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{{short description|American fiction writer}}
{{Short description|American fiction writer (born 1946)}}
{{More footnotes|date=April 2009}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox writer
{{Infobox writer
| name = Alex Mashred
| name = Alan Dean Foster
| image = AlanDeanFoster2007-05-26.jpg
| image = AlanDeanFoster2007-05-26.jpg
| caption = Foster at [[BayCon]] in 2007
| caption = Foster at [[BayCon]] in 2007
| pseudonym = James Lawson<ref>This pen name was used for the first publication of many of the ''Montezuma Strip'' stories</ref>
| pseudonym = James Lawson{{efn|This pen name was used for the first publication of many of the ''Montezuma Strip'' stories.}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1946|11|18}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1946|11|18}}
| birth_place = [[New York City]], New York, United States
| birth_place = [[New York City]], U.S.
| death_date =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_place =
| nationality = American
| occupation = Fiction writer
| occupation = Fiction writer
| period = 1971–present
| period = 1971–present
Line 18: Line 17:
| website = {{URL|alandeanfoster.com}}
| website = {{URL|alandeanfoster.com}}
}}
}}
'''Alex shmared''' (born November 18, 1946) is an American writer of [[fantasy]] and [[science fiction]], who has written several [[book series]], more than 20 standalone novels and many [[novelization]]s of film scripts.
'''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]]s of film scripts.


==Career==
==Education and personal life==
⚫
===''Star Wars''===
Foster earned a [[bachelor's degree]] in [[political science]] and a [[Master of Fine Arts|MFA]] from the [[University of California, Los Angeles]] and lives in [[Prescott, Arizona]], with his wife. He is a cousin of singer [[Lesley Gore]]. Foster also holds state records
⚫
Foster was the [[ghostwriter]] of the original [[Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker|novelization of ''Star Wars'']], which was credited solely to [[George Lucas]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Wenz |first=John |date=January 1, 2018 |title=The First Star Wars sequel: Inside the writing of Splinter of the Mind's Eye |url=http://www.syfy.com/syfywire/the-first-star-wars-sequel-inside-the-writing-of-splinter-of-the-minds-eye |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930231749/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/the-first-star-wars-sequel-inside-the-writing-of-splinter-of-the-minds-eye |archive-date=September 30, 2018 |access-date=July 19, 2018 |work=Syfy |publisher=SyFy Channel}}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bently |first1=Lionel |last2=Biron |first2=Laura |chapter=The author strikes back: Mutating authorship in the expanded universe |title=Law and Creativity in the Age of the Entertainment Franchise |pages=44 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |date=2014 |isbn=978-1-107-03989-6}}</ref>
and one world record in senior powerlifting.{{fact|date=November 2020}}


⚫
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 (film)|Star Wars]]'' if the film was unsuccessful. However, ''Star Wars'' was a [[Blockbuster (entertainment)|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.starwars.com:80/databank/technology/kaiburrcrystal/index.html|title=Kaiburr crystal|website=StarWars.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110913133807/http://www.starwars.com/databank/technology/kaiburrcrystal/index.html|archive-date=September 13, 2011|access-date=November 17, 2018|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
==Writings==
Foster has written a number of science fiction novels set in the [[Humanx Commonwealth]], an interstellar ethical/political union of species including mankind and the [[insectoid]] Thranx. Many of these novels feature Philip Lynx ("Flinx"), an empathic young man who has found himself involved in something which threatens the survival of the Galaxy. Flinx's constant companion since childhood is a minidrag named Pip, a flying, empathic snake capable of spitting a highly corrosive and violently [[neurotoxin|neurotoxic]] [[venom (poison)|venom]].


⚫
Foster returned to the franchise for the [[Star Wars prequel trilogy|prequel-era]] novel ''[[The Approaching Storm]]'' (2002), and also wrote [[Star Wars: The Force Awakens (novel)|the novelization]] of the first [[sequel trilogy]] film, ''[[The Force Awakens]]'' (2015).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/04/18/star-wars-celebration-alan-dean-foster-writing-the-force-awakens-novelization?abthid=5532e3d244f2cb2e22000019|title=Star Wars Celebration: Alan Dean Foster Writing The Force Awakens Novelization|first=Alex|last=Osborn|date=18 April 2015|access-date=19 September 2016|archive-date=22 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122213007/http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/04/18/star-wars-celebration-alan-dean-foster-writing-the-force-awakens-novelization?abthid=5532e3d244f2cb2e22000019|url-status=live}}</ref>
His fantasy series ''[[Spellsinger]]'' features a young musician who is summoned into a world populated by talking creatures where his music allows him to do real magic whose effects depends on the lyrics of the popular songs he sings (although with unpredictable results).


⚫
===''Star Trek''===
Many of Foster's works have a strong [[Ecology|ecological]] element to them, often with an [[Environmentalism|environmental]] twist.{{fact|date=November 2020}} Often the villains in his stories experience their downfall because of a lack of respect for other alien species or seemingly innocuous bits of their surroundings. This can be seen in such works as ''[[Midworld]]'', about a semi-[[Sentience|sentient]] planet that is essentially one large [[rainforest]], and ''[[Cachalot (novel)|Cachalot]]'', set on an ocean world populated by sentient [[cetacea]]ns. Foster usually devotes a large part of his novels to descriptions of the strange environments of alien worlds and the coexistence of their [[flora]] and [[fauna]]. Perhaps the most extreme example of this is ''[[Sentenced to Prism]]'', in which the protagonist finds himself trapped on a world where life is based on [[silicon]] rather than [[carbon]], as on Earth.
Foster wrote 10 books based on episodes of the [[Star Trek: The Animated Series|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]]'',<ref name="GrossAltman2016">{{cite book|last1=Gross|first1=Edward|last2=Altman|first2=Mark A.|title=The Fifty-Year Mission: The Complete, Uncensored, Unauthorized Oral History of Star Trek: The First 25 Years|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CCN3CgAAQBAJ&pg=PA373|date=28 June 2016|publisher=St. Martin's Press|isbn=978-1-4668-7285-1|pages=372–374|access-date=8 June 2018|archive-date=25 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725020054/https://books.google.com/books?id=CCN3CgAAQBAJ&pg=PA373|url-status=live}}</ref> as he wrote a [[Film treatment|treatment]] based on a two-page outline by Gene Roddenberry.


⚫
He later wrote the novelization of the 2009 film ''[[Star Trek (2009 film)|Star Trek]]'', his first ''Star Trek'' novel in over 30 years,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://trekmovie.com/2009/02/12/alan-dean-foster-writing-star-trek-movie-adaptation/ |title=Alan Dean Foster Writing Star Trek Movie Adaptation|access-date=2009-02-12| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090215103909/http://trekmovie.com/2009/02/12/alan-dean-foster-writing-star-trek-movie-adaptation/| archive-date= 15 February 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> and for ''Star Trek''{{'}}s sequel, ''[[Star Trek Into Darkness]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.startrek.com/article/gallery-to-release-star-trek-into-darkness-novel|title=Gallery To Release Star Trek Into Darkness Novel|access-date=2013-05-21|archive-date=2013-06-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618080441/http://www.startrek.com/article/gallery-to-release-star-trek-into-darkness-novel|url-status=live}}</ref>
⚫
===Star Wars===
⚫
Foster was the [[ghostwriter]] of the original [[Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker|novelization of ''Star Wars'']], which was credited solely to [[George Lucas]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Wenz |first=John |title=The First Star Wars sequel: Inside the writing of Splinter of the Mind's Eye |url=http://www.syfy.com/syfywire/the-first-star-wars-sequel-inside-the-writing-of-splinter-of-the-minds-eye |access-date=July 19, 2018 |work=Syfy |publisher=SyFy Channel |date=January 1, 2018 |archive-date=September 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930231749/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/the-first-star-wars-sequel-inside-the-writing-of-splinter-of-the-minds-eye |url-status=live }}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bently |first1=Lionel |last2=Biron |first2=Laura |chapter=The author strikes back: Mutating authorship in the expanded universe |title=Law and Creativity in the Age of the Entertainment Franchise |pages=44 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |date=2014 |isbn=978-1-107-03989-6}}</ref>

⚫
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'' if the film was unsuccessful. However, ''Star Wars'' was a [[Blockbuster (entertainment)|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.starwars.com:80/databank/technology/kaiburrcrystal/index.html|title=Kaiburr crystal|website=StarWars.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110913133807/http://www.starwars.com/databank/technology/kaiburrcrystal/index.html|archive-date=September 13, 2011|access-date=November 17, 2018|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

⚫
Foster returned to the franchise for the [[Star Wars prequel trilogy|prequel-era]] novel ''[[The Approaching Storm]]'' (2003), and also wrote the novelization of the first [[sequel trilogy]] film, ''[[The Force Awakens]]'' (2015).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/04/18/star-wars-celebration-alan-dean-foster-writing-the-force-awakens-novelization?abthid=5532e3d244f2cb2e22000019|title=Star Wars Celebration: Alan Dean Foster Writing The Force Awakens Novelization|first=Alex|last=Osborn|date=18 April 2015|access-date=19 September 2016|archive-date=22 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122213007/http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/04/18/star-wars-celebration-alan-dean-foster-writing-the-force-awakens-novelization?abthid=5532e3d244f2cb2e22000019|url-status=live}}</ref>

⚫
===Star Trek===
⚫
Foster has the [[story credit]] for ''[[Star Trek: The Motion Picture]]''.<ref name="GrossAltman2016">{{cite book|last1=Gross|first1=Edward|last2=Altman|first2=Mark A.|title=The Fifty-Year Mission: The Complete, Uncensored, Unauthorized Oral History of Star Trek: The First 25 Years|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CCN3CgAAQBAJ&pg=PA373|date=28 June 2016|publisher=St. Martin's Press|isbn=978-1-4668-7285-1|pages=372–374|access-date=8 June 2018|archive-date=25 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725020054/https://books.google.com/books?id=CCN3CgAAQBAJ&pg=PA373|url-status=live}}</ref> He also wrote 10 books based on episodes of the [[Star Trek: The Animated Series|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 later wrote the novelization of the 2009 film ''[[Star Trek (film)|Star Trek]]'', his first ''Star Trek'' novel in over 30 years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://trekmovie.com/2009/02/12/alan-dean-foster-writing-star-trek-movie-adaptation/ |title=Alan Dean Foster Writing Star Trek Movie Adaptation|access-date=2009-02-12| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090215103909/http://trekmovie.com/2009/02/12/alan-dean-foster-writing-star-trek-movie-adaptation/| archive-date= 15 February 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> He later wrote the novelization for ''Star Trek''{{'}}s sequel, ''[[Star Trek Into Darkness]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.startrek.com/article/gallery-to-release-star-trek-into-darkness-novel|title=Gallery To Release Star Trek Into Darkness Novel|access-date=2013-05-21|archive-date=2013-06-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618080441/http://www.startrek.com/article/gallery-to-release-star-trek-into-darkness-novel|url-status=live}}</ref>


===Dispute with Disney===
===Dispute with Disney===
In 2020, Foster accused (via the [[Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America|SFWA]]) [[The Walt Disney Company]], which acquired rights to his old ''Star Wars'' novels via their [[Lucasfilm#Subsidiary_of_Walt_Disney_(2012–present)|2012 acquisition of Lucasfilm]] as well as rights to the ''Alien'' Franchise via their 2019 purchase of [[20th_Century_Studios#Disney_era_and_studio_renaming|20th Century Fox]], of not paying him [[royalties]] for ebook sales of his books.<ref>{{cite news |last=Flood |first=Allison |title=Star Wars author appeals to Disney in fight over royalties |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/nov/19/sstar-wars-author-disney-royalties-alan-dean-foster |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=22 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123055005/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/nov/19/sstar-wars-author-disney-royalties-alan-dean-foster|archive-date=23 November 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Star Wars Novelist Says Disney Won't Pay Him Royalties it Owes Him |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/11/19/21578621/disney-alan-dean-foster-royalties-copyright-law |website=[[The Verge]] |publisher=[[Vox Media]] |access-date=22 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123173741/https://www.theverge.com/2020/11/19/21578621/disney-alan-dean-foster-royalties-copyright-law|archive-date=23 November 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sfwa.org/2020/11/18/disney-must-pay/ |title=#DisneyMustPay Alan Dean Foster |publisher=[[Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America]]|access-date=2020-11-18 |archive-date=2020-11-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118231853/https://www.sfwa.org/2020/11/18/disney-must-pay/ |url-status=live }}</ref> This has been resolved as of May 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=1 May 2021 |url=https://www.alandeanfoster.com/version2.0/updates.htm|publisher=[[Alan Dean Foster]]|access-date=30 April 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>
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 (film)|Alien]]'' novels via their acquisitions [[Lucasfilm#Subsidiary of Walt Disney (2012–present)|of Lucasfilm]] and [[20th Century Studios#Disney acquisition|20th Century Fox]], had not paid him [[royalties]] for [[e-book]] sales of his books.<ref>{{cite news |last=Flood |first=Allison |title=Star Wars author appeals to Disney in fight over royalties |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/nov/19/sstar-wars-author-disney-royalties-alan-dean-foster |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=22 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123055005/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/nov/19/sstar-wars-author-disney-royalties-alan-dean-foster|archive-date=23 November 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Star Wars Novelist Says Disney Won't Pay Him Royalties it Owes Him |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/11/19/21578621/disney-alan-dean-foster-royalties-copyright-law |website=[[The Verge]] |date=November 19, 2020 |publisher=[[Vox Media]] |access-date=22 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123173741/https://www.theverge.com/2020/11/19/21578621/disney-alan-dean-foster-royalties-copyright-law|archive-date=23 November 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sfwa.org/2020/11/18/disney-must-pay/ |title=#DisneyMustPay Alan Dean Foster |date=November 18, 2020 |publisher=[[Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America]]|access-date=2020-11-18 |archive-date=2020-11-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118231853/https://www.sfwa.org/2020/11/18/disney-must-pay/ |url-status=live }}</ref> 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]] their royalties.<ref>{{cite web |title=1 May 2021 |url=https://www.alandeanfoster.com/version2.0/updates.htm|publisher=Alan Dean Foster|access-date=30 April 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021011211618/http://alandeanfoster.com:80/version2.0/updates.htm |archive-date=October 11, 2002 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Johnston |first1=Rich |title=Disney To Pay Star Wars Novelists Alan Dean Foster And More |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/disney-pay-star-wars-novelists-alan-dean-foster/ |website=[[Bleeding Cool]] |access-date=November 16, 2021 |date=May 11, 2021}}</ref>


==Awards==
==Awards==
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===Spellsinger series===
===Spellsinger series===
{{Main|Spellsinger}}
# ''[[Spellsinger (novel)|Spellsinger]]'' (1983) {{ISBN|0-446-97352-1}}
# ''[[Spellsinger (novel)|Spellsinger]]'' (1983) {{ISBN|0-446-97352-1}}
# ''[[The Hour of the Gate]]'' (1984) {{ISBN|0-446-90354-X}}
# ''[[The Hour of the Gate]]'' (1984) {{ISBN|0-446-90354-X}}
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# ''[[Son of Spellsinger]]'' (1993) {{ISBN|0-446-36257-3}}
# ''[[Son of Spellsinger]]'' (1993) {{ISBN|0-446-36257-3}}
# ''[[Chorus Skating]]'' (1994) {{ISBN|0-446-36237-9}}
# ''[[Chorus Skating]]'' (1994) {{ISBN|0-446-36237-9}}
"Serenade" (2004), a novelette set immediately after ''The Time of the Transference'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.flayrah.com/309/new-alan-dean-foster|title=New Alan Dean Foster|first=Fred (Fred|last=Patten)|date=Aug 4, 2001|website=Flayrah|access-date=Jun 4, 2019|archive-date=June 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604011425/https://www.flayrah.com/309/new-alan-dean-foster|url-status=live}}</ref> was first published in the anthology ''Masters of Fantasy'' and was later reprinted in Foster's short story collection ''Exceptions to Reality''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/pl.cgi?490305|title=Publication: Exceptions to Reality|website=www.isfdb.org|access-date=Jun 4, 2019|archive-date=July 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725015330/http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/pl.cgi?490305|url-status=live}}</ref>
"Serenade" (2004), a novelette set immediately after ''The Time of the Transference'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.flayrah.com/309/new-alan-dean-foster|title=New Alan Dean Foster|first=Fred |last=Patten|date=August 4, 2001|website=Flayrah|access-date=June 4, 2019|archive-date=June 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604011425/https://www.flayrah.com/309/new-alan-dean-foster|url-status=live}}</ref> was first published in the anthology ''Masters of Fantasy'' and was later reprinted in Foster's short story collection ''Exceptions to Reality''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/pl.cgi?490305|title=Publication: Exceptions to Reality|website=www.isfdb.org|access-date=June 4, 2019|archive-date=July 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725015330/http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/pl.cgi?490305|url-status=live}}</ref>


===The Taken trilogy===
===The Taken trilogy===
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===The Tipping Point trilogy===
===The Tipping Point trilogy===
* ''The Human Blend'' (2010) {{ISBN|978-0-345-51197-3}}<ref>{{cite book
* ''The Human Blend'' (2010) {{ISBN|978-0-345-51197-3}}<ref>{{cite book
|title=The human blend |work=[[WorldCat]] |publisher=[[Online Computer Library Center]] |oclc = 548412878}}</ref>
|title=The human blend |via=[[WorldCat]] |publisher=[[Online Computer Library Center]] |oclc = 548412878}}</ref>
*''Body, Inc.'' (2012) {{ISBN|978-0-345-51199-7}}
* ''Body, Inc.'' (2012) {{ISBN|978-0-345-51199-7}}
*''The Sum of Her Parts'' (2012) {{ISBN|978-0-345-51202-4}}
* ''The Sum of Her Parts'' (2012) {{ISBN|978-0-345-51202-4}}


===''Montezuma Strip''===
===''Montezuma Strip''===
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* ''[[Glory Lane]]'' (1987) {{ISBN|0-441-51664-5}}
* ''[[Glory Lane]]'' (1987) {{ISBN|0-441-51664-5}}
* ''Maori'' (1988) {{ISBN|0-441-51925-3}}
* ''Maori'' (1988) {{ISBN|0-441-51925-3}}
* ''To the Vanishing Point'' (1988) {{ISBN|0-446-51338-5}}
* ''[[To the Vanishing Point]]'' (1988) {{ISBN|0-446-51338-5}}
* ''Quozl'' (1989) {{ISBN|0-441-69454-3}}
* ''Quozl'' (1989) {{ISBN|0-441-69454-3}}
* ''Cyber Way'' (1990) {{ISBN|0-441-13245-6}}
* ''Cyber Way'' (1990) {{ISBN|0-441-13245-6}}
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* ''Codgerspace'' (1992) {{ISBN|0-441-71851-5}}
* ''Codgerspace'' (1992) {{ISBN|0-441-71851-5}}
* ''Greenthieves'' (1994) {{ISBN|0-441-00104-1}}
* ''Greenthieves'' (1994) {{ISBN|0-441-00104-1}}
* ''Design for Great-Day'' (1995) {{ISBN|0-312-85501-X}}, with [[Eric Frank Russell]])
* ''Design for Great-Day'' (1995) {{ISBN|0-312-85501-X}}, with [[Eric Frank Russell]])
* ''Life Form'' (1995) {{ISBN|0-441-00218-8}}
* ''Life Form'' (1995) {{ISBN|0-441-00218-8}}
* ''[[Voyage of the Basset]]'' (Illustrated by [[James C. Christensen]]) (1996) {{ISBN|1-885-18358-5}}
* ''[[Voyage of the Basset]]'' (Illustrated by [[James C. Christensen]]) (1996) {{ISBN|1-885-18358-5}}
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=====''Star Trek'' movies=====
=====''Star Trek'' movies=====
* ''[[Star Trek: The Motion Picture]]'' (1979), story credit
* ''[[Star Trek: The Motion Picture]]'' (1979), story credit
* ''[[Star Trek (film)|Star Trek]]'' (2009) {{ISBN|978-1-4391-5886-9}}, movie novelization
* ''[[Star Trek (2009 film)|Star Trek]]'' (2009) {{ISBN|978-1-4391-5886-9}}, movie novelization
* ''[[Star Trek Into Darkness]]'' (2013) {{ISBN|978-1-4767-1648-0}}, movie novelization
* ''[[Star Trek Into Darkness]]'' (2013) {{ISBN|978-1-4767-1648-0}}, movie novelization
* ''Star Trek: The Unsettling Stars'' (2020) {{ISBN|1982140607}}, movie tie-in
* ''Star Trek: The Unsettling Stars'' (2020) {{ISBN|1982140607}}, movie tie-in


====''Star Wars'' universe====
====''Star Wars'' universe====
* ''[[Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker]]'' (1976) {{ISBN|0-345-26079-1}}, novelization of ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' [[ghost writing]] as [[George Lucas]]
* ''[[Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker]]'' (1976) {{ISBN|0-345-26079-1}}, novelization of ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' [[ghost writing]] as [[George Lucas]]
* ''[[Splinter of the Mind's Eye]]'' (1978) {{ISBN|0-345-27566-7}}
* ''[[Splinter of the Mind's Eye]]'' (1978) {{ISBN|0-345-27566-7}}
* ''[[The Approaching Storm]]'' (2002) {{ISBN|0-345-44300-4}}
* ''[[The Approaching Storm]]'' (2002) {{ISBN|0-345-44300-4}}
* ''[[Star Wars: The Force Awakens (novel)|Star Wars: The Force Awakens]]'' (2015),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/04/18/star-wars-celebration-alan-dean-foster-writing-the-force-awakens-novelization|title=Star Wars Celebration: Alan Dean Foster Writing The Force Awakens Novelization|first=Alex|last=Osborn|date=18 April 2015|access-date=19 September 2016|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304003920/http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/04/18/star-wars-celebration-alan-dean-foster-writing-the-force-awakens-novelization|url-status=live}}</ref> movie novelization
* ''[[Star Wars: The Force Awakens (novel)|Star Wars: The Force Awakens]]'' (2015),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/04/18/star-wars-celebration-alan-dean-foster-writing-the-force-awakens-novelization|title=Star Wars Celebration: Alan Dean Foster Writing The Force Awakens Novelization|first=Alex|last=Osborn|date=18 April 2015|access-date=19 September 2016|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304003920/http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/04/18/star-wars-celebration-alan-dean-foster-writing-the-force-awakens-novelization|url-status=live}}</ref> movie novelization
* ''Bait'' (2015) short story
* "Bait" (2015), short story


====Alien universe====
====Alien universe====
Line 235: Line 227:
* ''[[Starman (film)|Starman]]'' (1984) {{ISBN|0-446-32598-8}}, movie novelization
* ''[[Starman (film)|Starman]]'' (1984) {{ISBN|0-446-32598-8}}, movie novelization
* ''[[Pale Rider]]'' (1985) {{ISBN|0-446-32767-0}}, movie novelization
* ''[[Pale Rider]]'' (1985) {{ISBN|0-446-32767-0}}, movie novelization
* ''[[The Dig (video game)|The Dig]]'' (1995) {{ISBN|0-446-51853-0}}, also a computer game
* ''[[Alien Nation (film)|Alien Nation]]'' (1988) {{ISBN|0-446-35264-0}}, movie novelization
* ''[[The Dig (video game)|The Dig]]'' (1995) {{ISBN|0-446-51853-0}}, also a computer game
* ''[[The Chronicles of Riddick]]'' (2004) {{ISBN|0-345-46839-2}}, movie novelization
* ''[[The Chronicles of Riddick]]'' (2004) {{ISBN|0-345-46839-2}}, movie novelization


== Filmography ==
=== Film and television storylines ===

* ''[[Alien Nation (film)|Alien Nation]]'' (1988) {{ISBN|0-446-35264-0}}, movie novelization
* ''[[Welcome to Paradox]]'' (1998, episode 'Our Lady of the Machine')
* ''[[Star Trek: The Motion Picture]]'' (1979, story)

* ''[[Welcome to Paradox]]'' (1998, story for episode "Our Lady of the Machine")

==Notes==
{{notelist}}


== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite magazine|title=The InQuest Q&A: Alan Dean Foster|last=Duignan-Cabrera|first=Anthony|issue=15|magazine=[[InQuest Gamer|InQuest]]|pp=54–57|date=July 1996}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
Line 251: Line 252:
* {{IMDb name|0287669|Alan Dean Foster}}
* {{IMDb name|0287669|Alan Dean Foster}}
* {{isfdb name|142}}
* {{isfdb name|142}}
* [http://fycshow.libsyn.com/fyc-conversations-with-alan-dean-foster-part-one FYC Conversations with Alan Dean Foster (Part One)], ''[http://fycshow.libsyn.com/ For Your Consideration]'' podcast, September 2017
* [http://fycshow.libsyn.com/fyc-conversations-with-alan-dean-foster-part-2 FYC Conversations with Alan Dean Foster (Part Two)], ''[http://fycshow.libsyn.com/ For Your Consideration]'' podcast, October 2017


{{Alan Dean Foster novels}}
{{Alan Dean Foster novels}}
{{The Humanx Commonwealth}}
{{The Humanx Commonwealth}}
{{Dinotopia}}
{{Science fiction}}
{{Science fiction}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:Novelists from Arizona]]
[[Category:Novelists from Arizona]]
[[Category:Novelists from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Novelists from New York (state)]]
[[Category:People from Prescott, Arizona]]
⚫
[[Category:Pseudonymous writers]]
[[Category:University of California, Los Angeles alumni]]
[[Category:University of California, Los Angeles alumni]]
[[Category:Writers from New York City]]
[[Category:Writers from New York City]]
⚫
[[Category:20th-century pseudonymous writers]]
[[Category:21st-century pseudonymous writers]]
[[Category:American ghostwriters]]

Latest revision as of 09:41, 20 November 2024

Alan Dean Foster
Foster at BayCon in 2007
Foster at BayCon in 2007
Born (1946-11-18) November 18, 1946 (age 78)
New York City, U.S.
Pen nameJames Lawson[a]
OccupationFiction writer
Period1971–present
GenreScience fiction, fantasy
Notable worksHumanx Commonwealth and Spellsinger series
Website
alandeanfoster.com

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 novelizations of film scripts.

Career

[edit]

Star Wars

[edit]

Foster was the ghostwriter of the original novelization of Star Wars, which was credited solely to George Lucas.[1] 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."[2]

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 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.[3]

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).[4]

Star Trek

[edit]

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,[5] as he wrote a treatment based on a two-page outline by Gene Roddenberry.

He later wrote the novelization of the 2009 film Star Trek, his first Star Trek novel in over 30 years,[6] and for Star Trek's sequel, Star Trek Into Darkness.[7]

Dispute with Disney

[edit]

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, had not paid him royalties for e-book sales of his books.[8][9][10] 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 their royalties.[11][12]

Awards

[edit]

Foster won the 2008 Grand Master award from the International Association of Media Tie-In Writers.[13]

Bibliography

[edit]

Humanx Commonwealth Universe

[edit]

Pip and Flinx

[edit]

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.[14]

  1. For Love of Mother-Not (1983) ISBN 0-345-30511-6
  2. The Tar-Aiym Krang (1972) ISBN 0-345-29232-4
  3. Orphan Star (1977) ISBN 0-345-25507-0
  4. The End of the Matter (1977) ISBN 0-345-25861-4
  5. Flinx in Flux (1988) ISBN 0-345-34363-8
  6. Mid-Flinx (1995) ISBN 0-345-38374-5
  7. Reunion (2001) ISBN 0-345-41867-0
  8. Flinx's Folly (2003) ISBN 0-345-45038-8
  9. Sliding Scales (2004) ISBN 0-345-46156-8
  10. Running from the Deity (2005) ISBN 0-345-46159-2
  11. Bloodhype (1973) ISBN 0-345-25845-2
  12. Trouble Magnet (2006) ISBN 0-345-48504-1
  13. Patrimony (2007) ISBN 978-0-345-48507-6
  14. Flinx Transcendent (2009) ISBN 978-0-345-49607-2
  15. Strange Music (2017) ISBN 978-1-101-96760-7

Founding of the Commonwealth

[edit]
  1. Phylogenesis (1999) ISBN 0-345-41862-X
  2. Dirge (2000) ISBN 0-345-41864-6
  3. Diuturnity's Dawn (2002) ISBN 0-345-41865-4

Icerigger Trilogy

[edit]
  1. Icerigger (1974) ISBN 0-345-23836-2
  2. Mission to Moulokin (1979) ISBN 0-345-27676-0
  3. The Deluge Drivers (1987) ISBN 0-345-33330-6

Standalone Commonwealth novels

[edit]

In chronological order:

  1. Nor Crystal Tears (1982) ISBN 0-345-29141-7
  2. Voyage to the City of the Dead (1984) ISBN 0-345-31215-5
  3. Midworld (1975) ISBN 0-345-35011-1
  4. "The Emoman" (1972) short story
  5. "Surfeit" (1982) short story
  6. Drowning World (2003) ISBN 0-345-45035-3
  7. Quofum (2008) ISBN 978-0-345-49605-8
  8. "Mid-Death" (2006) short story
  9. The Howling Stones (1997) ISBN 0-345-38375-3
  10. Sentenced to Prism (1985) ISBN 0-345-31980-X
  11. Cachalot (1980) ISBN 0-345-28066-0

The Damned Trilogy

[edit]
  1. A Call to Arms (1991) ISBN 0-345-35855-4
  2. The False Mirror (1992) ISBN 0-345-35856-2
  3. The Spoils of War (1993) ISBN 0-345-35857-0

Dinotopia Universe

[edit]

Journeys of the Catechist

[edit]
  1. Carnivores of Light and Darkness (1998) ISBN 0-446-52132-9
  2. Into the Thinking Kingdoms (1999) ISBN 0-446-52136-1
  3. A Triumph of Souls (2000) ISBN 0-446-52218-X

Marexx

[edit]
  1. Builder (unpublished)[15][16]

Spellsinger series

[edit]
Main article: Spellsinger
  1. Spellsinger (1983) ISBN 0-446-97352-1
  2. The Hour of the Gate (1984) ISBN 0-446-90354-X
  3. The Day of the Dissonance (1984) ISBN 0-446-32133-8
  4. The Moment of the Magician (1984) ISBN 0-446-32326-8
  5. The Paths of the Perambulator (1985) ISBN 0-446-32679-8
  6. The Time of the Transference (1986) ISBN 0-932096-43-3
  7. Son of Spellsinger (1993) ISBN 0-446-36257-3
  8. Chorus Skating (1994) ISBN 0-446-36237-9

"Serenade" (2004), a novelette set immediately after The Time of the Transference,[17] was first published in the anthology Masters of Fantasy and was later reprinted in Foster's short story collection Exceptions to Reality.[18]

The Taken trilogy

[edit]
  1. Lost and Found (2004) ISBN 0-345-46125-8
  2. The Light-Years Beneath My Feet (2005) ISBN 0-345-46128-2
  3. The Candle of Distant Earth (2005) ISBN 0-345-46131-2

The Tipping Point trilogy

[edit]

Montezuma Strip

[edit]

Standalone novels

[edit]

Collections

[edit]

Anthologies edited

[edit]
  • 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

[edit]

Star Trek universe

[edit]
Star Trek: The Animated Series
[edit]
  1. Star Trek Log One (1974) ISBN 0-345-24014-6
  2. Star Trek Log Two (1974) ISBN 0-345-25812-6
  3. Star Trek Log Three (1975) ISBN 0-345-24260-2
  4. Star Trek Log Four (1975) ISBN 0-345-24435-4
  5. Star Trek Log Five (1975) ISBN 0-345-33351-9
  6. Star Trek Log Six (1976) ISBN 0-345-24655-1
  7. Star Trek Log Seven (1976) ISBN 0-345-24965-8
  8. Star Trek Log Eight (1976) ISBN 0-345-25141-5
  9. Star Trek Log Nine (1977) ISBN 0-345-25557-7
  10. Star Trek Log Ten (1978) ISBN 0-345-27212-9[20]
Star Trek movies
[edit]

Star Wars universe

[edit]

Alien universe

[edit]
  1. Alien (1979) ISBN 0-446-82977-3
  2. Aliens (1986) ISBN 0-446-30139-6
  3. Alien 3 (1992) ISBN 0-446-36216-6
  4. Alien: Covenant (2017) ISBN 1-785-65478-0
  5. Alien: Covenant - Origins (2017) ISBN 9781785654763

Terminator universe

[edit]

Transformers

[edit]

Standalone novelizations

[edit]

Filmography

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ This pen name was used for the first publication of many of the Montezuma Strip stories.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Wenz, John (January 1, 2018). "The First Star Wars sequel: Inside the writing of Splinter of the Mind's Eye". Syfy. SyFy Channel. Archived from the original on September 30, 2018. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  2. ^ Bently, Lionel; Biron, Laura (2014). "The author strikes back: Mutating authorship in the expanded universe". Law and Creativity in the Age of the Entertainment Franchise. Cambridge University Press. p. 44. ISBN 978-1-107-03989-6.
  3. ^ "Kaiburr crystal". StarWars.com. Archived from the original on September 13, 2011. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
  4. ^ Osborn, Alex (April 18, 2015). "Star Wars Celebration: Alan Dean Foster Writing The Force Awakens Novelization". Archived from the original on November 22, 2015. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  5. ^ Gross, Edward; Altman, Mark A. (June 28, 2016). The Fifty-Year Mission: The Complete, Uncensored, Unauthorized Oral History of Star Trek: The First 25 Years. St. Martin's Press. pp. 372–374. ISBN 978-1-4668-7285-1. Archived from the original on July 25, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  6. ^ "Alan Dean Foster Writing Star Trek Movie Adaptation". Archived from the original on February 15, 2009. Retrieved February 12, 2009.
  7. ^ "Gallery To Release Star Trek Into Darkness Novel". Archived from the original on June 18, 2013. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  8. ^ Flood, Allison. "Star Wars author appeals to Disney in fight over royalties". The Guardian. Archived from the original on November 23, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  9. ^ "Star Wars Novelist Says Disney Won't Pay Him Royalties it Owes Him". The Verge. Vox Media. November 19, 2020. Archived from the original on November 23, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  10. ^ "#DisneyMustPay Alan Dean Foster". Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. November 18, 2020. Archived from the original on November 18, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  11. ^ "1 May 2021". Alan Dean Foster. Archived from the original on October 11, 2002. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  12. ^ Johnston, Rich (May 11, 2021). "Disney To Pay Star Wars Novelists Alan Dean Foster And More". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  13. ^ "IAMTW 2008 awards". Archived from the original on November 19, 2008. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  14. ^ Bloodhype foreword, Del Rey, March 2002.
  15. ^ "Builder by Alan Dean Foster - FictionDB". www.fictiondb.com. Archived from the original on November 19, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  16. ^ "Title: Builder". www.isfdb.org. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  17. ^ Patten, Fred (August 4, 2001). "New Alan Dean Foster". Flayrah. Archived from the original on June 4, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  18. ^ "Publication: Exceptions to Reality". www.isfdb.org. Archived from the original on July 25, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  19. ^ The human blend. Online Computer Library Center. OCLC 548412878 – via WorldCat.
  20. ^ Ayers, Jeff (2006). Voyages of Imagination: The Star Trek Fiction Companion. Pocket Books. p. 65. ISBN 1-4165-0349-8. Archived from the original on November 18, 2020. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  21. ^ Osborn, Alex (April 18, 2015). "Star Wars Celebration: Alan Dean Foster Writing The Force Awakens Novelization". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  22. ^ Athans, Philip (September 20, 2011). "The Fantasy Author's Handbook Interview XVI: Alan Dean Foster". Fantasy Author's Handbook. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 11, 2018.

Further reading

[edit]
  • Duignan-Cabrera, Anthony (July 1996). "The InQuest Q&A: Alan Dean Foster". InQuest. No. 15. pp. 54–57.
[edit]
Library resources about
Alan Dean Foster
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alan Dean Foster.
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