Tuesday, May 18, 1999
'Phantom Menace' more than a movie
Seeing the film won't spoil this fun, well-written novelization
BY JEFF SUESS
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Seen it? Send us your comments.
It seems Terry Brooks was destined to write Star Wars. In 1977, when the first film hit movie theaters, Mr. Brooks published his first novel, The Sword of Shannara. The same editor at Del Rey Publishing edited both Sword and the Star Wars novelization that year.
Since then, Star Wars has exploded into a cultural phenomenon and Mr. Brooks has been a staple on best-seller lists, with 14 best sellers including eight books in the Shannara series.
Call it fortune, call it the Force. Something bound these two from the beginning.
The parallels don't end there. Shannara is an epic fantasy of odd heroes and wizards fighting the struggle of good vs. evil. Star Wars is mislabeled as science fiction; it really has more in common with fantasy and myth, and plays with the same themes.
So, when George Lucas sought a writer to adapt his screenplay for Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Mr. Brooks received the call.
The first of the long-awaited prequels to the Star Wars trilogy, The Phantom Menace follows the story of the future Darth Vader, Anakin Skywalker. He will eventually become a powerful Jedi Knight only to succumb to the Dark Side of the Force as Vader.
The book opens a generation before Star Wars. Anakin is nine and is a slave on the planet Tatooine. He has a talent for piloting rickety Podracers. In fact, he's the only human who can fly the complicated Pods, because he sees things before they happen.
Meanwhile, across the galaxy, an army of battle droids invades the peaceful planet Naboo. What they failed to anticipate was a couple of Jedi, Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi, who help Naboo queen Amidala escape the planet.
They land on Tatooine for repairs and meet Anakin. Qui-Gon senses great power in the boy and believes him to be the Chosen One, the person prophesied to become a powerful Jedi who will bring balance to the Force.
Lurking in the shadows is the phantom menace, Darth Sidious. He is a master of the Sith, a cult of Jedi powered by the Dark Side and thought to have been wiped out centuries ago. The story culminates in a complex battle to free Naboo and decide the future of young Anakin.
Sound confusing? In a few months these characters will be as familiar as Han Solo and Princess Leia Organa.
Returning favorites Obi-Wan, Yoda, R2-D2 and C-3PO are joined by Queen Amidala, Qui-Gon, the goofy Jar Jar and the devilish Darth Maul, who could rival Vader in popularity.
On the surface, Star Wars has always been like a kid's comic book. But the story's heart springs from the archetypal structures of heroes, villains, romance and inner strength in mythology. It's easy to be dazzled by whizzing starships and strange creatures, but Star Wars is about good triumphing over the temptations of evil, where people rely on one another.
The Phantom Menace returns us to that mythical landscape.
Mr. Lucas chose Mr. Brooks to write the book because of his storytelling skills. Mr. Brooks' simple narration feels like he's reading aloud to an awestruck audience. He handles the characters like they were his own. Better, in fact, than those in his own Shannara series. He's comfortable here and having fun, because he's allowed to play around.
Instead of writing a straight novelization, Mr. Brooks treats the book as a companion to the film to tell the story the best way possible, which includes branching off to original material. He adds several scenes around Anakin, which strengthens the character, and establishes a history of the Jedi and Sith Lords.
The Phantom Menace is the best novel in the Star Wars series since the original film novelization, partly because of the inventive storyline. While better written, more complex and full of richer characters, Episode I doesn't have quite as good a story as the first book, which had fewer loose ends and a more structured plot. Too much is going on in Phantom's climax to give each storyline it's due attention.
Fascinating creatures and strange new worlds inhabit every page to create a lavish picture of this galaxy far, far away. The book is full of wonder, excitement, tragedy, and triumph. Highlights are the adrenaline-rushing Podrace and the Jedi duel, written with a breathless pace.
But can the novel stand alone? I think yes.
It is finely crafted and well told. But why would anyone not want to see the movie, too? It's like reading a great description of the Sistine Chapel. There's nothing like watching Star Wars on the big screen. And as a companion piece, Mr. Brooks' novel is a must-have.
Jeff Suess works in the Enquirer library. He grew up in George Lucas' hometown of Modesto, Calif., and knows entirely too much about Star Wars.
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