The Phantom Menace: Star Wars: Episode I

By: Terry Brooks

Narrated by: Alexander Adams

Based on the screenplay and story by George Lucas

In barren desert lands and seedy spaceports...in vast underwater cities and in the blackest depths of space...unfolds a tale of good and evil, of myth and magic, of innocence and power. At last the saga that captured the imagination of millions turns back in time to reveal its cloaked origins - the start of a legend - the story of STAR WARS . Based on the screenplay by George Lucas, this novel by master storyteller Terry Brooks probes the depths of one of the greatest tales of our time, providing rich detail and insight into the minds and motives of the characters - and shedding bold new light on Lucas' brilliant creation.© and (P)1999 Lucasfilm LTD. & TM.

Critic reviews

“Breathless . . . filled with action from page one.”—New York Post

It's pal-puh-TEEN.

If you can get past the presence of Jar jar Binks and the narrator pronouncing Palpatine wrong every...single...time he says it, then you should thoroughly enjoy this title. Fills in some back story that was left on the cutting room floor.

Mostly more of the same, but some insights

Overall not much new here, to be expected. A few nice little insights, elaborations.

Mostly a nice nightime listening, a bedtime story trip to a Galaxy Far, Far Away. Always a good thing!

The only bad thing was that new Chapters/Sections were clipped at the beginning by half a sec or so. May not sound like a big deal but it adds up. An ..dme', ...akin, ...uscant, etc. can wind up being more than a little jarring.

[Specially when these are bedtime stories for me &, upon a *...ratist*, *...an Kenobi* or somesuch, my brain wants to snap back to attention to insert the missing syllable into the ol' databank!]

Better than the movie, but....

I loved the book. It’s a lot easier to get through than the movie. There are certain things that are even creepier between Anakin and Padmes flirting than in the movie. Anyway worth a listen to any Star Wars fan though

great for fans

great voice-acting, jar jar was funny as hell instead of annoying. provides extra insight into the characters.

Better than the movie

This book gives much more detail into characters’ thoughts and the background of the situation which enriches the experience