Star Wars: The Crystal Star (AU Star Wars) Audio Cassette – Audiobook, December 1, 1994

by Vonda McIntyre (Author)
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First Timothy Zahn reopened the door to George Lucas's dazzling universe with his New York Times-bestselling Star Wars trilogy.  Then Kathy Tyers's The Truce at Bakura took readers back to the fateful days following the events in Return of the Jedi.  And with The Courtship of Princess Leia Dave Wolverton chronicled Han Solo's turbulent campaign for the princess's hand.  Now, award-winning author Vonda N. McIntyre continues the tradition as the ultimate space adventure unfolds in The Crystal Star.

Princess Leia is dealt a crushing blow when her three children--Anakin and the twins Jaina and Jacen--are kidnapped.  Leia's advisers counsel her to wait for a ransom note, but waiting is the hardest thing for a mother to do when her children are in danger--and worse than waiting is her discovery that she cannot sense her children through the Force.

Ultimately, the princess has no choice.  She, Chewbacca, and Artoo-Detoo track the kidnappers, following their trail to a disabled refugee ship where the answers provided by Rillao, a mysterious fugitive, only provoke more questions. The refugees' children are also missing--and Rillao thinks she knows who has them: a powerful Imperial officer named Hethrir who has his own twisted plans to restore the Empire to its former glory.

Meanwhile, Han Solo and Luke Skywalker are on a separate mission to the planet Crseih to investigate a report of a lost group of Jedi.  Crseih is at the mercy
of strange quantum effects caused by the death of a nearby star that is slowly freezing into a uniquely perfect crystal.  This crystal star causes a disruption in the Force, blunting Luke's power and cutting the Millennium Falcon off from Leia and their home base.  What Han and Luke find on the planet is even stranger than a crystallizing sun: a charismatic alien named Waru who has attracted a following of fanatic devotees through his miraculous healing powers.  Is Waru a being of benevolence? Or do his healing arts conceal a darker purpose? As Leia, Chewbacca, and Rillao follow Hethri trail of treachery across space, Luke and Han draw closer to the truth behind Waru' sinister cult.  Ultimately they will face an explosive showdown that could determine not only their own fates and the fate of the New Republic but whether the universe itself will survive.
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  1. Language
    English
  2. Publisher
    Random House Audio
  3. Publication date
    December 1, 1994
  4. Dimensions
    4.32 x 0.77 x 7.16 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    0553471945
  6. ISBN-13
    978-0553471946
  7. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Vonda McIntyre is an award winning author of science fiction and fantasy. She brings her own unique talents to the Star Wars universe by continuing and expanding the Star Wars tradition with Star Wars: The Crystal Star. As Princess Leia and Chewbacca follow a trail of treachery across space and Luke Skywalker and Han Solo draw closer to the truth behind a sinister cult, the moment nears for an explosive showdown that could determine the fate of the entire universe. Performed by Anthony Heald, Star Wars: The Crystal Star comes complete with the original Star Wars music and splendid sound effects. -- Midwest Book Review

From the Label

The New York Times Bestseller

Praise for previous Star Wars adventures:

Heir to the Empire:

"Chock full of all the good stuff you've come to expect from a battle of good against evil."
--Daily News, New York

Dark Force Rising:

"Zahn has perfectly captured the pace and flavor of the Star Wars movies. This is space opera at its best."
--Sunday Oklahoman

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Random House Audio (December 1, 1994)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0553471945
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0553471946
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 5.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.32 x 0.77 x 7.16 inches
  • Customer Reviews:

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Vonda N. McIntyre

Vonda N. McIntyre

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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
262 global ratings
We were very unhappy
1 Star
We were very unhappy
Very unhappy. Star wars book was sent to 10 year old son. A star wars cover was placed over a book about witches. A very bad book!! We were disgusted
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Top reviews from the United States

Christopher Nelson
5.0 out of 5 stars Crystal Star, or, How I learned to stop worrying and love Waru
Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2020
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I don't care what Geek's Attic says, Crystal Star is amazing.
7 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars my audio collection
Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2014
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I have read the book before and loved it. Then I found it on audio and the cats sit next to the stereo listening to this intently. Then they dressed up as Jedi for halloween.
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Great story about the Solo children
Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2012
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I read "Crystal Star" because I wanted to read more about the kids as kids, not young adults. They get plenty of stage time in this book, and I thought they did pretty well.

Much of the children's story are from the eyes of Jaina. She's the oldest (beat out Jacen by five minutes) and more mature than the rest. Jacen and Jaina are able to use the Force a little bit. Anakin's power is strong, but raw and untamed.

I spent most of the book trying to figure out what was wrong with Luke. He wasn't quite himself. I haven't seen him this weak since I've read  Star Wars: Children of the Jedi . His actions were intriguing. Never before had I seen him tell Han to "shut up" or sit around in the dark brooding with his lightsaber on. The mystery kept me reading. I admit his lack of control over his desires towards the end was a letdown. I think Jedi Luke has much more control than that, even without his powers. Overall, it was an interesting twist on Luke's character.

Leia, I'm not sure this is her best appearance as Jedi Mom. She always seems to put the Republic before her family, but it was odd that she'd go somewhere where coup kidnappings were common and not have more security around her kids than just Chewbacca. Then, she waits an enormous amount of time sitting around acting like nothing happened on the advice the people on Munto Codru. Really, as Chief of State, she could have at least triggered a quiet investigation, if she believed their logic (i.e., launching an investigation would endanger her kids) at all.

When she finds ships full of people that she wants to save, she sends an unsigned SOS to her husband from those ships. **Those** ships. Considering her kids were still lost and in danger, she couldn't think to first send a signal from *her* ship to Han about their situation? No, of course not! She couldn't bear to think about his rage if he learned of what happened. No, much better to signal him to go save a bunch of strangers. Good thing that SOS got nowhere.

Some of my favorite things from this book are Waru (I know people don't like him/it, but he was somewhat mysterious) and the crystal star, Jacen's special relationship with animals and Jaina's ingenuity.

Yes, the best scenes surround the children: what they do when they are kidnapped, how they feel, what they do with the Force to save themselves. We hear their voices and thoughts written in a child's language. I finished the book very quickly because I enjoyed those sections so much. It's really why I rate the book four stars. I hope to read more about the children in the future.
3 people found this helpful
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Connor Callahan
5.0 out of 5 stars READ THIS!!!
Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2013
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This is a great star wars book. I have read many but this is my favourite. READ THIS BOOK NOW.
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wfz7960
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2016
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Shipped fast and my husband loved it.
One person found this helpful
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R Strickle
3.0 out of 5 stars Ok read
Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2018
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I enjoyed this book but after finishing I felt something was missing. It did not feel complete. Unfinished maybe the best way to describe the book.
One person found this helpful
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Lu
1.0 out of 5 stars Immature character tone. Story could have been better.
Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2024
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I love the world and characters of Star Wars. I felt like these characters were possibly the immature teen verson of the adult characters. Their responses and actions were not authentic to their known personalities. One reviewer likened it to Scoobie Doo and I am, sadly, agreeing. It is in the story line up so I finished it but I think you could also move on to "Blackfleet" and bam, you are right back in the world with characters who feel authentic.
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James
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on September 20, 2017
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liked it
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Top reviews from other countries

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Gustavo
3.0 out of 5 stars Ok, contudo...
Reviewed in Brazil on January 19, 2015
Verified Purchase
Desde a Trilogia Thrawn, venho acompanhando os livros na ordem cronológica, tendo pulado apenas os livros da série X-Wing, assim, The Crystal Star era o passo anterior à trilogia The Black Fleet Crisis. Contudo, a trama me pareceu fraca, um desfecho mediocre. Poderia ter pulado sem perda de continuidade.

OBS: Versão para Kindle
One person found this helpful
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pete
5.0 out of 5 stars Good purchase
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 21, 2013
Verified Purchase
Arrived in a short period of time from ordering and exactly as said by world of books. I have used them a few times and each and every time have found it to be an excellent service and highly recomend them.
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Ian Reay
5.0 out of 5 stars great read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 4, 2013
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these are continuing tales following on from one another dating back all the way to the last film return of the jedi , a must read for any Star Wars fan !!!!
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Mario Pf.
1.0 out of 5 stars Eigentümlichkeiten des Expanded Universe
Reviewed in Germany on January 12, 2016
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Entführt! Während eines Aufenthalts auf Montu Codru werden die Solo-Zwillinge und ihr kleiner Bruder Anakin von einer unbekannten Macht entführt, wobei Chewbacca schwer verletzt wurde. Während Leia um ihre Kinder bangt untersuchen Han und Luke die Crseih Forschungsstation, Heimat eines eigentümlichen Kults...

~ More of the same? ~

Ein ehemaliger Vader-Schüler, der allen Widerständen zum Trotz immer noch am Leben ist und daran feilt ein neues Imperium samt eigenem dunklen Jedi Orden aufzubauen. Vielleicht ist zumindest das eine Idee, die sich auch im neuen Kanon verwerten lässt, wobei dieses Konzept in anderer Form auch schon von anderen Autoren aufgegriffen wurde. Kevin J. Anderson und Rebecca Moesta ließen den dunklen Brakiss etwa eine eigene Schattenakademie aufbauen und schon Timothy Zahns Joruus C'baoth wollte die Solo-Zwillinge für seine Zwecke missbrauchen. Das herausstechendste Merkmal an Hethrir ist noch, dass sein Sohn Tigris keinerlei Machtsensitivität aufwies, obwohl auch dessen Mutter Rillao einst eine Akolythin Vaders war.

Irgendeine galaktische Bedrohung musste es in den Standalone-Romanen der Bantam-Ära ja immer geben, doch THE CRYSTAL STAR verzichtet zumindest auf eine vergessene Superwaffe und greift auf die ungewöhnlichste Idee (bis zur Macht-Entität Abeloth und der Macht-Dimension in CRUCIBLE) zurück. Waru ist ein Wesen aus einer anderen Dimension und zu Taten fähig, die auch Jedi-Meister Luke Skywalker ins Staunen versetzen. Andere Dimensionen genau wie Zeitreisen kratzen gehen jedoch über die anerkannten Grenzen dessen hinaus was allgemein als für Star Wars akzeptabel angesehen wird. Somit fragen sich manche Leser schon zurecht, ob THE CRYSTAL STAR überhaupt noch Star Wars ist und allzu viele der typischen Star Wars-Elemente findet man auch nicht. Unter anderen Namen und ohne Lichtschwerter wäre der Roman wohl nur irgendein drittklassiger SciFi Roman.

~ Ärgernisse ~

Luke Skywalker ist in CRYSTAL STAR ein Kriegsheld und Jedi MEISTER, doch Vonda McIntyre stellt ihn aus Hans Sicht (vielleicht kann man sich darauf ausreden) dar als wäre er gerade erst Episode VI entschlüpft. Luke hat bereits Jedi trainiert, eine Konfrontation mit dem wiedergeborenen Imperator überstanden, seine eigenen Fehler als Mentor eingestanden und sich den Titel eines Meisters als Mittdreißiger redlich verdient, nur der Autorin dürfte man von dieser Entwicklung wohl nichts verraten haben, sie schreibt Luke doch lieber so als wäre ihr Roman nur einige Jahre nach RETURN OF THE JEDI angesiedelt.

Es ist erstaunlich wie schlecht die Staatschefin der Republik auf Kidnapping vorbereitet ist, zumal sie ihre Kinder zuvor jahrelang an einem geheimen Ort vor allen Übeln der Galaxis verstecken ließ. Doch ironischerweise sollte man sich nicht wundern, wurde Leia als Staatschefin ja auch bereits selbst entführt. Aber regelmäßige Kidnapping-Vorfälle gehörten auch zu den typischen Elementen der Bantam Star Wars-Romane.

CRYSTAL STAR ist auch der erste Roman in dem neben den Solo-Zwillingen Anakin Solo als Charakter zum Einsatz kommt genauso wie in in den zeitlich später angesiedelten BLACK FLEET und CORELLIA Trilogien. Die Abenteuer von 5jährigen sind allerdings nichts, das man als Star Wars-Fan mit Begeisterung verschlingen muss.
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