By superdrgn437 on Thursday, July 01, 2004 - 08:21 pm:

Im sure everybody has their favorite adf book, but it would be cool to see other people's reasons why they like his books. To start off, I'll throw mine out: The reasons why I like adf's books is because they are very different. For example, the trilogy of The Damned. I liked that book because most stories say that aliens come to our planet and kick our butts. In this trilogy, adf says that we can potentially be the most dangerous race in existence. We go and kick alien butt. Another example is Kingdoms of Light. Most books tell about people changing into animals. In this book, adf tells a story in which animals turn into people, and this book provides a completely, and funny, perspective.

By EBLoh on Friday, July 02, 2004 - 07:19 am:

This is an interesting question. When I started to think on it I came to the realization that I probably couldn't give an answer in terms of literary perfection or originality of content because in truth, I have never had the time to read enough Sci-Fi to be "expert". For me, it was simply a matter of my comfort zone. I read different Sci-Fi authors until I found a series of works that I thoroughly enjoyed like the Commonwealth books and the Flinx and Pip books. I was looking for a comfortable read that was not too heavy and not too light. I wanted a bit of humour but not too much. I wanted to be able to lose myself in a universe that wasn't all war but neither was it all peace. I wanted characters that were a bit complex but also quite simple. I enjoy ADF books because I like his characters (both the good guys, the bad guys, and the other guys in between), and I like his universes. I would love to travel on a KK-drive ship like the Teacher. I would love to banter with a Thranx or Aann. I would love to visit Midworld...(in a transparent armour-plated bubble because I value my life of course).

By superdrgn437 on Friday, July 02, 2004 - 08:01 pm:

Im surprised nobody's ever brought it up before.

By Judd on Sunday, July 11, 2004 - 12:27 pm:

Difficult question. On the surface I like the stories and the characters; I especially like the long running series of books set in one universe, such as the commonwealth series. These are important factors, of course - I certainly couldn`t read a book with a dull, predictable plot, or one dimesional, badly written characters with atrocious dialouge. Another important thing is the style the books are written in. I find them easy to read, without feeling I`m being patronized by the author. Alan uses the right word for the situation, rather than `dumbing down` the language like so many different types of media seem to be doing these days. (Listen to me, I`m only 26 and I sound like I`m about to wax lyrical about the good old days -adopts bad Yorkshire accent- When I were a lad, all this were fields!) But I digress! Where was I. Oh yes, ADF isn`t scared of using complicated words if a situation demands it, and his writting `scans` easily. I think the main thing I like about Alan`s books, especially the commonwealth series, is the feeling of quiet optimism about Humankind. I live in hope that humans will gradually become more compassionate and tolerant, and start working together to make things better rather than fighting each other for a bigger slice of a shrinking pie. The commonwealth series shows humans overcomming their weaknesses with the help of some friendly, well-adjusted aliens. I love the twist that humans have to overcome the paranoia and medieval attitudes we suffer from before we can join with the Thranx and get help for our close-minded paranoid attitudes. Sorry, i`ve completely rambled off point, I`ll just say optimism and good writing style, and leave it at that!

By tonyleehealey on Sunday, July 18, 2004 - 06:41 am:

He has a real good sense of humour. That's what comes through to me. And if you're thinking: "Humour? I dunno..." Then I give you this. Have you ever known the hero of a fantasy series begin his great and fantastical journey... stoned? TLH

By Judd on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 08:31 am:

lol. No, but that`s probably because the great hero couldn`t be arsed to move, and had another Jaffa cake instead.

By superdrgn437 on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 08:35 pm:

I can honestly say no. What book is that in lol?

By twodogs on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 01:44 am:

It's the first in the "Spellsinger" series.. Enjoy

By EBLoh on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 06:57 am:

I note that in the latest update ADF reminds us that he wrote Bloodhype 33 years ago. My goodness, has it been that long? I bought my first ADF book in 1982 or so. I was the same age as Superdrgn437 back then...I still have it on my bookshelf. One day I'll mail it to ADF for an autograph...

By Judd on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 02:05 pm:

I forgot about spellsinger, can`t think why... Seriously though, it`s years since I read the spellsinger books, I must dig them out. I remember Mudge being hilarious. Oh, and I forgot about the begining of Spellsinger, can`t think why

By tonyleehealey on Thursday, July 22, 2004 - 04:38 am:

If you remember, Clothahump (cant remember if thats the correct spelling) is searching for someone to help them, and the one mind he comes across is John Merryweather's. It was pure genius. He also got stoned later on down the line, Mudge did too. In fact I think they got well and truly spaced out together. I do not take drugs myself (I've never even tried smoking, so there you go) but I do think its nice to have an author out there who's not afraid to use what we have in real life and turn it into an element of the story. Wasn't there a point in one of the books when Mudge was in a whore house? Pure brilliance. TLH

By twodogs on Thursday, July 22, 2004 - 05:17 am:

Yer I think so He was also the randyist character that I've ever come across. Not just his own spieces either, never said no to a drink, all in all a nice character. Also, remember the prirate captain who was a parrot? Never trusted one since then heh heh.

By Judd on Thursday, July 22, 2004 - 07:09 am:

Yes, and wasn`t Mudge the most foul mouthed character you could ever hope to meet? I remember laughing out load at some of the things Mudge came out with. Something like: "There`s nothin` unrefined about my f***ing language" Genius. The pirate captain - was he in the one were Jon Tom sings Sloop John B to create a ship, and ends up going through everything that happens in the song?

By lecook2274 on Friday, July 23, 2004 - 02:56 am:

KK-drive ships... It's what led me to read ADF's books. A year ago somebody mentioned the KK drive in a message thread about scratchbuilding ships from novels, on a SF scalemodeling site. Did some searching of the net and found this site and Rico's Outpost and saw Robert Ford's interpretation of a commonwealth Peaceforcer: http://www.geocities.com/deddicus/newships.html and was further intrigued. Within a week or so, thanks to local bookstores and eBay, had gotten copies of all the commonwealth, flinx & pip, and Tran-ky-ky, and shortstories books published. Really enjoyed reading through them. (yeah, I read them in "commonwealth chronological" order like an ubergeek, but it made me want to pick up and start reading the next book that much more) As a lover of arthropoda, it was great to see that ADF's depiction of the Thranx wasn't the typical id projected insectoid copout. Really love the Thranx. The scientific survey of Voyage to the City of the Dead. Very enjoyable for anyone raised on PBS and science documentaries. And scenes that are great for aggravation. The scene in the pawnshop on Nedsplen in Glory Road. A small reunion of two brother races happens and all they can do when they meet is bicker and argue over who was the most superior race. That aggravated the piss out of me, but if a reunion like that happened that's most likely how it would go. To find out you're not alone as a sentient race, and then unbelievably, to even find another sentient race that came from where you came from, a race directly related to you, a frigging brother race! Do they feel any awe, or sense of relief? Nooo, they just start right into the name-calling. (holds head in hands) Ahh, you gotta love it. :-)

By twodogs on Friday, July 23, 2004 - 09:56 pm:

Judd... yes thats him. Nastist pirate captain that I've come across. You could say that he got his just deserts or is that mains in the end but.( sniggers to himself and thinks fondly of roast chicken MMMmmmmmm)

By Kuza on Tuesday, August 10, 2004 - 01:29 am:

I am not sure why I enjoy Alan Dean Foster's tales so much. He is my favorite author. I was introduced to his work (cyberway) by an uncle of mine who I don't know that well. Ever since then I have attempted read everything he has published minus the spell singer series. Sorry ADF that series seems too "fantasy" for my SCIFI addiction. Although Maori was an addictive read. It was very reminisant of Shogun. Is Clavell an inspiration of yours? I guess I enjoy his work so much because his characters are easy to relate with. Flinx has been a good pal of mine for many years now. Thanks for all the wonderfull stories ADF. p.s. I hate posting here. I know my spelling and grammar are subpar. And if ADF does read these threads. I wouldn't want him thinking poorly of me.

By Judd on Tuesday, August 10, 2004 - 06:18 am:

Don`t worry to much about spelling and grammar, as long as we can understand what you are saying, it really doesn`t matter that much. And yes, I believe ADF does read these threads, and also posts quite often. It`s nice to see an author who likes to keep in touch with his fans.

By adf on Sunday, August 22, 2004 - 04:36 pm:

I do indeed read the threads. I won't criticize anybody's English as long as they don't criticize my singing. I love music, but as my wife is fond of saying, I can't carry a tune in a bucket.

By jeff the sith on Saturday, August 28, 2004 - 02:41 pm:

Since reading Splinter of the Mind's Eye, i've been completely hooked. ADF is, without a doubt, the most prolific writer in SF history. Despite having over 70 books, every story is intriguing and different. Often, ADF has a very tongue-in-cheek approach that is delightful to read and he is willing to explore the "humanity of the non-human" at the same time as the "alianation of the homo sapien." ADF rules!

By Cyrus H on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 06:54 am:

The reason I can't stop reading 'em is that thewy are so involving. I can jump right into the story line and relate to the chracters and feel like I'm standing right there. I have iked every single one that I have picked up, and only on pain of death do I put them down. Sing away!

By Minion on Thursday, March 03, 2005 - 07:09 pm:

I am a great fan of Alan Dean Foster due to the fact that his stories often follow the outsider of society. If you look at Flinx, or Ryozuzenzex or Joshua Oak we are often following those who do not quite fit in. The loners who change the world by the fact that they are different. This allows both the author and the reader to question many of the things that society takes for granted. While many of the stories are based in the fantastic, they are often about simple things that still affect us today. It can be racism (the human reaction to the Thranx), the desire to find out about yourself (Flinx and his quest to find his parents), or an examination as to the violence in our own natures (The Damned Trilogy). By allowing us to understand and relate to the outsider, ADF allows us to question things which we would often just dismiss too easily.

By Potawatomi13 on Friday, March 11, 2005 - 02:18 am:

As Jeff the sith said...after I read Splinter of the Minds Eye I was hooked. A friend brought it to me in the hospital after a car roll which laid me up. I wasn't much of a reader at the time but after the comics were done I started, and my world changed! After getting out I went to the store and asked them to get me more similar books by this author. I soon learned that Flinx is me, and the Commonwealth is where I want to be exploring. I eagerly await each new novel and can't wait for Running From the Deity. Thanks to ADF I soon joined the Planetary society and The National Space Society to hasten the day when WE ARE a spacefaring society. Thank you very much Alan.

By Keman on Tuesday, March 29, 2005 - 07:09 am:

Why do I read Alan Dean Foster's works? Escape. While reading I have freedom to interpret his words into a universe that does not include my boss, ex-wife, bills, bad back, Micheal Jackson's child rape trial, etc... Every book is a mini vacation from the day to day BS of life. I have read many authors, Lately I am only reading ADF because I just have so little time to read. With limited time, I prefer to pick up a book that I know I will love, rather than reading the back to think I might like it.

By FLINXERONE on Tuesday, April 05, 2005 - 08:59 pm:

Why? He's got the dope ideas!! "Dope" meaning ROCKING THE FRESHEST IDEAS!! You got this kid with a mysterious past who may have powers that are just beginning to manifest themselves. Just a little aside, one of my favorite movies as a child was Escape from Witch Mountain and Return to Witch Mountain, both involving young people with unearthly powers like telekinesis and telepathy and the fact that their flying around in a starship which is what I'm reminded of when reading ADF's Flinx and Pip series. This youth is travelling off planet meeting other peoples both human and non-human, he's got alien friends who are massively intelligent who built for Flinx a damn A.I. Ship!!!!!! Aw, man, that is DOPE!!!! he 's got an acid spitting, winged flying snake that has bonded with him and protects him! Alien worlds, starships, Abalamahalamatandra Ha Ha! WhoooooooL!!! THIS IS JUST AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I COULD GO ON!!!!FLINX also did not grow up in a secure environment. He is an 'ethical' thief and has had to use deadly force in certain situations. And he hit up Graffiti on a government vehicle to disguise it!!FLOMN!!

By Keman on Monday, April 11, 2005 - 10:45 pm:

Wow, Flinxerone, that was a fun post to read, thanks for the entertainment. Werd.

By pete murphy on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 06:52 am:

iv"e not read any other books by alan but spellsinger, like everybody else it"s how he manages to graphically transport you to that place and time, to me i am that character you live thee adventure you feel what the character feels all those emotions are evoked, for me this is as real as it gets in this fictional netherworld i for one am happy to live there for as long as the master spellsinger takes us on the adventures you are a gift from the literrary god adf, and i will follow where you lead.god bless you sir.it"s soppy i know it but it"s from the heart it"s the way you make us readers feel.

By Potawatomi13 on Tuesday, October 25, 2005 - 04:26 am:

Not too hard for me to answer(after a little thought). In 1978 I was in the hospital after a car accident. I asked a friend if she'd please get me an Incredible Hulk comic as it had just premiered on TV and I was also bodybuilding. Not only a handful of comics but also(drum roll here)Splinter of the Minds Eye were quickly delivered. I read it last(no pictures)and I was hooked! I went to Fred Meyers and asked them to get me any similar books by ADF and in days I had half a dozen more. Up till then I chased girls and read car mags. My world was opened. I became a huge believer in mankinds cosmic future and destiny and have been a member of the National Space Society and Planetary Society for over 20 years and am politically active advocating getting humanity off the Earth and on to our destiny. I've read many authors but ADFs Flinx and The Commonwealth will be my favorites for a long time.

By Potawatomi13 on Tuesday, October 25, 2005 - 04:36 am:

OOps!!!!! didn't read all the posts and notice that I'd already posted......I'm sooooo embarassed!

By Chris on Wednesday, January 11, 2006 - 06:45 pm:

I recently read Lost and Found: A Novel, and The Light Years Beneath my Feet. I thought both were extremely well writen and imaginative. I was pulled into them right from the start and I didn't want them to end!! I really enjoy adf's writing style and how there are conflicts in conflicts =D love the books

By McClance on Saturday, January 21, 2006 - 11:54 pm:

It was the Thranx that drew me into reading ADF's books. When I picked up my first Foster book (NOR CRYSTAL TEARS), what caught my attention was the cover with a Human and giant Insect standing face-to-face. When I started reading TEARS, I immediately loved the Thranx because they were so different from what I've read before. So, I'd say what I like about ADF's work is the societies and the worlds he creates.

By Doug on Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 10:13 am:

ORPHAN STAR is what started it all for me. The very first line "Watch where you're going, qwot!" had me hooked. The rest, as they say, is history. I've been (and this is gospel!) his number one fan ever since. I still have the first edition, March 1977, and it gets loaned to NO-ONE!! I guess this means I've been reading ADF's works for going on 30 years. OMG! Well, it's been worth every nanosecond, and I would give my left arm to meet the Master. Alan, I sincerely hope and pray the Deity gives you many, many more years of life and mental acuity in order to supply us (read 'ME'!) with the superlative story telling that you have been blessed with. I might be wrong, but I can't believe you can comprehend the depth in which you have touched your fans. Please don't ever stop writing, for if you did, the world would be a much bleaker place...

By pjlr1984 on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 02:13 pm:

I suppose that I like his books because nobody gets anything without giving something up in its place (usually freedom). TANSTAAFL. Flinx has supper powers and yet he pays a price for them. Not just the head aches and the I must save the world mentality but the worry of using his gift. Is it ethical to look into anothers mind and soul? It goes for all of his books that I have read from The Man Who Used the Universe to The Damned Trilogy everybody pays for every thing that they get.

By charlie on Wednesday, August 16, 2006 - 02:45 pm:

farther up this long list, Alan, you said you can't carry a tune but love too anyways, this is a major correspondance to Jon-Tom, so I was wondering if there are any other characteristics of yourself implored in the heavy-metal-Hero?

By adf on Thursday, August 17, 2006 - 07:20 am:

Charlie; Not really...except that at UCLA I had to choose between going to law school or trying to write. I identify much more with Truzenzuzex.

By SPark on Thursday, November 09, 2006 - 05:40 pm:

I liked his books well enough for many years. I encountered "For Love of Mother-Not" first, and it was just a good, fun, interesting story. And I loved Pip! But it wasn't until several years later that he graduated to being one of a handful of favorite authors, and funnily enough it didn't have a thing to do with what he'd written, it was something he did. A friend of mine had been threatened with legal action by Anne McCaffrey, because she had McCaffrey fan art in the same gallery as art she'd been selling for profit. She was really devatstated by getting legal threats from sombody she'd admired so much, even though it's true she was violating copyright with what she was doing. Well when I heard about that, I was pretty worried. I had a drawing I'd done of Pip in my gallery, and I was selling art, oh no!!! So I emailed to Mr. Foster, and the response I got back totally made my day. He'd taken the time to answer me personally, whem most authors wouldn't have, and he assured me that he wasn't going to sue me for drawing his characters, in fact he felt flattered that I'd done so. (I wish I still had the response, but I lost that email account several years back.) He's a wonderful writer, and I always will enjoy his books just for themselves, but it gives me a warm feeling to know that if I'm buying his stuff, or reccomending it to a friend, that I'm supporting a nice, decent human being who cares about his fans.

By Dave on Thursday, December 28, 2006 - 08:45 pm:

Flinx In Flux was the first ADF book I read. Like Flinx; we are all in flux. We are trying to answer those unanswerable questions, while carried by subtle currents we can barely perceive. We have been brought to worlds and realms, through the comfort of a character that we feel we know and relate to, both the good and bad attributes. Alan's ability to weave these and many other ideas together is what brings me back to each new book.

By richard on Friday, January 19, 2007 - 01:57 pm:

I just finished Lost and Found and would like to know the titles of the two other books in this series. Thanks

By FLlNX@AOL.COM on Wednesday, January 24, 2007 - 07:40 pm:

hi richard, following "Lost and found" are "The Light years beneath my feet" & "The Candle of distant earth"

By Teleros on Monday, May 21, 2007 - 05:16 am:

"For example, the trilogy of The Damned. I liked that book because most stories say that aliens come to our planet and kick our butts. In this trilogy, adf says that we can potentially be the most dangerous race in existence. We go and kick alien butt." Not to mention I found it written in an amusing and fresh way: how many times in sci-fi do we see humans only reluctantly going to war (compared say to the start of WW1)?

By StarvingLinguist on Monday, September 10, 2007 - 09:17 am:

It's a question I asked my self when I failed to finish an 'Angus Wells' trilogy because it couldn't hold my interest. I bought a adf book and was immediately watching an exciting movie. That means. AlanDeanFoster's prose moves with action detail and destination. It doesn't muck around in description and exposition. It's Science Fiction that doesn't know it is SF. It doesn't try to overwhelm with fancy ideas which get in the way of story. But rather the story moves and turns from the first paragraph, informed by the fantastic ideas which support the genre, but not worshipping them. many books go too long between momentary points of interest to keep me interested. I don't usually giveup on a book, but with ADF, I am never tempted to. Another thing that keeps my loyalty: I can depend on these stories to stay clean. ADF is a dependably moral person. PiersAn----y is a dependably immoral writer. He can't write anything without including purient details at least and fornication at the worst. which is fine for some people, but that's not why I read. I am disappointed in a few details of conflict resolution which inolve long lost characters appearing without warning to turn the critical plot device. While I am patient with 'deus ex machina' I hope an element of foreshadowing, and justification comes to validated the sudden and capricious assistance that his characters tend to receive at statistically improbable moments. For example. Each of the escapes of flinx in the desert were well composed and literarily supported by well established devices and abilities of flinx. It was a tremendously well written cat and mouse tale. But when he was rescued by truzenzuzex after being over come by Clarity's boy friend There was no real support for the timing and knowledge of his friends who hadn't been seen for over six novels. nevertheless. ADF's ability to tell a story that flows and engages is far superior to the vast majority of alternatives.

By Rembrant on Wednesday, October 17, 2007 - 03:37 pm:

He spins a good yarn. Interesting characters, warts and all. I still haven't forgiven Flinx for useing his powers on the girl to get into the archive on earth. To Starvinglinguists complaint regarding Tru and Bran showing up, they heard about Flinx's report to the Padre early in Mid-Flinx and to the counselor late in Mid-Flinx.

By richard on Saturday, October 20, 2007 - 07:55 am:

Three Words only to describe why i like his books. just great writing

By bproh on Friday, December 05, 2008 - 09:01 pm:

hello, good site.

By Don on Saturday, March 21, 2009 - 11:07 pm:

I like the Commonwealth series simply because of the depth Alan puts into the characters and scene. He writes in a way that invites you to sit back and live the dream of a grand future and what awaits us out there. His focus is exploring new things and meeting new life, sort of what he likes to do here on Earth. I'm sure he wishes every day that he could go out there and take a long look at what's out there. *** Now ask him what kinds of books he likes to read!