The blockade of Naboo by the Trade Federation, an unusual move by players who shouldn't be so bold, triggers the arrival of two Jedi Knights. They rescue the queen of Naboo and must get her to the safety of Coruscant. But there's a snag. Her ship's hyperdrive needs replacing. And now the fate of the galaxy hinges on a small boy, whose potential will soon be seen by all... including the Sith.

The adaptation of a screenplay into a novel is a regular occurrence. Sometimes the resulting product is average. Sometimes it's awful. But sometimes you get a pretty solid effort, like this one. Not only did Terry Brooks smooth out several issues present in the story, he also created entirely new scenes that fit perfectly into canon. Unfortunately, his efforts also emphasised the story's greatest weakness: the forced comic relief provided by Jar Jar Binks. I don't hate Jar Jar. But wow. Even Brooks had trouble making that aspect work.

PS: Yes, a certain teen fangirl put in the extra effort to find a hardcover copy with her beloved Obi-Wan Kenobi on the front. Well done, me.