Alan Dean Foster Quotes & Sayings

There's certainly more new SF available than when I started writing. That means there's also more bad SF available. Whether there is also more good is a matter for future historians of the field. — Alan Dean Foster

She was nearly twenty, with dark hair, darker eyes, and a hint of something deeper within. There was a freshness about her that the surrounding harsh landscape had failed to eliminate. Anyone glancing at her would have thought her soft: a serious error of judgment. — Alan Dean Foster

We're all nothing but unified arrangements of atoms and particles, drifting around, enjoying consciousness every now and then for a second or so before splitting up to become bits and pieces of trees and stars and french fries. — Alan Dean Foster

Don't try to write to the trend of the moment. — Alan Dean Foster

Standard issue helmets are designed to filter out smoke, not toxins. — Alan Dean Foster

In one book, CACHALOT, just for my own amusement, every character is based directly on someone I have known. — Alan Dean Foster

She looked up. Never underestimate a droid, Lieutenant. — Alan Dean Foster

Yes, there's a lot of sand here. Beebee-Ate? Okay. Hello, Beebee-Ate. My name is Rey. No, just Rey. — Alan Dean Foster

I've been writing full-time since 1978. — Alan Dean Foster

Without the Jedi, there can be no balance in the Force, and all will be given over to the dark side." Though — Alan Dean Foster

First comes the day Then comes the night. After the darkness Shines through the light. The difference, they say, Is only made right By the resolving of gray Through refined Jedi sight. - Journal of the Whills, 7:477 — Alan Dean Foster

A little bit of everything you admire eventually rubs off on you. — Alan Dean Foster

When people don't have access to facts, they invent what they'd like to believe, or what they think others would like to hear. — Alan Dean Foster

It was a peaceful place, as was the case with most small communities situated on desert worlds. Despite the desolation that was apparent at first glance, it boasted its characteristic assortment of indigenous life-forms. Regardless of the absence of much in the way of visible vegetation, the distant isolated hoots and mewlings of nocturnal native animals indicated that life was present even where none could readily be seen. A single wind chime yodeling in the occasional breeze provided a tinkling counterpoint to the yelps of hidden sand-dwellers. — Alan Dean Foster

Tekka shrugged - an old man's shrug, slow and full of meaning. I've traveled too far and seen too much to ignore the collective anguish that threatens to drown the galaxy in a flood of dark despair. Something must be done; whatever the cost, whatever the danger. Without the Jedi, there can be no balance in the Force, and all will be given over to the dark side. — Alan Dean Foster

It is always hard when reality intrudes on belief. — Alan Dean Foster

A star has died. Elsewhere in the cosmos, in an unremarkable corner of one galactic arm, a child was born. Such is the balance of existence. — Alan Dean Foster

You always think you can make it up to somebody - later, you know.' She took a deep breath. 'But now I never can. I never can. — Alan Dean Foster

From the box she removed a lightsaber. Finn eyed it uncertainly, but even in the poor light, Han recognized it immediately. Luke Skywalker's lightsaber. "Where'd you get that?" Han demanded. "Long story. A good one - for later. — Alan Dean Foster

Maybe one day, before the universe died, Unkar Plutt would take a bath. — Alan Dean Foster

There has been an awakening in the Force. Have you felt it? — Alan Dean Foster

Women always figure out the truth. — Alan Dean Foster

She finally managed to free her fingers from his. I know how to run without you holding my hand! — Alan Dean Foster

This is the deep-space commercial tug Nostromo, registration number one eight zero, two four six, en route to Earth with bulk cargo crude petroleum and appropriate refinery. Calling Antarctica traffic control. Do you read me? Over. — Alan Dean Foster

The Millennium Falcon." She could not keep the wonder out of her voice. "This is the ship that made the Kessel Run in fourteen parsecs." "Twelve parsecs. — Alan Dean Foster

It was evident from both Hux's tone and body language that he held no love for the newcomer. The feeling was mutual; neither took pains to hide his contempt. — Alan Dean Foster

The black mask, with its slittled forehead and thick, snoutlike breathing apparatus, covered the face of the man he knew as Kylo Ren. Once, he had known the face behind the mask. Once, he has known the man himself. Now, to Lor San Tekka, only the mask was left. Metal instead of a man. — Alan Dean Foster

Confronted by seven tall, cloaked figures, dark and foreboding, all armed. — Alan Dean Foster

It illuminated a vision Dante could not have imagined in his wildest nightmares, nor Poe in the grasp of an uncontrollable delirium. — Alan Dean Foster

I never answer that question until after I've done it. — Alan Dean Foster

Those who had led the rebellion had under-estimated the deeply buried desire of far too large a proportion of the population who simply preferred to be told what to do. Much easier it was to follow orders than to think for oneself. So everyone had argued and debated and discussed. Until it was too late. — Alan Dean Foster

Light enters through the window and opacity is vanished!" exclaimed the alien. — Alan Dean Foster

There was a freshness about her that the surrounding harsh landscape had failed to eliminate — Alan Dean Foster

For an ordinary trooper like him, ignorance was not simply an abstract value. It was in the manual. — Alan Dean Foster

Nuke it from orbit. It's the only way to be sure. (Ellen Ripley) — Alan Dean Foster

Never underestimate a droid, — Alan Dean Foster

A few, less constrained by pride and more resilient, survived and had children. Their offspring grew up with no illusions about the supremacy of humankind or anykind. They matured and observed the world around them through different eyes. Roll the log. Give and take. Bend with the wind. Adapt, adapt, adapt ... ! — Alan Dean Foster

Hux refused to pace, regarding it as a waste of energy. — Alan Dean Foster

Today's science is yesterday's magic, friend Oak. Today's magic is tomorrow's science. All disciplines are tangent and the differences between them often nothing more substantial than semantics. Scientists or laibon who dismiss conclusions out of hand because they do not countenance the methodology utilized to reach them forfeit their title. — Alan Dean Foster

I can't do this by myself. It requires two security codes to access the full system and shut it down. — Alan Dean Foster

The expression on her face was one the trooper would never forget: it was the look of someone still alive who realizes she's already dead — Alan Dean Foster

Eying him, Finn felt he knew the type if not the man. His only fear then was that the man might shoot first and ask questions later. Thankfully, he did not. — Alan Dean Foster

The Millennium Falcon rose. — Alan Dean Foster

It is I, See-Threepio! You probably don't recognize me because of the red arm. Turning — Alan Dean Foster

meal was sensitized: any nonprogrammed disruption — Alan Dean Foster

The Ileenium system? — Alan Dean Foster

I try to challenge myself as much as possible, as often as possible. — Alan Dean Foster

A man with a gun may hunt a tiger during the day with some expectation of success. Turn out his light, put the man in the jungle at night, surround him with the unknown and all his primitive fears return. Advantage to the tiger. — Alan Dean Foster

The universe is full of dead people who lived by assumption. — Alan Dean Foster

It is you, Ren murmured. His words unsettled her: Not for the first time, he seemed to know more about her than she did about herself. — Alan Dean Foster

There is nothing in art, in philosophy, or in politics to match the fervor of mutual cooperation among discordant bands of fanatics. — Alan Dean Foster

He worked to pay attention, realizing that the tottering upright stinking blob was speaking. No, he corrected himself resolutely: It was a graceful, fluid biped who was addressing him. — Alan Dean Foster

Captain Phasma. Remember me?" He moved his weapon slightly. "Here's my blaster, ya still wanna inspect it?" Phasma held on to her dignity. "Yes, I remember you. FN-2187." Finn shook his head curtly. "Not anymore. My name is Finn. A real name for a real person. And I'm in charge now. — Alan Dean Foster

Show me, Grandfather, and I will finish what you started. Trembling — Alan Dean Foster

Getting inside the mind of a terrorist wasn't difficult at all. Even as children, human beings fabricate elaborate revenge fantasies. We're not a particular species. Check out popular video games. — Alan Dean Foster

Living gives you a better understanding of life. I would hope that my characters have become deeper and more rounded personalities. Wider travels have given me considerably greater insight into how cultural differences affect not only people, but politics and art. — Alan Dean Foster

I enjoy listening to classical music and heavy metal. I play basketball and try to go diving at least once a year. I don't really have hobbies in the traditional sense ... I engage in too many activities already through the actions of my characters. — Alan Dean Foster

Niima: center of the galaxy, repository of manifold cultures, offering to its myriad inhabitants a never-ending succession of entertainment, education, and enjoyable distractions. Her — Alan Dean Foster

Just stay calm and collected and baffle them with space dust. — Alan Dean Foster

The two stormtroopers might not have been tactically sophisticated, but they had been good shots. — Alan Dean Foster

Drake complied. 'Learned that one in tech class,' he informed the occupants of the operations bay. 'Got to make sure you hit the left side only or it doesn't work.' 'What happens if you hit the right side?' Ripley asked curiously. 'You overload the internal pressure control, the one that keeps your helmet on your head.' She could see Drake smiling wolfishly into Frost's camera. 'Your eyeballs implode and your brains explode.' 'What brains?' Vasquez let out a snort. — Alan Dean Foster

Try to be brief, will you, Tru?" Tse-Mallory asked his companion. "If there is one among us who is guilty of persistent loquacity," came the reply smoothly, "it is not I." "Debatable" was Tse-Mallory's simple retort, as he followed September up the steps leading out of the temple. "Not without being guilty of the crime of debating!" shouted Truzenzuzex, — Alan Dean Foster

Freedom is just chaos with better lighting — Alan Dean Foster

easier question to answer. "Who wouldn't be? This is New Riviera, the paradise planet, the best of Mother Earth concentrated and then spread like a fine glaze on an entire world instead of just a small part of it. — Alan Dean Foster

Awkwardly pressed up against him, the Princess seemed to take no notice of their proximity. In the dampness, though, her body heat was near palpable to Luke and he had to force himself to keep his attention on what he was doing. — Alan Dean Foster

One could teach knowledge. One could teach skills. One could even, she knew, teach something of the Force. But patience had to be learned alone. — Alan Dean Foster

He had never killed anyone before. He still felt the same. The pistol had done the killing, not him. The man had set if off himself, as a consequence of his own idiotic actions. — Alan Dean Foster

Chewie, we're home, — Alan Dean Foster

Spontaneity is one of the joys of existence, especially if you prepare for it in advance. — Alan Dean Foster

There was no reply. That in itself was encouraging. They trudged on, Luke stealing admiring glances at her when she wasn't looking. — Alan Dean Foster

It was exciting and intellectually gratifying to speculate on what might lie waiting in the black gulfs when one was behind the business end of a telescope, quite another to do so isolated on an unpleasant little speck of a world such as this, confronted by a ship of non-human manufacture that uncomfortably resembled a growth instead of a familiar device for manipulating and overcoming the neat laws of physics. — Alan Dean Foster

It is the task of the First Order to remove the disorder from our own existence, so that civilization may be returned to the stability that promotes progress. A stability that existed under the Empire, was reduced to anarchy by the Rebellion, was inherited in turn by the so-called Republic, and will be restored by us. Future historians will look upon this as the time when a strong hand brought the rule of law back to civilization. Mitaka — Alan Dean Foster

Besides the mistakes that are pointed out, I love the way readers become involved with the characters. When readers start asking about character motivations instead of concentrating on the special effects, it means you're connecting with them on a personal level. — Alan Dean Foster

Keep writing. Try to do a little bit every day, even if the result looks like crap. Getting from page four to page five is more important than spending three weeks getting page four perfect. — Alan Dean Foster

The blow had cauterized instantly. — Alan Dean Foster

That which is beautiful is magnified by being shared with others.That which is painful is often moderated by being shared. Both are logical. -Spock — Alan Dean Foster

Remember that the prime consideration of science is the protection and betterment of human life. I would never contravene that. — Alan Dean Foster

Writing allows me the time to travel and see the world, which is what I always wanted to do. I'd really like to have been Sir Richard Francis Burton, but it's the wrong century. — Alan Dean Foster

He did not put his feelings down to simple xenophobia. Basically, he hadn't expected the alien to be so completely alien. — Alan Dean Foster

The overwhelming triumph of the international multimedia conglomerate has resulted in less diversity within the field and has made it much harder for newer writers not only to break in, but to make any kind of a living while doing so. — Alan Dean Foster

In discovering that half of his biological heritage consisted of nothing more than an impersonal concoction of designer proteins, artificially leveraged by indifferent scientists to produce a zygote that when matured would, they hoped, display certain interesting mental abilities, he had felt something fundamental drain out of him. He had been nothing more than a test, an experiment, one among many. — Alan Dean Foster

If there was one thing a competent fighting force did not need, Hux knew, it was unforeseen outbursts of individuality. — Alan Dean Foster

I hear entire symphonies, oratorios, in my head, but I can't write a note. — Alan Dean Foster

Much easier it was to follow orders than to think for oneself. — Alan Dean Foster

Turning the planet into what astrophysicists called a pocket nova. — Alan Dean Foster

Rule makers always draw up their precious rules and regulations in safety and comfort, not out in the field, where those same absolutes are supposed to be applied. At those times we have to rely on our own minds and feelings. — Alan Dean Foster

So much beauty among so much turmoil. In a way, we are but an infinitely smaller reflection of the same conflict. It is the task of the First Order to remove the disorder from our own existence, so that civilization may be returned to the stability that promotes progress. A stability that existed under the Empire, was reduced to anarchy by the Rebellion, was inherited in turn by the so-called Republic, and will be restored by us. Future historians will look upon this as the time when a strong hand brought the rule of law back to civilization. — Alan Dean Foster

I will drop my weapon, he — Alan Dean Foster

On the other hand, Andrea had decided last month, on the occasion of her twelfth birthday and for no discernible reason (at least, none that an adult could discern), that from then on her given name would be Fitzwinkle. And then — Alan Dean Foster

I don't get to treat many lightsaber wounds. It's such an old weapon. People today prefer to fight with rifles and blasters, from long range." She shrugged. "I suppose it doesn't matter. Death is death, no matter the mechanism that is employed to beget it. — Alan Dean Foster

For an ordinary man, yes" she had replied. "But we're not trying to find an ordinary man. We're looking for Luke Skywalker — Alan Dean Foster

She gathered her belongings and headed for the makeshift entrance that led into the belly of the half-destroyed AT-AT walker. It might be an ancient, rotting, rusting example of now useless military might, but to Rey, it was home. — Alan Dean Foster

I got a bad feeling about this." - — Alan Dean Foster

Having been gathered in stages by an immense array of coupled collectors located on the other side of the planet, a tremendously compact volume of a type of dark energy known as quintessence had been accumulated at the center of the planet. Held in place inside a roiling molten metal core by the frozen world's powerful magnetic field, — Alan Dean Foster

The storm hit with all the fury of a woman who'd been dieting for six months, only to discover she'd gained four pounds. — Alan Dean Foster

How much research I have to do depends on the nature of the story. For fantasy, none at all. — Alan Dean Foster

Han Solo," came the clipped voice of the gang leader, "you are a dead man." Not — Alan Dean Foster

You may not believe it, but there are some people out there who don't like me." "Hard to imagine," she murmured. — Alan Dean Foster

One downward cut, she saw. One quick, final strike, and she could kill him. The landing lights of a shuttle appeared in the distance, coming over the trees in her direction. She had to make a decision, now. Kill him, a voice inside her head said. It was amorphous, unidentifiable, raw. Pure vengeful emotion. So easy, she told herself. So quick. — Alan Dean Foster

Crendendo Vides: By Believing, One Sees — Alan Dean Foster