Star Wars: Dangers of the Core, Episode 1 (Jedi Readers) - Softcover

About the illustrator:
Boris Vallejo was born in Lima, Peru on January 8, 1941. His artistic tendencies were clearly in evidence since early in his life. At the age of 14, he won a scholarship to study in the Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes (National School of Fine Arts) in his home country. At age 16, he won another scholarship to further his artistic studies in Florence, Italy, which he was forced to decline because of parental opposition. Instead, he got himself a job as an illustrator at an advertising agency. In 1964, at the age of 23, he moved to the United States. He has since established himself at the forefront of the illustration world. He has done paintings for all of the major publishing houses in the United States, as well as the entire entertainment industry.

Boris and his wife, fellow artist Julie Bell, live in Pennsylvania, where they both continue reaching for new horizons in the art world.

Qui-Gon Jinn was running as fast as he could. A powerful engine roared right behind him. The Trade Federation transport was getting closer. Too close! he thought.

The transport carried an army of deadly battle droids. The planet Naboo was being invaded. Qui-Gon had to get to the city of Theed and warn the Queen!

All around him, animals were running for cover--except one.

A tall, froglike creature sat in the mud right in the Jedi Knight's path. It was eating a clam with its long, sticky tongue.

"Watch out!" Qui-Gon yelled.

The creature looked up and saw Qui-Gon. Then it saw the huge transport behind him. Its eyes grew wide.

"Oh, nooo!" it cried, grabbing the Jedi's robes. "Hep me, hep me!"

Qui-Gon looked back. The transport was almost on top of them!

Qui-Gon pushed the creature down into the muddy water and dove in after it.

The transport roared overhead.

Qui-Gon sat up and watched the transport disappear into the mist. The creature jumped up and gave Qui-Gon a big hug.

"Oyi! I luv yous!" it cried. "Meesa your humble servant."

Qui-Gon smiled. "That won't be necessary," he said.

"Oh, but tis!" the creature insisted. "Yousa saved Jar Jar Binks's life. Tis a life debt I owe."

Suddenly, a man ran out of the mist. It was Qui-Gon's student, Obi-Wan Kenobi. A battle droid on a STAP was chasing him.

Qui-Gon drew his lightsaber. The battle droid fired, but Qui-Gon deflected the blasts right back. The droid was destroyed.

"Thank you, Master," said Obi-Wan. "Naboo is crawling with battle droids. How can we avoid the army and get to Theed?"

"Um...excuse mesa," said Jar Jar.

Obi-Wan noticed Jar Jar for the first time. "Who is this?" he asked Qui-Gon.

Qui-Gon smiled. "This is my new friend, Jar Jar."

"Meesa home nearby," said Jar Jar. "City called Otoh Gunga. Hidden, tis."

Qui-Gon nodded. "Sounds good. Show us the way, Jar Jar."