Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (Unabridged)

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Summary: A long time ago...EPISODE I
Review: If the movie is anything like the book or unabridged audio versions of the story, then the bumper sticker saying "Get in, Sit down, Shut up and Hang on!" applies. The Audiobook, and the book, leap into the story. No slow story development here! Thank you George Lucas and Terry Brooks! Come on May 19!!!!

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Summary: SW fans are obligated, good airport book for everyone else.
Review: I'm a Star Wars Fan, and couldn't resist reading the Phantom Menace. I simply don't have the willpower to wait another couple of weeks when I can have access to the story! I found it a quick and easy, entertaining read, but would have liked to see a bit more character depth and story detail.

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Summary: I was excellent! I couldn't put it down. I was so excited!
Review: IT was a well written book. I think the book will be better than the movie. I thought the battle between the Jedi and the Dark Jedi was, AHH... just read it!

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Summary: Great story, poor writing.
Review: Brooks' novelization of George Lucas's screenplay for "The Phantom Menace" is greatly disappointing: I found the writing to be uninspired, painfully banal, and unsophisticated. The book clearly is intended for readers at the junior-high-school level. While I didn't expect literature, I had hoped that the novelization would appeal to adult readers who happen also to be fans of Star Wars. I'm sorry to say that this book does not.

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Summary: BEST Star Wars Book EVER!!
Review: This book is the BEST I'm mean the BEST star Wars book ever. The story is mostly about aniken skywalker (later Darth Vader). But is the best Star Wars book I have ever read

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Summary: A Complete Waste of Time!
Review: Most likely one of the worst books ever written, about the worst story ever created. Why don't they release the Saved By the Bell Prequels? I want to know how Screech went to the Dark Side.

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Summary: Lucas's age-old story given an elementary school treatment
Review: After much anticipation for insight into Mr. Lucas's latest creation, I received this book and immediately began reading, hoping for the same excitement and visual overdose in my mind that I received while reading the two prior installments of the saga, Empire and Jedi. I was sadly disappointed. The author charged with the literary adaptation of Mr. Lucas's vision unfortunately chose a very simplified and non-vivid portrayal of the events in Episode I. Mr. Brooks plays it safe, staying away from explanations of internal drive or backstory for the new characters we meet, and chooses to merely duplicate the simplest of screenplay presentation seen in lesser adaptations I would expect from "Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves" or "The Amityille Horror II". The only character Mr. Brooks indulges us to flesh out is Anakin Skywalker, in whom the reader can truly sense his boyhood yearning to travel beyond his accursed state of slavery. His portrayal leaves me wanting to follow him in his next adventures, whether on screen or on the page. As for the other characters, Obi-Wan merely spits out one-liners, Qui-Gon appears to be a one-dimensional "nice-guy" Jedi, and Darth Maul, one of the most promising villains in the eyes of Star Wars addicts, nothing more than an afterthought. Mr. Brooks also renders the fight scenes, whether lightsaber duels or military battles, with an anticlimactic disregard, as he lacks an ability to convey the urgency of these life-or-death situations. The pod races as well are absent of any true complexity of the vehicles themselves or insight into Anakin's motley group of rivals. I love Star Wars, enjoyed reading many of the books in the Star Wars universe, and cannot wait to see the movie, but I had hoped this adaptation would have been more than an unmemorable blip in the pre-release hype.

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Summary: Typically awesome Terry Brooks writing!
Review: Star Wars makes a great epic fantasy tale on the movie screen, but it takes an author with Brooks' writing skills to translate the greatness onto paper. I gave this book five stars because Brooks was able to vividly bring what will be an amzing movie in the theaters into a readable format. What a good book!

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Summary: Awesome - the FORCE is with Terry Brooks!!
Review: There aren't very many books that translate well from a movie. However, Terry Brooks brings his tremendous Fantasy writing talents to bear on Lucas' screenplay with great effectiveness. Brooks imbues all of the characters with appropriately endearing human (and quasi-human) traits that enhance the book and the story, rather than detract from it. This 4-volume set is definitely a must have for the collector, but it is definitely one of the best examples of screenplay conversions that it has been my privilege to read....

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Summary: Great story, poor writing.
Review: I love Star Wars and am excited about The Phantom Menace; however, I was disappointed greatly by Terry Brooks' novelization of the screenplay. The narrative clearly is intended for junior-high-level readers. I didn't expect literature, but I hoped that the novelization would be appealing to adult readers who love Lucas's story.