5 little known facts about Star Wars novelists Alan Dean Foster

As a gamer with a deep-rooted affection for all things sci-fi and fantasy, I can confidently say that Alan Dean Foster is a name etched in the annals of geek culture history. With a career spanning decades, he’s been instrumental in shaping the narratives of some of my favorite franchises – Star Wars, Star Trek, Transformers, and many more.

In terms of authors who have shaped the Star Wars universe, a logical place to begin is right at the start. Alan Dean Foster has been a key figure since the 1970s, playing a significant role in expanding the universe during its formative years.

Here are 5 facts about Star Wars author Alan Dean Foster that you may not know.

1. He wrote the very first Star Wars book

Alan Dean Foster is recognized as the pioneer who initiated contributions to the extended universe of Star Wars, penning the novel “Star Wars: Splinter of the Mind’s Eye.” This book hit the shelves a year after the initial release of Star Wars. Although it was the first book to expand the Star Wars story beyond films, technically it wasn’t the very first book. The official novelization of Star Wars, titled “Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker,” had already been published, making “Splinter of the Mind’s Eye” the second Star Wars book ever to be released. Interestingly, Alan Dean Foster also wrote the first book, although it was labeled as George Lucas’ work on its cover. However, it’s no secret that Lucas acknowledges that Foster actually ghostwrote this novel. His work on the original novel might have been a factor in him being granted the chance to write an original Star Wars story set within the universe, which was primarily based on ideas from earlier drafts of the movie.

2. He wouldn’t write another Star Wars book for over two decades

Initially, Foster’s contributions to early Star Wars significantly boosted his professional standing. However, he didn’t revisit the series until 2002 when he penned the novel “The Approaching Storm,” set just before the events depicted in “Attack of the Clones.” This film was launched a few months following the book’s publication. Subsequently, Foster returned to Star Wars in 2015, authoring the novelization for “The Force Awakens,” echoing his work on the original Star Wars movie’s novelization from years past. In essence, Foster has penned novels that encompass all three Star Wars trilogies: the prequels, the sequels, and the original series.

3. He’s written more Star Trek books than Star Wars books.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but express my admiration for Alan Dean Foster’s work beyond his contributions to Star Wars. Though he penned several Star Wars books (including the original movie novelization), his body of work in the Star Trek universe is truly staggering. To be precise, Foster has authored a total of 13 Star Trek novels! Ten of these novels form the Star Trek Logs series, which adapts the episodes from the 1973 Star Trek Animated Series. This series of ten books covers all twenty-two episodes of this series, making Star Trek: The Animated Series the first English TV show to have all its episodes adapted into books. The remaining three books are the novelizations for the first two movies in the Star Trek reboot series and an original novel set within the Kelvin timeline.

As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but feel awe when I see ‘Alan Dean Foster’ on a resume, with his impressive list of movie novelizations that span from the galaxy of Star Wars to the final frontier of Star Trek. But let me tell you, for Alan, this is merely the beginning. He’s also penned down the stories for Transformers, The Chronicles of Riddick, The Last Starfighter, the original Clash of the Titans, all Alien films, Terminator Salvation, and John Carpenter’s The Thing.

Alan Dean Foster is primarily recognized for his contributions to well-known franchises, but he’s also built a sprawling, interconnected universe of his own, which has expanded significantly over time. The epic Humanx Commonwealth series, penned by Foster, is set in a future where humans and an extraterrestrial race called Thranx have united to form a federation of planets as they traverse the cosmos. Foster initially introduced this universe in the 1970s, and it remains a fertile ground for his imagination even today. As of now, there are at least 28 books in this saga, encompassing various interconnected storylines that span six centuries of history. The narrative includes prequels that delve into the origins of the Commonwealth.

2024-11-18 20:53