William Shakespeare's The Phantom Menace

by Ian Doescher

  When I started this project, I got together with a group of key people to discuss the challenges and the opportunities the prequels present. Thank you to my good friend Josh Hicks, fangirls Jessica Mason and Kristy Thompson, the encyclopedic Dan Zehr, and Ethan (again) and Erik (again).

  Thank you to the wonderful people of Quirk Books: editors Jason Rekulak and Rick Chillot, boss-man Brett Cohen, publicity mavens Nicole De Jackmo and Suzanne Wallace, the heroic Eric Smith, and everyone else at Quirk. Thank you to my agent, Adriann Ranta, for the patience of a saint. Thank you to Jennifer Heddle at Lucasfilm and illustrator Nicolas Delort, both of you a delight.

  Continued special thanks to my college professor and friend Murray Biggs.

  Thank you to the usual suspects: Audu Besmer, Emmy Betz and Michael Hoke, Jane Bidwell, Travis Boeh and Sarah Woodburn, Chris Buehler and Marian Hammond, Erin and Nathan Buehler, Jeff and Caryl Creswell, Ken Evers-Hood, Mark Fordice, Chris Frimoth, Alana Garrigues, Brian Heron, Jim and Nancy Hicks, Anne Huebsch, Apricot and David Irving, Doree Jarboe, Alexis Kaushansky, Rebecca Lessem, Bobby Lopez, Andrea Martin, Bruce McDonald, Joan and Grady Miller, Jim Moiso, Janice Morgan, Michael Morrill and Tara Schuster, Dave Nieuwstraten, Julia Rodriguez-O’Donnell, Scott Roehm, Larry Rothe, Steve Weeks, Ryan Wilmot, Ben and Katie Wire, and members of the 501st Legion.

  To my spouse, Jennifer, who sacrificed time with her husband to assorted Jedi, Sith, and Gungans: thank you, Love. To our children, Liam and Graham: I love you even if you think the prequels are better.

  WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

  (1564–1616) was a poet and playwright. He is widely considered one of the greatest writers in the English language.

  GEORGE LUCAS is a film producer, screenwriter, director, and the creator of the Star Wars motion picture saga. He lives in California.

  IAN DOESCHER is the New York Times best-selling author of William Shakespeare’s Star Wars. He lives in Portland, Oregon, with his family. Visit him at IanDoescher.com.

  quirkbooks.com/phantomofmenace