George Lucas Books

We all love parts of Star Wars, but why settle? For example, he could take a novel like Defenders of the Holy Grail and make it as magical as Lord of the Rings. His fantasies miss connections with the modern world His studio could be making real statements about the human condition instead of lightweight _______.

Wonderful book about the great filmaker who gave us such masterpieces as THX 1138,Raiders of the Lost Ark and Star Wars. . . .very rich and well done with beatiful colored pages, and comments from other filmaker on the movies of George Lucas. . . . a wonderful edition that would look great on anyone cofee table,so go out and buy it today.

This book gives you a sequence of events in Lucas' creative empire. It also contains interesting quotes from the man himself as well as other significant contributors to his work. It may come as a surprise to some of us that Lucas' goals are quite similar to our own; the only difference is that he has a very strong will to make it all come true.

Contained in this book are his projects that touched many who will never imagine the same way again.

George gave us visions of a future never before seen - this book is a chronicle of his works. The full page images and stories behind the ideas will leave you with a better sense of how this incredible universe came to be.

A GREAT BOOK!

George Lucas: The Creative Impulse is a great book which gives the reader a view over George Lucas and his life and filmography. The book introduces in sections Lucas' "early years", his films and also briefly his companies (ILM, Skywalker Sound, LucasArts) and also takes to a tour around Skywalker Ranch.

Although there isn't as much behind-the-scenes info I would have hoped for, the book was really interesting with lots of big photographs taken during the production of Lucas' films and other neat stuff.

Great book.

Based on a newspaper review, I read this book out of curosity. The book records Mr. Ammons' recollections of his life, his family and his business dealings. The book is not a literary work of art. It does reflect Mr. Ammons' unique opinions, which are consistently blunt, direct, no non-sense and to-be-point. His IRS ordeal was a chilling reminder that government works in strange and amazing ways. The book is entertaining summer reading.

What a wonderful and refreshing "picture" of someone who has become very successful without compromising family or values. The author's "comfortable" style of writing made me feel as though Mr. Ammons was sitting next to me, sharing his life and philosophies in warm conversation. Excellent book!

I was surprised at how much I liked this book. The author has much more to say than just about his small-town childhood, and he does have some good tips on business and child-raising. The book is written in a very conversational style, which makes it an easy read.

This is a wonderful book that reminds me of sitting down and listening to my own grandfather tell me stories of his life and growing up on a farm.

Back to books related to WWII and religious artifacts. As a group, these books are interesting if only for the complete effect - from Ludlum's The Gemini Contenders to The DaVinci Code to Indiana Jones, the differences and similarities in the tales are fascinating.

Indy begins the book by closing out his nearly lifelong chase after the Cross of Coronado. Ready for a return to the academic life, he returns late for the school year, only to find that his father is missing. Henry Jones has his own lifelong chase nearing an end - he appears to be within sight of the Grail Cup, and there are several groups of people who will do anything to beat him to it. Nazis, Henry's assistant Elsa, and a secret Brotherhood all have their eyes on the same prize, for their own reasons. Who will reach it first isn't nearly as important as who will be allowed to claim it.

As adventure books on the subject go, The Last Crusade is an odd mix of lightheartedness and murder, which detracts from the excitement of the story in the book but played well in the movie. Overall, though, it's a nice adaptation of the screenplay by Jeffrey Boam.

Okay, Okay. It's Indiana Jones. You know what you're going to get. It's good, non-stop action.

But what makes this set is the narration. For the 2 cassette, 3 hour adventure Dove Audio hired William Conrad to do the reading.

Few are more qualified, for it was Conrad who gave voice to the CBS Radio program, ESCAPE, in the 1950's. It was he who told the terror-filled tale of three men in a lighthouse (3 Skeleton Key) that was literally being devoured by a seething, snarling mass of rats bigger than a football field and thicker than the schooner from which they swarmed.

It was the late Mr. Conrad who gave booming voice to the fabled Marshall Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke. The program was heard on CBS radio long before it went to TV. Conrad's take on Dillon makes the Marshall much more human than the cardboard figure he was on television. When the show went to TV, Conrad wanted to go with it....but they did not want a FAT MATT. I guess Mr. Conrad got the last laugh years later when he did his Jake and the Fat Man show on the tube. He also had the highly rated Cannon show.
Conrad's voice was golden and will be missed.
among radio people his stock was on the highest shelf, a niche reserved for him and a select few others. Orson Welles comes to mind. and that's about it.
Five stars of five...
William Russo 17 nov 2007

I just love Indiana Jones adventures. This one's a must have for everyone

Again, Hisao Tamaki captured the action an tension of the Death Star battle, don't miss the oportunity to live the Death Star trench run un manga style, I never imagined that was so stressing! Add that to the spectacular sigh of the Death Star blowing up and you'll almost feel like you're one recieving the medal.

Ben is no more, and Luke needs to be a man for the first time on his life. With princess Leia Organa and with the company of a mercenary such as Han Solo and his old partner Chewbacca, a originary wookie from Kashyyyk, he'll only find out troubles and excitement. An adventure to buy!

Greetings friends.I am here to tell you of the Manga Star Wars #4,and let me start off by saying...GIVE US MORE!!!I enjoyed the art of this book and the way that the characters are drawn are a breath of fresh air,trust me on this one,it is a good step not the same way we americans are use to(or at least me anyway)...You may ask why not 5 stars...well Star Wars is as time itself,forever,and while I enjoyed this ALOT it did have a few moments(drawings)...that I thought could have been a bit better(Yea,and that`s why I don`t draw)...BUT I am NOT sorry that I got this set of all four and I think in time you will be glad that you were along for the ride as well.And before I end if I may say...they ARE making Star Wars:The Empire Stikes Back Manga(And I do believe they will go on and make Return of the Jedi as well)...So until next time...May the Force Be With You.

An early, and excellent softback on the art of Moebius. I believe there is an intor by George Lucas on this one

This book is a very nice collection of images from Moebius' comic books, but without the "word bubbles" that can detract from the beauty of the art.

A great book that is actually a compilation of the letters that Mr Lucas sent home to his wife during World War II. He had promised her that he'd try to write "every other day" and his letters are a chronological documentary of not only the progress of the war (from a Sailors view), but also an insight into what life was like in the Navy at that time. Historically important to anyone serving in the Navy, this book is listed on the Navy's recommended reading list.

A touching account of one soilders love for his beloved wife.

In this little book, two of film's most visible critics, Roger Ebert and the late Gene Siskel, interview three of the most influential film directors of the last 30 years: Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, and George Lucas. (Scorsese is interviewed by both Ebert and Siskel. Spielberg is interviewed by Siskel; Lucas by Ebert.)

Much of the focus of this little book is directed toward film preservation, although the title of the book also refers to trends in filmmaking. It is interesting to see the predictions that all three directors made for the future of film when these interviews were conducted in 1990. Along the way, we gain a bit of insight into the passion these three directors (and these two critics) have for films and their future. An interesting look for the casual fan or the serious film lover.

116 pages

A must-have for film fans. In what other book can one get so intimate about films with acclaimed film makers Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, and George Lucas, along with prominent film critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert. Simply put, facinating, and a pure joy to read. Plus, the proceeds go to restoring films, such as JAWS, that are literally disappearing.

Imagine Star Wars being sucked into a Japanese comic book. Yeah, it sounds pretty balistic, but imagine a Japanese Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Chewbacca, and even Jabba the Hutt. This has got to be one of my favorite comics for this series yet! This book features the fight with Luke and the rancor and the fight at the Pit of Carcoon. Truly a great read! -Sideus

Just like the New Hope and ESB series, this is a great start of Jedi. Great art, and love the word for word script. More of the same, but since I loved the first ones, I loved this one.

I'm a huge fan of Jean Craighead George. However, I was not aware that she was in the business of doing picture books. Granted, these gorgeous paintings were not hers, but the sweet, lovely story about friendship in the Arctic certainly was.In her classic back-to-nature fashion, Ms. George tells the story of innocence in a harsh world that usually does not tolerate innocence. A young girl plays with a polar bear cub even as her old brother hunts down the cub's mother. It's beautiful, sing-song prose that is just as captivating as the marvelous paintings. It's much shorter than George's other novels, but the same spirit remains.

Jean Craighead George combines her love of Eskimo culture and wildlife in this splendid picture book. The story is of a young Eskimo girl named Bessie who, while out exploring one Arctic evening, meets a polar bear cub named Snow Bear. The two immediately become the best of friends, while Bessie's brother and Snow Bear's mother watch over them like the good caretakers they are. The story wonderfully shows how animal life often reflects the ways of humans--close family bonds, playfulness, and a sense of happiness abound between both species. Wendell Minor's spectacular illustrations light up every page. They are filled with warmth, humor, and excitement, and are breathtakingly beautiful. The quiet elegance of Eskimo life and the powerful magnificence of the polar bear are gloriously depicted. Other George/Minor picture books include the remarkable ARCTIC SON, the story of Ms. George's grandson who lives at the top of the world. More ice, Eskimos, and polar bears can be seen in this radiant story. MORNING, NOON, AND NIGHT tells the story of many different animals all over the United States and what they do during the transition from sunrise to sunset. Mr. Minor's illustrations are cozy and cheerful. EVERGLADES is another example of the excellent combination of Ms. George's poetic style and Mr.Minor's lush watercolors. It tells the story of the rise and near-fall of one of the world's greatest and most unique ecosystems, the Florida Everglades. Mr. Minor also did the art for the covers and some of the illustrations for Ms. George's spectacular JULIE OF THE WOLVES books. The fourth in the series, not a chapter book but a picture book entitled NUTIK THE WOLF PUP, is written with the same close view into the relationship between humans and animals as SNOW BEAR, but Mr. Minor did not do the illustrations for this book. Jean Craighead George, author of more than eighty books for children and young adults, will surely inspire and warm the hearts of her audiences with SNOW BEAR.

This novel is written well enough, and giving Terry Brooks credit for his talent (he is author of the best selling Sword of Shanara series) I have to say that he did a good job with the material he was given. The Phantom Menace is a bode of contention with many and as a film and book, it seemed very scattered in its layout. The film aside, the screenplay on which the novel is based seemed to want to cover a lot of ground but lacked the cohesive-ness of the original trilogy. There is one scene that does stand out and unfortunately it never made its way into the film, in which Anakin Skywalker keeps watch over a Tusken Raider child that has been trapped out in the desert. He tried to free the child but when he can't he stays all night with it to make sure nothing comes to harm it. He wakes in the morning to find himself surrounded by the child's clan and they silently acknowledge his act of selflessness and leave. This scene would have greatly enhanced Anakin's character in the film and would have been echoed beautifully in Episode II when his mother is killed by the Tuskens. In true ironic fashion, this type of tragic element would have worked so well to further empathize viewers sympathy for the title character and it was simple to boot. But in digression, this is a must read novel for die hard Star Wars fans, but not really necessary for the casual fan.

The look of the book is great. The writing is poor. It's rather simple and bland. The word-choice is kiddish. Boring.

Reading any Star Wars book can't beat the experience of seeing a Star Wars movie. Star Wars was meant to be cinema; all the books are just extra. This is especially true about a movie novelization. So if you've seen the movie, what is the point of reading the book that is based on the movie? I want to read the stuff that happens behind the scenes and the parts of the story that are based on scenes that were cut from the film. The novelization is the opportunity to add a lot of background not in the film. It is the chance to get inside the characters' heads. Ideally, the novelization will enhance our appreciation of the film.

In `99, I saw this movie in the theater six times and absolutely loved it. It totally lives up to the classic trilogy in my mind (and the lightsaber dueling in TPM surpassed the classic duels). On an action-adventure level, this movie is awesome. And I'll admit right here that I even like the character of Jar Jar. He's funny!

Even though the movie is completely enjoyable as it is, it did raise questions in my mind. What was a Trade Federation? What were the details of the political happenings of the Senate? Why did the Supreme Chancellor have to dispatch two Jedi Knights to the Naboo trade blockade "secretly"? And what is the young queen's background. Where is her family?

Over the course of the movie's run in the theater, I decided to read the novel (mostly based on The Phantom Menace screenplay), with the previously mentioned purpose of enhancing my movie experience the next time I saw it. I was a little nervous as I remembered not liking the classic trilogy novelizations because too much was different from the movies.

Well, the good news is, I don't remember this novel changing much from the movie. And there was even an extra part that Lucas himself demanded be added to the novel. Lucas wanted a few chapter's to show Anakin before the other characters met him. Show that he is a little boy with a lot of compassion, Lucas directed Brooks. So there are a few chapters that portray the events leading up to the fateful encounter in Watto's junk shop that we see in the movie. And Lucas also gave the author a little bit about why the Sith have been thought to "have been extinct for a millenium."

But the bad news is, exactly none of my questions had been answered! So I was overall disappointed with this book. Cloak of Deception has the answers to my questions about this movie (except about Padme's family and backgroud - The Attack of the Clones novel and DVD deleted scenes help out there). I give this book 2.5-stars.

If you want to know a little more about Anakin Skywalker, the one who will bring balance to The Force, my recommendation is to read Chapters 1, 2 and 6 of this novilization and then just watch Episode I again!

I highly recommend the following 5-star novels that are extremely relevant to the film series:

Cloak of Deception (Star Wars)
Shadow Hunter (Star Wars: Darth Maul)
Labyrinth of Evil (Star Wars, Episode III Prequel Novel)
Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader (Star Wars)
Shadows of the Empire (Star Wars)

Being tapped to write a novelization of a film as massively successful as a Star Wars movie has got to feel like a bit of a thankless job, artistically speaking. Sure, the exposure and potential earnings would probably excite many a potential author, but it has to be rather limiting to any lofty literary aspirations a writer might have. I can also imagine that Lucasfilm is likely quite restrictive of writers taking liberties with the adaptations of the Star Wars films, especially when the book in question is of the first Star Wars film to be made in sixteen years.

So how does Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace stack up as a novel? Unfortunately, I wasn't terribly impressed. I don't think it makes sense to evaluate a movie novelization on its story, as the story was already dreamed up and written in script form before Terry Brooks was brought on board. What I look for in a good movie novelization is an expansion of the story presented in the film, an in-depth exploration into characters and their motivations, and tasty tidbits that either didn't make it onto the screen due to running time or simply because they were better left to prose.

The book starts off well with several chapters devoted to young Anakin on Tatooine. Anakin races Sebulba in a Podrace briefly alluded to in the film, he meets with his buddies Kitster and Wald and rambles around Mos Espa, and has an exciting encounter with a wounded Tusken Raider out in the desert, whom Anakin nurses back to health. Surely Terry Brooks couldn't have known about Anakin's eventual slaughter of the Tusken Raider tribe that kidnapped his mother in Attack of the Clones, but it plays out like he did. Young Anakin's unthinking care for the Tusken adds pathos and a tinge of irony to the bloodbath he unleashes on the desert tribe in Clones.

However, after this opening, the book quickly settles into essentially being a blow-by-blow account of the events of the film. It uses many Star Wars terms freely without much description and also uses some that don't seem to be quite "Star Wars" at all.

I find Terry Brooks' writing style workmanlike - he tells a story in a very straightforward and easy-to-follow way but rarely illuminates a particular page with anything that leaps out and grabs you by the proverbial throat. The book does a lot of telling you what characters are feeling without actually showing you what they feel - there's not much subtlety in simply stating a character is sad, angry, or happy.

I believe the two-star rating may be a shade harsh, but I hoped to get more out of this novelization than a flat retelling of the film. Books can go places films cannot, and I didn't feel this book tried very hard to do that. I did enjoy the movie The Phantom Menace and find it an entertaining story, but reading the book didn't add much to my run through reading the entire Expanded Universe.

The disadvantage of reading The Phantom Menace is that we have all seen the movie. We know what happens. Given that caveat and with some reservations, I still feel that Terry Brooks did a workmanlike job in continuing the story of Darth Sidious' machinations with the help of his apprentice Darth Maul. More importantly, we are introduced in the story to Anakin Skywalker and, less importantly to some, to Jar Jar Binks. Admittedly, my review is unavoidably influenced by my love of the movie. The book could do so much more.

The book differs from the movie in its approach. We begin the story with young Anakin on Tatooine instead of with the Jedi visiting the Trade Federation ship to discuss the blockade of Naboo. We also have a great early chapter with Anakin experiencing Tusken Raiders firsthand, nicely setting the stage for future developments in the saga as Anakin reaches maturity. Watto is treated in the book, as in the movie, as one of the most memorable Star Wars characters. The pod race, the vote of no confidence in Chancellor Valorum, the battle on Naboo with the help of the Gungans - all of these are described by Mr. Brooks in fine fashion.

However, most of the book admittedly is a rehash of the movie. The opportunity existed to flesh out the story presented in the movie, but very little of that happens. I found myself wishing that the book was about twice as long and packed with background information on events and characters. Tell us more. Always tell us more.

A particular recommendation. After you finish the book, watch the film again. I found that I enjoyed the film even more with the book still in my head.