Darth Maul, apprentice of the Sith leader Dark Sidious, appears again to impose his evil against the Force in the dark shadows of Coruscant. Darsha Assant, a new Jedi Padawan, has yet to prove her skills, but here finds a challenge that pits her bravery against that of Darth Maul.

Just previous to the events chronicled in The Phantom Menace, we are introduced to a wise but younger Yoda, Obi Wan Kenobi, our old favorite, and I-Five, a Droid with a great sense of humor (who is similar to C-3PO in temperament). Don't forget the Huts..they're in here too!

Michael Cumpsty, fine actor of stage and screen, masters the voices and inflections that make this Star Wars spectacular a joy to hear. From the Droids to Jedi knights and Yoda, the reading is superb. The action is fast and furious, the characters colorful and daunting, and the plot creatively woven into a sci-fi thriller.

All in all, this is pretty typical Star Wars fare; fun, fantastic, and brimming with terrific characters. I give it a thumbs up, especially as an audio book. As always, enjoy!