One Star... Why? Two words: "Terry Brooks" I'm sorry... the man can't write. I once tried to slog through "Sword of Shanara" - and it was awful. Reading "The Phantom Menace" I got to the point where I was almost afaid to read the next paragraph... afraid of what he might do. Some of Brooks' descriptions are truly painful. There are a few places where useful technical information is imparted. If the book works at all it works as a reference. In places it serves to offer more data about the Star Wars universe and fill in gaps left by the movie. My advice? If you still want to read it - wait for the paperback.