Crystal Singer

Written by Anne McCaffrey

Narrated by Adrienne Barbeau

Killashandra Ree has spent ten grueling years in musical training, anticipating interstellar celebrity as a vocal soloist. She is young, beautiful—and still without prospects. After learning that a flaw in her voice will prevent her from singing lead, she hears of the mysterious Heptite Guild on the planet Ballybran, where the fabled Black Crystal is found. Mining this strange form of crystal is a dangerous occupation but to Killa, the risks are acceptable. Remarkably, her adaptation to crystal mining is unusually rapid and easy and Killashandra advances quickly. The problem is—few people who land on Ballybran ever leave.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Phoenix Books, Inc.
• Release date: Feb 1, 1994
• ISBN: 9781614673354

Anne McCaffrey

Anne McCaffrey, a multiple Hugo and Nebula Award winner, was one of the world's most beloved and bestselling science fiction and fantasy writers. She is known for her hugely successful Dragonriders of Pern books, as well as the fantasy series that she cowrote with Elizabeth A. Scarborough that began with Acorna: The Unicorn Girl.

Reviews for Crystal Singer

[ann235 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

It’s abridged. I really wanted the full story, which I read years ago. The detail is missing.

[Richard Stephens · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Classic McCaffry but feels abridged. A fun story but far shorter then expected.

[Brett Parsons · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Where is the rest of this audiobook? It's over 300 pages; it should be around 12-15 hours long. Not 2.5.

[kynkrea_ays · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Somewhere between YA and Adult.
Reads well with Darkover's Laran powers being similar to -- compatible with the crystals in many ways. One throw-away line made me sad for the singers and crystals both.

The lack of chapter announcments made it a whirlwind ride, and its short length only increased the frenzied effect. Overll, a good listen.

Note: unlike Bradley's constant sexual anguish and tumult, this is remarkably uncomplicated heterosexual and sexual-revolutionesque ('70s-'80s) stuff; -- refreshing after 15 hours of Bradley's Heritage of Hastur.

[psrinc · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Very abridged missing lots it lots the feeling the book makes with the characters

[Linda Templeton · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Where is the rest of it? This is only half the book!

[Kathryn · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Too much missing from the original book. Disappointing, confusing, boring.

[Commander Chakotay · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Gave it 5 stars with prejudice. Love the book/author deeply, hated the abridgement. Will I be equally annoyed at the sequels being abridged? Yes. Will I listen to them anyways? Probably. Haha