Crystal Dragon (The Great Migration Duology, #2) (2006) - Plot & Excerpts
I read this space opera in Kindle format (some typos) in a collection titled The Crystal Variation, containing the first three stories, in chronological order: Crystal Soldier, Crystal Dragon, Balance of Trade. There is no Table of Contents. No hyperlink to each book. Even worse, no link to the dictionary of invented words at the end, or the cast of characters in the front matter, and since Kindle books open to the first page of the story...2 stars for the first read, and only 1 star for that dreadful and lengthy prologue, showing how Rool Tiazon was created, and how he met his soul mate, the Gray Lady. In fact, I have perhaps never read a worse beginning. That opening prologue goes on FAR too long. Confusingly obscure, dark, kinky, with doms and submissives. The second half of this book was GREAT!!!, but the prologue was terrible and after that, we spent too much time at the university. So... 3 stars for the second read, after completing the series, because I loved the second half, beginning when Cantra left the university.After reading the entire series, I saw connections (and disconnections) between Crystal Soldier, Crystal Dragon and latter books, including the origin of "Beautiful's" high regard for the historic M Jela, a legend among the bio-engineered Yxtrang Troops (see Plan B). I noted recurring families: the Hedrede Clan appears in Scout's Progress and in I Dare, the Olanak Clan appears in Conflict of Honors, Rool Tiazan's descendants appear in Plan B (but his progeny didn't seem powerful and jazzy enough). Moonhawk and Lute appear in Conflict of Honors, and the shrewd dea'Gauss line provides council to Korval across the series. In most books — but not all — we see Tree, yos'Pheliums, yos'Galans, and a cast of loyal felines. On the second read, I enjoyed young Tor An yos'Galan. I sympathized with and liked him. (In the first read, he made little impression on my overwhelmed mind). I liked every scene with Jela, Cantra, and Tree together. They have a mission, outlined to them by Rool Tiazan and his Lady at the end of book one, Crystal Soldier: "You, the pilot, and the ssussdriad will proceed to the world Landomist. You will recover Liad dea'Syl's equations which describe the recrystalization exclusion function and use them in the best interests of life." But — ugh! — unknown terminology set this book off to a horrible start, and went on too long!! For example, this sentence has three unknown words: "But knowing that each zaliata contained within the aetherium had striven, flame to ice, against one of the Iloheen — that knowledge excited a brilliant emotion in her ..." Why did the authors suddenly rename the shereikas "the Iloheen" with no word to this poor reader?? Nor did I comprehend "zaliata" or "aetherium" or even who "her" was — there was no referential name given for the pronoun. (and this is only ONE of DOZENS of obscured sentences.) There is a dictionary at the end of the e-book omnibus, Crystal Variation. However, I didn't find it till I finished all three stories (!!!) because there is no table of contents. Grrr.It could have been shorter. Cantra — a golden dragon in Tree-pictures — spent so much time in the ivory tower of academia. It became boring, but I sensed the authors had fun creating that setting, rife with cut-throat competition, professional jealousies, and neurotic insecurities, taken to the point of violence.Now the stage is set. The rest of the series reflects events and characters from this book. Here is the scoop, with BIG SPOILERS:(view spoiler)[ We learn how Clan Korval got its name, and how Captain Jela gave his all to preserve the last best hope for life, in the end bequeathing his ship (I liked his crew) to Cantra. So sad when he died. So sad. His big warship is renamed Quick Passage, zooming from Solcintra to a newly discovered planet, named Liad after the scholar who did the math (Scholar Liad dea'Syl). The new city port is named Solcintra. We learn how captain Cantra yos'Phelium and her co-pilot Tor An yos'Galen came to become the leaders of Clan Korval. (I expect some problems in future from the snooty, entitled Great House coalition, by the way — and indeed, that does eventually occur). I liked how Cantra invited Dea'Gauss to become the Clan Korval attorney, in the face of the Great House snots. Also, we learn how various shereika-made wizardly beings (the dramliz) come aboard to the new world, including Rool Taizen and the red-headed gambler. We meet Lucky the cat. These authors like cats, apparently. They show up in every book, I think.We see Tree display its power several times, in varied ways. We learn how Jela managed to impregnate Cantra, despite his lack of sperm and her closed circuits, setting the stage for future books, with Jela and Cantra's descendants. (Later, I learned Cantra named their son Val Con.) (hide spoiler)]
(Reviewed together with Crystal Dragon.)I read these two books back to back and they easily combine to form one large story. I’ll review them together. These books (the “Migration Duology”) form an origin story to the entire Liaden Universe. They literally explain how the universe came into being.The story starts in the misty depths of history when a group of humans began genetically modifying themselves. They continually modified themselves until they no longer remotely resembled humanity or considered themselves human. These “Sheriekas” then decided to cleanse the universe of every less perfect being, destroying entire star systems as they went.Humanity fought back, though generally not very successfully. The novels focus on two characters: M Jela Granthor’s Guard and Cantra Yos Phelium. They become reluctant partners and eventual lovers. Together with a sentient, telepathic Tree (possibly the best part of the story) and the dramliza (escaped creations of the Sheriekas), they fight a desperate rear guard action. They eventually succeed in creating an entirely new universe for humanity to escape to, one where the Sheriekas can’t reach them.These books were okay but I didn’t feel like they really fit in with the rest of the Liaden Universe novels. I had a hard time caring about a war that occurred thousands of years before the rest of the series—and that was fought in a completely separate universe.I kept thinking “so what?” and wondering what impact all of this really had on the rest of the series. (It seemed like a tale that would be an interesting origin myth for Clan Korval but not something that would affect ongoing events in the new universe.) Additionally, the plot events and relationships reminded me a lot of events and characters in both Conflict of Honors and Agent of Change.The novels were fun but seemed both somewhat pointless and somewhat of a retread of earlier novels. I think they’re good to read if you’re really interested in the origin of some of the recurring themes of the series. I wouldn’t start reading the series with these novels though.
What do You think about Crystal Dragon (The Great Migration Duology, #2) (2006)?
There are almost two distinct parts to this book - rescuing the mathematician, then everything that follows. The first part, while important to the story and the characterisation was for me far too slow. Probably because the story effectively became about different characters, one of which I really didn't like (I think that's the point, but it still makes the reading a bit of a slog). The second part moves at a much faster pace. At times, there are characters that kind of make cameos. I'm sure they are important in the future, and maybe because I'm coming into this series at the beginning, they'll make more sense, the more I read. The dialogue at times is confusing, and at time annoying. For me it often jolted me out of the story - yes it showed they were 'alien', but it often detracted from the flow, and was unnecessary.Overall, not as good as Crystal Soldier, though still an enjoyable space opera.
—Nicole Cadet
I don't usually have a problem entering a state of suspended disbelief in order to enjoy a science fiction or fantasy book ... but this one broke me a bit. (minor spoiler)You are expected to believe the following two things at the same time:1. The characters are advanced mathematicians attending the Harvard of the Liaden Universe.2. The validity of their mathematical proofs are determined by knife fight in an arena.In another universe this might be OK, or even entertaining, but I can't quite deal with it in this one. It is also rather important to the story, making it hard to forget or ignore.
—Neil
Re-read, August 2013This book has so much information about the sheriekas and the founding of the LIaden Universe that a fan of the series really must read it. However, it can confusing and heavy going so I wouldn't recommend it until they've read the Agent of Change series. I got even more out of it this third time through. February 25, 2012Can't believe I missed so much the first time. November 2009 4.5/5; 5 stars; AI loved this book. I wouldn't recommend reading it without reading Crystal Soldier 1st though because there is alot of info to try and make sense of. I really enjoyed learning the history of Liad and I think anyone who reads the other parts of the series would get more out of it if they read this duology.
—Laura (Kyahgirl)
