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The SW Novel - Alan Dean Foster

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Alan Dean Foster was Luca$h’s ghost writer for the SW Novel. This much we know.

Did ADF write the novel from Luca$h’s script?

Did ADF and Luca$h write the novel before the script?

Did ADF help Luca$h write the SW script?

Anybody got any behind the scenes info?

Don't you call me a mindless philosopher...!
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I'm only guessing here, but seems that the book is derived from a slightly earlier version of the script. Before they changed the colours of the X-Wing call signs, Red Five/Blue Five etc.
It would be interesting to know how or if Lucas was involved with the novel.

I don't think ADF helped with the script, but didn't other uncredited writers jazz up the dialogue a bit?

Star Wars 1977-1983

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In the book, Han also shoots preemptively! The book tells the tale of what was originally intended.
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Originally posted by: LeoneNut
II don't think ADF helped with the script, but didn't other uncredited writers jazz up the dialogue a bit?
They were Gloria Katz and Willard Huyck. They also co-wrote American Grafitti with Lucas as well as Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Huyck made Howard the Duck for Lucas.

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My email to ADF
Mr Foster,

I am currently re-reading your novelisation of Star Wars, first published in 1976. I was only born in 1979 but I have had my copy of the novel for approximately 25 years now! I couldn't read it at the time of purchase, regretfully, but such was my mania that I had to have it! I was wondering if you would mind answering some questions that have occurred to me over the years?

I have found myself wondering if Mr Lucas had provided you with a copy of his script or if he had not written it at that point? Did you make any contribution to the script that was finally used to make the film?

How closely did you work with Mr Lucas on the novel? Was he unsure if it would ever make it from the page to the screen when you first worked with him?

How long were you working on this particular project?

I hope you don't mind my asking all these questions! If you could find time to respond, I'd be most grateful!

With thanks,

Andrew Roberts
Darlington, UK

ADF's reply
Hi Andrew;
No trouble at all.
I had a copy of the script to write the book from.
The movie was well into production when I was brought aboard to write
the book. I wrote it from the script, with no input from George (he was
somewhat busy). Took me about 6 weeks to write the book...and then I did
the sequel, Splinter of the Mind's Eye.
Regards,
Alan F
Don't you call me a mindless philosopher...!
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Wow. Nice guy to respond so quickly.

There is no lingerie in space…

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Hmm, I was hoping to hear that George at least okay'd the novel before it was published ... because I'm very keen on the part where it's crystal clear that Obi-wan Kenobi is NOT LYING when he tells Luke that Darth Vader betrayed and murdered Luke's father, who was a good friend of Kenobi's.

It's been admitted that the whole Darth Vader as Luke's daddy plot was made-up after Star Wars, but I love something in print that puts the lie to all that "certain point of view" crap.
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Yeah, more proof that George Lucas is lying about Star Wars. Very interesting.

"Now all Lucas has to do is make a cgi version of himself.  It will be better than the original and fit his original vision." - skyjedi2005

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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. I am surprised even today that the reprints of the novel are credited to George. I would really love to have a copy of "Star Wars" by Alan Dean Foster. That one would go on my shelf right between by H.G. Wells' books and Splinter of the Mind's Eye. However as it is Star Wars by George Lucas just doesn't fit on my shelf.

"Every time Warb sighs, an angel falls into a vat of mapel syrup." - Gaffer Tape

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Originally posted by: Obi Jeewhyen
Hmm, I was hoping to hear that George at least okay'd the novel before it was published ... because I'm very keen on the part where it's crystal clear that Obi-wan Kenobi is NOT LYING when he tells Luke that Darth Vader betrayed and murdered Luke's father, who was a good friend of Kenobi's.

It's been admitted that the whole Darth Vader as Luke's daddy plot was made-up after Star Wars, but I love something in print that puts the lie to all that "certain point of view" crap.


Its been a while since I've read this book, but, IIRC, it seems to imply as well that the emperor isn't really the villian, and definiately not a sith. He was explained that he is shut away from the people and the bureaucracy/military actually is the real power. Several things were changed from this point in the story.
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Originally posted by: Number20
Its been a while since I've read this book, but, IIRC, it seems to imply as well that the emperor isn't really the villian, and definiately not a sith. He was explained that he is shut away from the people and the bureaucracy/military actually is the real power.


That is indeed correct, Number20. Palpatine is mentioned in the Prologue of the novel as an ambitious senator who is elected President of the Republic ("aided and abetted by restless, power-hungry individuals within the government, and the massive organs of commerce), declares himself Emperor and then shuts himself away from the populace.

"Soon he was controlled by the very assistants and boot-lickers he had appointed to high office, and the cries of the people for justice did not reach his ears."
Don't you call me a mindless philosopher...!
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Wow, that sounds so different from the story we know now. How great would it have been had Lucas stuck to these interesting ideas rather than taking to dark path towards infantile nonsense. Even the plot of Palpatine being a sith was cool, until episode 3. "UNNNLIIIIMIITEEED POOOWER!!!" oh well.

"Every time Warb sighs, an angel falls into a vat of mapel syrup." - Gaffer Tape

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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.

Pink Floyd -- First in Space

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I'm assuming that the novel is still attributed to George Lucas because it always has been. I don't know a lot about the publishing world, but author's names never change. Everyone knows that Mark Twain was a psuedonym, and that the real author was Samuel Clements. But you will never see Tom Sawyer or Huck Finn credited to "Samuel Clements" in any bookstore, but always "Mark Twain". It might be something like that going on. Since it was originally attributed to George Lucas, it is stuck that way.
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Originally posted by: Number20
...author's names never change. Everyone knows that Mark Twain was a psuedonym, and that the real author was Samuel Clements. But you will never see Tom Sawyer or Huck Finn credited to "Samuel Clements" in any bookstore, but always "Mark Twain". It might be something like that going on. Since it was originally attributed to George Lucas, it is stuck that way.

That's a little different situation. A pen name is the same person, a ghost writer is a different person. If I were to guess, I'd think it's a rights issue. Lucas owns it all so he most likely has say in how it's published.

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