Rating: 
Summary: I am still waiting to be surprised!
Review: The first half of this book is top-notch. It is on a par with 'A new Hope' despite none. The two days it took me to get there will be unforgettable. I wish I could say the same from the second part. I do not believe Mr. Brooks is at fault. His writing is impeccable despite the fact that it is a "Star Wars" movie he is writing about. After all, he is basing this book on the film's screenplay. I have read the movie's reviews but I have not yet seen it. Speaking for the book, I believe Mr. Lucas should have reviewed the story a little further. What I mean is that you get the sense that the book is running out of pages and there are still many things left uncovered. In the end too much is resolved too quickly and the after taste is not exactly what you expected. I guess what I am trying to say is Star Wars is about people who find themselves in situations of epic proportions. You will find nothing of that here. * Kudos for the lightsaber duel between the Jedi's and Mr. Maul. * Kudos for Anakin's relation with Padmé. (I was actually wanting to fall in love again - and I am getting married in 4 months!) * Thanks to Mr. Lucas for the scene were Anakin leaves his mother, I was crying my eyes out. * Don't be surprised as how the good guys defeat the Trade Federation, it is not of Star Wars caliber. * Why the heck did the most anticipated character in the entire saga gets so little time? -Please don't kill the cool guys in the future! * And finally, who the heck wrote that the last sentence of the book would be very surprising? He should be banned from this site for defamation.Mr. Lucas wrote the original Star Wars three times. And I am glad he did because the first one was very cheese (I read it!). I hope that for Episode II he follows his own example and give us some real Rebellion attitude. See u in three years!
Rating: 
Summary: Best Star Wars Novelization & A Good Move For Brooks
Review: Terry Brooks was an inspired choice for this novelization. Although he can be dull, he is capable of penning good old fashion adventure stories. Coming off his own recent [and excellent] Prequel saga [First King of Shannara]Brooks has a canny understanding of how to present this material. My 1 big complaint is the lack of background information - but I can't blame Brooks for this, since Lucas had "final cut" of the book and total veto power. I hope that this crossover gets people to read George Lucas's inspired "Shadow War Chronicles" written with Chris Claremont.
Rating:
Summary: It's a great movie-companion, but not a great book.
Review: On the plus side, the book describes the action and events wonderfully, and paints great pictures of costumes and architectures. The book gives details about the nature of the force and the history of the Republic that are not available in the movie.
On the negative side, the dialog is trite, the characters are unbelievable, and the emotions seem painted on only as a way to advance the plot.
All in all, the book was mediocre as a Star Wars book, but is still indispensible to those wanting deeper insight into the events of the movie.
Rating: 
Summary: Great book!!! Can't wait for the next one!!!
Review: When I first got this book, I kind of wanted to wait for the movie. But I decided to read it anyway and I'm glad I did. I couldn't put it down!! I read the book in 4 days, which is the fastest I've ever read a book. I am a Star Wars fan and loved the book. Terry Brooks did a great job writing the adaptation and George Lucas did a wonderful job writing Episode 1. For all you people who hated it you obviously aren't a Star Wars fan, didn't read the book carefully, or expected too much. Lucas couldn't put the whole story in the book because he wouldn't have enough stuff to put in the next 2 films. And if you think Terry Brooks did a bad job, I want to see you write a better adaptation of a screenplay. Brooks did a great job. He gave you the inner feelings of the characters that the movie can't give you. I hope he writes the Episode 2 adaptation. As I was reading it, I kind of didn't want to finish it because then I would want to go out and buy the Episode 2 book. I can't wait for the next one!! Even though I know how Episode 1 ends, I still can't wait to see the movie. If you can't wait for the movie, go out and buy the book. If you want to wait until you see the movie and then read the book, that's fine. You'll probably find out more things if you do that. I'm probably gonna read it again. And after I see the movie, I'll probably read it again! I wanted to give this book 4 1/2 stars. But since I can only give it 4 or 5 stars, I'll give it 5. Best Star Wars book I've read so far.
Rating:
Summary: Middle is great, beginning and ending stink
Review: The second sentence is the single worst piece of writing I've ever read, and the beginning and end, as action-packed as they are, sound pretty boring as written. The middle is great, as are all the segments following Anakin (even at the beginning and ending). It seems like Anakin took up most of the author's skill, if not most of the attention. This makes the book very disjointed, so that even Jedi and Sith Lords seem pretty bland. You can't blame Terry Brooks, he had to roll this book out a.s.a.p. before the movies came out based on just a few viewings of the movie or readings of the script (maybe only one viewing or reading?), but even so, such an acclaimed author could have come up with something more smooth and scintillating.
Rating:
Summary: Reads just like a movie
Review: If you are looking for an in depth novel with complex characters and situations, then this is not the book for you. In a nutshell The Phantom Menace is just as deep as any number of sci-fi flicks, but if you are a star wars fan then that fact will not bother you. Filled with fun, fast action and interesting history of familiar stars wars characters this novel will give hours of entertainment to fans of the series.
Rating:
Summary: I think the movie will be better...
Review: I did like this book but I think it missed something. I have seen all the Star Wars Movies more times than I can count. I love Star Wars but I don't know about this one. I'm unsure how it will apeal to others. It does give a good back story and it reveals much. I think it will be enjoyable but I think the first ones are probably going to still and always be the best ones.
Rating:
Summary: Spectacular
Review: This novel is simply awe-inspiring. Deftly written, purely evocative, absolutely unforgettable. Reading this novel is like a dream realized. It is inspiring and fantastic, jumpstarting the imagination, and leaving you breathless. Not to slight the film, as I've yet to see it, but it's highly possible the book may surpass the movie. It is, indeed, that good.
Rating:
Summary: Lack of character development prevents a five star rating
Review: Many of us have waited a long time for this installment of the Star Wars Saga. My expectancy for this book and the movie may have been too high to judge Mr. Brooks' work fairly. However, positive aspects of the book did include a variety of environments that the characters are challenged. Space, desert, swamp, and underwater "scenes" give the characters a chance to show off their talents. The characters are also appealing in the sense that we know who the good guys and the bad guys definitely are. On the flip side however, we do not have enough information as to why. The reader is left to assume that the good guys are good guys because they are simply good and the bad guys are just, well, bad. Their is no elaboration of what drove the characters down their given path. This may have been difficult to establish in one book, but explanations of a character's driving force helps the reader identify with them. One character in particular, Darth Maul, had excellent potential to be one of those villains you love to hate, but he is simply there in the story to be someone the Jedi can clash lightsabers with. Terry Brooks' work is more of an appetizer to the upcoming movie and should be treated as such. If it wasn't backed up by the Star Wars movie, I doubt it would last long on the bookshelves
Rating: 
Summary: Sorry to those who loved it, but...
Review: Personally, I feel that the book was insufficient reading. a) I was adamently (sp?) hoping for a "Knight of the Word", "Magic Kingdom of Landover" or even another "Shannara" which was getting stale. b) While it won't stop me from watching to movie, oh no far from it, the story must have lost something. As is always the case, the original is ALWAYS better.
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