ALAN DEAN FOSTER

Alan Dean Foster was born in New York City in 1946, but was raised in Los Angeles. He has been writing science fiction and fantasy since 1968. He has written many books, including novelizations of the original Star Wars movie, the first three Alien series films, and the story for Star Trek: The Motion Picture. He has also written novels set in his own creative universe, such as the Midworld books. He recently took the time to answer some questions from OtherSpace. Interested in his books? You can buy them through Amazon.com by clicking on the titles in the boxes on this page.

Wes Platt asks: When you wrote Splinter in the Mind's Eye, it was before the story twist in the movie's led to a brother-sister relationship for Luke and Leia. Now, the romantic tension in the book strikes some readers as a little strange. How did you feel about the revelation?
Alan Dean Foster: Surprised. There was nothing to indicate the relationship.

Wes Platt asks: How did it come to pass that you ghost wrote the original Star Wars movie novelization?
Alan Dean Foster: I was asked to, by Lucasfilm and the publisher, Del Rey.

Wes Platt asks: What's the most exotic place you've ever visited? What made it memorable? Why do you enjoy traveling so much?
Alan Dean Foster: Probably Papua New Guinea. Still one of the most primitive places left on Earth; fabulous wildlife, the best all-around diving in the world, and entrancing cultures. As to traveling, I have to see what's on the other side of the hill. Being stuck on one planet, I do the best I can here, and travel outward with my imagination.

Wes Platt asks: You received a bachelor's degree in political science and a masters in fine arts in cinema from UCLA. Did you originally intend to be a filmmaker? How did you end up writing professionally?
Alan Dean Foster: Yes, I'd hoped to go into film originally. But I started selling short stories and books, and gradually gravitated to doing that. I still enjoy writing for film, but you can't really work in the industry and not live in the L.A. area. All of my books unspool in my mind as films anyway.

Wes Platt asks: Do you have any one particular book set in your own creative universe that stands out as best representing your personality? If so, which one?
Alan Dean Foster: My personality? Good question. I'd have to say the two MIDWORLD books. Both reflect my love of the far-away and exotic as well as my deep interest in ecology.

Wes Platt asks: You've written books in the mythos of Star Trek, Star Wars, Dinotopia, Alien and Alien Nation, among others. Which "shared" mythos do you enjoy the most, and why?
Alan Dean Foster: Being a dinosaur buff from the age of 4, I'd have to say DINOTOPIA.

Wes Platt asks: You've authored quite a few short stories. Which was your least favorite and why? Which do you consider your best, and why?
Alan Dean Foster: I don't really have a least favorite ;). As to my best, I'm probably not the best judge of that, either. Just like with the books, different people like different stories for different reasons.

Wes Platt asks: What do you consider your greatest achievement as a writer?
Alan Dean Foster: Transporting people away from the mundanities of everyday life to somewhere totally different.

Wes Platt asks: Why do you think Hollywood is afraid to take chances on anything new? Is it simply a matter of money?
Alan Dean Foster: Nope. In the film business, it's more important not to make a mistake than to take a chance and have a great success. It's a business founded on fear more than hope.

Wes Platt asks: You've traveled far and wide across the globe. Where haven't you gone that you still hope to go?
Alan Dean Foster: Oh, a great many places! Kamchatka, to see the hot springs, volcanoes, and bears. Deeper Siberia, for the isolation. Central and West Africa. The Middle East. Angel Falls in Venezuela. Ecuador. Still lots of islands in the South Pacific (and the Atlantic too, for that matter). India and Nepal. Many, many places.

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