User:Auric/Crystal Line

Crystal Line is a young-adult, science fiction novel by Anne McCaffrey, first published by Bantam UK in 1992. It features Killashandra Ree, a respected crystal singer on the fictional planet Ballybran and her succumbing to crystal deterioration and her eventual recovery.

Plot
Ree, returning from a vacation with Lars Dahl, her partner and lover, accepts an off-planet mission for the Heptite Guild - exploring the airless planet Opal, whose previous exploratory team have all died mysteriously. Also of interest is a strange opalescent substance that appears to be crystalline in nature, and may have properties similar to crystal cut on Ballybran. A B-B ship is contracted to carry them there. The substance, which they term Jewel Junk, proves both fluid and absorbing. It cannot absorb Ballybran crystal, and may be sentient.

Lanzecki chooses to end his life cutting crystal. Lars takes over as Guild Master and begins to revive the faltering organisation, beginning with convincing cutters to accept better ways to locate and cut crystal, since the high demand and low supply have resulted in substitutes being developed, threatening their monopoly.

Ree, initially reluctant, goes along with his plans. A return trip to Opal proves interesting, as the Junk has began to use the crystals they provided to grow and alter its environment. Ree provides higher quality replacement crystals, including a Black crystal for the main node. When she places the crystal, her hands come in contact with the Junk. The resulting surge completely restores her memories.

Later, on returning to Ballybran, Lars's ship is lost due to a singularity accident. In order to take her mind off her grief, Ree loses herself in reviving the Guild. Lars later shows up alive, his ship having been Singularity Twisted.

Awards
The Crystal Singer placed 12th for the 1993 annual Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel, voted by Locus readers.. In 1993, it was nominated for the Science Fiction Book Club's Book of the Year Award.