History Literature / CrystalSinger

The few who manage a successful symbiosis are given a wide range of advantages, including [[SuperSenses enhanced senses]], [[HealingFactor accelerated healing]], and [[LongLived a greatly increased lifespan]]. They can also leave the planet for limited periods without dying. These become Crystal Singers: an elite group of miners who venture forth on Ballybran's ranges to cut raw crystal. Strike a lucrative vein of the invaluable Black Crystal and your fortune is assured, allowing you to [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatPerks live in hedonistic luxury on any planet in the galaxy, feared and respected by all who see you]]. But even the Singers must return to Ballybran to restore their symbiont or risk dying in agony. Not to mention crystal cutting is physically exhausting, dangerous, and addictive, with the added risk that [[BrownNote the wild wind storms that sweep the ranges can drive a Singer to madness]], reducing them to a mindless husk.

** Because of the risks that come with being a Heptite Guild member, the Guild is not allowed to recruit. In fact, the entire planet is blacklisted throughout the galaxy as a Class 5 Hazard (inhospitable to life) ''unless'' the person is fully informed that in all likelihood, they may never leave Ballybran once they set foot on the planet's surface.[[note]]In a society where faster-than-light travel is a common convenience, many planets are inhabited and hospitable, and a universal social safety net provides most citizens with a comfortable basic income, it's extremely anomalous for anyone to remain on a single planet for life.[[/note]] The Heptite Guild is legally required to fully disclose the planet's dangers before anyone attempts to join the Guild, and a good number of would-be applicants quit once they learn what could happen to them in terms of death, dementia, or that they might simply be stuck on one planet doing a boring service job for the rest of their long, long lives. The upshot is that the Guild's numbers are incredibly low, most singers are either recovering from illnesses or on holiday, and they've got a ''massive'' backlog of orders they haven't been able to fill.

* AdultFear: In the third book, Lars has to watch as Killashandra slowly succumbs to dementia.
** Also in the third book, a husband and wife whose daughter is dying of an incurable degenerative disease let her join the Heptite Guild in the hope that she'll be cured, but there isn't a 100% chance and even if the symbiont works (it does), they'll never see her again.

The few who manage a successful symbiosis are given a wide range of advantages, including [[SuperSenses enhanced senses]], [[HealingFactor accelerated healing]], and [[LongLived a greatly increased lifespan]] (and they can leave the planet without dying, although only for limited periods). These become Crystal Singers: an elite group of miners who venture forth on Ballybran's ranges to cut raw crystal. Strike a lucrative vein of the invaluable Black Crystal and your fortune is assured, allowing you to [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatPerks live in hedonistic luxury on any planet in the galaxy, feared and respected by all who see you]]. But even the miners must return to Ballybran to restore their symbiont or risk dying in agony. Not to mention crystal cutting is physically exhausting, dangerous, and addictive, with the added risk that [[BrownNote the wild wind storms that sweep the ranges can drive a miner to madness]].

Killashandra Ree, her dreams of interstellar fame as a vocalist crushed, is intrigued by the prospect of wealth, fame, and respect. Making her way to Ballybran, she applies to the Heptite Guild as a Singer. With a faultless transition and a natural affinity for Black Crystal, Killa soon becomes the star of the guild, attracting the attention of the Guildmaster himself, who finds that Killa's inquisitive nature, rugged self-reliance, and gifted flair for performance combine to make her perfect for all sorts of complicated roles: diplomat, spy, and explorer.

* BiTheWay: Mirabethan of Optheria is bi. It's announced just that casually and it's never brought up again. (It's pretty significant in that it's the only direct mention that bisexuality--or indeed ''anything'' other than heterosexuality--exists in the series.)
** In ''Crystal Line'', Killashandra thinks her rookie Singer companion is "too hetero" to do anything with when the [[LoveIsInTheAir crystal song]] hits. A line that's just vague enough to suggest Killashandra is bi or that SituationalSexuality is a thing among Singers. But it's also the only time she shows anything other than hetero desires.