Customer Reviews

Star Wars, Episode I - The Phantom Menace (Junior Novelization)

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This was a really good summation of the movie, with enough of a look into some of the characters' thoughts to make it enjoyable. Patricia C. Wrede is a great fantasy writer (I adore her novel 'Snow White and Rose Red'), so this doesn't surprise me. She has a great feel for writing beautiful prose that is engaging for children and adults alike.

Obviously Wrede had read, or at least heard about the concept of, the two Jedi Apprentice novels, since she refers to them on pages 4 and 5 of the book. At the beginning Qui-Gon is thinking about Obi-Wan, and how they complement each other, and wondering if that was what Yoda foresaw when he "brought Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan together as Master and Padawan apprentice." (4) We also get this line from Qui-Gon's thoughts: "Obi-Wan Kenobi had great skill, no question of that, but sometimes he was so...intense." (4)

It was the insight into the thoughts of the characters that really sold me on this novel, especially the thoughts of Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Amidala and Anakin. We read of Qui-Gon groaning inwardly at Obi-Wan's "battle humor", and resigning himself to it, remarking that at least Obi-Wan showed evidence of *some* sense of humor, however dark. We discover that Qui-Gon is most disturbed by the power that the handmaiden Padme seems to have over the Queen, and he is rather curt with the individual he views as the "Queen's favorite." We learn of the despair Anakin felt when he realized he has lost everyone who ever meant anything to him.

There's a strange dialog between Padme and Anakin in this book that we don't see in the movie. When he first meets Padme in Watto's junk shop, right after he tells Jar Jar to "Hit the nose!" of the droid, he turns to Padme and calmly states that when he grows up he's going to marry her! Padme is stunned, yet feels a cold chill go through her at the boy's certainty of this.
Shiver!

We learn that after their disagreement over Anakin and the Council upon leaving Corscant, there was a coldness between Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan on the journey to Naboo. When he walks up to Qui-Gon in the swamps of Naboo to apologize, Obi-Wan is upset that he and Qui-Gon are about to go into battle with a rift between them. He spent most of his time on the journey to Naboo in the cockpit with Ric Olie and Anakin, and recognizes the boy's talents. He's still wary of Anakin, but sees his master's position. Obi-Wan was angry in the Council Chambers when Qui-Gon announced he wanted to take Anakin as his Padawan. He felt like Qui-Gon was chosing Anakin over him - like an only child becoming jealous of a new baby in the house.

Perhaps the most poignant new information from the novel is that when he is standing behind the force field watching Qui-Gon and Darth Maul fight, Obi-Wan is overcome by the sensation that everything is wrong as a cold chill runs through him. He seems to see the black figure wearing a black helmet, and knows that *he* should be the one fighting him, not Qui-Gon. He tries to shake off the feeling as he watches the battle.

All in all, this novel faithfully relayed the story, and made it more accessable to children, certainly. I found some good insights in it as well. I'd recommend this as a quick reference for the movie. It's not as detailed in dialog as the screenplay, but it certainly tells the story faithfully as a coherent whole, which I don't think you get with the screenplay (Or with the Terry Brooks adult novelization, for that matter).

It's amazing how, she started out and finished writing a "CHILDREN'S MIDDLE-GRADE novelization of the new "Star Wars" movie" and it came out better than the "Terry Brooks's "big" adult novelization".

I've been a fan of her work for a while now, she manages to write interesting books, yet keep them simple, where you can't put it down. Perhaps my overall favorites are the Enchanted Forest Chronicles, if you liked this book, be sure to read all of the EFC. Also several reviews mentioned how the battle scenes weren't described too much, well, that's how she writes, going into the story, rather than pointless facts about some 10 digit coded names of ships or droids. Also one mentioned how she didn't use "complex words", a book does not need unneccesory complications to it, will those words make the book better ? more enjoyable to read ? I can't understand these people. The whole point of the book is to enjoy the story, not judge how complex the words are and how much they can be twisted. It all comes to less is more.

Again, this wasn't aimed for general public, middle-grade levels preatty much.

Ohh and by the way, it's Mrs. Wrede.

My children have enjoyed reading this series several times.

Episode I: The Phantom Menace, the prequel to the original Star Wars Trilogy, tells of the beginning of the Sith, Dark Sidious's plan to topple the Republic and create the Dark Empire. The start of his plan begins with the Trade Federation's invasion of the small peaceful planet of Naboo, which Dark Sidious thinks will be very easy to take over, for the ruler is only a very young 14-year-old named Padme Amidala. However he is in for a surprise... When the two Jedi, Qui-Gon Jinn, and his apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi, negotiations with the Trade Federation fail and Naboo is taken over by the Trade Federation the two Jedi rescue the young queen and try to escape to Corusanct, hoping the Senate would intervene. However mechanical problems cause them to have to land on Tatooine, a remote planet controled by the Hutts who are gangsters. There the Force brings them to a young boy named Anakin, we know the eventual Darth Vadar. It is herre that Padme and Anakin first meet and we know what happens later... Qui-Gon knows there is something special about the boy and when they are finally able to leave Tatooine he takes him with him to Corusant to have him trained as a Jedi and the long saga of Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vadar begins. This was a superb beginning to what is to be 3 new movies-novels. I have always loved Patricia C. Wrede's writing style and this didn't disappoint. To see the first interactions with Anakin and Padme was just great. One not to be missed!

This book was good, especially for the young readers it was intended for. Fans older than twelve or so may feel that this book was a bit below par, and I'd definitely say that the adult's novelization was better, but really, this one is worth picking up, die hard fans or not. The two books complement one another well, and if you have the spare time I'd recommend reading both. Anyway, in this one, the characters were well fleshed out, especially Padme/Amidala and Anakin. In the movie, I found it impossible to relate to Anakin even on a remote level, but here, seen through Padme's caring, protective eyes, he seems outright adorable, and through his own, I could see him as a real person, and made the story in general more enjoyable. So, if you've seen the movie, I definitely recomend either or both of the novelazations.

Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace is a great book. I have seen the movie various times and I always have liked the book better. It is a great science ficttion read. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes SF. This book is good because Wrede paints a spectacular image in your mind. This book is great!!

Pat Wrede's novelization of The Phantom Menace is very nicely done. She added insight into the characters without bogging down the story. I hope that Lucas dumps Terry Brooks and goes with Pat Wrede for the sequel.

I liked this bok for variuos reasons, the main one was bacause it is a science-fiction novel. Science-fiction novels are my favorite type and the creatures in this book will never ever exist. I saw the movie and it was awsome, so I thought the book would be better and it was.

The best part in this book was when Qui-Gon Jinn and Odi-Wan Kenobi , his padawan fought Darth Maul. Darth Maul is a sith and the Jedi destroyed all the sith a long time ago, so they thought. Darth Maul survived the destruction and now wants to kill every jedi that lives.

The characters in this book were very descripted. Every one of the characters actions were explained with excrutiating detail. All of the settings were also explained very well. There are more than one hundred planets in this book, and every planet they land on is explained by the characters or the narrator.

Ok...This book was ok.It's true to the movie, except for minor detail.For example,in the movie , if they said"hey,theres a ship!" The book may say "look, there is a ship".This is a feeble attempt to make the book seem fresh and new after you've seen the movie.But it is a really good collectors item, especially if you get the collectors edition that comes with a print.I wasnt expecting a lot, to be honest with you, because the movie wasnt based on the book, so, in that respect, the book is pretty good.But after watching the movie 100 times over,it just doesn;t capture the feel of the mos eisley pod race, or the action of the final lightsaber duel.But, this is a pretty good book,all things considered.It has some cool stuff in it, and sticks to the movies plot.After all, if you want to know what happened elsewhere during and before E1, theres the star wars journals, and the jedi apprentice series by jude watson.This is an excellent read if you've never seen the movie, and it does a pretty good job if you have.Pick thisone up if youre a fan.

This book, with no doubt, is great! When I first got it and read it, it was wonderful. Although the book isn't perfectly accurate on the movie, it is still a really good book and it is a good one to read for intermediate readers. Patricia C. Wrede is a wonderful writer. I have read other books written by her, and they are all great. So if you don't want a really complicated version (like the one by Terry Brooks, which is totally off in accuracy), I would definitely recommend this one!