Scott's Rating:   4 out of 4

This is the novelization of Star Wars, Episode I - The Phantom Menace. It is basically the same as the film, except greatly expanded on. The book starts well before the film does, and it shows us Anakin's previous pod races and the results of them, only briefly alluded to in the film. The book also has scenes cut from the film (like R2-D2 using his booster rockets when he falls over a ledge in Coruscant). But the highlights are background information on Darth Sidious, Darth Maul, the Sith, the Jedi, and more. And, of course, the book allows us to get into the heads of the characters and find out what they are thinking.

Scott:

    The best thing about the novelization is the added scenes, the scenes cut from the film, and the background information. In fact, I think the novelization has an advantage over the film in some respects. For example, where did the Sith come from? Where did Anakin get parts for a pod if he is a slave? Why is there only one Federation Battleship when the Queen returns when earlier there were more? These questions are all answered in the novel and help round out the film. Brooks has done a great job and all fans will want to add the novel to their collection. You need to in order to get the full story.

Scott:

    This book has 4 different covers. The story is identical, but the covers are different. This is an obvious move to gouge fans for more money, and, of course, it works. It works to get $75 more out of my wallet, but I'm VERY turned off by it. I think if Del Rey continues to pull stuff like this, fans are going to be turned off VERY quickly. The same thing happened to the comic book industry. Once they started all the variations on the covers, fans said "Forget it" and didn't buy them anymore. The comic market is in a major slump now. If the Star Wars franchise isn't managed better, the same will happen to it.

I would have also preferred a new Drew Struzan painted cover over the boring stock photo covers from the Lucasfilm archives. If I'm going to pay extra for them, make it worth my while.

Scott:

    I paid over $100 for the entire set. Oy.