Rating: 
Summary: "Clouded This Boy's Future Remains..."
Review: Terry Brook's most famous contribution to bookstores is his "Shannara" series, which I personally found a bit too close to the Tolkien formula to find particularly interesting, much preferring his more original "Running With the Demon" saga. But in novelizing George Lucas's screenplay "The Phantom Menace", Brooks has found the perfect arena to instigate his clear, graceful style of writing. It seems pointless in relating the plot, since I can't imagine anyone reading this book who isn't a Star Wars fan and hasn't already seen the movie (perhaps several times), but just in case, "The Phantom Menace" begins the Star Wars saga against a backdrop of political manouvering. The planet of Naboo has been invaded by the greedy Trade Federation, but Queen Amidala is able to reach the Republic and its Senate under the protection of two Jedi: Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi in order to seek aid for her home planet. On route to the Republic's base in Coruscant however, the company must make a stop on the desert-planet Tatooine, where they meet with Anakin Skywalker, a young slave with enigmatic origins, the makings of a great Jedi, and an uncertain future. This fateful meeting sows the seeds of all that is to pass... As mentioned, Terry Brook's style is perfect in order to present the sometimes-complicated subject matter clearly and concisely. Whilst watching the movie for the first time I was often confused at the fast-paced unfolding of events that occured, but on reading Brook's narrative the screenplay became clearer. Likewise, his depictions of the characters are very true to what unfolded on the screen and we can finally get a look inside their heads and see what truly makes them tick. This is especially true of Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan and Brook's commentary on their opposition concerning their interpretations of the Force: Qui-Gon is more attuned to the "living-Force" that stresses the importance of each individual, whilst Obi-Wan holds to the "unifying-Force", that tends to look at the bigger picture. It is the two Jedi that benefit the most from Brook's narrative and thus come across as the main protagonists. Unfortunately, Anakin does not fare quite as well, with many similar sections of character insight devoted to boyhood dreaming, and Brooks seemed so determined to keep Amidala's true identity a secret that we never get inside her head at all. Throughout, Brooks takes the opportunity to add little scenes that weren't on the big screen: either intended and deleted scenes, or from the author's own imagination, it doesn't matter, as they serve to flesh out the story a bit more and slow the pace. Thus the story opens with Anakin in the desert and continues adding little scenes of his life before he meets Qui-Gon (otherwise the reader would not have come across him until chapter nine). One particularly evocative scene that bears more weight after watching Episode II involves Anakin helping an injured Tuskan raider. Recalling Anakin's later involvement with this species in the following movie leads me to believe that Brooks may have had knowledge Lucas's entire story, and so it pays to watch out for other bits of foreshadowing that Brooks sprinkles throughout, such as: Anakin's dream of Padme leading an army, Yoda's doubt at Obi-Wan's ability to properly train Anakin, and a secret smile on a politician that hints he may have a secret adjenda going on *cough*Palpatine*cough*. Brook's descriptions of scenery, machinery and characters are beautifully done, and since only example can convince you, take a read of: Qui-Gon - "a tall, powerfully built man with prominent, leonine features. His beard and mustache were close cropped and his hair was worn long and tied back." Or of the Jedi Council room: "The room was circular and domed, supported by graceful pillars spaced between broad windows open to the city and the light." See what I mean? It is all very brief, but clearly and simply told. The only weak areas are the action sequences, but whether it's Lucas Jedi matches or Rowling Quidditch games, such things will always be more exciting to watch than to read, and I must confess I skipped over the pages concerning the Pod-Race. Though it's hardly essential reading, Terry Brook's adaptation is an excellent literary version of the movie, that keeps in the spirit of the Star Wars saga, whilst adding little touches of its own. If you were confused by some of the drama on the screen, this will sort you out, and for veterans there's enough originality to keep you interested: the history of the Sith, the background of the main characters and a look into the workings of the Force that suggest it is more complex than simply a Light and Dark Side.
Rating:
Summary: A lifeless rendering of the book by a talented author
Review: The new Star Wars movie had the potential to rival the original trilogy, but just about everything felt forced. The drama felt forced, and so did the comedy. It was more an exercise in world-building than storytelling, and if Lucas can get his act together by Episode II, this will be easier to forgive. None of this is Terry Brooks's fault, of course, but I would have expected him to recapture the movie's visual magic in the book's prose, which he does not. I think Lucas could have chosen an author more skilled at visual description, like Ray Bradbury or Alan Dean Foster. To add on to that, the movie's funniest moments come off pretty flat on the printed page. That may not be Brooks's fault either, but humor has never been one of his strong points as an author. What makes this novelization worth reading is the detail it adds to the movie's narrative. Well, most of the detail. The first couple of chapters, detailing Anakin's history as a pod racer, are boring as can be. I'd almost suggest just skipping that first section. But most of the additions only lend clarity and depth to the story. Just a couple of examples: We get to see Anakin's evil foreshadowed when he beats up a kid who accuses him of cheating. We also get to see his ability to predict the future when he tells Padme he's going to marry her. Both of these scenes should have been in the movie, in my opinion. From what I understand, however, Lucas was the one who conceived of these scenes, so I'm not so sure that Brooks deserves credit for the way they improve the story. The much briefer "Queen Amidala's Journal" does a much better job of bringing the characters to life. Brooks does give us more details about the characters than we were given in the movie, but he has a similar weakness to Lucas in that he often states motivations, emotions, and temperaments without showing them through a character's actions. If Obi Wan is a "headstrong young apprentice," we just have to take Lucas' and Brooks's word for it. This is unfortunate, because people who have never read Brooks before might incorrectly assume that he's a mediocre writer. Under Lucas' constraints, Brooks has no chance to show his talents as a storyteller. I encourage anyone who was less than impressed by this novelization to go back and read "The Sword of Shannara," the novel which made Brooks famous. You should be pleasantly surprised, like I was.
Rating: 
Summary: "Kamylla" formerly of World Trade Center NYC
Review: There is no doubt that Terry Brooks is a talented, intelligent writer to give him less stars than 4 would demean his standing in the best of the STAR WARS writers. Any STAR WARS fan would do himself/herself a disfavor by not adding this book to his/her collection. The "plot" and its characters engage and complement each other's purpose. Although I still favor the "Trilogy, Episode 4/5/6", it is without doubt good to be "educated" about the background leading up to Anakin's growth and fathering two Jedi - Leia and Luke. However, one negative about Terry Brooks - his rude website staff leaves nothing to be desired - not even one "star"; a blooper gong would be more like it. Even the scifi and forcenet site staff (though very nice) have been instructed that if any books get sent to Terry Brooks for autograph, he will immediately dispose of them in the "trash", never mind that a person offers to pay the return postage for the package mailed to him, and never mind that the fan collecting the books for pleasure and no other gain cannot physically "get" to Terry Brooks STAR WARS signing. Who is he to set himself above all other STAR WAR authors, who are cooperative, kind, helpful, friendly, and REALLY appreciate their fans. Terry Brooks does an injustice to the Lucas Film family image in his negativity, passed on to his website staff.
Rating:
Summary: I Spake! therefore I am. 3.5 stars.
Review: This is a review of the unabridged audio book. Alexander Adams is doing much of the reading for the prequel books and does a great job. If you love SW and drive a lot like me, then you'll want to purchase this audio book. Like most people, I grimace at the mention of terms like "chosen one" and "medichlorians". By itself, this was an incomplete and partially unsatisfying movie. But when one reads the books that surround the events in TPM then revisits TPM one developes a greater appreciation of this book and movie. The book has a few things that fill in details left out of the movie, so I strongly recommend reading the book to fans of the movie.
Rating:
Summary: A perfectly adequate novelization of the film
Review: With the theatrical release of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith only months away, it seems like a good time to begin preparing myself for the new film. While I did not judge Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace as harshly as many Star Wars fans did, there can be no doubt that the film paled in comparison to the force of the original trilogy. Even as a six-year old child, everything about the first Star Wars film in 1977 seemed seared into my memory, and it somewhat saddens me to know that the children of this generation, after seeing The Phantom Menace for the first time, will never know the power and obsessive joy that the original Star Wars trilogy invoked in the children of my generation. Frankly, after two viewings of Star Wars Episode One: The Phantom Menace a few years ago, only bits and pieces resonate in my memory, and I really do need to review the people and events of this film (as well as Episode Two: Attack of the Clones) before I feel ready to see Episode Three.
The powers that be certainly found an illustrious author to transform George Lucas' screenplay and story into novelized form. I've been a fan of Terry Brooks ever since reading The Sword of Shannara as a child, and Brooks has done a thoroughly professional job with this novel. Everything that happened in the film is described with great discernment, the furious action of intense scenes such as the battle between Qui-Gon Jinn and Darth Maul is vividly rendered, the moments of light humor are translated expertly to the page, and the emotional aspects of the plot, especially those concerning Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amidala, are drawn in tender yet meaningful strokes. This is truly a commendable and faithful novelization of the film.
Unfortunately, the problems of Lucas' story are also faithfully captured in this novelized retelling. These characters just do not fire the imagination in the way Luke, Han, Leia, and Darth Vader did. I consider only two of these characters to be truly strong ones: Anakin and Padme, and unfortunately, events of the future serve to diminish them in different ways. I love Padme, though, and she is every bit the future mother of Luke and Leia, a queen and a fighter who will risk anything for her people. That being said, I must say that Anakin (and I swear I will never get used to the future Darth Vader being referred to as "Annie") isn't everything I thought he should be. He's an extraordinary child, of course, thanks to all those midi-chlorians coursing through his blood, but I do not think his background as we learn it here provides for an acceptable future embrace of the dark side. So much is made here by the Jedi Council - and Yoda in particular - of the dangers represented by the child's anger, but I don't see such anger in a slave boy who loves his mother dearly and seems to get by pretty well indeed on his own. It may be wrong of me to criticize a story based on incongruities I see arising in a later installment, but I just don't think George Lucas (and thus, by implication, Terry Brooks) satisfactorily showed me how this dear, brave boy will soon become the exasperating young man we see in Episode Two.
The only other thing I would say about this perfectly satisfactory novelization is the fact that it really adds nothing to the film itself. Oftentimes, a novelization will add depth or better understanding to the film it is based upon, but that really isn't the case here. Questions I had about the movie (the true essence of Senator Palpatine, for example) were not threshed out in the book. In terms of refreshing my own memory of the story in preparation for the upcoming theatrical release of Revenge of the Sith, I could have saved myself some time and merely watched the film again.
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