1) I think that this book is a favorite amongst quite a few people. What makes this book different from so many of the others? Is it the off-world experience? The action?
Indeed. It felt like this meeting of the Cryak and the Anis was an impeding story, everyone knew was going to happen, and that this was a 'must' read. The Anis had already been off-world before, but this book also had plenty of action and a new species in the mix.
2) We first saw Crayak in #6, when Jake's Yeerk died. Why do you think KA waited so long to re-introduce him as a character?
I think it was important to build Cryak as a character off-panel, much like the Ellimist, wrapped up in mystery. But the descriptions were so up to our imagination, that's why I think he's such a powerful character. I mean, a planetoid red-eye with metallic parts and living creatures on its surface, sounds surreal and completely fitting in the Animorphs' world.
In #6, it felt like the descriptions were ambiguous and may just have been a sideffect thing to the Yeerk having died inside Jake's head. But in this book, we are forced to flashback to that instance, and realize that Cryak had actually targetted the young Animorph then.
At this stage in the series, it was important to get a taste of what his and the Ellimist's game was.
3) What do you think about the Iskoort and their symbiotic relationship? What about their odd habits?
To be honest, the Iskoort never really struck me as an interesting species, so I don't really remember their habits and such well. The prospects of the Yeerks stumbling across this species in the future is indeed what could have been the only non-controversial positive solution to the AndaliteXYeerk war.
4) Cassie and Jake finally kiss in this book. Do you think that this is a turning point for the dynamic in their relationship? Or do things basically remain the same?
I can't actually remember if anything happens to the two post-this-kiss. The two were never exactly open in their attractions. And they didn't proceed to making the kissing thing a normal thing further on.
Did they reach a new level in their relationship through that kiss?! It honestly didn't feel like so...
5) What do you think about the Howlers? How about the way that Jake and the others finally defeated them?
It was an interesting to choice to make them seem like 'children who were being taught wrong'. The image that sticks to mind is of the Howlers trying to kiss the next species they tried to attack.
6) Why don't you think Jake ever re-uses his Howler morph?
I've always asked myself this, too. Much like the Leeran morphs, his Howler morph wasn't a thing of a timestream, like the jaguar, spider-monkey or the dinosaurs from the previous adventures. So surely he could morph so again.
Jake may well not have liked the experience to use the Howler morph again.
7) Any thoughts about Crayak and the Ellimist's roles in this book? This is when we first meet Crayak. What do you think about him??
I like the way KA immersed us in their game, for we finally get a glimpse at HOW it is they engage the rules of their games without 'engaging' in the game itself.
I think Cryak was just solidly portrayed as the equal opposite of the Ellimist.
BUT, I do tend to question through this book if Cryak is indeed as powerful as the Ellimist. Like, is all the spacial-displacement and time-travel done through the powers of the Ellimist, or does Cryak possess those same abilities, too?!
8 ) Anything else?
Ax has a very powerful moment here. Where he flees from the Howler's shriek. Feeling like a coward.
I don't actually remember why he was the only one of the group who ran away in that instance. Does the fact that Erek is a programmed robot, make him non-sentient and immune to the Howler's cry?!
And there's NO HINTS of the 'Wildcard' Drode in this story...
