Tie-in novelist for sci-fi blockbusters
A.C. Crispin, a best-selling science fiction and fantasy author who wrote tie-in novels for Star Wars and other popular franchises, died Friday at the Hospice of Charles County in Waldorf, Md. She was 63.
According to husband Michael Capobianco, she had bladder cancer. She lived in the Charles County community of Hughesville and was known to friends by her first name, Ann.
Although Crispin published many original books, she developed a niche in writing studio-authorized tie-in volumes that filled in the background, family lore and emotional development of favorite on-screen characters. She received acclaim for a best-selling novelization of the 1980s sci-fi TV show V and other books in the series.
In 1983, she wrote the first of several best-selling novels based on Star Trek, exploring the family background of Spock, the character played in the original TV series by actor Leonard Nimoy.
In 1997, Crispin published three tie-in novels based on George Lucas’ Star Wars movies. Her books - The Paradise Snare, The Hutt Gambit and Rebel Dawn - were prequels that outlined the early life of Han Solo, the hero of the space-action series.
“Ann was particularly good at capturing the voice of the characters,” said Keith R.A. DeCandido, a tie-in writer who has written books associated with Star Trek and other film franchises. “She was really good at digging into the characters and knowing what made them tick.”
In 2011, Crispin published a 230,000-word tome, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Price of Freedom, which portrayed the youthful exploits of the seafaring trickster Jack Sparrow.
Arkansas, Pages 10 on 09/09/2013