logo Sign In

Post #261161

Author
auximenies
Parent topic
The SW Novel - Alan Dean Foster
Link to post in topic
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/261161/action/topic#261161
Date created
12-Dec-2006, 9:40 AM
I thought I'd revisit this thread since I am currently reading the novel.
Originally posted by: Obi Jeewhyen
Hmm, I was hoping to hear that George at least okay'd the novel before it was published...
Presumably someone okay'd it. If not GL himself then Kurtz maybe? Of course today LFL has a division that is responsible for checking out all the novels to make sure they comply, but back then...?

I'm wondering what other materials besides the script were at ADF's disposal. Many of his descriptions are dead-on and do not come from the script. Did he have still photos of the production? Dailies? And if he had no input from GL, how did he flesh out some of the more esoteric ideas that the script doesn't go into? Was a consultant available to him? Or did GL give him more than just a script? Outlines of various themes and a bit of backstory, perhaps? These would be interesting questions to ask ADF.

Looking at the different scripts it's clear that ADF wrote from the 15-Mar-1976 version. It's also clear that the 15-Jan-1976 version as published in 1979's Art of SW is closest to the finished film, if not simply a transcript of the finished project. Without question the 15-Mar-1976 version was written before the supposed 15-Jan-1976 version. So is this the first documented instance of GL revisionist history? (cue Gomer to provide a defense)

Originally posted by: C3PX
What is odd to me is as to why the novel is credited to George Lucas and not Alan D. Foster. Foster was a much better known author than Georgie, as George only has one novel credited to him and he didn't even write the thing.

If you consider that it came out before the movie, it makes sense that George's name is on it. If it were me I'd want my name on the first (I assume) publicly available SW story. Also, the film might be misconstrued as GL's adaptation of ADF's novel, as people may ignore the "based on a story by GL" tag.

Originally posted by: C3PX
I am surprised even today that the reprints of the novel are credited to George.

This surprises me too. The reasons I gave above for GL's name appearing on it are no longer relevant today. So I think ADF's name should be on it now.