Alan Dean Foster (born November 18, 1946) is an American writer of

fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy literature and d ...

and

science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel uni ...

. He has written several

book series A book series is a sequence of books having certain characteristics in common that are formally identified together as a group. Book series can be organized in different ways, such as written by the same author, or marketed as a group by their pub ...

, more than 20 standalone novels, and many

novelization A novelization (or novelisation) is a derivative novel that adapts the story of a work created for another medium, such as a film, TV series, stage play, comic book or video game. Film novelizations were particularly popular before the advent of ...

s of film scripts.

Career

''Star Wars''

Foster was the

ghostwriter A ghostwriter is hired to write literary or journalistic works, speeches, or other texts that are officially credited to another person as the author. Celebrities, executives, participants in timely news stories, and political leaders often ...

of the original novelization of ''Star Wars'', which was credited solely to

George Lucas George Walton Lucas Jr. (born May 14, 1944) is an American filmmaker. Lucas is best known for creating the '' Star Wars'' and '' Indiana Jones'' franchises and founding Lucasfilm, LucasArts, Industrial Light & Magic and THX. He served as c ...

. When asked if it was difficult for him to see Lucas get all the credit for ''Star Wars'', Foster said, "Not at all. It was George's story idea. I was merely expanding upon it. Not having my name on the cover didn't bother me in the least. It would be akin to a contractor demanding to have his name on a

Frank Lloyd Wright Frank Lloyd Wright (June 8, 1867 – April 9, 1959) was an American architect, designer, writer, and educator. He designed more than 1,000 structures over a creative period of 70 years. Wright played a key role in the architectural movements o ...

house." Foster also wrote the follow-up novel ''

Splinter of the Mind's Eye ''Splinter of the Mind's Eye'' is a 1978 science-fiction novel written by Alan Dean Foster as a sequel to the film ''Star Wars'' (1977). Originally published in 1978 by Del Rey, a division of Ballantine Books, the book was written with the inte ...

'' (1978), written with the intention of being adapted as a low-budget sequel to ''

Star Wars ''Star Wars'' is an American epic space opera multimedia franchise created by George Lucas, which began with the eponymous 1977 film and quickly became a worldwide pop-culture phenomenon. The franchise has been expanded into various film ...

'' if the film was unsuccessful. However, ''Star Wars'' was a

blockbusting Blockbusting was a business practice in the United States in which real estate agents and building developers convinced white residents in a particular area to sell their property at below-market prices. This was achieved by fearmongering the ho ...

success, and ''

The Empire Strikes Back ''The Empire Strikes Back'' (also known as ''Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back'') is a 1980 American epic space opera film directed by Irvin Kershner from a screenplay by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan, based on a stor ...

'' (1980) would be developed instead. Foster's story relied heavily on abandoned concepts that appeared in Lucas's early treatments for the first film. Foster returned to the franchise for the prequel-era novel '' The Approaching Storm'' (2002), and also wrote the novelization of the first

sequel trilogy The ''Star Wars'' sequel trilogy is the third trilogy of the main '' Star Wars'' franchise, an American space opera created by George Lucas. It is produced by Lucasfilm Ltd. and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The trilogy ...

film, ''

The Force Awakens ''Star Wars: The Force Awakens'' (also known as ''Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens'') is a 2015 American epic space opera film produced, co-written, and directed by J. J. Abrams. The sequel to '' Return of the Jedi'' (198 ...

'' (2015).

''Star Trek''

Foster wrote 10 books based on episodes of the animated ''Star Trek'', the first six books each consisting of three linked novella-length episode adaptations, and the last four being expanded adaptations of single episodes that segued into original story. In the mid-seventies, he wrote original ''Star Trek'' stories for the Peter Pan-label ''Star Trek'' audio story records. He has the

story credit The Writers Guild of America (WGA) credit system for motion pictures and television programs covers all works under the jurisdiction of the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) and the Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW). The WGA, originally ...

for '' Star Trek: The Motion Picture'', as he wrote a treatment based in a two-page outline by Gene Roddenberry. He later wrote the novelization of the 2009 film ''

Star Trek ''Star Trek'' is an American science fiction media franchise created by Gene Roddenberry, which began with the eponymous 1960s television series and quickly became a worldwide pop-culture phenomenon. The franchise has expanded into vari ...

'', his first ''Star Trek'' novel in over 30 years, and for ''Star Trek''s sequel, ''

Star Trek Into Darkness ''Star Trek Into Darkness'' is a 2013 American science fiction action film directed by J. J. Abrams and written by Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman, and Damon Lindelof. It is the 12th installment in the ''Star Trek'' franchise and the sequel to t ...

''.

Dispute with Disney

In 2020, Foster, together with the

Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, doing business as Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association, commonly known as SFWA ( or ) is a Non-profit organization, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization of professional science fiction an ...

(SFWA), alleged that

The Walt Disney Company The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was originally founded on Octobe ...

, which acquired rights to his ''Star Wars'' and ''

Alien Alien primarily refers to: * Alien (law), a person in a country who is not a national of that country ** Enemy alien, the above in times of war * Extraterrestrial life, life which does not originate from Earth ** Specifically, intelligent extrater ...

'' novels via their acquisitions of Lucasfilm and

20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Disn ...

, had not paid him

royalties A royalty payment is a payment made by one party to another that owns a particular asset, for the right to ongoing use of that asset. Royalties are typically agreed upon as a percentage of gross or net revenues derived from the use of an asset o ...

for

e-book An ebook (short for electronic book), also known as an e-book or eBook, is a book publication made available in digital form, consisting of text, images, or both, readable on the flat-panel display of computers or other electronic devices. A ...

sales of his books. The issue was resolved in May 2021, when Disney arranged to pay Foster and his fellow ''Star Wars'' novelization authors

James Kahn James Kahn (born December 30, 1947) is an American medical specialist and writer, best known for his novelization of ''Return of the Jedi''. Born in Chicago, Kahn received a degree in medical studies from the University of Chicago. His post-gra ...

and

Donald F. Glut Donald F. Glut (; born February 19, 1944) is an American writer, motion picture film director, and screenwriter. He is best known for writing the novelization of the second ''Star Wars'' film, ''The Empire Strikes Back''. Filmmaker Amateur car ...

their royalties.

Awards

Foster won the 2008 Grand Master award from the International Association of Media Tie-In Writers.

Bibliography

Humanx Commonwealth Universe

Pip and Flinx

Novels are listed in chronological order of the story (not chronological order of publication). Foster comments, in a foreword to a re-issued edition of ''Bloodhype'', that it is the eleventh novel in the series, and should fall between ''Running from the Deity'' and ''Trouble Magnet''. # '' For Love of Mother-Not'' (1983) # ''

The Tar-Aiym Krang ''The Tar-Aiym Krang'' (1972) is a science fiction novel by American writer Alan Dean Foster. It is Foster’s first published novel and started both his Humanx Commonwealth universe and his two most popular recurring characters, Pip and Philip ...

'' (1972) # ''

Orphan Star ''Orphan Star'' (1977) is a science fiction novel by American writer Alan Dean Foster. The book is Foster's eighteenth published book, his fifth original novel, and is chronologically the third entry in the Pip and Flinx series. '' Bloodhype'' ...

'' (1977) # ''

The End of the Matter ''The End of the Matter'' (1977) is a science fiction novel by American writer Alan Dean Foster Alan Dean Foster (born November 18, 1946) is an American writer of fantasy and science fiction. He has written several book series, more than 20 s ...

'' (1977) # '' Flinx in Flux'' (1988) # '' Mid-Flinx'' (1995) # ''

Reunion Reunion may refer to: * Class reunion * Family reunion Reunion, Réunion, Re-union, Reunions or The Reunion may also refer to: Places * Réunion, a French overseas department and island in the Indian Ocean * Reunion, Commerce City, Colorado, US ...

'' (2001) # '' Flinx's Folly'' (2003) # '' Sliding Scales'' (2004) # ''

Running from the Deity ''Running from the Deity'' (2005) is a science fiction novel by American writer Alan Dean Foster. The book is the tenth chronologically in the Pip and Flinx series. Plot summary Continuing his pursuit of the alien weapon's platform, the Krang, ...

'' (2005) # ''

Bloodhype ''Bloodhype'' (1973) is a science fiction novel by American writer Alan Dean Foster. The book is eleventh chronologically in the Pip and Flinx series, though it was written second; the main characters only appear in the last third of the book. I ...

'' (1973) # ''

Trouble Magnet ''Trouble Magnet'' (2006) is a science fiction novel by American writer Alan Dean Foster Alan Dean Foster (born November 18, 1946) is an American writer of fantasy and science fiction. He has written several book series, more than 20 standalon ...

'' (2006) # '' Patrimony'' (2007) # '' Flinx Transcendent'' (2009) # ''Strange Music'' (2017)

Founding of the Commonwealth

# ''

Phylogenesis Phylogenesis (from Greek φῦλον ''phylon'' "tribe" + γένεσις ''genesis'' "origin") is the biological process by which a taxon (of any rank) appears. The science that studies these processes is called phylogenetics. These terms may be ...

'' (1999) # ''

Dirge A dirge ( la, dirige, naenia) is a somber song or lament expressing mourning or grief, such as would be appropriate for performance at a funeral. Often taking the form of a brief hymn, dirges are typically shorter and less meditative than elegi ...

'' (2000) # ''

Diuturnity's Dawn ''Diuturnity's Dawn'' (2002) is a science fiction novel by American writer Alan Dean Foster. The full title is sometimes shown as ''Diuturnity's Dawn: Book Three of The Founding of the Commonwealth''. Plot summary In the third and concluding nov ...

'' (2002)

Icerigger Trilogy

# '' Icerigger'' (1974) # '' Mission to Moulokin'' (1979) # '' The Deluge Drivers'' (1987)

Standalone Commonwealth novels

In chronological order: # ''

Nor Crystal Tears ''Nor Crystal Tears'' is a science fiction novel by American writer Alan Dean Foster, first published on 12 August 1982. Foster's ninth book set in the Humanx Commonwealth, it is a first-contact story about the meeting of the insectoid Thranx ...

'' (1982) # '' Voyage to the City of the Dead'' (1984) # ''

Midworld ''Midworld'' (1975) is a science fiction novel by American writer Alan Dean Foster. It is set in his primary science fiction universe, the Humanx Commonwealth. Plot Midworld is a planet entirely covered by a rain forest three-quarters of a k ...

'' (1975) # "The Emoman" (1972) short story # "Surfeit" (1982) short story # '' Drowning World'' (2003) # '' Quofum'' (2008) # "Mid-Death" (2006) short story # '' The Howling Stones'' (1997) # '' Sentenced to Prism'' (1985) # '' Cachalot'' (1980)

The Damned Trilogy

# ''A Call to Arms'' (1991) # ''The False Mirror'' (1992) # ''The Spoils of War'' (1993)

Dinotopia Universe

* ''Dinotopia Lost'' (1996) * ''The Hand of Dinotopia'' (1997)

Journeys of the Catechist

# ''Carnivores of Light and Darkness'' (1998) # ''Into the Thinking Kingdoms'' (1999) # ''A Triumph of Souls'' (2000)

Marexx

# ''Builder'' (unpublished)

Spellsinger series

# ''

Spellsinger ''Spellsinger'' is a series of fantasy novels by American writer Alan Dean Foster. At present the series consists of eight books, with a significant gap between the writing of book six and book seven. These volumes are: # '' Spellsinger'' (1983 ...

'' (1983) # ''

The Hour of the Gate ''The Hour of the Gate'' (1984) is a fantasy novel by American writer Alan Dean Foster. The book follows the continuing adventures of Jonathan Thomas Meriweather who is transported from our world into a land of talking animals and magic. It is the ...

'' (1984) # ''

The Day of the Dissonance ''The Day of the Dissonance'' is a 1984 fantasy novel by American writer Alan Dean Foster. The book follows the continuing adventures of Jonathan Thomas Meriweather who is transported from our world into a land of talking animals and magic. It is ...

'' (1984) # ''

The Moment of the Magician ''The Moment of the Magician'' (1984) is a fantasy novel by American writer Alan Dean Foster. The book follows the continuing adventures of Jonathan Thomas Meriweather who is transported from our world into a land of talking animals and magic. It ...

'' (1984) # ''

The Paths of the Perambulator ''The Paths of the Perambulator'' (1985) is a fantasy novel by American writer Alan Dean Foster. The book follows the continuing adventures of Jonathan Thomas Meriweather who is transported from our world into a land of talking animals and magi ...

'' (1985) # ''

The Time of the Transference ''Time of the Transference'' (1986) is a fantasy novel by American writer Alan Dean Foster. The book follows the continuing adventures of Jonathan Thomas Meriweather who is transported from our world into a land of talking animals and magic. It ...

'' (1986) # ''

Son of Spellsinger ''Son of Spellsinger'' (1993) is a fantasy novel by American writer Alan Dean Foster. The book follows the continuing adventures of Jonathan Thomas Meriweather who is transported from our world into a land of talking animals and magic. It is the ...

'' (1993) # ''

Chorus Skating ''Chorus Skating'' (1994) is a fantasy novel by American writer Alan Dean Foster. The book follows the continuing adventures of Jonathan Thomas Meriweather who is transported from our world into a land of talking animals and magic. It is the ei ...

'' (1994) "Serenade" (2004), a novelette set immediately after ''The Time of the Transference'', was first published in the anthology ''Masters of Fantasy'' and was later reprinted in Foster's short story collection ''Exceptions to Reality''.

The Taken trilogy

# ''Lost and Found'' (2004) # ''The Light-Years Beneath My Feet'' (2005) # ''The Candle of Distant Earth'' (2005)

The Tipping Point trilogy

* ''The Human Blend'' (2010) * ''Body, Inc.'' (2012) * ''The Sum of Her Parts'' (2012)

''Montezuma Strip''

* '' Montezuma Strip'' (1995) * '' The Mocking Program'' (2002)

Standalone novels

* ''

The Man Who Used the Universe ''The Man Who Used the Universe'' is a science fiction novel by Alan Dean Foster published in 1983. Plot summary ''The Man Who Used the Universe'' is a novel in which Kees vaan Loo-Macklin rises from an illegal to a position of high power. Recep ...

'' (1983) * ''The I Inside'' (1984) * ''Slipt'' (1984) * '' Into the Out Of'' (1986) * '' Glory Lane'' (1987) * ''Maori'' (1988) * ''To the Vanishing Point'' (1988) * ''Quozl'' (1989) * ''Cyber Way'' (1990) * ''Cat-a-lyst'' (1991) * ''Codgerspace'' (1992) * ''Greenthieves'' (1994) * ''Design for Great-Day'' (1995) , with Eric Frank Russell) * ''Life Form'' (1995) * ''

Voyage of the Basset ''Voyage of the Basset'' is a fantasy novel published in 1996. It was written and illustrated by James C. Christensen in collaboration with Renwick St. James and Alan Dean Foster. It is about a widowed Victorian era professor, Algernon Aisling, ...

'' (Illustrated by

James C. Christensen James C. Christensen (September 26, 1942 – January 8, 2017) was an American illustrator and painter of religious and fantasy art. Christensen was born and raised in Culver City, California.Taylor, Scott and Walch, Tad"Of fantasy and faith: LDS ...

) (1996) * ''Jed the Dead'' (1997) * ''Parallelities'' (1998) * ''Primal Shadows'' (2001) * '' Interlopers'' (2001) * ''Kingdoms of Light'' (2001) * ''Sagramanda'' (2006) * ''Relic'' (2018)

Collections

* '' With Friends Like These ...'' (1977) * '' ... Who Needs Enemies?'' (1984) * '' The Metrognome and Other Stories'' (1990) * ''

Mad Amos ''Mad Amos'' is a 1996 short story collection by the American speculative fiction author Alan Dean Foster. The stories (only two of which were previously unpublished) center on the character of ''Amos Malone'', a mountain man in the 19th century ...

'' (1996) * '' Impossible Places'' (2002) * '' Exceptions to Reality'' (2008) * ''The Flavors of Other Worlds'' (2019) * ''The Taste of Different Dimensions'' (2019)

Anthologies edited

* ''Smart Dragons, Foolish Elves'' (1991) with

Martin H. Greenberg Martin Harry Greenberg (March 1, 1941 – June 25, 2011) was an American academic and anthologist in many genres, including mysteries and horror, but especially in speculative fiction. In all, he compiled 1,298 anthologies and commissioned ov ...

* ''Betcha Can't Read Just One'' (1993) * ''Short Stories from Small Islands: Tales Shared in Palau'' (2005)

Novelizations

''Star Trek'' universe

=''Star Trek: The Animated Series''

= # ''Star Trek Log One'' (1974) # ''Star Trek Log Two'' (1974) # ''Star Trek Log Three'' (1975) # ''Star Trek Log Four'' (1975) # ''Star Trek Log Five'' (1975) # ''Star Trek Log Six'' (1976) # ''Star Trek Log Seven'' (1976) # ''Star Trek Log Eight'' (1976) # ''Star Trek Log Nine'' (1977) # ''Star Trek Log Ten'' (1978)

=''Star Trek'' movies

= * '' Star Trek: The Motion Picture'' (1979), story credit * ''

'' (2009) , movie novelization * ''

'' (2013) , movie novelization * ''Star Trek: The Unsettling Stars'' (2020) , movie tie-in

''Star Wars'' universe

* '' Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker'' (1976) , novelization of ''

ghost writing A ghost is the soul or spirit of a dead person or animal that is believed to be able to appear to the living. In ghostlore, descriptions of ghosts vary widely from an invisible presence to translucent or barely visible wispy shapes, to rea ...

* ''

'' (1978) * '' The Approaching Storm'' (2002) * '' Star Wars: The Force Awakens'' (2015), movie novelization * "Bait" (2015), short story

Alien universe

# ''

'' (1979) # ''

Aliens Alien primarily refers to: * Alien (law), a person in a country who is not a national of that country ** Enemy alien, the above in times of war * Extraterrestrial life, life which does not originate from Earth ** Specifically, intelligent extrater ...

'' (1986) # ''

Alien 3 ''Alien 3'' (stylized as ''A''LIEN³) is a 1992 American science fiction horror film directed by David Fincher and written by David Giler, Walter Hill, and Larry Ferguson, from a story by Vincent Ward. It stars Sigourney Weaver, reprising her ...

'' (1992) # '' Alien: Covenant'' (2017) # '' Alien: Covenant - Origins'' (2017)

Terminator universe

* ''

Terminator Salvation ''Terminator Salvation'' is a 2009 American military science fiction action film directed by McG and written by John Brancato and Michael Ferris. It is the fourth installment of the ''Terminator'' franchise and serves as a sequel to '' Termi ...

'' (2009) , movie novelization

''Transformers''

* ''

Transformers ''Transformers'' is a media franchise produced by American toy company Hasbro and Japanese toy company Takara Tomy. It primarily follows the Autobots and the Decepticons, two alien robot factions at war that can transform into other forms, ...

'' (2007) * '' Transformers: Ghosts of Yesterday'' (2007) * '' Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen'' (2009) * '' Transformers: The Veiled Threat'' (2009)

Standalone novelizations

* '' Dark Star'' (1974) , movie novelization * ''Luana'' (Italian film) (1974) , movie novelization * ''Maude'' (unpublished 1974), television novelization (" Maude's Dilemma") * ''

The Black Hole ''The Black Hole'' is a 1979 American science fiction film directed by Gary Nelson and produced by Walt Disney Productions. The film stars Maximilian Schell, Robert Forster, Joseph Bottoms, Yvette Mimieux, Anthony Perkins and Ernest Borgn ...

'' (1979) , movie novelization * '' Clash of the Titans'' (1981) , movie novelization * '' Outland'' (1981) , movie novelization * '' The Thing'' (1981) , movie novelization * '' Krull'' (1983) , movie novelization * ''

The Last Starfighter ''The Last Starfighter'' is a 1984 American space opera film directed by Nick Castle. The film tells the story of Alex Rogan ( Lance Guest), a teenager recruited by an alien defense force to fight in an interstellar war. It also features Robe ...

'' (1984) , movie novelization * ''The Last Starfighter Storybook'' (1984) with Lynn Haney and

Jonathan Betuel Jonathan may refer to: * Jonathan (name), a masculine given name Media * ''Jonathan'' (1970 film), a German film directed by Hans W. Geißendörfer * ''Jonathan'' (2016 film), a German film directed by Piotr J. Lewandowski * ''Jonathan'' (2018 ...

* '' Shadowkeep'' (1984) , also a computer game (1984) * '' Starman'' (1984) , movie novelization * ''

Pale Rider ''Pale Rider'' is a 1985 American Western film produced and directed by Clint Eastwood, who also stars in the lead role. The title is a reference to the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, as the pale horse's ghost rider (Eastwood) represents Deat ...

'' (1985) , movie novelization * '' The Dig'' (1995) , also a computer game * ''

The Chronicles of Riddick ''The Chronicles of Riddick'' is a 2004 American science fiction action film written and directed by David Twohy. It follows the adventures of Richard B. Riddick as he attempts to elude capture after the events depicted in the 2000 film '' Pitc ...

'' (2004) , movie novelization

Film and television storylines

* ''

Alien Nation ''Alien Nation'' is an American science fiction media franchise created by Rockne S. O'Bannon (later known for ''Farscape''), comprising film, television, and other media productions about alien refugees living on Earth. The series began with th ...

'' (1988) , movie novelization * ''

Welcome to Paradox ''Welcome to Paradox'' was a Canadian science fiction television series aired on the Sci Fi Channel in the U.S. and subsequently on Showcase in Canada. It was first broadcast on August 17, 1998, ran for one season, with the final episode being ...

'' (1998, episode "Our Lady of the Machine")

References

External links

* * *
FYC Conversations with Alan Dean Foster (Part One)

For Your Consideration
' podcast, September 2017
FYC Conversations with Alan Dean Foster (Part Two)

For Your Consideration
' podcast, October 2017 {{DEFAULTSORT:Foster, Alan Dean 1946 births 20th-century American male writers 20th-century American novelists 21st-century American male writers 21st-century American novelists American fantasy writers American male novelists American science fiction writers Living people Novelists from Arizona Novelists from New York (state) University of California, Los Angeles alumni Writers from New York City 20th-century pseudonymous writers 21st-century pseudonymous writers