Alan Dean Foster

[Trailblazer]

Any readers of him here?.

Several years ago my dad gave me one of his books, a tatty 20p library sale job and it was already quite old at the time.

Recently I picked it up and read it, the book being Mid-Flinx part of a 14 odd long series based around the main character Flinx and his various adventures.
It's light reading but pretty good stuff so I have been working my way through the series over the last few months and am about half way through.

Considering the series started in 1972 and was finished in 2009 im surprised at the lack of disconnect one might guess would be present in writing style and feel over such a huge timeframe. Im now in the 2000s books and despite a few discrepancies from written and chronological order they flow together pretty seamlessly.

Looking at wiki ADF has also written alot of other books and series besides the long Flinx one.

 

[D_Davis]

In the '80s and '90s, he was the go-to-guy for the novelization of a genre film.

I always suspected that ADF was more than one guy.

 

[nightdreamer]

I read several of the Humanx Commonwealth books when he first started writing them, and got really, really pissed off when he didn't finish them. Apparently, I was mad at him without cause for well over a decade because he got back to it sometime later. So I've started over. The last one I read was Flinx's Folly. You are aware, I hope, that publication order in no way matches chronological order. Each one stands alone pretty well, but knowing the background helps, so I'm adhering religiously to chronological order. I find them rather uneven, some better than others, but the all-encompassing story has me rather stuck on them.

 

[Trailblazer]

I read several of the Humanx Commonwealth books when he first started writing them, and got really, really pissed off when he didn't finish them. Apparently, I was mad at him without cause for well over a decade because he got back to it sometime later. So I've started over. The last one I read was Flinx's Folly. You are aware, I hope, that publication order in no way matches chronological order. Each one stands alone pretty well, but knowing the background helps, so I'm adhering religiously to chronological order. I find them rather uneven, some better than others, but the all-encompassing story has me rather stuck on them.

I am one behind you on Reunion.

Yeh im reading them in chronological order not release order. They do vary like you say but the flow is keeping me interested, steadily working my way to the end.


Novelization credits dont normally garner a good reputation but he seems pretty prolific with his own writing.

 

[D_Davis]

Novelization credits dont normally garner a good reputation but he seems pretty prolific with his own writing.

The dude is insanely prolific. That's why I always expected it was actually a group of authors.

 

[Clansman]

I remember enjoying the Spellsinger books, and a four-book SF series he did about four planets that amounted to prisons for the people sent there, and an agent who travelled to these planets having taken control of the bodies of other people (usually criminals). Can't remember its name, but I remember it being a good read.

 

[steve12553]

I've read a couple of Flinx books and own a couple more. I picked up the novelizations of the Star Trek cartoon series many years ago and his name is on them. I'm also thinking his name is on several other things I acquired over the years. I think prolithic is an understatement.

 

[Rodders]

My first exposure to Alan Dean Foster was his Splinter in the Minds eye star wars tie in. He was a great writer for me back in the 80s and 90s and could be considered something of a gateway author for me. I read a lot his Tie in novels.

 

[nightdreamer]

Oh my goodness! I'd forgotten all about Splinter in the Mind's Eye. I normally don't go for movie tie-ins, but I recall that one being pretty decent. Had no idea ADF wrote it.

 

[iansales]

I remember enjoying the Spellsinger books, and a four-book SF series he did about four planets that amounted to prisons for the people sent there, and an agent who travelled to these planets having taken control of the bodies of other people (usually criminals). Can't remember its name, but I remember it being a good read.

That four-book series sounds more like The Four Lords of the Diamond series by Jack Chalker.

 

[Rodders]

Oh my goodness! I'd forgotten all about Splinter in the Mind's Eye. I normally don't go for movie tie-ins, but I recall that one being pretty decent. Had no idea ADF wrote it.

Yeah, that was a great book. He also wrote the novelisation of Star Wars (although George Lucas' name is on the cover.)

 

[Fried Egg]

Many years ago I read the "Spellsinger" books and I think I also read the "Journeys of the Catechist" series. But, for some reason, he's not an author that interests me these days...

 

[monkeypooper]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Dean_Foster It's amazing what he has wrote i love his Alien books

 

[Trailblazer]

Yeh hes like a dam holding back a river, has to write constantly just to ease the pressure.

 

[Bick]

I was interested to see this thread on ADF. He seems to be a little overlooked these days, but I read Phylogenesis recently and thoroughly enjoyed it. His novelisations paid his bills I expect - Alien is really well done tho. His writing style is very easy. I will have to look out for his pip and flinx books.

 

[Connavar]

I got Harm's Way as second hand recently and look forward to trying this author in coming weeks. I have heard alot of about him in these forums.

 

[Parson]

That four-book series sounds more like The Four Lords of the Diamond series by Jack Chalker.

That's where I went too. A pretty solid series, that.

 

[clovis-man]

Oh my goodness! I'd forgotten all about Splinter in the Mind's Eye. I normally don't go for movie tie-ins, but I recall that one being pretty decent. Had no idea ADF wrote it.

I think this book got a lot of exposure because it came out close on the heels of the first Star Wars movie (episode IV). Many people, myself included, thought it might be a clue to the next chapter of the saga. Of course, it wasn't. But it was entertaining nonetheless. However, I haven't sought his work out.

 

[Clansman]

That four-book series sounds more like The Four Lords of the Diamond series by Jack Chalker.

Right you are, Ian. I stand corrected.

 

[iansales]

I got Harm's Way as second hand recently and look forward to trying this author in coming weeks. I have heard alot of about him in these forums.

That's by Colin Greenland - or Alan Dean Foster write one with the same title?