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Cover of The Dark Crystal by A.C.H. Smith

The Dark Crystal

A.C.H. Smith, David Odell

A young outcast sets out on a perilous quest to heal a broken crystal and restore balance to his world.

First published 1982

Review Score: 88%

More about this book

The Story

Jen, the last male Gelfling, is raised in a secluded valley and sent into the wider world on a mission he does not fully understand. He must find a lost crystal shard and return it to the darkened crystal at the center of his planet, before a celestial event makes it too late.

As Jen travels across the strange world of Thra, he meets allies and enemies, including Kira, the last girl Gelfling, and contends with the Skeksis, who rule through fear and corruption. The journey mixes discovery, danger, ancient ritual, and hints of the hidden history behind the world’s imbalance.

The quest builds toward the Dark Castle and the approaching Great Conjunction, where Jen must act on what he has learned. The story emphasizes healing, sacrifice, and the fate of an entire world, while expanding the film’s mythology through added dialogue, backstory, and details about the cultures involved.

Story Profile

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