Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (#1)

By Terry Brooks

To clear up any confusion, I am reviewing the BOOK, not the movie. I just couldn't bring myself to watch it again. The pain, oh the pain. But anyway.

THE SHORT

This novel bursts onto the page with the explosive description of the Podrace, where a desperate Anakin Skywalker smashes out. With all the energy he can muster, Brooks manages to fill the pages with life and action, successfully redeeming the epic failure that was the movie. He couldn't quite get rid of Jar Jar Binks, however, because the irritating Gungan stills shows up to put a thorn in your side. All the mystery of the invasion is preserved by Brooks' masterful writing, and he somehow cuts away all the boring Senate talks and keeps the ones that matter, Palpatine's sudden rise to power and his machinations being to fruit. Darth Maul gets more lines in the book, and this increases the menace of the horned Dathomiri. The pages of this book are filled with action and tenseness, although nobody can quite get around Lucas' Binks. All in all, this was a fun read. Not a great plot, but for a movie adaptation, it certainly lives up to the expectation of Star Wars. Maybe Brooks should have written the screenplay.

THE REVIEW

The main character of this novel seems, this time around, to be Obi-Wan Kenobi. He certainly appears for most of the book, while Anakin only appears for bits of the first half and then on for the second half. Qui-Gon dies in the end, and one feels that the Jedi Master isn't the focus of the book. Obi-Wan demonstrates his annoyance with Qui-Gon when the latter keeps Binks and Skywalker, and he is eventually the one who defeats Darth Maul. Obi-Wan changes throughout the course of the book, first from an insolent Padawan who doesn't listen to his master, then at the end to a battle-worn Jedi Knight who has seen death in the eye and faced it. The character development, however, isn't so explored by Brooks, who perhaps has other things on his mind. The development is still there, but it is still subtle. Obi-Wan is the definitive Jedi, one who will fight the dark side and never give in, strong in the light side of the Force.

Unlike Anakin. Already, Anakin shows his emotions and his inability to control his emotions to obtain the serenity required for a real Jedi when he leaves his mother. Crying, he refuses, but the separation is necessary. Then again, he shows fright and indecision during the battle of Naboo where he should never have BEEN! Podracing is really all Anakin does in this movie, podrace and cry. His blowing up the Trade Federation is more of Lucasian plot device than a test of skills and the Force as it was in A New Hope. It was pure luck, and he didn't even know what he was doing! At least Luke was an established pilot at 19. Anakin is a dumb, lucky 9 year old who thinks flying in space is the same as podracing!

Darth Maul, is, despite Brooks' best efforts, still underdeveloped for the main villain of the story. It can't be the cowardly Nute Gunray and Rune Haako, and Darth Sidious technically is just a hologram telling them what to do. The final confrontation with Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan is excellently described and gives a lot to the imagination, lending Brooks' fantasy writing skills to the deadly whirling lightsabers. The menace is strong with Maul, just sadly not visible.

One of the main themes in this book is the idea of Fate. Anakin dreamt of becoming a Jedi, and in the end he did. But look at the extraordinary set of circumstances required for him to meet Qui-Gon: First, the battle droids had to hit the hyperdrive on the Nubian. Then, Qui-Gon had to decide to land on Tatooine, and coincidentally near MOS ESPA!! And then, Qui-Gon had to visit Watto, Jar Jar had to eat the frog, Anakin had to come in and save Jar Jar, a sandstorm had to come, and then ONLY could Qui-Gon meet Anakin! The probability of this happening is infinitely small! But then, maybe it enhances the idea of Fate. Perhaps it's called the Force. Or maybe just pure coincidence. Qui-Gon wants us to believe that it's the Force, while Brooks' calls it Fate. Maybe there's a destiny out there for us, giving us hope. Perhaps that's what this book brought us.

I really shouldn't be discussing the plot here, but it's an integral part of this book, and so I will. While the plot may seem a bit difficult at times to understand, just remember this is all in the world of Star Wars. The plot may shift from Naboo to Tatooine, and back to Naboo, but in the second half it starts to straighten out. Darth Sidious sends Maul to Naboo, and everyone arrives back in time for the final war. The plot is logical and leads from one area to another, and Brooks even adds in a few parts that weren't in the movie but link up to Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. Full of action, the plot makes energy its main priority, but in doing so foregoes some of the emotions of the humans and aliens in the movie. It might move too fast, shuffling between planets, between the Trade Federation and Mos Espa, and in the end, Brooks has to keep things moving, and as such the depth of humanity in the aliens, or whether they can feel them is not explored, and even the humans seem like plot devices at some point or another.

But yet again, this is a science-fiction novel, and Star Wars is known for its action scenes. This isn't a philosophy thesis (Though it does sound interesting: Do the aliens in Star Wars have human feelings?). The plot is enough to sustain us with its action scenes, and let's admit it, that's all we want from a Star Wars book. In conclusion, the plot is really shifty at times, but it lives up to expectations, delivers the main parts of the movie, and yet includes new bits, all evidence of a fine book.

Some editions, have a special short story by James Luceno tacked on to the end. The title is Darth Maul: Endgame, and while I shall not be reviewing it here, I can certainly say that the short story is enjoyable and makes for a good 10 minutes reading, going deeper into one of the most poorly developed characters of all time, by what some consider to be one of the best at writing Star Wars books.

All in all, Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace was an enjoyable read, and for those seeking an apology from Lucas for the movie, they may well find it in Terry Brooks' novel.

Rating: 8.4/10

Advice: An excellent companion to the movie, and a must-read for all Star Wars fans.

I still remember the boredom of the movie, and I'm still trying to wipe it from my memory. Anyhow, I really enjoyed this book. Really, really, really enjoyed it. I think fantasy authors might do just as well in science-fiction too. Or maybe that's just one of the talents of Terry Brooks.

Next week: Katniss Everdeen finds herself trapped in a deadly arena where kids fight to the death in Suzanne Collin's dystopic novel, The Hunger Games.