Alan Dean Foster Books

Description /Buy link takes you to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn money from qualifying purchases.

Alan Dean Foster is an American author best known for ‘Star Wars: From The Adventures of Luke Skywalker.’ This was the original novelization of Star Wars. Many people do not realize that Foster wrote the book because the credit went to George Lucas.

Print:

But Foster doesn’t mind. In interviews, he has acknowledged that the novel he wrote was based on ideas that Lucas created. He simply expanded the concepts. As such, the author is not bothered by the fact that his name did not appear on the novel’s cover.

He also wrote ‘Splinter of the Mind’s Eye.’ The novel stands out because it was written before the original Star Wars became a blockbuster hit. At the time, no one knew how well the movie would perform.

When Foster wrote ‘Splinter of the Mind’s Eye,’ he was convinced that it would become a low-budget sequel to the original Star Wars film, but only if the original Star Wars was unsuccessful.

But Lucas’ gamble paid off, and ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ was made in place of ‘Splinter of the Mind’s Eye.’ Lucas ignored the book because it used concepts and ideas he had long since abandoned.

But Foster’s role in the Star Wars franchise did not end here. He wrote a novelization for ‘The Force Awakens’ as well as a prequel-era story. Sci-Fi fans that don’t care for Star Wars probably know him for the many Star Trek books he wrote, not to mention novelizations for Terminator, The Chronicles of Riddick, Transformers, and more.

Born in New York City in 1946, Foster attended UCLA (Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and a Master of Fine Art in Cinema). The author got his big break when August Derleth discovered a Lovecraftian letter he had written in 1968.

August decided to publish the letter as a short story in ‘The Arkham Collector.’ In the years that followed, Foster made a name for himself as a prolific author of short fiction.

His fans loved his work because Foster was so diverse, writing everything from fantasy and horror to hard Sci-Fi, historical fiction, westerns, and so much more.

Even with all the books he writes, Foster always finds the time to travel. He loves the great outdoors. He has been to Europe, Asia, and the Pacific. His travels have taken him to Tanzania, Kenya, the Peruvian Jungle, and Western Australia, to mention but a few. Foster has photographed army ants, eaten piranhas, rappelled into the Lechuguilla Cave in New Mexico, crossed the Andes, and more.

When he can’t travel, you will find the author listening to classical and heavy metal music. He has gone so far as to write orchestral music. He will squeeze hiking, body surfing, and scuba diving into his schedule if he has the time. Foster is a man of many talents.

Alan Dean Foster Awards

Foster has received the IAMTW Lifetime Achievement Award, Galaxy Award, Ignotus Award (Spain), UPC Award (Spain), Stannik Award (Russia), and the Southwest Book Award.

Best Alan Dean Foster Books

The author is a member of the Science Fiction Writers of America. He had the opportunity to study karate with Chuck Norris. That was back before Norris decided to dedicate his life to acting. Foster’s best books include:

Alien: ‘Alien’ tells the story of the Nostromo, a spaceship whose crew has just woken from cryogenic sleep in response to a distress signal from a mysterious planet. In the process of exploring an alien craft, they are attacked. They escape, unaware of the horror that has returned with them.

‘Alien’ is a novelization of the movie ‘Alien.’ For the most part, it stays true to the original film. But it provides a lot of details and deleted scenes.

The Force Awakens: ‘The Force Awakens’ takes place several years after ‘Return of the Jedi.’ Even though Luke, Leia, and Han defeated the Empire and saved the galaxy, evil is not dead.

The First Order has emerged from the ashes of the Empire. Led by a mysterious figure, they won’t stop until they destroy the New Republic. The New Republic’s only hope is Luke Skywalker, the galaxy’s most powerful Jedi.

But Luke vanished a long time ago. The only clue to his whereabouts is a map hidden within a resistance droid.

When Does The Next Alan Dean Foster book come out?

Alan Dean Foster doesn't seem to have an upcoming book. Their newest book is The Director Should've Shot You: Memoirs of the Film Trade and was released on June, 20th 2023. It is the newest book in the Alan Dean Foster Non-Fiction.

Home » Author » Alan Dean Foster