Rating: 
Summary: Nice kid's book, but what is there for me?
Review: So much potential...wasted. Del Rey's other Star Wars books are excellent, and Terry Brooks appears to be an established Science Fiction writer. Therefore, I had high hopes for this book. I was highly dissapointed when I read this dull adaptation. It doesn't even cover the movie adequately so much as add to it. The descriptions are flat, and there is little insight into the characters. The blandness and overall lack of pages suggests to me "young adult novel." This is yet another attempt at getting a "younger" auidence that Lucas has been ruining episode one trying to do (Jar Jar -- need I say more?). I find it ironic that they think they need to dumb things down in order to appeal to young people since when I 13 I was reading the excellent Timothy Zahn trilogy. Maybe they should have gotten him to write this book. It would have been three times as long and would have actually fleshed out the movie. If anyone could have added to these characters it would have been him since he has added so much to the Star Wars universe in the past.
Rating: 
Summary: Almost as good as the movie
Review: If you've seen THE PHANTOM MENACE(and who hasn't!) and you read this book before you see the movie than you may be dissapointed when you see it. Not that it's a bad movie just that the book adds soooo much more that you may wonder where it is when you see the film. Even though this is a great book I would definately recommend seeing the movie first just so you could visualize while you read. In conclusion, if you want to know a larger story on THE PHANTOM MENACE read this book but if you don't care about anything STAR WARS unless it's in the movies than don't bother with this or any other of the great STAR WARS novels , but you will regret it.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome details!
Review: Forget the Scholastic TPM version by Patricia C. Wrede - this one is so in-depth, it's better than the movie. It was a great read, and even after I finished it, I kept on rereading chapters. It's awesome!
Rating:
Summary: WELL DONE!
Review: I love this book! It covers everthing in the movie and so much more. It is more descriptive than the movie. And makes the movie better when you see it because you know more of Anikin's backround. It really fills in the gaps left out in the movie and Darth Maul doesn't say much but he says more then the "yes master" in the movie. The author does well describing the events so you get more of a feel of the settings even more than in the movie. Well Done!
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting Read IF You Are A Fan Of The Movie
Review: This book was based on the screenplay and does contain some scenes that were cut from the film. I found it very interesting to be able to read about the characters thoughts and explore the motives and relationships. I think it is a good compliment to the movie, by fleshing out and giving more depth to the story and characters. However the book lacks a lot in the way of settings and descriptions. If I did not have the movie visuals to draw upon while reading, I would have found the book boring. I recommend you see the movie, then read the book, then see the movie again. That way you get the best of all worlds. You get the visuals and sounds needed to supplement the book, and then you get to see the movie with the knowledge of what is going on behind the scenes, and in the character's thoughts. If you are a fan, then by all means read it! If you are looking for a good Sci-fi read, the I suggest you choose another book.
Rating:
Summary: Impressive. Most Impressive.
Review: All I can say is WOW! It was great. I liked the extra 2 chapters on how Anakin smashed his pod before the big race and when he met the pilot. I just wish it was easier to read the Gungan dialouge.
Rating:
Summary: Better than the movie!
Review: Aside from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace's dazzling special effects, the novel is better than the film. More of Anakin's life as a slave is covered, which gives the whole plot more depth. Terry Brooks is an excellent writer, whether he's writing the details of a battle, or what's going through the head of a Gungan. If you're a die-hard Star Wars fan like myself, I strongly reccomend this book. May the Force be With You!
Rating:
Summary: Interesting perspectives, but boring writing!
Review: I enjoyed the movie and was really looking forward to reading the book after all the good reviews it got. Although it was interesting to get a perspective of the inner thoughts of the characters (which, I believe were pretty close to Lucas' intent), I found the author's use of prose to be very distracting. Several times during each chapter, the author uses the term "wheeled" or "wheeling" to describe a character "turning around" or "leaving the room." Toward the end of the book, his descriptions of the action got very tedious.
Rating:
Summary: The book's sole purpose
Review: This is an exellent bbok it's very well written. Even though though I had already seen the movie and knew what would happen the good writing made me want to read it. Just in case you dont now the point of th book (and the movie for that matter)here it is. The emperor's name was Emperor Palpatine. Does that name sound familiar to you ? It should. It's the name of a nice good Senator of Nabbo. The one who convinced Amidala that the Chancellor Vallorum was no ggod and got her to ask for a no confidance vote so that HE could become the high chancellor. Remember when Darth Sidious told Darth Maul that he would keep things in the senate as they are? Well that means that the Senator and Sidious are the same perdone. Did you notice where the two Darths were talking - on coruscant! Who else would be able to hide is presence from Yoda besides the emperor. There you have it. the whole purpose.This trilogy is merely setting the stages for the next trilogy. Senator Palpatine is gaining power so that some day he can declare himself emperor.
Rating: 
Summary: Fleshes Out The Film Nicely
Review: A day after seeing the film Star Wars The Phantom Menace, I ran to the store and picked up this novel. I loved the storyline that George Lucas was developing in the film, and figured the novel would have an even better one.To my surprise it was different. Where I came home from the film feeling that the movie was mainly about politics and how the Star Wars senate works (with some interesting twists...don't want to spoil it of course!), this novel really developed the characters of Anakin Skywalker and Queen Amidala. Anakin, to me, was a virtual non factor in the film aside from two major scenes, pretty well stole this book. The story on Tatooine lasts practically through three quarters of the novel, unlike the short amount of time in the film. Also the relationship between Anakin and Amidala is explained in detail here. It fleshes out the movie. It's too bad they couldn't make the movie at least one more hour long so they could have fleshed it out as well as this novel. One thing strange in the novel is Dark Siddeous' identity. In the film it is pretty obvious, you can see the faces, in the novel, it is never explained. You can't tell who he is. I suppose we will leave that to the next Star Wars adaptation to do! Overall a good read if you liked the way the story developed in the film. I am a slow reader, but it only took me a long night to finish.
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