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. ''
which came first in star wars the book or the movie
Lucas 's original screenplay