Rating: 
Summary: This is a not-too-good Star Trek book. ½ out of 4 stars.
Review: The only elements The Crystal Star incorporates from the official Star Wars saga are two words (Force and Empire), two alien species, and six character names. All could easily be integrated into the ST galaxy - or at least a lot easier than in the SW one. It doesn't even reach the quality of an episode of Star Trek (not even something like "Shades of Gray" or "Man Hunt").Some people have cited details about the plot and writing style, but I think the less you know, the better. I advise you to not buy it or read it. Die-hard SW fans should still shun it - in fact, they should buy their library's copy and flush its ashes down their toilet. I don't have a clue how it got into Official Continuation in the first place. PS: Yes, I'm saying that ST books are generally crappy. There may be a few good ones, though - I know next to nothing about Trek. But this is one of the worst.
Rating: 
Summary: Theis book is excellent, and quite different!
Review: First of all, I an exasperated with these people calling this book "trash," or saying Ms. McIntyre is a "horrible writer." This book is probably my favorite! I know it was different. I know that some of the aliens, locations, and plot seemed like fantasy, or had a medieval flavor. Aren't they supposed to? Isn't Star Wars SUPPOSED to be like a myth? This was certainly a twist on the old format of a huge superweapon or plague as the main threat. I LIKED its bizzareness. It really gave me the feel of "a galaxy far, far away." The characters were very interesting. I did tire of the simple talk the children related the story in, but they certainly had an individual view on everything! Lord Hethrir and his Empire Reborn were quite intersting. The search for Jedi and the encounter with Waru was, at times, strange, but I enjoyed it. The search for the kids kept me on my seat, and that quantum crystallization was really weird, but interesting! I really enjoyed this book, and would reccommend it ito a diehard Star Wars fan or someone looking for a very different kind of book.
Rating: 
Summary: It was good, but only 1of the 2 lot lines were interesting
Review: This book was pretty good. However, only one of the two plot lines were interesting. the Luke/Han/Waru thing just stunk. I only read it so i could get on to the part where Leia is looking for her kids and (my fav part!)the part where Jaina, Jacen and Anakin were when they were kidnapped. This part was told through the eyes of little five-year-old Jaina, who is my favorite of Leia and Han's kids. Jaina just sounded so cute and innocent and she was trying to be so brave and she was so sweet that i just wanted to hug her. Those kids were really smart and i liked Lusa. Also,i was hooked by the first sentence(it started with Leia, my all-time favorite SW character). I dont know why everyone hated this book. I mean, i too hated the second storyline, where EVERYONE was out of character and the plot just didnt make sense...but it was THAT bad. I liked this book. A lot.
Rating:
Summary: Not a praise, not an excuse -- simply analysis and opinion
Review: My thoughts on this book: as has been pointed out plenty of times already, this book does not exactly fit with the Star Wars book series. However, I know Ms. McIntyre *is* more of a fantasy writer (I have read several of her other books and they are much better -- they're HER creations). I am sympathetic to her problems (I write sci-fi books and I face similar difficulties). Some of the more "fantasy"-like elements in this book are: the wyrewulf, the four-armed people that wyrewulfs (wulves?) eventually crysallise into, Waru (alternate dimensions, anyone? or the infinite ichor that Waru was composed of?), Jaina's centaur-like friend (the one with hooves and horns?), and the dragon. Even the Firrerre could be considered part of the Fantasy genre. There is a midaevil feel to parts of the book (the beginning, on Munto Cudro, with the castle and the kidnapping etiquette). Crseih station is also suspect. If it were moved _into_ orbit around this crystal star and the black hole, then why couldn't it be moved _back_? As pointed out by others, Luke is not realistic. McIntyre compensates for this by having Han observe Luke's transformation, but Han, at the same time, is behaving strangely. Solo becomes a touchy, gambling man. This is _not_ the Han we know. He also is easily peeved by Luke's abilities, which we do not see in other SW books. If he were so anti-Jedi or anti-Force, then how does he get along with Leia or the kids? His closest friends and family are Force-sensitive, so chastising Luke's Force-use is not in his character. Finally, I would just like to remind everyone that this *was* Ms. McIntyre's first and last Star Wars book. It is obviously not the area that she really is gifted to work in. I'm sure even she realises this. Her SW writing may not be quite what avid fans were expecting, but writing a book does take time and effort -- give her credit. Keep on writing Fantasy, Ms. McIntyre! "Freckles"
Rating:
Summary: This book was not good
Review: I bought the book in hardcover, and it was a waste of money. I don't know how to go about telling what specifically is wrong with the book, it is just uninteresting and not at all exciting. The final climax is rediculous.
Rating: 
Summary: Essential plot development, but questionable otherwise
Review: I second the slow plot and slow characters complaints, just not as strongly.
Rating:
Summary: Blah! Don't waste your time on this one!!
Review: The Crystal Star had one of the slowest plots I ever read. The story also has some really bad characters (Waru) and a creepy plotline that is just plain annoying. The only reason why i kept this book is that I'm trying to collect all the Star Wars books. If you're not collecting these books, DO NOT waste your good money or time.
Rating:
Summary: A bad book, but don't get too hard on McIntyre.
Review: Okay, we all agree that this is not a good Star Wars book, but when I was reading some of the nasty comments about Ms. McIntyre, I had to step in. 1) Even though the book is a failure, doesn't mean that she is. I mean "sucky trekkie woman"? Give me a break. Star Trek's not as bad as that. 2) She's never written Star Wars before. Maybe she was just trying to get the hang of the characters and planets. 3) Even if I'm defending her in vain, I think that every one of you who despises Ms. McIntyre and laughs in her face should try writing a Star Wars book of your own! See how the reviews about it. I'm writing a sci-fi book myself, and it's a lot harder than it looks. SO STOP GANGING UP ON WRITERS WHO TRY HARD TO WRITE GOOD STORIES FOR YOU !!!!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: This books is BAD! Avoid it like the plague!
Review: Helloooooooooooooooooo!?!?!?!? What is this thing?? Why does it have Star Wars name on it? Why are the characters so sloppy? Wimpy and dazed Luke, adulteering Han? WHY? Thank God Waldenbooks accepts return. DON'T READ THIS BOOK!
Rating:
Summary: Not good enough....NOT GOOD AT ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: As far as novels go, this book was not very interesting. As far as Star Wars books go, this thing was ssssssssssssllllllllooooooooowwwwwwwww. The first 2 chapters were devoted entirely to Leia sitting around and worrying about her kids!!! The rest of the book is simply random drivel, with no aparent point and certainly no plot. And someone should inform Vonda that her idea of a thing being able to travel through a black hole is just stupid. STUPID!!!!! Anyting that goes into a black hole is first reduced to nothing but subatomic particles! And creatures that sleep standing up! What kind of nonsense is that! I like to draw pictures on the endpaper of books to say if I liked them, and I drew a skeleton with it's head resting on this book in this one. The characters are also messed up! Luke is disoriented and whiny throughout the book, but no one ever knows why, because the story is never writen from his viewpoint. Han is a gambling idiot who stumbles back to his hotel at all hours of the night with old girlfriends. Leia is a looney over protective mother, and a sentimental fool, who reminds me more of Marge Simpson, only Marge is a lot tougher than Leia ever is in this book. The other charackters are not significant enough for me to mention. This novel has my nomination for most childish SW (if you want to call it that) book.
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