Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews) 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).
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Star Wars, Episode I - The Phantom Menace (Junior Novelization)
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