Star Wars, episode 1 : den usynlige fjende

My daughter is really getting into Star Wars now, and I told her we should read some of the books together. She decided she wants to read the novelizations of the films in episode order. I remember liking the novelizations when I was a kid too. Back in 1999, after being disappointed by the movie, a friend recommended this book to me because it was written by a well-regarded fantasy writer, Terry Brooks.

Then, as now, I enjoy the novel more than the movie. Maybe it's because it has time for scenes that provide greater depth to the characters and their relationships than seen on screen. Maybe because Brooks does a good job of providing the thoughts and points of views of several characters. Maybe it's because Jar Jar is so much less annoying in print. At any rate, reading a Star Wars book is fun. ( )

Ah! Den går in på djupet på ett sätt som filmen inte gör vilket är trevligt. ( )

Writing: 4.5; pretty good writing from Terry Brooks, in his first (and thus far only) Star Wars novel.
Theme: 5.0; while disrupting the trade blockade over Naboo, Jedi Knights Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi are forced to take refuge on the planet Tatooine, where they discover the strong, Force-sensitive slave boy Anakin Skywalker, all the while evading the dark Sith Lord Darth Maul, who is pursuing the escaped Queen Amidala of Naboo.
Content: 5.0; the usual violence of the Star Wars stories, but nothing is really described in detail.
Language: 5.0; nothing objectionable.

In this novelization of the film of the same name, The Phantom Menace gives a faithful adaptation of the story found on the big screen. All of the adventure experienced by Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and Padme Amidala is given here, with pretty much everything being the same as it is in the film, other than perhaps a few switching of roles or differences in dialogue found within the volume. Since I recently reviewed the film itself, I won't touch very much on the content that is in both (if you are that interested, feel free to take a look at my review of the movie). Instead I will focus on what is new and unique to the book. The biggest change here is with Anakin Skywalker and how his life is presented. Instead of being introduced to Anakin when the Jedi arrive on Tatooine, we meet him in the very first chapter, which follows him in the race that was alluded to in the film, in which Anakin's pod (actually, Watto's pod) is sabotaged and destroyed by Sebulba. We also get to follow Anakin throughout his life in a few scenes new to the saga in this volume, including Anakin's construction of C-3PO and the pair's adventure involving an injured Tusken Raider being found in the desert, and Anakin must choose whether to save him or let him die. That is really the only biggest new addition, although it is cool to get some insight into the thoughts each of these characters have, such as Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and Padme, although I feel Anakin's revealed the most new information, but Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan's do reveal quite a bit, especially in the climactic duel with Darth Maul and in the Jedi Council meetings surrounding Anakin's fate. If you're just a casual Star Wars fan, this would be one that may not interest you too much, since the same story is presented in the film. But for those who want all they can get concerning the universe, definitely check this out. There's a good bit of secrets you can learn about, especially concerning Anakin's background. ***Finished October 12, 2018*** ( )

Writing: 4.5; pretty good writing from Terry Brooks, in his first (and thus far only) Star Wars novel.
Theme: 5.0; while disrupting the trade blockade over Naboo, Jedi Knights Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi are forced to take refuge on the planet Tatooine, where they discover the strong, Force-sensitive slave boy Anakin Skywalker, all the while evading the dark Sith Lord Darth Maul, who is pursuing the escaped Queen Amidala of Naboo.
Content: 5.0; the usual violence of the Star Wars stories, but nothing is really described in detail.
Language: 5.0; nothing objectionable.

In this novelization of the film of the same name, The Phantom Menace gives a faithful adaptation of the story found on the big screen. All of the adventure experienced by Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and Padme Amidala is given here, with pretty much everything being the same as it is in the film, other than perhaps a few switching of roles or differences in dialogue found within the volume. Since I recently reviewed the film itself, I won't touch very much on the content that is in both (if you are that interested, feel free to take a look at my review of the movie). Instead I will focus on what is new and unique to the book. The biggest change here is with Anakin Skywalker and how his life is presented. Instead of being introduced to Anakin when the Jedi arrive on Tatooine, we meet him in the very first chapter, which follows him in the race that was alluded to in the film, in which Anakin's pod (actually, Watto's pod) is sabotaged and destroyed by Sebulba. We also get to follow Anakin throughout his life in a few scenes new to the saga in this volume, including Anakin's construction of C-3PO and the pair's adventure involving an injured Tusken Raider being found in the desert, and Anakin must choose whether to save him or let him die. That is really the only biggest new addition, although it is cool to get some insight into the thoughts each of these characters have, such as Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and Padme, although I feel Anakin's revealed the most new information, but Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan's do reveal quite a bit, especially in the climactic duel with Darth Maul and in the Jedi Council meetings surrounding Anakin's fate. If you're just a casual Star Wars fan, this would be one that may not interest you too much, since the same story is presented in the film. But for those who want all they can get concerning the universe, definitely check this out. There's a good bit of secrets you can learn about, especially concerning Anakin's background. ***Finished October 12, 2018*** ( )

Writing: 4.5; pretty good writing from Terry Brooks, in his first (and thus far only) Star Wars novel.
Theme: 5.0; while disrupting the trade blockade over Naboo, Jedi Knights Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi are forced to take refuge on the planet Tatooine, where they discover the strong, Force-sensitive slave boy Anakin Skywalker, all the while evading the dark Sith Lord Darth Maul, who is pursuing the escaped Queen Amidala of Naboo.
Content: 5.0; the usual violence of the Star Wars stories, but nothing is really described in detail.
Language: 5.0; nothing objectionable.

In this novelization of the film of the same name, The Phantom Menace gives a faithful adaptation of the story found on the big screen. All of the adventure experienced by Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and Padme Amidala is given here, with pretty much everything being the same as it is in the film, other than perhaps a few switching of roles or differences in dialogue found within the volume. Since I recently reviewed the film itself, I won't touch very much on the content that is in both (if you are that interested, feel free to take a look at my review of the movie). Instead I will focus on what is new and unique to the book. The biggest change here is with Anakin Skywalker and how his life is presented. Instead of being introduced to Anakin when the Jedi arrive on Tatooine, we meet him in the very first chapter, which follows him in the race that was alluded to in the film, in which Anakin's pod (actually, Watto's pod) is sabotaged and destroyed by Sebulba. We also get to follow Anakin throughout his life in a few scenes new to the saga in this volume, including Anakin's construction of C-3PO and the pair's adventure involving an injured Tusken Raider being found in the desert, and Anakin must choose whether to save him or let him die. That is really the only biggest new addition, although it is cool to get some insight into the thoughts each of these characters have, such as Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and Padme, although I feel Anakin's revealed the most new information, but Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan's do reveal quite a bit, especially in the climactic duel with Darth Maul and in the Jedi Council meetings surrounding Anakin's fate. If you're just a casual Star Wars fan, this would be one that may not interest you too much, since the same story is presented in the film. But for those who want all they can get concerning the universe, definitely check this out. There's a good bit of secrets you can learn about, especially concerning Anakin's background. ***Finished October 12, 2018*** ( )