Crystal Singer
Encyclopedia
The Crystal Singer or Crystal Singer (US title) is a science fiction
, young-adult novel by Anne McCaffrey
. It is a fix-up
of four stories published 1974 and 1975 and is the first book set in her "Crystal universe". At the same time, Crystal Singer is a trilogy
named for the novel, its first book.
The Crystal Singer novel is about the trials and tribulations of Killashandra Ree in becoming a crystal singer on the fictional planet Ballybran
.
Later she studied voice for nine years, performed in the first music circus
in 1949, once directed a play, and worked for a record label, Liberty Music Shop
.
DuPont
transferred her husband temporarily to Düsseldorf, Germany in 1962/63, where Anne resumed vocal training
but suffered a crisis in that avocational field. Regarding that experience and subsequent emotional trauma, her fictional character Killashandra Ree is partly autobiographical.
McCaffrey divorced her husband in August 1970 and emigrated to the vicinity of Dublin, Ireland in September with her second Dragonriders of Pern
book nearly finished and a contract for the third. The White Dragon would complete her "original trilogy" with Ballantine Books
in 1978 but for several years that work stalled.
The markets for children and young adults provided crucial opportunities, as when editor Roger Elwood
solicited contributions of short genre fiction
to anthologies
. She was able to deliver "The Smallest Dragonboy" and the four-part story of Killashandra.
The 1982 novel is an expanded version of the four-part work, the author's note explains. She made some substantial changes too.
tic roles. Resigning from the music school, she meets a crystal singer, a kind of miner
who uses voice controlled technology in order to mine crystals on the planet Ballybran for uses in different technologies. Ballybran crystal has unique qualities that make it a necessity for almost any of the human civilization's interstellar transportation and communications equipment.
Life as a crystal singer strikes her as attractive — high pay, travel, prestige, and near-immortality. But her former vocal teacher has a low opinion of crystal singers and warns her not to succumb to the temptation to join them. In a fit of pique, Killashandra travels to Ballybran to investigate her chances of joining the Heptite Guild and becoming a crystal singer. She meets the main qualification, perfect pitch, and believes that if she cannot be first among operatic performers, perhaps she could become first among the select group of elite Ballybran crystal miners.
However, Ballybran is not a normal world. Habitation on the planet is restricted because of the planet’s dangers, primary of which is an alien symbiont that invades the human body, causing genetic mutations, for which there is no cure. Typically, the onset of infection is accompanied by severe physical sickness, passing in one to two weeks. When (and if) the host recovers, the symbiont provides many benefits, including increased sensory perception, rapid tissue regeneration and a vastly prolonged life expectancy, but it renders all hosts sterile, and eventually causes severe memory loss, paranoia
and dementia
.
The symbiont occasionally causes negative mutations of varying degree. In the most extreme cases the symbiont kills the host by crystallizing all bodily tissues. Sometimes there are both positive and negative mutations, such as vastly increased visual acuity along with complete deafness.
Those victims who are not functionally disabled remain on the planet and work as support staff for the Heptite Guild's facilities. The only persons allowed on the planet are the crystal singers and the support staff, and only the singers are able to travel away from the planet. Even they must return before too long in order to replenish their symbiont, or they will sicken and die.
The mining of Ballybran crystal is also a highly dangerous profession. In addition to the risks associated with any type of geological mining operation, Ballybran is regularly subject to hurricane-force storms which can cause crystal deposits to vibrate and collapse, or generate sympathetic vibrations ("sonic storms") that affect the symbiont and drive crystal singers mad.
The first part of the book describes Killashandra's efforts to cope with her mutation, and learn the craft of crystal singing. She also develops a mentor/student relationship with Lanzecki, the Guild Master (which eventually turns romantic by the story's end.) The Guild has a variety of idiosyncratic rules, customs and procedures regarding all facets of Ballybran society which she must learn, particularly dealing with an individual singer's mining claims.
Killashandra becomes a Crystal Singer of the top tier by locating and mining the rarest and most elusive form of Ballybran Crystal, Black Crystal, which can be used for instantaneous interstellar communication. She is subsequently sent offworld on assignment to install the set of crystals she mined for their contracted buyers. Lanzecki tells her she must "perform" the role of the Crystal Singer when representing the Guild in public, many of whom regard crystal singers as eccentric mutants and find them frightening, but are at the same time beholden to the highly respected and powerful Heptite Guild for the crystals that power their civilization's technology. Killashandra's performance as a mysterious member of the Heptite Guild to win over an audience of mistrusting asteroid miners who have mortgaged their futures on the badly needed black crystals is the climax of the story. Her success brings her full circle and she returns home to Ballybran to begin her new life of wealth and status.
, voted by Locus
readers. It was one of six finalists for the Balrog Award in the novel class.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
, young-adult novel by Anne McCaffrey
Anne McCaffrey
Anne Inez McCaffrey was an American-born Irish writer, best known for her Dragonriders of Pern series. Over the course of her 46 year career she won a Hugo Award and a Nebula Award...
. It is a fix-up
Fix-up
A fix-up is a novel created from short stories that may or may not have been initially related or previously published. The stories may be edited for consistency, and sometimes new connecting material—such as a frame story—is written for the new novel. The term was coined by the science fiction...
of four stories published 1974 and 1975 and is the first book set in her "Crystal universe". At the same time, Crystal Singer is a trilogy
Trilogy
A trilogy is a set of three works of art that are connected, and that can be seen either as a single work or as three individual works. They are commonly found in literature, film, or video games...
named for the novel, its first book.
The Crystal Singer novel is about the trials and tribulations of Killashandra Ree in becoming a crystal singer on the fictional planet Ballybran
Ballybran
Ballybran is a fictional planet created by science fiction writer Anne McCaffrey within her Federated Sentient Planets universe.The story originated as series of short stories, which were later expanded into the novelsCrystal Singer....
.
Origins
While a schoolgirl Anne McCaffrey enjoyed one year of piano lessons purchased by her Aunt.Later she studied voice for nine years, performed in the first music circus
Music circus
Music circus is an American theatrical form begun in Lambertville, New Jersey, by St. John Terrell in 1949. Established as summer stock, the new theatre venues primarily housed light operas and operettas, produced in the round, under a circus-style big top....
in 1949, once directed a play, and worked for a record label, Liberty Music Shop
Liberty Music Shop Records
Liberty Music Store Records or Liberty Music Shop Records produced records for jazz singer Lee Wiley.Liberty Music Shops was a New York business that specialized in sophisticated music for sophisticated customers...
.
DuPont
DuPont
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company , commonly referred to as DuPont, is an American chemical company that was founded in July 1802 as a gunpowder mill by Eleuthère Irénée du Pont. DuPont was the world's third largest chemical company based on market capitalization and ninth based on revenue in 2009...
transferred her husband temporarily to Düsseldorf, Germany in 1962/63, where Anne resumed vocal training
but suffered a crisis in that avocational field. Regarding that experience and subsequent emotional trauma, her fictional character Killashandra Ree is partly autobiographical.
McCaffrey divorced her husband in August 1970 and emigrated to the vicinity of Dublin, Ireland in September with her second Dragonriders of Pern
Dragonriders of Pern
Dragonriders of Pern is a science fiction series written primarily by the late American-Irish author Anne McCaffrey, who initiated it in 1967. Beginning 2003, her middle child Todd McCaffrey has written Pern novels, both solo and jointly with Anne. The series comprises 22 novels and several short...
book nearly finished and a contract for the third. The White Dragon would complete her "original trilogy" with Ballantine Books
Ballantine Books
Ballantine Books is a major book publisher located in the United States, founded in 1952 by Ian Ballantine with his wife, Betty Ballantine. It was acquired by Random House in 1973, which in turn was acquired by Bertelsmann AG in 1998 and remains part of that company today. Ballantine's logo is a...
in 1978 but for several years that work stalled.
The markets for children and young adults provided crucial opportunities, as when editor Roger Elwood
Roger Elwood
Roger Elwood was an American science fiction writer and editor, perhaps best known for having edited a large number of anthologies and collections for a variety of publishers in the early 1970s.-Biography:...
solicited contributions of short genre fiction
Genre
Genre , Greek: genos, γένος) is the term for any category of literature or other forms of art or culture, e.g. music, and in general, any type of discourse, whether written or spoken, audial or visual, based on some set of stylistic criteria. Genres are formed by conventions that change over time...
to anthologies
Anthology
An anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler. It may be a collection of poems, short stories, plays, songs, or excerpts...
. She was able to deliver "The Smallest Dragonboy" and the four-part story of Killashandra.
The 1982 novel is an expanded version of the four-part work, the author's note explains. She made some substantial changes too.
Plot summary (1982 novel)
Killashandra Ree has trained all her life to become a stellar class vocal soloist. After her final exams, she is told that there is a flaw in her voice which would prevent her from singing lead roles. She does not wish to continue a life in which she will be limited to choral work and secondary operaOpera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
tic roles. Resigning from the music school, she meets a crystal singer, a kind of miner
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
who uses voice controlled technology in order to mine crystals on the planet Ballybran for uses in different technologies. Ballybran crystal has unique qualities that make it a necessity for almost any of the human civilization's interstellar transportation and communications equipment.
Life as a crystal singer strikes her as attractive — high pay, travel, prestige, and near-immortality. But her former vocal teacher has a low opinion of crystal singers and warns her not to succumb to the temptation to join them. In a fit of pique, Killashandra travels to Ballybran to investigate her chances of joining the Heptite Guild and becoming a crystal singer. She meets the main qualification, perfect pitch, and believes that if she cannot be first among operatic performers, perhaps she could become first among the select group of elite Ballybran crystal miners.
However, Ballybran is not a normal world. Habitation on the planet is restricted because of the planet’s dangers, primary of which is an alien symbiont that invades the human body, causing genetic mutations, for which there is no cure. Typically, the onset of infection is accompanied by severe physical sickness, passing in one to two weeks. When (and if) the host recovers, the symbiont provides many benefits, including increased sensory perception, rapid tissue regeneration and a vastly prolonged life expectancy, but it renders all hosts sterile, and eventually causes severe memory loss, paranoia
Paranoia
Paranoia [] is a thought process believed to be heavily influenced by anxiety or fear, often to the point of irrationality and delusion. Paranoid thinking typically includes persecutory beliefs, or beliefs of conspiracy concerning a perceived threat towards oneself...
and dementia
Dementia
Dementia is a serious loss of cognitive ability in a previously unimpaired person, beyond what might be expected from normal aging...
.
The symbiont occasionally causes negative mutations of varying degree. In the most extreme cases the symbiont kills the host by crystallizing all bodily tissues. Sometimes there are both positive and negative mutations, such as vastly increased visual acuity along with complete deafness.
Those victims who are not functionally disabled remain on the planet and work as support staff for the Heptite Guild's facilities. The only persons allowed on the planet are the crystal singers and the support staff, and only the singers are able to travel away from the planet. Even they must return before too long in order to replenish their symbiont, or they will sicken and die.
The mining of Ballybran crystal is also a highly dangerous profession. In addition to the risks associated with any type of geological mining operation, Ballybran is regularly subject to hurricane-force storms which can cause crystal deposits to vibrate and collapse, or generate sympathetic vibrations ("sonic storms") that affect the symbiont and drive crystal singers mad.
The first part of the book describes Killashandra's efforts to cope with her mutation, and learn the craft of crystal singing. She also develops a mentor/student relationship with Lanzecki, the Guild Master (which eventually turns romantic by the story's end.) The Guild has a variety of idiosyncratic rules, customs and procedures regarding all facets of Ballybran society which she must learn, particularly dealing with an individual singer's mining claims.
Killashandra becomes a Crystal Singer of the top tier by locating and mining the rarest and most elusive form of Ballybran Crystal, Black Crystal, which can be used for instantaneous interstellar communication. She is subsequently sent offworld on assignment to install the set of crystals she mined for their contracted buyers. Lanzecki tells her she must "perform" the role of the Crystal Singer when representing the Guild in public, many of whom regard crystal singers as eccentric mutants and find them frightening, but are at the same time beholden to the highly respected and powerful Heptite Guild for the crystals that power their civilization's technology. Killashandra's performance as a mysterious member of the Heptite Guild to win over an audience of mistrusting asteroid miners who have mortgaged their futures on the badly needed black crystals is the climax of the story. Her success brings her full circle and she returns home to Ballybran to begin her new life of wealth and status.
Trilogy
The story of Killashandra continued in two sequels Killashandra (1986) and Crystal Line (1992). The original Continuum stories ended with the death of Killashandra, but the trilogy follows a different path.Killashandra
In the second book, Killashandra is once again sent offworld, this time to the planet of Optheria. Her task is ostensibly to install new White Crystals into the manual of the planet's largest Optherian Organ, which was shattered under mysterious circumstances. ...Crystal Line
In the third book, Killashandra Ree and Lars Dahl are sent to investigate a strange mineral discovered in a newly explored star system. It is believed that the stuff may have properties similar to Ballybran crystal, but when samples of crystal are placed in it, it creates a strange synergy that changes both the planet and Killashandra's mind.Crystal universe
Beside the Crystal Singer trilogy, the Internet Speculative Fiction Database places in the Crystal universe (series) both The Coelura (1983 novella) and Nimisha's Ship (1998 novel).Awards
The Crystal Singer placed seventh for the 1983 annual Locus Award for Best Science Fiction NovelLocus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel
Winners of the Locus Award for Best SF Novel, awarded by the Locus magazine. Awards presented in a given year are for works published in the previous calendar year....
, voted by Locus
Locus (magazine)
Locus, subtitled "The Magazine Of The Science Fiction & Fantasy Field", is published monthly in Oakland, California. It reports on the science fiction and fantasy publishing field, including comprehensive listings of all new books published in the genre. It is considered the news organ and trade...
readers. It was one of six finalists for the Balrog Award in the novel class.