Those of you who love James Cameron's exotic world of Avatar will be happy to hear that, in addition to the three planned sequels, four new novels are also in the works.  Teaming up with sci-fi author Steven Charles Gould (Jumper), Cameron plans to expand the world of Avatar not only in his films, but in these companion novels as well.  Few details are available at the moment, but we'll certainly hear more about both forms of media over the coming years, with the movie sequels set to come out in 2016, 2017 and 2018.  Cameron is currently writing the screenplays for the films, along with Josh Friedman (War of the Worlds), Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver (Rise of the Planets of the Apes), and Shane Salerno (Savages, Salinger).  Hit the jump for the full press release.

Check out the full press release below:

JAMES CAMERON TAPS NOTED SCIENCE FICTION AUTHOR STEVEN CHARLES GOULD TO WRITE FOUR NOVELS BASED UPON AVATAR AND ITS THREE SEQUELS

BOOKS WILL EXPAND UPON THE FILMMAKER’S STORIES FOR THE FILM QUADRILOGY

LOS ANGELES (August 22, 2013) __ Filmmaker James Cameron has tapped noted science fiction author Steven Charles Gould (Jumper) to write four stand-alone novels based upon – and expanding -- Cameron’s history-making 2009 film Avatar, and Cameron’s stories for his three upcoming Avatar sequels.

Cameron commented, “Steven Gould is one of the shining lights in contemporary science fiction, and I’ve long admired the worlds and characters he’s created in his books and stories.  We’re very fortunate to have Steven bring his formidable talents to the Avatar universe.  He is already working closely with me and the screenwriters to flesh out the expanding world of Avatar.”

While Gould is best known for his 1992 novel Jumper, which Twentieth Century Fox and New Regency turned into a motion picture in 2008, he has been acclaimed for his short fiction, including his Hugo Award-nominated short story "Rory,” and the novelette "Peaches for Mad Molly.”  The latter was also on the shortlist for the Nebula Award. His other novels include Wildside, the Jumper sequel Reflex7th Sigma, and Impulse.   He is president of the Science Fiction Writers of America.

Kathy Franklin, Lightstorm Entertainment’s President of Franchise Development, noted, “The novels are just one example of our commitment to our fans to extend the world of Avatar, in this instance in partnership with Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products.”

Cameron also is currently writing the screenplays for the three new Avatar pictures, along with screenwriters Josh Friedman (War of the Worlds), Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver (Rise of the Planets of the Apes) and Shane Salerno (Savages, Salinger).

The sequels will be filmed back-to-back with production beginning next year.  The release of the first sequel will be in December 2016, with the second to follow in December 2017, and the third a year later.