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 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 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 chairm ...

. 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 house." Foster also wrote the follow-up novel '' Splinter of the Mind's Eye'' (1978), written with the intention of being adapted as a low-budget sequel to ''

Star Wars ''Star Wars'' is an American epic film, epic space opera multimedia franchise created by George Lucas, which began with the Star Wars (film), eponymous 1977 film and quickly became a worldwide popular culture, pop-culture Cultural impact of S ...

'' if the film was unsuccessful. However, ''Star Wars'' was a blockbusting success, and '' The Empire Strikes Back'' (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 film, '' The Force Awakens'' (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 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''.

Dispute with Disney

In 2020, Foster, together with the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA), alleged that The Walt Disney Company, which acquired rights to his ''Star Wars'' and '' Alien'' 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 Dis ...

, 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 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 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 Empire Strikes Back (novel), the novelization of the second ''Star Wars'' film, ''The Empire Strikes ...

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 ''For Love of Mother-Not'' is a science fiction novel by American writer Alan Dean Foster, first published in 1983. The book is chronologically the first in the '' Pip and Flinx'' series, though it was written fourth, as a prequel to help fles ...

'' (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'' (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 ''Flinx in Flux'' (1988) 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 ...

'' (1988) # ''

Mid-Flinx ''Mid-Flinx'' (1995) 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 standalone no ...

'' (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, U ...

'' (2001) # ''

Flinx's Folly ''Flinx's Folly'' (2003) 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 ...

'' (2003) # ''

Sliding Scales ''Sliding Scales'' (2004) is a science fiction novel by American writer Alan Dean Foster. The book is the ninth chronologically in the Pip and Flinx series. Plot summary In ''Sliding Scales'' Flinx is confounded by how to proceed with his lif ...

'' (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. The book is the twelfth chronologically in the Pip and Flinx series. Although he is supposed to be searching for the planet-sized Krang weapons platform i ...

'' (2006) # ''

Patrimony Patrimony may refer to: Law * Patrimony, or property, the total of all personal and real entitlements, including movable and immovable property, belonging to a real person or a juristic person * Patrimony, or inheritance, a right or estate inh ...

'' (2007) # ''

Flinx Transcendent ''Flinx Transcendent'' 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 standalone n ...

'' (2009) # ''Strange Music'' (2017)

Founding of the Commonwealth

# '' Phylogenesis'' (1999) # '' Dirge'' (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 ''Icerigger'' is a 1974 science fiction novel by American writer Alan Dean Foster. Like many of Foster's science-fiction novels, ''Icerigger'' takes place within his Humanx Commonwealth fictional universe A fictional universe, or fictional w ...

'' (1974) # ''

Mission to Moulokin '' Mission to Moulokin '' (1979) is a science fiction novel by American writer Alan Dean Foster. It is the second entry in Foster's ''Icerigger Trilogy'' and is a part of his ever-growing series of books taking place within his Humanx Commonwe ...

'' (1979) # ''

The Deluge Drivers ''The Deluge Drivers'' (1987) is a science fiction novel by American writer Alan Dean Foster. It is the final entry in Foster's ''Icerigger Trilogy'' of books taking place in the Humanx Commonwealth book series. The two earlier books in the ...

'' (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 ''Voyage to the City of the Dead'' (1984) is a science fiction novel by American writer Alan Dean Foster. Plot Scientists Eitienne and Lyra Redowl come to the planet Horseye to study the entire length of the immense Skar River and its spectac ...

'' (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 ki ...

'' (1975) # "The Emoman" (1972) short story # "Surfeit" (1982) short story # ''

Drowning World ''Drowning World'' (2003) is a science fiction novel by American writer Alan Dean Foster. Plot summary On the distant planet Fluva, torrential rains that leave it barely habitable also make it a treasure trove of rare botanical specimens. When ...

'' (2003) # ''

Quofum ''Quofum'' (2008) is a science fiction novel by American writer Alan Dean Foster. Plot Sent by the Humanx Commonwealth Science Council, a team of explorers manage to find the planet Quofum—which only occasionally appears on long range scans. ...

'' (2008) # "Mid-Death" (2006) short story # ''

The Howling Stones ''The Howling Stones'' (1997 File:1997 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The movie set of ''Titanic'', the highest-grossing movie in history at the time; ''Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'', is published; Comet Hale-Bopp pas ...

'' (1997) # ''

Sentenced to Prism ''Sentenced to Prism'' (1985) is a science fiction novel by American writer Alan Dean Foster, a stand-alone entry in his Humanx Commonwealth series of books. Like many of his books, Foster creates an extraordinary world that he tries to make u ...

'' (1985) # '' Cachalot'' (1980)

The Damned Trilogy ''The Damned Trilogy'' is a set of three science fiction novels by American writer Alan Dean Foster (''A Call to Arms'', ''The False Mirror,'' and ''The Spoils of War''), detailing human involvement in an interstellar war. Plot summary Two major ...

# ''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'' (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: L ...

) (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 in literature, 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 ...

'' (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 * ''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 * '' Star Trek Into Darkness'' (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 as

* '' Splinter of the Mind's Eye'' (1978) * '' The Approaching Storm'' (2002) * '' Star Wars: The Force Awakens'' (2015), movie novelization * "Bait" (2015), short story

Alien universe

# '' Alien'' (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 extrate ...

'' (1986) # '' Alien 3'' (1992) # '' Alien: Covenant'' (2017) # '' Alien: Covenant - Origins'' (2017)

Terminator universe

* '' Terminator Salvation'' (2009) , movie novelization

''Transformers''

* '' Transformers'' (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 "Maude's Dilemma" is a two-part episode in season one of the television show '' Maude'', airing in 1972. It is considered a groundbreaking show due to bringing the controversial issue of abortion into people's living rooms and forcing families to c ...

") * '' The Black Hole'' (1979) , movie novelization * '' Clash of the Titans'' (1981) , movie novelization * '' Outland'' (1981) , movie novelization * '' The Thing'' (1981) , movie novelization * ''

Krull Krull is a surname originating from Prussian nobility. People *Alexander Krull (born 1970), German singer *Annie Krull (1876–1947), German operatic soprano *Germaine Krull (1897–1985), photographer * Hasso Krull (born 1964), Estonian po ...

'' (1983) , movie novelization * '' The Last Starfighter'' (1984) , movie novelization * ''The Last Starfighter Storybook'' (1984) with

Lynn Haney Lynn Haney is an American biographer. Haney recounted the lives of people such as Josephine Baker and Gregory Peck. Haney is recognized for her balance of thorough research and respect for the subjects of her books, as demonstrated in both ''Naked ...

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 ''StarMan'' is a 1996 fantasy novel by Australian writer Sara Douglass. It follows the second book in the series, '' Enchanter'', with Axis marching north with his army to confront a formidable enemy. Background ''StarMan'' was first published ...

'' (1984) , movie novelization * '' Pale Rider'' (1985) , movie novelization * '' The Dig'' (1995) , also a computer game * '' The Chronicles of Riddick'' (2004) , movie novelization

Film and television storylines

* '' Alien Nation'' (1988) , movie novelization * '' Welcome to Paradox'' (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