It was a period of great excitement for me. Information and knowledge were beggining to become available for the new movie. I can still remember when it had no name other than Episode 1. I would buy every magazine with an article on the new movie, no matter how big or how small. I poured over every picture, and every detail. Then, in April, my high school Knowledge bowl team went to the state competition. My parents gave me $50 spending money for the trip.
I promptly purchsd the Darth Maul 3 3/4" figure, which I still have. The com chip idea was fairly cool. I was mystefied though, not by the technology, but by this new Sith Lord with a double bladed lightsaber. Would we at last see the Star Wars univers that we had come to know in the EU books and comics? It appeared so, and I was immediately taken by the visage of this "Phantom Menace" who was appearing evry where.
I bought the novelezation and read it as quickly as I could. No I do not mind spoilers. Each media that a story is presented in provides its own excitement, and reading a book is a different expereince than the movie, and one does not diminish the other for me.
I remmber, finishing the book, while watching SciFi Channels fan video and Star Wars memory 2 hour show. (Spoilers were announced while an exotic dancer gyrated with a timer, so that spoiler haters could turn off the volume and still be entertained.)
The final build up was the purchsing of Anakin's podracer LEGO set. Star WArs and LEGO"S?! Was I really living in this greatest of times?! I was, and soon the day would come when the big screen showed us the beggining of the saga.