Aaron Allston
Aaron Dale Allston arrived in Corsicana, Texas on the 8th of December 1960. His parents were Tom Dale Allston and Rose Binford Boehm. He moved frequently across Texas during his childhood years. By high school he served as secretary for a local science fiction club. The Denton High School Annual from 1977 lists him as the club reporter. He graduated from that same school before moving to Austin in 1979. There he attended the University of Texas.
Allston managed circulation for Space Gamer magazine before becoming its editor. He held the editorial role from issue 52 in June 1982 through issue 65 in September or October 1983. During this period Space Gamer won the H.G. Wells Award for Best Professional Role-Playing Magazine in 1982. He also edited Fantasy Gamer for its first issue in August or September 1983. A second issue followed in December or January 1984 with him as co-editor. Game Player magazine named Savage Empire the Best PC Fantasy RPG in 1990. This title was a computer game he co-wrote. He authored Autoduel Champions in 1983 which combined two existing game systems. His Rules Cyclopedia appeared in 1991 as a revision for Dungeons & Dragons.
Michael Stackpole could not handle the entire workload for the X-Wing series in 1997. Allston stepped in to produce new editions and novels for that franchise. He wrote five books including Wraith Squadron published in 1998. Iron Fist arrived later that same year. Solo Command came out in 1999 along with Starfighters of Adumar. Mercy Kill was released much later in 2012. The New Jedi Order series received two entries from his pen: Enemy Lines I: Rebel Dream and Enemy Lines II: Rebel Stand both in 2002. Legacy of the Force included three titles written by him starting with Betrayal in 2006. Fate of the Jedi featured Outcast, Backlash, and Conviction between 2009 and 2011.
Allston made his directorial debut on Deadbacks in 2005. He also wrote and produced this independent film project. The movie entered post-production but never received an official release. This venture stood apart from his writing career during those years. He lived in Round Rock, Texas while working on various projects. A short stint at the Austin American-Statesman newspaper occurred before he focused fully on fiction and game design.
Early April 2009 brought a heart attack to Allston while he toured for Outcast. Emergency quadruple bypass surgery followed immediately after that event. On the 27th of February 2014 he collapsed during an appearance at VisionCon in Branson, Missouri. Heart failure caused the collapse according to reports. He died later that day in Springfield, Missouri at age 53. His death marked the end of a prolific career spanning decades.
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Common questions
When and where was Aaron Allston born?
Aaron Dale Allston arrived in Corsicana, Texas on the 8th of December 1960. His parents were Tom Dale Allston and Rose Binford Boehm.
What editorial roles did Aaron Allston hold for Space Gamer magazine?
Aaron Allston managed circulation for Space Gamer magazine before becoming its editor from issue 52 in June 1982 through issue 65 in September or October 1983. During this period Space Gamer won the H.G. Wells Award for Best Professional Role-Playing Magazine in 1982.
Which Star Wars novels did Aaron Allston write between 1997 and 2014?
Aaron Allston wrote five books including Wraith Squadron published in 1998 and Iron Fist later that same year. He also authored Solo Command in 1999, Mercy Kill in 2012, Enemy Lines I: Rebel Dream and Enemy Lines II: Rebel Stand both in 2002, Betrayal starting Legacy of the Force in 2006, and Outcast, Backlash, and Conviction between 2009 and 2011.
Where did Aaron Allston live while working on Deadbacks?
Aaron Allston lived in Round Rock, Texas while working on various projects including his directorial debut on Deadbacks in 2005. The movie entered post-production but never received an official release.
How did Aaron Allston die and where did he pass away?
On the 27th of February 2014 he collapsed during an appearance at VisionCon in Branson, Missouri due to heart failure. He died later that day in Springfield, Missouri at age 53.