Novel References

The Phantom Menace

PAGE QUOTATION COMMENTS

3 Chapter 1

3
Anakin Skywalker leaned into the curve of the raceway that took him past the stone arch marking the entry into Beggar's Canyon on the first lap of the run, easing the thruster bars forward, giving the engines a little more juice.

location: Beggar's Canyon, on Tatooine.

5
All gangly and crook-legged, Debulba was as twisted inside as out, a dangerous adversary who won often and took delight in doing so at the expense of others. The Dug had caused more than a dozen crashes of other Podracers in the past year alone, and his eyes glinted with wicked pleasure when he recounted the tales to others on the dusty streets of Mos Espa.

character: Sebulba, a sadistic podracer pilot and Anakin's rival.

6-7
Last month, in another race, the wily Dug had tried to run Anakin into a cliff face. He had failed only because Anakin sensed him coming up from behind and underneath, an illegal razor saw extended to sever Anakin's right Steelton control cable....
The racers whipped through columns of ancient statuary and across the floor of the arena erected on the edge of Mos Espa. They swept under the winner's arch, past row upon row of seats crammed with spectators cheering them on, past pit droids, repair stations, and the boxes where the Hutts watched in isolated splendor above the commoners. From an overlook in a tower centered on the arch, the two-headed Troig who served as announcer would be shouting out their names and positions to the crowd.

technology: The control cables connecting the pod to the engines are called "Steelton". Is this a substance or a brand or a function?
location: the Mos Espa podracing arena.
aliens: Troig, the lithe species to which the podrace announcer belongs.

11
One day soon he would win a lot of races. Maybe even next year, when he reaced the age of ten.

chronology: Anakin Skywalker is somewhere between nine and ten years of age during The Phantom Menace.

12 Chapter 2

12
Watto hovered before him, launching into Huttese without even thinking about it, choosing a language that offered a vast array of insulting adjectives he could draw upon. Anakin stood stoically in place, his young face expressionless, his eyes fastened on the pudgy blue Toydarian hovering before him. Watto's wings were a blur of motion, beating with such ferocity it seemed as if they must surely fly off his lumpy little body.

character: Watto; physical description.

13
They were standing in Watto's shop in the merchants' district of Mos Espa, a dingy mud-and-sand hut fronting an enclosure packed with rocket and engine parts salvaged from scrapped and junked wrecks. It was cool and shadowy inside, the planet's heat shut out by the thick walls, but even here dust hung in the air in hazy streamers caught by the ambient light cast by glow lamps.

location: Watto's junk shop.

15
He was a small boy, even at nine years of age, rather compactly built, with a mop of sandy hair, blue eyes a pub nose, and an inquisitive stare. He was quick and strong for his age, and he was gifted in ways that constantly surprised those around him. He was already an accomplished driver in the Podraces, something no human had ever been before. He was gifted with building skills that allowed him to put together almost anything. He was useful to Watto in both areas, and Watto was not one to waste a slave's talent.

character: Anakin Skwyalker, physical description. It is interesting that he seems to have been a late grower; as an adult he was a huge man. Refer to his dying recollection of his youthful condition in ROTJ.

16-17
It was Kitster, his best friend, creeping into view with Wald, another friend, following close behind. Kitster was small and dark, his hair cut in a close bowl about his head, his clothing loose and nondescript, designed to preserve moisture and deflect heat and sand. Wald, trailing uncertainly, was a Rodian, an off-worlder who had come to Tatooine only recently. He was several years younger than his friends, but bold enough that they let him hand around with them most of the time.

characters: Kitster and Wald, two of Anakin Skywalker's childhood cohorts.

19-20
"I left the corps six years back. Too old. Time passes you by, leaves you to find something else to do with what's left of your life." He pursed his lips.
.... "Flew a cruiser filled with Republic soldiers into Makem Te during its rebellion. That was a scary business. Flew Jedi Knights once upon a time, too."
"Jedi!" Kitster exhaled sharply. "Wow!"
"Really? You really flew Jedi?" Anakin pressed, eyes wide.
The spacer laughed at their wonder. "Cross my heart and call me bantha fodder if I'm lying. It was a long time ago, but I flew four of them to a place I'm not supposed to talk about even now. ..."

The old space pilot recounts his adventures. Of special interest is the fact that the Galactic Republic maintains an organised starfleet and army, which obviously are the predecessors of the Imperial forces. It is interesting that the galactic naval and military forces failed to assist the Naboo against the Trade Federation blockade, even after Palpatine's successes later in the movie. Perhaps this inaction was due to the galaxy's political paralysis, or the disproportionate sequestering of naval resources by influential central systems, as hinted in The Imperial Sourcebook and other older roleplaying game books.

24 Chapter 3

24
The small Republic space cruiser, its red colour the symbol of ambassadorial neutrality, knifed through starry blackness toward the emerald bright planet of naboo and the cluster of Trade Federation fleet ships that encircled it. The ships were huge, boxy fortresses, tubular in shape, split at one end and encircling an orb that sheltered the bridge, communications centre, and hyperdrive. Armaments bristled from every port and bay, and Trade Federation fighters circled the big beasts like gnats. The more traditionally shaped Republic cruiser, with its tri-engines, flat body, and squared-off cockpit, looked insignificant in the shadow of the Trade Federation battleships, but continued toward them, undeterred.

starships: The Republic cruiser must be a "cruiser" in the sense of "yacht" or "cabin cruiser", rather than the naval meaning, because it is shown to be somewhat smaller than a corvette or blockade runner in the movie.
starships: Trade Federation battleships, two-mile-wide freighters converted to purposes of war. It is implied that they are distributed around the planet in a ring. If they are evenly distributed at the density shown in the movie then there must be at thousands of them.

25
On the viewscreen in front of them, captured from his position on the bridge of the battleship towar which they were headed, was Trade Federation Viceroy Nute Gunray, his reddish orange eyes staring out at them expectantly. The Neimoidian wore his perpetually sour expression, mouth downturned, bony brow emphasising his discontent. His green-grey skin reflected the ambient lighting of the ship, all pale and cold in contrast to his dark robes, collar and tricornered headdress.

character: Nute Gunray.
aliens: Neimoidians.

25-26
Qui-Gon was a tall, powerfully built man with promient, leonine features. His beard and mustache were close-cropped and his hair was worn long and tied back.Tunic, pants, and hooded robe were typically loose-fitting and comfortable, a sash binding them at his waist where his lightsabre hung just out of view, but within easy reach.
Qui-Gon's sharp blue eyes ....

character: Qui-Gon Jinn, Jedi Master.

26
The blockade has been in effect now for almost a month.

chronology: The blockade against Naboo has been in effect for a month as of the start of The Phantom Menace.

27
He glanced momentarily at his protégé, taking his measure. Obi-Wan, in his mid-twenties, was more than thirty years younger and still learning his craft. He was not yet a full Jedi, but he was close to being ready. Obi-Wan was shorter than Qui-Gon, but compact and very quick. His smooth, boyish face suggested an immaturity that had been long since shed. He wore the same type of clothes as Qui-Gon, but his hair was cut in the style of a Padawan learner, short and even, save for the tightly braided pig-tail that hung over his right shoulder.

character: Obi-Wan Kenobi. The description of his age here creates many conflicts and ambiguities. The ages of the characters appear to have been revised several times before and during the production of the movie. Considering Kenobi's age in A New Hope and the time elapsed between these films, he ought to be in his thirties in The Phantom Menace. An age in his mid-twenties would also contradict the passage later in this novel indicating that the two have known each other for twenty years, and the novel TRF which describes their introduction when Kenobi was almost thirteen.
The best key to interpretation is the fact that this paragraph is told from the viewpoint of Qui-Gon Jinn. His subjective measure of Kenobi's age might be affected by Kenobi's youthful facial features, and Jinn may have a different subjective or relativistic measure of time. If he had ever travelled separately from Kenobi for a while at relativistic speeds, they might have experienced time dilation effects causing one of them to experience more years before they met again. More likely, Jinn may come from a world with a calendar year that is somewhat longer than the galactic standard.

28
Naboo was indeed an odd choice for an action of this sort, a planet at the edge of the galaxy, not particularly important in the scheme of things. Its ruler, Amidala, was somethign of an unknown. New to the throne, she had only been Queen a few months before the blockade had begun. She was young, but it was rumoured she was prodigiously talented and extremely well trained. It was said she could hold her own with anyone in a political arena. It was said she could be circumspect or bold when necessary, and was wise beyond her years.
The Jedi had been shown a hologram of Amidala before they left Coruscant. The Queen favoured theatrical paint and ornate dress, cloaking herself in trappings and makeup that disguised her true appearance while lending her an aura of both splendor and beauty. She was a chameleon of sorts, masking herself to the world at large and finding companionship almost exclusively with a cadre of handmaidens who were always with her.

location: Naboo's strategic situation (or lack of it).
character: Queen Amidala, the mysterious monarch of Naboo.

29
A protocol droid named TC-14 was waiting to escort them to their meeting. The droid took them from the bay down a series of hallways to an empty conference room and motioned them inside.

character: TC-14, a protocol droid that appears very much like a silver-clad version of C-3PO. It is remarkable that the physical similarity should be so great and yet their model numbers are very different. Perhaps one is a commercial clone of the other design, produced by a rival manufacturer. Or perhaps there are more substantial differences than the similar clading would suggest?
There is no mention of turbolifts or any mechanism for inter-deck travel in the path from the hangar to the conference room. From this we can assume that they are on the same deck, and that the conference room is somewhere on the arm of the Trade Federation ship near the Republic vessel's resting place. Then the curvature of the conference room's windows (as seen in the movie) suggests that they are on the inner ventral side of the ring.

40 Chapter 4

54 Chapter 5

54-55
It seemed that there were underwater passageways all through the planet, and if you were able to locate the right one, you could cut travel time considerably.

locations: Underwater tunnels beneath the surface of Naboo. Note that there is no indication of how deeply the tunnels penetrate the globe, but the quote does imply that the passages reach many convenient surface regions.

57
Like all of the Jedi Knights, Obi-Wan Kenobi had been identified and claimed early in life from his birth parents. He no longer remembered anything of them now; the jedi Knights had become his family. Of those, he was closest to Qui-Gon, his mentor for more than a dozen years, who had become his most trusted friend.

culture: The infant-snatching practices of the Jedi. Does their lack of natural family life and removal from the normal life cycle provide the Jedi with a blind-spot? Does this have something to do with the failure of the relationship between Anakin and the order? Does it explain why Yoda and Kenobi underestimated the familial bond that became the means of Anakin's redemption in Return of the Jedi? Have the Jedi become so lofty and cosmic in their contemplations that they lose perspective on the nature of life and living beings? If so then Qui-Gon Jinn appears to be an exception.
chronology: The relationship between Jinn and Kenobi lasted longer than twelve years. This loose lower limit is refined upwards to twenty years, on p.249.

64 Chapter 6

77-78
He fell asleep finally, and he dreamed of strange things. The dreams shifted and changed without warning and took on different story lines and meanings as they did so. He was several things in the course of his dreams. Once he was a Jedi Knight, fighting against things so dark and insubstantial he could not identify them. Once he was a pilot of a star cruiser, taking the ship into hyperspace, spanning whole star systems on his voyage. Once he was a great and feared commander of an army, and he came back to Tatooine with ships and troops at his command to free the planet's slaves. His mother was waiting for him, smiling, arms outstretched. but when he tried to embrace her, she vanished.

continuity: Another of Anakin's dreams. This dream seems prophetic. How much of it will be literally true? As Lord Vader he does indeed become a great and feared naval and military leader, but was this accomplished before the time of his return to Tatooine? Assuming that the author was writing within strict bounds set by George Lucas, this dream may serve as a hint of things in movie episodes yet to come.

80 Chapter 7

93 Chapter 8

93
"Stay on course," the Jedi Master ordered calmly. He glanced down at the controls. "Do you have a cloaking device?"
"This is not a warship!" Captain Panaka snapped, looking angry and betrayed. "We have no weapons, Ambassador! We're a nonviolent people, which is why the Trade Federation was brave enough to attack us in the first place!"

technology: It appears that cloaking devices are not a rarity in this age, but are regarded as a kind of equipment fit for aggressive naval use.

96
"Here, Master," Obi-Wan said, his sharp eyes picking out the only choice that made any sense. "Tatooine. It's small, poor, and out of the way. It attracts little attention. The Trade Federation has no presence there."
"How can you be sure?" Captain Panaka asked quickly.
Qui-Gon glanced at him. "It's controlled by the Hutts."

location: Tatooine, presently in the thrall of Huttese criminal cartels. Their power seemed to be diminished or broken during the later movie episodes. Somethign must have changed there, perhaps as a result of the restoration of order brought about by the establishment of the Galactic Empire.

97
"We control all the cities in the northern and western part of the Naboo territory," the viceroy was relating, "and we are searching for any other settlements where resistance—"
"Yes, yes," Darth Sidious interrupted suddenly, his soft voice vaguely impatient. "You have done well. Now, then. Destroy all their high-ranking officials. Do so quietly, but be thorough." He paused. "What of Queen Amidala? Has she signed the treaty?"

locations: There exist cities in the northern and western portions of the parts of Naboo that are settled by humans. The reference point for these locations is unknown. In principle it could be in any part of any hemisphere of the planet, although careful observations of the direction of shadows (and therefore the position and path of the sun in the sky) may eventually provide some constraints on the latitude.

107 Chapter 9

108
"Tatooine is home to Jabba the Hutt, who controls the bulk of the trafficking in illegal goods, piracy, and slavery that generates most of the planet's wealth," Qui-Gon was explaining to Padmé. He had been on Tatooine before, though it had been some years ago. "Jabba controls the spaceports and settlements, all of the populated areas. The desert belongs to the Jawas, who scavenge whatever they can find to sell or trade, and to the Tuskens, who live a nomadic life and feel free to steal from everyone.
".... There are a number of farms as well, outlying operations that take advantage of the climate — moisture farmers for the most part, operated by off-worlders not a part of the indigenous tribes and scavengers, not connected directly to the Hutts. .... This is a rough and dangerous place. Most avoid it. Its few spaceports have become havens for those who do not wish to be found."

location: Tatooine, anthropological and economic description by Qui-Gon Jinn.
continuity: It is interesting to note that of all the millions of inhabited worlds in the galaxy, Jinn has visited this marginal planet before. Perhaps there is a causal connection between his previous visit and Kenobi's suggestion that they take Tatooine as refuge? Perhaps there is a causal connection between Jinn's previous visit and his later discovery of the talented young Anakin? It would be interesting to know how the date of Jinn's earlier visit compares to the timing of Anakin's conception.

123 Chapter 10

124
Anakin's mother entered from a work area off to one side, brushing her hands on her dress. She was a woman of forty, her long brown hair tied back from her worn face, her clothing rough and simple. She had been pretty once, and Anakin would say she was pretty still, but time and the demands of her life were catching up with her.

character: Shmi Skywalker, physical description.
chronology: Shmi is 40 years old at the time of Episode I.

139 Chapter 11

149
... began to scan the horizon in all directions.
Desert sand and rocks, he was thinking. Wasteland. But a city there, and another there. And there, a third.
He took the electrobinoculars away from his eyes. The lights of the cities were clearly visible against the growing dark. If there were others, they were far on the other side of the Dune Sea where he had already been, or beyond the horizon much farther still where he would later be required to go.

location: Three cities in the vicinity of Maul's landing site. One of them is Mos Espa; the other two are unidentified. Other cities in more distant parts of the planet are not named either, but may include some of those mentioned or seen in A New Hope.

154 Chapter 12

161
Over a hundred thousand beings had filled the Podracer arena by midmorning, jamming into the grandstand seats, crowding onto the broad viewing platforms, filling the available space.

location: Mos Espa arena: occupied by over 100,000 spectators. It would be interesting to compare this figure with the density of the seating seen in the movie, and the total number of seating sections.

162
.... a flurry of movement in the royal box signaled the arrival of Jabba the Hutt and Gardulla, his female friend. Slithering into the cooled interior of the box, the two Hutts oozed their way along the flooring to their designated places amid the bright silks that draped the rough stone. Jabba came foremost, proceeding directly to the arched overlook where he could be seen by the people of Mos Espa. Lifting his pudgy arm in greeting, he basked in the crowd's appreciative roar. Gardulla muttered her approval, nodding her neckless head on the end of a thick, shapeless body, slitted eyes glittering. A coterie of humans and aliens filed in behind the two Hutts, guests of Mos Espa's rulers on race day, a coveted designation. A line of slave girls of varying species came last, chained together, there for the amusement of those who had chosen freely to attend.

characters: Jabba the Hutt; Gardulla the Hutt; various unnamed guests and slaves.
aliens: The identification of Gardulla as a Hutt in the female phase of the life cycle is interesting, since they are hermaphroditic. Inspection of her features in the film and comparison with Jabba may allow us to determine outward signs of the female condition of this species.

167 Chapter 13

168
He caught the multi-limbed Gasgano next. Easing up to the Troiken's snub-nosed Podracer, he got ready to pass.

aliens: Troiken, presumably a name for Gasgano's species. Is this consistent with the names given in other sources like the Episode I: Visual Dictionary and Who's Who books?

179 Chapter 14

195 Chapter 15

207 Chapter 16

207
Even before an off-world traveler was close enough to understand why, he could tell that Coruscant was different from other planets. Seasoned veterans were always amazed at how strange the planet looked from space, casting not the softer blue and white shades of planets still verdant and unspoiled, but an odd silvery glow that suggested the reflection of sunlight off metal.
The impression was not misleading. The days in which Coruscant could be viewed in any sort of natural state were dead and gone. The capital city had expanded over the centuries, building by building, until it wrapped the entire planet. Forests, mountains, bodies of water, and natural formations had been covered over. The atmosphere was filtered through oxygen regulators and purified by scrubbers, and water was gathered and stored in massive artificial aquifers. Native animals, birds, plants and fish could be found in the museums or the climate-controlled indoor preserves.

location: Coruscant, global physical description.

219 Chapter 17

233 Chapter 18

244 Chapter 19

246
He turned away then and walked from the cabin to the passageways beyond and descended one level to the Queen's chambers.

starship: The Queen's quarters are located a deck below the bridge level.

246
"There are only twelve of us!" Panaka snapped, unable to keep silent. "Your Highness," he added belatedly. "We have no army!"

continuity: Panaka counts the Queen's company as twelve. Does this mean that he has twelve armed men, or are the Queen and three handmaidens included in the count as well? Are the two Jedi included in the count? The number of Naboo pilots who took flight with the Queen appeared to be not much less than a dozen, so Panaka cannot be counting them for the purposes of personal combat.

247
A single battleship orbited the planet, all that remained of the Trade Federation blockade. Housed within was the control station responsible for directing the droid army that occupied Naboo. When Panaka wondered aloud at the absence of the other battleships, Qui-Gon pointed out rather dryly that you don't need a blockade once you control the port.

The droid control ship is recognised; it remains unknown whether the droid control is direct and low-level or else merely supervisory or a failsafe mechanism.

249
He had been close with Qui-Gon for too long to let a momentary disagreement put an end to twenty-odd years of friendship. Qui-Gon was like a father to him, the only father he knew.

chronology: Kenobi has been Jinn's padawan apprentice for over twenty years. Considering the fact that he was just less than thirteen years of age when the apprenticeship started [The Rising Force], and the fact that they were distant if not strangers before that time, he ought to be in his early to mid thirties at the time of The Phantom Menace.

255
He took Amidala and her companions out of the swamp to the edge of the grass plains that ran south to the Naboo capital of Theed. Any attack would be mounted from here, and the Queen had come to the Gungans with a very specific plan of attack in mind.

Location of the pre-attack conference described in relation to the city. If this plain is the same as the one where the battle took place, then there is a contradiction. The other references put the plain to the south of Theed; this passage puts the plain north of Theed. Perhaps an alternative interpretation is possible. Maybe this location is simply one edge of the plain: the edge closest to the Gungan camp though on the opposite side of the city to the place where the battle occurs?

259-260
"The Jedi cannot become involved," Darth Sidious soothed, hands spreading in a placating motion. "They can only protect the Queen. Even Qui-Gon Jinn cannot break that covenant. This will work to our advantage."

An interesting circumstance: Darth Sidious is familiar with Jinn and his somewhat dissident status within the Jedi order. How closely has Sidiosu studied the personalities of his Jedi enemies?

261 Chapter 20

261
By midday, with the sun overhead in a cloudless sky and the wind died away to nothing, the grasslands lying south of Theed between the Naboo capital city and the Gungan swamp lay empty and still.

location: These plains are said to be south of Theed.

263
Boss Nass might think it clever to make him a general in the Gungan army, but the career officers found it less amusing. Genera Ceel, who was commander-in-chief, grunted sourly at Jar Jar, on being informed of his new position, and told him to set a good example for his people and die well.

character: General Ceel, the Gungan field commander. In the movie, he appeared to be replaced by Captain Tarpals. This is peculiar, because a captain normally would not command more than a few hundred troops. Either Ceel and Tarpals are really distinct individuals who happen to be visually indistinguishable, or else Tarpals [in the movie] was acting on someone else's behalf. Or perhaps the Tarpals' commanders in the movie only pertained to the company surrounding him, rather than the whole army? Another possibility: perhaps the identification of Tarpals as a captain is only a mistake or misunderstanding on Binks' part, since it is mainly through the outcast's eyes that we see Tarpals.

272 Chapter 21

275
On the plains south of Theed, the battle between the Trade Federation and the Gungan armies was fully joined.

location: Another reference to the battlefield being south of Theed.

283 Chapter 22

298 Chapter 23

314 Chapter 24

320
That night Darth Sidious stood alone on a balcony overlooking the city, a shadowy figure amid the multitude of twinkling lights, his visage dark and angry as he contemplated the loss of his apprentice.

continuity: Darth Sidious is standing in a city, but which city? Some readers may assume that it is on Coruscant, but if Palpatine is merely Sidious' public identity then it must be Theed on Naboo.

321
Captain Panaka and the Queen's own guards stood at the top of the stone steps in the central plaza, watching the parade approach. Panaka's uniform was creased, metal insignia on his epaulets gleaming, proud and strong.

It is interesting to note that Panaka is supposed to have insignia on his shoulders. Unfortunately they were not obvious in the movie.

322
There was no one who could give him the grounding that Qui-Gon had provided — not Obi-Wan, not even Padmé. One day, perhaps. One day, each of them would play a part in his life that would change him forever. He could sense that. But for now, when it mattered most, he felt alone.

Anakin's shadowy premonition of his own destiny. Again it is interesting that as an untrained boy he shows subtle inborn prophetic ability.

The Phantom Menace
PAGE	QUOTATION	COMMENTS
3	Chapter 1
3	Anakin Skywalker leaned into the curve of the raceway that took him past the stone arch marking the entry into Beggar's Canyon on the first lap of the run, easing the thruster bars forward, giving the engines a little more juice.	location: Beggar's Canyon, on Tatooine.
5	All gangly and crook-legged, Debulba was as twisted inside as out, a dangerous adversary who won often and took delight in doing so at the expense of others. The Dug had caused more than a dozen crashes of other Podracers in the past year alone, and his eyes glinted with wicked pleasure when he recounted the tales to others on the dusty streets of Mos Espa.	character: Sebulba, a sadistic podracer pilot and Anakin's rival.
6-7	Last month, in another race, the wily Dug had tried to run Anakin into a cliff face. He had failed only because Anakin sensed him coming up from behind and underneath, an illegal razor saw extended to sever Anakin's right Steelton control cable.... The racers whipped through columns of ancient statuary and across the floor of the arena erected on the edge of Mos Espa. They swept under the winner's arch, past row upon row of seats crammed with spectators cheering them on, past pit droids, repair stations, and the boxes where the Hutts watched in isolated splendor above the commoners. From an overlook in a tower centered on the arch, the two-headed Troig who served as announcer would be shouting out their names and positions to the crowd.	technology: The control cables connecting the pod to the engines are called "Steelton". Is this a substance or a brand or a function? location: the Mos Espa podracing arena. aliens: Troig, the lithe species to which the podrace announcer belongs.
11	One day soon he would win a lot of races. Maybe even next year, when he reaced the age of ten.	chronology: Anakin Skywalker is somewhere between nine and ten years of age during The Phantom Menace.
12	Chapter 2
12	Watto hovered before him, launching into Huttese without even thinking about it, choosing a language that offered a vast array of insulting adjectives he could draw upon. Anakin stood stoically in place, his young face expressionless, his eyes fastened on the pudgy blue Toydarian hovering before him. Watto's wings were a blur of motion, beating with such ferocity it seemed as if they must surely fly off his lumpy little body.	character: Watto; physical description.
13	They were standing in Watto's shop in the merchants' district of Mos Espa, a dingy mud-and-sand hut fronting an enclosure packed with rocket and engine parts salvaged from scrapped and junked wrecks. It was cool and shadowy inside, the planet's heat shut out by the thick walls, but even here dust hung in the air in hazy streamers caught by the ambient light cast by glow lamps.	location: Watto's junk shop.
15	He was a small boy, even at nine years of age, rather compactly built, with a mop of sandy hair, blue eyes a pub nose, and an inquisitive stare. He was quick and strong for his age, and he was gifted in ways that constantly surprised those around him. He was already an accomplished driver in the Podraces, something no human had ever been before. He was gifted with building skills that allowed him to put together almost anything. He was useful to Watto in both areas, and Watto was not one to waste a slave's talent.	character: Anakin Skwyalker, physical description. It is interesting that he seems to have been a late grower; as an adult he was a huge man. Refer to his dying recollection of his youthful condition in ROTJ.
16-17	It was Kitster, his best friend, creeping into view with Wald, another friend, following close behind. Kitster was small and dark, his hair cut in a close bowl about his head, his clothing loose and nondescript, designed to preserve moisture and deflect heat and sand. Wald, trailing uncertainly, was a Rodian, an off-worlder who had come to Tatooine only recently. He was several years younger than his friends, but bold enough that they let him hand around with them most of the time.	characters: Kitster and Wald, two of Anakin Skywalker's childhood cohorts.
19-20	"I left the corps six years back. Too old. Time passes you by, leaves you to find something else to do with what's left of your life." He pursed his lips. .... "Flew a cruiser filled with Republic soldiers into Makem Te during its rebellion. That was a scary business. Flew Jedi Knights once upon a time, too." "Jedi!" Kitster exhaled sharply. "Wow!" "Really? You really flew Jedi?" Anakin pressed, eyes wide. The spacer laughed at their wonder. "Cross my heart and call me bantha fodder if I'm lying. It was a long time ago, but I flew four of them to a place I'm not supposed to talk about even now. ..."	The old space pilot recounts his adventures. Of special interest is the fact that the Galactic Republic maintains an organised starfleet and army, which obviously are the predecessors of the Imperial forces. It is interesting that the galactic naval and military forces failed to assist the Naboo against the Trade Federation blockade, even after Palpatine's successes later in the movie. Perhaps this inaction was due to the galaxy's political paralysis, or the disproportionate sequestering of naval resources by influential central systems, as hinted in The Imperial Sourcebook and other older roleplaying game books.
24	Chapter 3
24	The small Republic space cruiser, its red colour the symbol of ambassadorial neutrality, knifed through starry blackness toward the emerald bright planet of naboo and the cluster of Trade Federation fleet ships that encircled it. The ships were huge, boxy fortresses, tubular in shape, split at one end and encircling an orb that sheltered the bridge, communications centre, and hyperdrive. Armaments bristled from every port and bay, and Trade Federation fighters circled the big beasts like gnats. The more traditionally shaped Republic cruiser, with its tri-engines, flat body, and squared-off cockpit, looked insignificant in the shadow of the Trade Federation battleships, but continued toward them, undeterred.	starships: The Republic cruiser must be a "cruiser" in the sense of "yacht" or "cabin cruiser", rather than the naval meaning, because it is shown to be somewhat smaller than a corvette or blockade runner in the movie. starships: Trade Federation battleships, two-mile-wide freighters converted to purposes of war. It is implied that they are distributed around the planet in a ring. If they are evenly distributed at the density shown in the movie then there must be at thousands of them.
25	On the viewscreen in front of them, captured from his position on the bridge of the battleship towar which they were headed, was Trade Federation Viceroy Nute Gunray, his reddish orange eyes staring out at them expectantly. The Neimoidian wore his perpetually sour expression, mouth downturned, bony brow emphasising his discontent. His green-grey skin reflected the ambient lighting of the ship, all pale and cold in contrast to his dark robes, collar and tricornered headdress.	character: Nute Gunray. aliens: Neimoidians.
25-26	Qui-Gon was a tall, powerfully built man with promient, leonine features. His beard and mustache were close-cropped and his hair was worn long and tied back.Tunic, pants, and hooded robe were typically loose-fitting and comfortable, a sash binding them at his waist where his lightsabre hung just out of view, but within easy reach. Qui-Gon's sharp blue eyes ....	character: Qui-Gon Jinn, Jedi Master.
26	The blockade has been in effect now for almost a month.	chronology: The blockade against Naboo has been in effect for a month as of the start of The Phantom Menace.
27	He glanced momentarily at his protégé, taking his measure. Obi-Wan, in his mid-twenties, was more than thirty years younger and still learning his craft. He was not yet a full Jedi, but he was close to being ready. Obi-Wan was shorter than Qui-Gon, but compact and very quick. His smooth, boyish face suggested an immaturity that had been long since shed. He wore the same type of clothes as Qui-Gon, but his hair was cut in the style of a Padawan learner, short and even, save for the tightly braided pig-tail that hung over his right shoulder.	character: Obi-Wan Kenobi. The description of his age here creates many conflicts and ambiguities. The ages of the characters appear to have been revised several times before and during the production of the movie. Considering Kenobi's age in A New Hope and the time elapsed between these films, he ought to be in his thirties in The Phantom Menace. An age in his mid-twenties would also contradict the passage later in this novel indicating that the two have known each other for twenty years, and the novel TRF which describes their introduction when Kenobi was almost thirteen. The best key to interpretation is the fact that this paragraph is told from the viewpoint of Qui-Gon Jinn. His subjective measure of Kenobi's age might be affected by Kenobi's youthful facial features, and Jinn may have a different subjective or relativistic measure of time. If he had ever travelled separately from Kenobi for a while at relativistic speeds, they might have experienced time dilation effects causing one of them to experience more years before they met again. More likely, Jinn may come from a world with a calendar year that is somewhat longer than the galactic standard.
28	Naboo was indeed an odd choice for an action of this sort, a planet at the edge of the galaxy, not particularly important in the scheme of things. Its ruler, Amidala, was somethign of an unknown. New to the throne, she had only been Queen a few months before the blockade had begun. She was young, but it was rumoured she was prodigiously talented and extremely well trained. It was said she could hold her own with anyone in a political arena. It was said she could be circumspect or bold when necessary, and was wise beyond her years. The Jedi had been shown a hologram of Amidala before they left Coruscant. The Queen favoured theatrical paint and ornate dress, cloaking herself in trappings and makeup that disguised her true appearance while lending her an aura of both splendor and beauty. She was a chameleon of sorts, masking herself to the world at large and finding companionship almost exclusively with a cadre of handmaidens who were always with her.	location: Naboo's strategic situation (or lack of it). character: Queen Amidala, the mysterious monarch of Naboo.
29	A protocol droid named TC-14 was waiting to escort them to their meeting. The droid took them from the bay down a series of hallways to an empty conference room and motioned them inside.	character: TC-14, a protocol droid that appears very much like a silver-clad version of C-3PO. It is remarkable that the physical similarity should be so great and yet their model numbers are very different. Perhaps one is a commercial clone of the other design, produced by a rival manufacturer. Or perhaps there are more substantial differences than the similar clading would suggest? There is no mention of turbolifts or any mechanism for inter-deck travel in the path from the hangar to the conference room. From this we can assume that they are on the same deck, and that the conference room is somewhere on the arm of the Trade Federation ship near the Republic vessel's resting place. Then the curvature of the conference room's windows (as seen in the movie) suggests that they are on the inner ventral side of the ring.
40	Chapter 4
54	Chapter 5
54-55	It seemed that there were underwater passageways all through the planet, and if you were able to locate the right one, you could cut travel time considerably.	locations: Underwater tunnels beneath the surface of Naboo. Note that there is no indication of how deeply the tunnels penetrate the globe, but the quote does imply that the passages reach many convenient surface regions.
57	Like all of the Jedi Knights, Obi-Wan Kenobi had been identified and claimed early in life from his birth parents. He no longer remembered anything of them now; the jedi Knights had become his family. Of those, he was closest to Qui-Gon, his mentor for more than a dozen years, who had become his most trusted friend.	culture: The infant-snatching practices of the Jedi. Does their lack of natural family life and removal from the normal life cycle provide the Jedi with a blind-spot? Does this have something to do with the failure of the relationship between Anakin and the order? Does it explain why Yoda and Kenobi underestimated the familial bond that became the means of Anakin's redemption in Return of the Jedi? Have the Jedi become so lofty and cosmic in their contemplations that they lose perspective on the nature of life and living beings? If so then Qui-Gon Jinn appears to be an exception. chronology: The relationship between Jinn and Kenobi lasted longer than twelve years. This loose lower limit is refined upwards to twenty years, on p.249.
64	Chapter 6
77-78	He fell asleep finally, and he dreamed of strange things. The dreams shifted and changed without warning and took on different story lines and meanings as they did so. He was several things in the course of his dreams. Once he was a Jedi Knight, fighting against things so dark and insubstantial he could not identify them. Once he was a pilot of a star cruiser, taking the ship into hyperspace, spanning whole star systems on his voyage. Once he was a great and feared commander of an army, and he came back to Tatooine with ships and troops at his command to free the planet's slaves. His mother was waiting for him, smiling, arms outstretched. but when he tried to embrace her, she vanished.	continuity: Another of Anakin's dreams. This dream seems prophetic. How much of it will be literally true? As Lord Vader he does indeed become a great and feared naval and military leader, but was this accomplished before the time of his return to Tatooine? Assuming that the author was writing within strict bounds set by George Lucas, this dream may serve as a hint of things in movie episodes yet to come.
80	Chapter 7
93	Chapter 8
93	"Stay on course," the Jedi Master ordered calmly. He glanced down at the controls. "Do you have a cloaking device?" "This is not a warship!" Captain Panaka snapped, looking angry and betrayed. "We have no weapons, Ambassador! We're a nonviolent people, which is why the Trade Federation was brave enough to attack us in the first place!"	technology: It appears that cloaking devices are not a rarity in this age, but are regarded as a kind of equipment fit for aggressive naval use.
96	"Here, Master," Obi-Wan said, his sharp eyes picking out the only choice that made any sense. "Tatooine. It's small, poor, and out of the way. It attracts little attention. The Trade Federation has no presence there." "How can you be sure?" Captain Panaka asked quickly. Qui-Gon glanced at him. "It's controlled by the Hutts."	location: Tatooine, presently in the thrall of Huttese criminal cartels. Their power seemed to be diminished or broken during the later movie episodes. Somethign must have changed there, perhaps as a result of the restoration of order brought about by the establishment of the Galactic Empire.
97	"We control all the cities in the northern and western part of the Naboo territory," the viceroy was relating, "and we are searching for any other settlements where resistance—" "Yes, yes," Darth Sidious interrupted suddenly, his soft voice vaguely impatient. "You have done well. Now, then. Destroy all their high-ranking officials. Do so quietly, but be thorough." He paused. "What of Queen Amidala? Has she signed the treaty?"	locations: There exist cities in the northern and western portions of the parts of Naboo that are settled by humans. The reference point for these locations is unknown. In principle it could be in any part of any hemisphere of the planet, although careful observations of the direction of shadows (and therefore the position and path of the sun in the sky) may eventually provide some constraints on the latitude.
107	Chapter 9
108	"Tatooine is home to Jabba the Hutt, who controls the bulk of the trafficking in illegal goods, piracy, and slavery that generates most of the planet's wealth," Qui-Gon was explaining to Padmé. He had been on Tatooine before, though it had been some years ago. "Jabba controls the spaceports and settlements, all of the populated areas. The desert belongs to the Jawas, who scavenge whatever they can find to sell or trade, and to the Tuskens, who live a nomadic life and feel free to steal from everyone. ".... There are a number of farms as well, outlying operations that take advantage of the climate — moisture farmers for the most part, operated by off-worlders not a part of the indigenous tribes and scavengers, not connected directly to the Hutts. .... This is a rough and dangerous place. Most avoid it. Its few spaceports have become havens for those who do not wish to be found."	location: Tatooine, anthropological and economic description by Qui-Gon Jinn. continuity: It is interesting to note that of all the millions of inhabited worlds in the galaxy, Jinn has visited this marginal planet before. Perhaps there is a causal connection between his previous visit and Kenobi's suggestion that they take Tatooine as refuge? Perhaps there is a causal connection between Jinn's previous visit and his later discovery of the talented young Anakin? It would be interesting to know how the date of Jinn's earlier visit compares to the timing of Anakin's conception.
123	Chapter 10
124	Anakin's mother entered from a work area off to one side, brushing her hands on her dress. She was a woman of forty, her long brown hair tied back from her worn face, her clothing rough and simple. She had been pretty once, and Anakin would say she was pretty still, but time and the demands of her life were catching up with her.	character: Shmi Skywalker, physical description. chronology: Shmi is 40 years old at the time of Episode I.
139	Chapter 11
149	... began to scan the horizon in all directions. Desert sand and rocks, he was thinking. Wasteland. But a city there, and another there. And there, a third. He took the electrobinoculars away from his eyes. The lights of the cities were clearly visible against the growing dark. If there were others, they were far on the other side of the Dune Sea where he had already been, or beyond the horizon much farther still where he would later be required to go.	location: Three cities in the vicinity of Maul's landing site. One of them is Mos Espa; the other two are unidentified. Other cities in more distant parts of the planet are not named either, but may include some of those mentioned or seen in A New Hope.
154	Chapter 12
161	Over a hundred thousand beings had filled the Podracer arena by midmorning, jamming into the grandstand seats, crowding onto the broad viewing platforms, filling the available space.	location: Mos Espa arena: occupied by over 100,000 spectators. It would be interesting to compare this figure with the density of the seating seen in the movie, and the total number of seating sections.
162	.... a flurry of movement in the royal box signaled the arrival of Jabba the Hutt and Gardulla, his female friend. Slithering into the cooled interior of the box, the two Hutts oozed their way along the flooring to their designated places amid the bright silks that draped the rough stone. Jabba came foremost, proceeding directly to the arched overlook where he could be seen by the people of Mos Espa. Lifting his pudgy arm in greeting, he basked in the crowd's appreciative roar. Gardulla muttered her approval, nodding her neckless head on the end of a thick, shapeless body, slitted eyes glittering. A coterie of humans and aliens filed in behind the two Hutts, guests of Mos Espa's rulers on race day, a coveted designation. A line of slave girls of varying species came last, chained together, there for the amusement of those who had chosen freely to attend.	characters: Jabba the Hutt; Gardulla the Hutt; various unnamed guests and slaves. aliens: The identification of Gardulla as a Hutt in the female phase of the life cycle is interesting, since they are hermaphroditic. Inspection of her features in the film and comparison with Jabba may allow us to determine outward signs of the female condition of this species.
167	Chapter 13
168	He caught the multi-limbed Gasgano next. Easing up to the Troiken's snub-nosed Podracer, he got ready to pass.	aliens: Troiken, presumably a name for Gasgano's species. Is this consistent with the names given in other sources like the Episode I: Visual Dictionary and Who's Who books?
179	Chapter 14
195	Chapter 15
207	Chapter 16
207	Even before an off-world traveler was close enough to understand why, he could tell that Coruscant was different from other planets. Seasoned veterans were always amazed at how strange the planet looked from space, casting not the softer blue and white shades of planets still verdant and unspoiled, but an odd silvery glow that suggested the reflection of sunlight off metal. The impression was not misleading. The days in which Coruscant could be viewed in any sort of natural state were dead and gone. The capital city had expanded over the centuries, building by building, until it wrapped the entire planet. Forests, mountains, bodies of water, and natural formations had been covered over. The atmosphere was filtered through oxygen regulators and purified by scrubbers, and water was gathered and stored in massive artificial aquifers. Native animals, birds, plants and fish could be found in the museums or the climate-controlled indoor preserves.	location: Coruscant, global physical description.
219	Chapter 17
233	Chapter 18
244	Chapter 19
246	He turned away then and walked from the cabin to the passageways beyond and descended one level to the Queen's chambers.	starship: The Queen's quarters are located a deck below the bridge level.
246	"There are only twelve of us!" Panaka snapped, unable to keep silent. "Your Highness," he added belatedly. "We have no army!"	continuity: Panaka counts the Queen's company as twelve. Does this mean that he has twelve armed men, or are the Queen and three handmaidens included in the count as well? Are the two Jedi included in the count? The number of Naboo pilots who took flight with the Queen appeared to be not much less than a dozen, so Panaka cannot be counting them for the purposes of personal combat.
247	A single battleship orbited the planet, all that remained of the Trade Federation blockade. Housed within was the control station responsible for directing the droid army that occupied Naboo. When Panaka wondered aloud at the absence of the other battleships, Qui-Gon pointed out rather dryly that you don't need a blockade once you control the port.	The droid control ship is recognised; it remains unknown whether the droid control is direct and low-level or else merely supervisory or a failsafe mechanism.
249	He had been close with Qui-Gon for too long to let a momentary disagreement put an end to twenty-odd years of friendship. Qui-Gon was like a father to him, the only father he knew.	chronology: Kenobi has been Jinn's padawan apprentice for over twenty years. Considering the fact that he was just less than thirteen years of age when the apprenticeship started [The Rising Force], and the fact that they were distant if not strangers before that time, he ought to be in his early to mid thirties at the time of The Phantom Menace.
255	He took Amidala and her companions out of the swamp to the edge of the grass plains that ran south to the Naboo capital of Theed. Any attack would be mounted from here, and the Queen had come to the Gungans with a very specific plan of attack in mind.	Location of the pre-attack conference described in relation to the city. If this plain is the same as the one where the battle took place, then there is a contradiction. The other references put the plain to the south of Theed; this passage puts the plain north of Theed. Perhaps an alternative interpretation is possible. Maybe this location is simply one edge of the plain: the edge closest to the Gungan camp though on the opposite side of the city to the place where the battle occurs?
259-260	"The Jedi cannot become involved," Darth Sidious soothed, hands spreading in a placating motion. "They can only protect the Queen. Even Qui-Gon Jinn cannot break that covenant. This will work to our advantage."	An interesting circumstance: Darth Sidious is familiar with Jinn and his somewhat dissident status within the Jedi order. How closely has Sidiosu studied the personalities of his Jedi enemies?
261	Chapter 20
261	By midday, with the sun overhead in a cloudless sky and the wind died away to nothing, the grasslands lying south of Theed between the Naboo capital city and the Gungan swamp lay empty and still.	location: These plains are said to be south of Theed.
263	Boss Nass might think it clever to make him a general in the Gungan army, but the career officers found it less amusing. Genera Ceel, who was commander-in-chief, grunted sourly at Jar Jar, on being informed of his new position, and told him to set a good example for his people and die well.	character: General Ceel, the Gungan field commander. In the movie, he appeared to be replaced by Captain Tarpals. This is peculiar, because a captain normally would not command more than a few hundred troops. Either Ceel and Tarpals are really distinct individuals who happen to be visually indistinguishable, or else Tarpals [in the movie] was acting on someone else's behalf. Or perhaps the Tarpals' commanders in the movie only pertained to the company surrounding him, rather than the whole army? Another possibility: perhaps the identification of Tarpals as a captain is only a mistake or misunderstanding on Binks' part, since it is mainly through the outcast's eyes that we see Tarpals.
272	Chapter 21
275	On the plains south of Theed, the battle between the Trade Federation and the Gungan armies was fully joined.	location: Another reference to the battlefield being south of Theed.
283	Chapter 22
298	Chapter 23
314	Chapter 24
320	That night Darth Sidious stood alone on a balcony overlooking the city, a shadowy figure amid the multitude of twinkling lights, his visage dark and angry as he contemplated the loss of his apprentice.	continuity: Darth Sidious is standing in a city, but which city? Some readers may assume that it is on Coruscant, but if Palpatine is merely Sidious' public identity then it must be Theed on Naboo.
321	Captain Panaka and the Queen's own guards stood at the top of the stone steps in the central plaza, watching the parade approach. Panaka's uniform was creased, metal insignia on his epaulets gleaming, proud and strong.	It is interesting to note that Panaka is supposed to have insignia on his shoulders. Unfortunately they were not obvious in the movie.
322	There was no one who could give him the grounding that Qui-Gon had provided — not Obi-Wan, not even Padmé. One day, perhaps. One day, each of them would play a part in his life that would change him forever. He could sense that. But for now, when it mattered most, he felt alone.	Anakin's shadowy premonition of his own destiny. Again it is interesting that as an untrained boy he shows subtle inborn prophetic ability.

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