<Tr> <Th> Followed by </Th> <Td> Splinter of the Mind's Eye (1978) </Td> </Tr> <P> Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker is the original title of the novelization of the 1977 film Star Wars . Credited to George Lucas, but ghostwritten by Alan Dean Foster, it was first published on November 12, 1976 by Ballantine Books . In later years, it was republished under the title Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope to reflect the retroactive addition of episodic subtitles to the theatrical film titles . </P> <P> The book was written by Foster and based upon Lucas's original screenplay for the first Star Wars film . On how he got the job, Foster said, "My agent got a call from Lucas's lawyer of the time, Tom Pollock (now one of the most powerful men in Hollywood). Someone had read a book of mine, Icerigger, knew that I had already done novelizations, and thought I might be the writer to do the novelization of Lucas' new film . I already knew his work through THX 1138 and American Graffiti . I accepted the offer to meet with George, and did so at Industrial Light and Magic, then in a small warehouse in Van Nuys, California (part of greater Los Angeles, and conveniently near my family home). We hit it off well, I got the assignment (for two books), and that's how it happened ." </P> <P> Foster not only adapted the film's events, but also fleshed out the backstory of time, place, physics, planets, races, languages, history and technology . When asked if it was difficult for him to see Lucas get all the credit for the novelization, Foster said, "Not at all . It was George's story idea . I was merely expanding upon it . Not having my name on the cover didn't bother me in the least . It would be akin to a contractor demanding to have his name on a Frank Lloyd Wright house ." Lucas, for his part, has always been open about the fact that Foster ghost - wrote the novel, noting this fact in his introduction to later editions of the book . </P>

Which came first in star wars the book or the movie