Splinter of the minds eye was the first ever star wars expanded universe novel, published the year after the blockbuster release of star wars a new hope in 1978. Published in early 1978, it is the earliest nonmovie novel to be written, and next to the marvel ongoing series, the second piece of what would later be called the expanded universe. Prior to the first film hitting theaters in 1977, a followup film wasnt always a certainty, with author alan dean foster penning the sequel to the. Certain, you might chalk it as much as the crystals influence, the reality that luke type of networks obiwans spirit, but that doesnt clarify his increase in lightsaber method or the sudden superactive mentoring coming from a man whose initial help amounted to obscure directions like. A star wars story connects to splinter of the mind. Dec 17, 2010 splinter of the minds eye included some of george lucas ideas, but at some point i believe foster just had to be left on his own and run with it. This resulted in the bulk of the story being set on a foggy swamp planet and the cutting of what foster termed a. Star wars splinter of the minds eye rejected movie ideas. A compilation of early computer animation experiments. To add to gwyn mcvays great answer, splinters was never really intended to be george lucas vision for the direction of his star wars story. The novel became a fan favorite and the first story in the expanded universe of star wars novels that later included brian daley s han solo novels, timothy zahn s heir to the. Del rey isbn 9780345320230 mass market paperback wikipedia page.
Given the popularity of the first film, splinter of the minds eye became a bestseller based on the overwhelming demand for more stories set in a galaxy far, far away. Allows us to introduce you to splinter of the minds eye. There are minor inconsistencies between this novel and the 1977 film. Splinter of the minds eye part 5 blue milk special. The novel became a fan favorite and the first story in the expanded universe of star wars novels that later included brian daleys han solo novels, timothy zahns heir to the. In 1977, production companies generally focused on individual movies, not sequels, trilogies, etc and the. Its pretty decent though, and comes from a more innocent time. Though the first star wars book written was the novelization of the original movie, splinter of the minds eye is really the true beginning of the star wars expanded universe eu. Originally planned as a lowbudget sequel, the story focuses on luke and leia searching for magical crystals. The characterizations, often a problem when an author is writing about someone else s creations, are very good. Splinter of the minds eye featured a luke and leia romance, as the shipwrecked duo searched a swamp planet for something called a kaiburr. How splinter of the minds eye expanded the universe. Leia is in the throes of ptsd and being a jerkass because of it. Star wars splinter of the minds eye audiobook audiobooks.
It launched a franchise that still continues to this day, and has spun off into everything from critically. Splinter of the minds eye was the first ever eu book, coming out only a year after the first movie came out. The novel was instead released in 1978 under the title star wars. Star wars author alan dean foster on splinter of the mind. Since this story predates just about everything except the first movie, it isnt really consistent with all the stuff that came after it. It was never made into a film, but some of its ideas did trickle down into the official trilogy. A new hope, splinter of the minds eye drops luke and leia onto a primitive jungle planet where the stranded duo must contend with bizarre alien tribesmen, ravenous monsters, labrynthine caves, and roving bands of imperial stormtroopersall the while coming ever closer to the romance early star wars. Splinter of the minds eye luke has the hots for his sister. Jan 11, 2014 splinter of the minds eye is a pretty wellknown star wars novel. It sees luke, leia, and the droids stranded on mimban, a dark, foggy mining world that contains a powerful crystal also sought by the empire. This resulted in the bulk of the story being set on a foggy swamp planet and the cutting of what foster termed a modestly extensive space battle. Splinter of the minds eye, the original star wars sequel planned instead of the empire strikes back, would have been the end of the franchise.
The black hole by alan dean foster 1979 del rey 1979 1st print disney movie. Its no longer considered to be canon, yet has remained in print for nearly 40 years, along with a 1995 comic book adaptation. Many fans regard it with puzzlement and frustration due to its characterization and deviance from even the most rudimentary star wars canon. Probably also during the writing of the book it had already become clear that the star wars movie was a massive success and that splinter of the minds eye would probably no longer serve as a. Splinter of the mind s eye was the first fulllength star wars novel with an original storyline to be published after the release of the original film, and is thus considered, alongside marvel s initial comic series, to mark the beginning of the star wars expanded universe. Jul 19, 2016 publishers blurb, splinter of the minds eye. Splinter of the minds eye is a pretty wellknown star wars novel.
Even before star wars was released in theaters, george lucas was looking ahead to a sequel. Now they are kyber crystals, and also they are what powers lightsabers and additionally what powers the death star as well as starkiller base, but i swerve. Nov 17, 2019 splinter of the mind s eye is a classic star wars novel written by alan dean foster it takes place between a new hope and the empire strikes back. Because of plans to adapt splinter of the minds eye as a madefor tv movie, foster was told to write a story that could be filmed with a low budget. With the benefit of hindsight, 1977 the year george lucas star wars hit cinemas was a seminal moment in the history of sciencefiction. If you dont count vader force choking motti, that is.
Splinter of the minds eye, which was commissioned by george lucas. This is the first of nearly 200 novels written over the span of 36 years from 1978 to 2014 that would eventually make up the entirety of the late eu, now known as legends. This was the year that the star wars holiday special came out. A star wars story connects to splinter of the minds eye. Splinter of the mind s eye is the story that lucas was thinking about filming as a chap sequel to star wars in the chance that star wars turned out to be juuuust successful enough to warrant a sequel. Apr 20, 2020 given the popularity of the first film, splinter of the mind s eye became a bestseller based on the overwhelming demand for more stories set in a galaxy far, far away. Science fiction writer alan dean foster filled the bill with splinter of the mind s eye, an unofficial sequel to the original film that, if things had gone differently, could have been the basis for a second movie. This can be taken as a metaphor for her even being on mimban at all. Splinter of the minds eye has remained a favorite story since first reading it. Splinter of the minds eye occupies a curious place in star wars history.
Jul 28, 2016 splinter of the mind s eye holds a unique and weird place in star wars history. In 1995, the dark horse comic adaptation further solidified splinter of the minds eye as a favorite. It follows the story of the marooned luke skywalker and princess leia on an alien world as they become ensnared in the search for a priceless artifact that resonates with the power. After a marketing bonanza, the film eked out a bit over its budget at the. Dec, 2017 splinter of the mind s eye featured a luke and leia romance, as the shipwrecked duo searched a swamp planet for something called a kaiburr crystal. A look back at splinter of the minds eye the first. Splinter was an exercise in caution on lucass part. Lets take a look at the story of the lost star wars sequel star wars. Pdf splinter of the mind s eye download full pdf book. The minds eye packs a bloody bmovie punch, although its gleeful indulgence in gore may test the limits of all but the least squeamish. Alan dean foster is the first author to provide an expanded universe novel based on george lucass characters. Fosters novel opens shortly after the events of a new hope. This means i have been avoiding reading this book for my entire life until push made me after she thought up this eu book club idea and said we werent.
As a star wars fan who isnt all that rabid meaning i have consumed little outside of the standard canon, ive long held an interest in splinter of the mind s eye, due to its place within the star wars history. In effect, the first original fulllength expanded universe works and was published shortly after the release of the original movie. No movie series, cartoon spinoffs, video games, or any of that. It was to exclude the character of han solo because it was thought that harrison ford would either be unavailable or too expensivesomething weve already made light of in a previous strip. Jan 01, 2018 this was the idea behind the firstever star wars spinoff, splinter of the mind s eye, by alan dean foster. Story of the lost star wars sequel splinter of the. Splinter of the minds eye is a classic star wars novel written by alan dean foster it takes place between a new hope and the empire strikes back. Splinter of the minds eye was written by alan dean foster and published in february 1978, eight months after the debut of the original movie. Feb 07, 20 this is the alternate universe we might have lived in. Then, splinter of the minds eye, a story created by george lucas and alan dean foster before there were plans for any films past star wars. Internet archive contributor internet archive language english. Review splinter of the minds eye 1978 readstarwars. A long time ago in a galaxy far far away, there was.
Splinter of the minds eye was the first eu star wars novel. It was written by alan dean foster, who also ghost wrote the novelization of a new hope for george lucas. The biggest changes splinter of the minds eye made to star wars. Splinter of the minds eye was famously commissioned by george lucas as a potential lowbudget sequel to star wars had the movie been a failure. Looper the lost star wars movie we never got to see. The plot of splinter of the minds eye focuses on the kaiburr crystal, a shiny red treasure that essentially enhances the force. Splinter of the minds eye is the first star wars tiein novel. Because of plans to adapt splinter of the mind s eye as a madefor tv movie, foster was told to write a story that could be filmed with a low budget. Star wars sequel splinter of the minds eye slash film. But before empire, a very different second star wars movie was planned. Thankfully, star wars broke the box office bank and alan dean fosters splinter of the minds eye was never a film. Then, splinter of the mind s eye, a story created by george lucas and alan dean foster before there were plans for any films past star wars.
Inside the writing of splinter of the minds eye syfy wire. The idea was that splinter of the minds eye would be adapted as a made for tv movie. This book came out before i was even born and this was the first time id read it. Given the popularity of the first film, splinter of the mind s eye became a bestseller based on the overwhelming demand for more stories set in a galaxy far, far away. Splinter of the minds eye, formerly subtitled from the adventures of luke skywalker. Splinter of the mind s eye star wars mass market paperback march 12, 1986. Lucas certainly did not expect his science fiction fantasy to be a run away hit, but he hoped that it would do well enough that he could approach 20th century fox to tell another adventure, possibly on television. Sep 16, 2015 splinter of the minds eye was written by alan dean foster and published in february 1978, eight months after the debut of the original movie. Thats the plot of splinter of the minds eye, a 1978 spinoff novel by alan dean foster that was commissioned as a possible springboard for a new star wars film, should the first one survive. Released in 1978, the novel picked up where a new hope left off. The reason why is rather simple, its the first star wars expanded universe story. A look back at splinter of the minds eye the first star. Splinter of the minds eye is the story that lucas was thinking about filming as a chap sequel to star wars in the chance that star wars turned out.
Splinter of the mind s eye, formerly subtitled from the adventures of luke skywalker, is a legends novel written by alan dean foster. Splinter of the minds eye, taking place between a new hope and its sequel the empire strikes back, making it one of the first. Splinter of the minds eye part 40 blue milk special. Splinter of the minds eye was written by alan dean foster a top notch scifi writer of the 1960s and 70s. Jan 18, 2016 splinter of the minds eye is a very fun read. Mar 05, 2018 splinter of the minds eye got some things right, though. It is set in 2 aby, and it follows luke skywalker and leia organa to the planet mimban, where they seek out the powerful kaiburr crystal and encounter darth vader. Just the first movie, action figures, and collectable cards. Here i upload star wars soundtracks arranged as they might be heard in star wars novels. Todays post looks at the very first entry in what is now referred to as the expanded universe. Imagine theres this universe where everyone thought the first star wars film was some awful kiddie flick, so a lowbudget sequel was released. Splinter of the mind s eye is a sciencefiction novel written by alan dean foster as a sequel to the film star wars 1977.
A new hope, splinter of the mind s eye drops luke and leia onto a primitive jungle planet where the stranded duo must contend with bizarre alien tribesmen, ravenous monsters, labrynthine caves, and roving bands of imperial stormtroopersall the while coming ever closer to the romance early star wars. This book was published after star wars a new hope was released and reported to be the story for the second star wars movie. This is the alternate universe we might have lived in. Oct 12, 2014 the idea was that splinter of the minds eye would be adapted as a made for tv movie. Splinter of the mind s eye was the first eu star wars novel. Splinter of the minds eye included some of george lucas ideas, but at some point i believe foster just had to be left on his own and run with it. The original book was written as the basis of a sequel to the original star wars movie but it was never made, perhaps because its not actually that great and doesnt have han solo or chewbacca in it. Splinter of the minds eye holds a unique and weird place in star wars history. May 24, 2018 splinter of the minds eye was famously commissioned by george lucas as a potential lowbudget sequel to star wars had the movie been a failure. Star wars spinoff, splinter of the minds eye, by alan dean foster. In fact, he also ghostwrote the star wars tiein which is fantastic and did this story as a possible sequel if star wars was only a moderate success. Mar 20, 2017 splinter of the minds eye occupies a curious place in star wars history. The death star has been destroyed, and even though the empire still rules much of the galaxy with an iron fist, more systems are joining the rebel alliance to challenge emperor palpatines tyrannical regime. Star wars author alan dean foster on splinter of the.
And last is vader s quest, in which vader learns the secret kept from him by yoda and obiwan. Star wars splinter of the minds eye rejected movie ideas rejected movie ideas is hosted by james a. Splinter of the minds eye was conceived as a potential backup plan for a low budget sequel if star wars proved to be less successful than hoped. Originally published in 1978 by del rey, a division of ballantine books, the book was written with the intention of being adapted as a lowbudget sequel to star wars in the event that the original film was not successful enough to spawn the franchise it would ultimately. Splinter of the minds eye star wars mass market paperback march 12, 1986. Splinter of the minds eye luke has the hots for his. The novel was the first installment in the star wars expanded universe, and it was first. And last is vaders quest, in which vader learns the secret kept from him by yoda and obiwan. The first novel to take the adventures of luke skywalker beyond what we now call episode iv. Original empire strikes back would have ended star wars as. Its also well known for being the only example of what star wars could have been had the second film gone in a different direction.
It never was made into a film, but some of its ideas did trickle down into the official trilogy. Aside from a few very minor details, this story fits very comfortably in between a new hope and the empire strikes back, and provides some extra backstory and character building that helps us get to know luke, leia, and even darth vader a little bit better before episode v. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Leia and halla can both survive just about anything, and have. Splinter of the minds eye the noncanon star wars wiki. Splinter of the mind s eye was the first ever star wars expanded universe novel, published the year after the blockbuster release of star wars a new hope in 1978. Splinter of the mind s eye is a continuation of the adventures of luke skywalker, with much of the flavor of star wars combined with foster s own style of storytelling.
Splinter of the minds eye is more interesting as a historical relic than as a good star wars story. The force awakens arriving in theaters this december, im examining some of the star wars comic books and novels of the past. Splinter of the mind s eye was written by alan dean foster a top notch scifi writer of the 1960 s and 70 s. The history of splinter of the minds eye is an interesting one. Star wars original sequel wasnt empire strikes back. Why was the star wars sequel novel splinter of the minds. Original empire strikes back would have ended star wars as we. Splinter of the minds eye was famously commissioned by george lucas as a potential lowbudget sequel to star wars had the movie been a. This was the idea behind the firstever star wars spinoff, splinter of the minds eye, by alan dean foster. May 21, 2020 splinter of the mind s eye, the original star wars sequel planned instead of the empire strikes back, would have been the end of the franchise. Splinter of the minds eye is a sciencefiction novel written by alan dean foster as a sequel to the film star wars 1977. Mar 16, 2015 thats the plot of splinter of the minds eye, a 1978 spinoff novel by alan dean foster that was commissioned as a possible springboard for a new star wars film, should the first one survive.