Crystal Soldier

Liaden Universe Books of Before, Book 1

By: Sharon Lee, Steve Miller

Narrated by: Kevin T. Collins

Centuries in the past, mankind fought a seemingly unbeatable adversary from sector to sector across the Spiral Arm until the war ground to a standstill and the Enemy withdrew. Believing that they had won, the citizens of the galaxy rebuilt. The Inner Worlds, which had escaped the worst of the war's ravages, became even more insular, while the Rim worlds adopted a free and easy way with law and order. Now, hundreds of years after their withdrawal, the Enemy is back - and this time they'll be satisfied with nothing less than the extinction of the galaxy.

©2004 Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

A Good Beginning

Would you listen to Crystal Soldier again? Why?

I would listen to Crystal Soldier again because many elements it sets up continue to recur throught the Liaden series. Although I have read most of the Liaden books more than once, I had forgotten where some things came from. In addition, Sharon Lee's language is outstanding, and lends itself extremely well to being read aloud.

What other book might you compare Crystal Soldier to and why?

In the Liaden universe, this book and its sequel are genuinely different. Metaphorically, they serve the same role as The Hobbit served relative to The Lord of the rings.

Have you listened to any of Kevin T. Collins’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Kevin Collins is workmanlike.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I would never listen to any book in one sitting.

Any additional comments?

The Liaden universe is, in many ways, as well thought through as Tolkien, but the actual writing is more tersely poetic. It offers insights into human connections in an exotic and beautiful package.

Great series and performance

I have read most of the Liaden books over the past dozen years or so. I now have a job that allows me to listen to audiobooks while working. I almost forgot how much I love these stories. What a wonderful performance and journey back into the company of my Liaden friends.

Good sci fi story that keeps up the tempo

Where does Crystal Soldier rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

about top third

What did you like best about this story?

The story kept up. It has an interesting story line and I did not get bored listening to it.

Which scene was your favorite?

The fight scene where the hero and heroine nearly get hammered!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

No

Any additional comments?

An enjoyable story. I want to read the rest of the trilogy.

Average story, decent narrator, drags in places.

I think this book could have used a good editor to trim some of the unnecessary fill from this book. Some parts were needlessly over dramatic. It kind of drags. The interview at the end of the book where Miller (author) interviews Collins (narrator) was interesting. I'll not be listening to the rest of the books, I think I'd rather Wikipedia it instead.

Another fun space adventure from Lee & Miller

M Jela is a soldier, genetically engineered, of the "M" strain. He's still young, but a hardened warrior, and very nearly gets killed in space battle with the Sheriekas, humanity's enemy returned after centuries of absence. The Sheriekas' distant ancestors used to be human; that hasn't been true for a very long time. And the Sheriekas' plans for the galaxy, and the universe, are not compatible with human survival.

Cantra yos'Phelium is a jump pilot with a surprisingly well-armed ship, and a murky background.

They meet up by chance when Jela is trying to hook up with his intended contact, on a detached assignment intended to bring the war to the enemy, and Cantra is just seeking some enjoyable downtime on a stopover before taking off with her new cargo. Events lead to them fleeing the planet together, in Cantra's ship, with Dulsey, a batch-grown slave of the owner of the restaurant they dined at. Oh, and Jela's tree, a sentient tree he rescued off of the planet where he nearly died.

And their adventures have barely begun.

This is fast-paced space opera, with Lee & Miller's typically excellent pacing, mood, and character development. It's also a peek back at the origins of the Liaden Universe their fans have come to know and love. You don't need to be familiar with other books in the larger series, but if you are, there is some extra fun along the way in recognizing things that will be very significant to later generations.

What can I say but great fun, and highly recommended.

I bought this book.