Star Wars Episode I The Phantom Menace

Title: Star Wars Episode I The Phantom Menace
Author: Terry Brooks
Pages: 324
Recommended Ages: 10 to Adult
Rating: 3 Brads

     Terry Books took on a very difficult challenge by agreeing to write this book.  As a major motion picture and major motion series, writing the movie into a book is something fans are going to scrutinize with a fine tooth comb.  As a avid fan of Star Wars, I am no different.  That being said, Brooks didn't do to bad of a job.
     The Phantom Menace followed the movie plot about as close as one could hope which was a relief to see.  All to often movies and books don't match and that's just sad.  Brooks did take the liberty of adding a few things here and there, changing some minor things there and here, and leaving out a small part once in a while.  Now I know he didn't just do this on his own and he had the approval of George Lucas to do so, but still as a fan, it was something not expected.  I think Brooks could have done a little better with describing his scenes in the books, but I also know this book is geared to a younger age group too.  So putting that all together I rate this middle of the road.  Younger readers will probably find it more entertaining than older readers just on that alone.
     So about the book.  If you have no idea what this book is about then I have to ask, what rock you have been living under for the last decade or so. We start off the book with a 9 year old boy doing something that no human before him as ever been recorded doing, racing pods.  Think NASCAR only without rules, and 100 times more dangerous.  Anakin is racing for his owner.  Remember this 9 year old, we'll come back to him in a bit.....Soon we find ourselves in outer space ready to join two Jedi as they are on their way to settle a trade dispute.  Upon arrival, as all good books, things don't go right and we go from solving issues to a war on a planted by a droid Army. Making an escape the queen of the people, who is elected, goes to get the galactic assembly to step in and safe her people.
     This is where that 9 year old comes back into play. As the ship has to detour to make emergency repairs. Meeting the boy, and using him to race to get the parts needed to fix the ship, things move fast.
     What happens from there is up to you and the book to find out.  Although I rate this 3 Brads I would recommend any fan of Star Wars to read The Phantom Menace and all the books in the main story line. You can find the book here: