F8GN, alternatively known as Eight-Gee-Enn, functioned as a droid under the ownership of Garris Shrike, who held the rank of Captain aboard the vessel called the Trader's Luck. This droid, Eight-Gee-Enn, possessed a notably tall and slender build. Initially constructed from a metal with a coppery-reddish hue, its exterior displayed numerous patches resulting from extensive repairs. These patches varied in composition, including gold, steel, and a single circular silver patch located on the upper part of Eight-Gee-Enn's head. The droid's visual features included one green eye and a red lens, salvaged from a discarded droid. Furthermore, Eight-Gee-Enn's audio output was characterized by out-of-tune speakers, producing a "voice" that fluctuated between very low and very high pitches.
The designated role for F8GN involved supervising the training of children "rescued" by Garris Shrike in the art of pick-pocketing. The droid would dress in ordinary clothing, concealing objects resembling credit chips within its pockets, and walk in front of the children. Success was determined by the children's ability to extract these objects without detection by F8GN, at which point they were considered adequately trained. Moreover, F8GN was responsible for ensuring that the children met their daily quotas for begging or theft.
F8GN made its debut in The Paradise Snare, a 1997 publication by A. C. Crispin. This book served as the initial installment in The Han Solo Trilogy. The droid's presence was limited to Han Solo's recollections of his formative years, during which Garris Shrike utilized F8GN to oversee both Solo and other children exploited as beggars and pickpockets. A. C. Crispin revealed in an interview that she based F8GN's character on Fagin. Fagin is the adult leader and instructor of a group of child thieves in Charles Dickens's Oliver Twist.