Taral Books and Comics

In my recent post about challenges and opportunities in my reading, I announced that I would take a short break from reading Star Wars after my coverage of Episode I, so I could try something else for a bit.  This would break up the monotony of Star Wars coverage and permit me to read something non-Star Wars in the next few years.  I opted to begin with some books about spies, war, and political intrigue: the original James Bond novels from Ian Fleming and some Tom Clancy novels. I've enjoyed James Bond movies since I was a child.  My parents took me to see the Pierce Brosnan movies in theatres, and we would watch the Roger Moore and Timothy Dalton ones on TV whenever they would come on.  I didn't understand much about the world of spies then, but as an adult I've come to know a bit more about the time period, as well as the tropes of such stories. I first read Tom Clancy novels in high school, starting with Rainbow Six , because I had begun playing the video ga...

I've read all published Star Wars Legends stories taking place in the days of the Old Republic and even earlier, depicting ancient wars between the Jedi and Sith.  I've read the stories of the Sith transformation, permitting them to survive extinction and build their strength for an ultimate return.  I've read the stories that set the stage for the first of the Star Wars movie prequels.  Now: I start the movie era. Movie poster for Episode I .  Image from Wookieepedia. Episode I: The Phantom Menace came out in mid-May 1999, less than two weeks before my 13th birthday.  I don't remember the exact date I saw it, but I believe it was late June, just after school ended.  I seem to remember seeing it with my older sister when I spent a week visiting her after school was over.  Unlike many Star Wars fans I only ever saw it in theatres once (seeing a movie multiple times in theatres wasn't something I did back then, though I did see the theatrical re-r...