When casting about for an author to novelize the script for The Phantom Menace--the first in a series of three prequels to the eternally popular Star Wars saga--it's no surprise that creator George Lucas called on Terry Brooks to novelize the biggest science fiction movie of all time. After all, Brooks is a perennially bestselling epic fantasy author whose Sword of Shannara is a classic adventure story, not far removed from the swashbuckling exploits of our favorite Star Wars heroes.

Brooks handles the job of modern mythmaker well. He deftly juggles a hodgepodge of characters: a young stately queen (Amidala) and her handmaidens; a pair of Jedi knights (Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn); a bumbling amphibious sidekick (Jar Jar Binks); two Sith Lords (Darths Maul and Sidious) who add more than enough menace to the mix; a couple of familiar robots (C-3P0 and R2-D2); a teeming host of Senators, Chancellors, diplomats, warrior droids, and spies; and one young slave boy who aspires to be a Jedi knight (Anakin Skywalker). With cinematic prose, Brooks brings to life a number of epic battles, skirmishes, and dogfights in space--all the elements that we've come to expect from a rousing Star Wars installment. The Phantom Menace doesn't stray far from those expectations: there is a clear division between the good guys and the bad; good things come in small (and surprising) packages; and heroes lose battles only to emerge victorious on another day. But Phantom does illuminate in ways the other installments didn't. For the first time, we get a glimpse at the whys and wherefores behind the curtain; at times the book reads almost like a sociopolitical thriller as the emerging Federation shuffles for power with the waning democracy of the Republic. The Force is also further illuminated. Turns out it has something to do with "midi-chlorians"--microscopic life forms that live in the cells of all creatures.

A pre-Read Thought

Many of the hundreds of reviews I've read on this book point out the flaws of the movie or express something of disappointment. The films themselves were force to squish a lot of plot-themes into a relatively short time allocation. All of the charaters have rich backgrounds, and for Lucas to pick and choose what highlights from those backgrounds he was to show in the movie was, in my opinion, a wise selection, if only for the sake of continuity and fluidity. It is not difficult to understand why Anakin was introduced so far into the movie- the story is not about him, at least not him alone. The ultimate theme is the struggle between good and evil, the balance between the light and the dark, heaven and hell- the abstract reality of the uniting of opposites- and the intimate relationship this has with the lives of the characters and the society in which their lives take place. I agree with many who say that the Star Wars saga is the myth of the technological age. I look forward to reading this novel, and the many more I have to look forward to will expand this modern myth to infinite depths. I wonder if Lucas will end up producing a follow-up trilogy to Luke's involvement?

pretty good

the best thing you can say about this book is it's better than the movie and makes the story more interesting with some added parts not in the film. if you read this you will really think that if the acting hadn't been so outstandingly poor in the prequels (anakins, padme, mace, etc.) and the story more fleshed out it really could have been great.

If only the movie had been like the book!

Terry Brooks did a lot with the story handed to him by Lucas. In fact, I'd say he did so well that he made the original story idea look pretty good. At its essence, it's a story about how a youngster with strong emotions, a particularly strong connection to the Force, and an affinity for machines is "found" and improbably added to the Jedi. This comes about largely through the work of maverick Jedi Qui-Gon Jinn, and it happens during a crisis within the Old Republic, actually manufactured by the Sith (the 'phantom menace'). Jar Jar and even Queen Amidala are thus minor characters, and don't dominate the story unduly (as they do in the movie). Brooks weights the material well. Anakin and Qui-Gon, as seen in the book, are good characters and Brooks develops them well.

Also, there are quite a few insights in the novelization that we don't see in the movie -- and so I have to disagree with reviewer Daniel Jolley. For example, Anakin's trip to the desert where he assists a wounded Tusken Raider, and the accompanying vision/nightmare he has that night (you'll have to read it). Did Lucas clue Brooks in as to the basic plot of Episode II? Also, Anakin flies off the handle and gets in a wild fight with a bigger Rodian kid who accuses him of cheating in the Boonta Eve podrace. Why? Deep down, Anakin is afraid of losing Padme, with whom he already feels a strong attachment. There are also some valuable insights as to exactly how Qui-Gon is a maverick Jedi -- to Obi-Wan's displeasure - expressing itself strongly on the flight back to Naboo. Sone good stuff here.

It's written at a good clip and Jar Jar isn't as annoying as he is in the movie. It's really not a bad story and I found myself really enjoying the characters of Anakin and Qui-Gon. That in itself made it worthwhile.