What's The Story? was an exclusive feature on the Star Wars fan club website, Star Wars Hyperspace. It gave Hyperspace members a chance to leave their mark on the Star Wars Expanded Universe by allowing them to provide the backstory for certain aspects of the saga, usually obscure background characters or vehicles from the films.
Winning entries became official Star Wars lore: published in the Databank and added to the Holocron continuity database. This feature was launched June 24, 2005 and concluded on January 4, 2008, as first hinted by Pablo Hidalgo of Lucas Online.[1][2] The feature began with the backstory for Tannon Praji, a character from the (then) recently released Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith, and, somewhat appropriately, the final entry was Bane Malar, a character from Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi, chronologically the (then) final Star Wars film.
In October 2008, new stories from What's The Story? authors began to be published on Hyperspace. As of March 2010, Edward M. Erdelac, Nathan O'Keefe, Adrick Tolliver, James McFadden, Gregory Walker, and John Hazlett have authored Hyperspace articles.
The process[]
The submission form was regularly updated presenting a new subject for fans to write about, originally weekly, then in a fortnightly period and finally on the first Friday of every month. Entries were be based on the information and criteria given, and all had to be under 2000 characters in length. Every submission received was read by a panel of judges, with the best marked as finalists. Pablo Hidalgo then selected the winning entry, or merged several entries and edited them into the final product. The Databank was updated with five or six winners at a time or, sometimes, individually.
List of entries and authors[]
Round (Entry) | Subject | Author(s) | Author(s) real name(s) respectively | Databank |
---|---|---|---|---|
10 (6)[3] | Bane Malar | caledre | Edward M. Erdelac | Link |
10 (5)[3] | Pontifex Maxiron Agolerga | Sompeetalay | Tim Veekhoven | Link |
10 (4)[3] | Teckla Minnau | Shadowcultist | Evan Burger | Link |
10 (3)[3] | Slyther Bushforb | jSarek | John Hazlett | Link |
10 (2)[3] | Seib Nod | Captain Yossarian | Benjamin Christopher Norton Dawe | Link |
10 (1)[3] | Oakie Dokes | Grand Admiral Sean8 | Unknown | Link |
09 (9)[3] | Theomet Danlé | winstonvalleyjedi | Unknown | Link |
09 (8)[4] | Yoxgit | caledre | Edward M. Erdelac | Link |
09 (7)[4] | Janus Greejatus | vader_of_bast | Timothy S. Maddocks | Link |
09 (6)[4] | Niai Fieso | exarxan | Sander de Lange | Link |
09 (5)[4] | Willrow Hood | Captain Yossarian | Benjamin Christopher Norton Dawe | Link |
09 (4)[4] | Tian Chyler | yoda's waiter, the fragrant wookiee (provided name) | Timothy Carlsson, Ian Tapley (provided name) | Link |
09 (3)[4] | Mini-Huvicko/Yuzabi Dowser binary hydromech droid | caledre | Edward M. Erdelac | Link |
09 (2)[4] | Pello Scrambas | Darth NTM | Aidan Hennessy | Link |
09 (1)[4] | Lushros Dofine | AdmiralD'orl001 | James Lord | |
08 (6) | Augara Jowil | nawaraven104 | Chad Finke | Link |
08 (5) | Eddicus-class planetary shuttle | JMMC | James McFadden | Link |
08 (4) | Krayt's Honor | KenobiDX67 | Paul Rock Sandrock | Link |
08 (3) | Teyora Rekab | Valin Kenobi | Nathan O'Keefe | Link |
08 (2) | Rolo droid | nob01 | Neil Baker | Link |
08 (1) | Antidar Williams | the fragrant wookiee | Ian Tapley | Link |
07 (5) | Myhr Rho | Captain Yossarian | Benjamin Christopher Norton Dawe | Link |
07 (4) | Y'bith | ShadowCultist | Evan Burger | Link |
07 (3) | Nar Hida | NarbFlick | Gregory Walker | Link |
07 (2) | Cebann Veekan | DJ Maul: Got Feet?, Bubba1227 (species name) | Tommy Mac, Bob Vitas (species name) | Link |
07 (1) | Nobot | Jedi Flaherty | Shaun Flaherty | Link |
06 (6) | Onara Kuat | Darth NTM | Aidan Hennessy | Link |
06 (5) | Covert Ops clone trooper[5] | |||
06 (4) | Braha'tok-class gunship | Ello137 | Unknown | Link |
06 (3) | Cane Adiss | jSarek | John Hazlett | Link |
06 (2) | 3B6-RA-7 | TalonCard86 | Adrick Tolliver | Link |
06 (1) | Dusty Duck | Hedec Ga | Greg Mitchell | Link |
05 (6) | DC0052 Intergalactic speeder | Nathan (ChronoRadio) and The Dark Moose | Nathan Butler, Withheld | Link |
05 (5) | Utapau Shadow Trooper | Maso Tirag | Sam D. Garito | |
05 (4) | Wam "Blam" Lufba | Sompeetalay | Tim Veekhoven | |
05 (3) | Corla Metonae | The2ndQuest | Billy Buehler | Link |
05 (2) | Ottegru Grey | Nex: the T is Hott!!, magicofmyth2, Valin Kenobi (name) | Zack Bossan, unknown, Nathan O'Keefe (name) | |
05 (1) | Silya Shessaun | Twi'LekEntertainer, with some elements by ShadowCultist, Master Starkeiller and Hedec Ga | Nathan Hathaway Adams, with Evan Burger, Withheld, and Greg Mitchell | |
04 (6) | BesGas Three | Fisty Fiham | Tyler Fisher | Link |
04 (5) | Nem Bees | Lord Hydronium | Kyle Jewhurst | Link |
04 (4) | Bal'demnic | Arf Maul | Arthur Papadam | Link |
04 (3) | E-3PO | The Phantom Calamari, ejmacki, Fisty Fiham (introductory text) | Unknown, Unknown, Tyler Fisher (introductory text) | Link |
04 (2) | Wol Cabasshite | ejmacki | Unknown | Link |
04 (1) | Olana Chion | the fragrant wookiee, Master Starkeiller, The2ndquest (finishing touches) | Ian Tapley, Withheld, Billy Buehler (finishing touches) | Link |
03 (6) | Tzizvvt | Sompeetalay | Tim Veekhoven | Link |
03 (5) | Barrow Oicunn | Jedi Master Daniele F, jawajames1 (provided first name only) | Daniele F., James Floyd (provided first name only) | Link |
03 (4) | Diva Shaliqua | nelwyn53100, Valin Kenobi | Unknown, Nathan O'Keefe | Link |
03 (3) | Acros-Krik | NarbFlick | Gregory Walker | Link |
03 (2) | Melee | jarjarsmeagol, Ghent_the_Slicer, Cockroach King FS, jawajames1 | Alex Dishal, Unknown, Unknown, James Floyd | Link |
03 (1) | Leektar | Hecko Tenton, Arf Maul | Andrew Gilbertson, Arthur Papadam | Link |
02 (6) | Narglatch XJ-2 airspeeder | Master Devwi | Unknown | Link |
02 (5) | Yavid | Valin Kenobi | Nathan O'Keefe | Link |
02 (4) | Pax Bonkik | javajawas | Ashley Sharpe | Link |
02 (3) | Kalyn Farnmir | Captain Yossarian | Benjamin Christopher Norton Dawe | Link |
02 (2) | Romeo Treblanc | Master Ki-Aaron-Mundi, Captain Yossarian (also provided name) | Aaron Sinner, Benjamin Christopher Norton Dawe (also provided name) | Link |
02 (1) | Grizz Frix | Kast Morben | Paul Celer | Link |
01 (6) | UT-AT | The2ndquest, The Dark Moose | Billy Buehler, Withheld | Link |
01 (5) | Swilla Corey | Sompeetalay | Tim Veekhoven | Link |
01 (4) | Janu Godalhi | TalonCard86, gohan316427, General Tarfful | Adrick Tolliver, Unknown, Unknown | Link |
01 (3) | Magaloof | NarbFlick | Gregory Walker | Link |
01 (2) | Rango Tel | Master Ki-Aaron-Mundi, Captain Daultay Dofine (provided name only) | Aaron Sinner, Unknown (provided name only) | Link |
01 (1) | Tannon Praji | Nex: The T is Hott!! | Zack Bossan | Link |
Later Legends appearances and references[]
A list of What's The Story? aspects that have since appeared in later Star Wars Legends material.
Direct references[]
- UT-AT: Guide to the Grand Army of the Republic, Star Wars: The Complete Visual Dictionary, The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Barrow Oicunn: Underworld Appendix: Swoops, Spice, and Wretched Rogues, The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Grizz Frix: Star Wars: The Complete Visual Dictionary, The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Corla Metonae: Star Wars Insider 90
- Nem Bees: The New Essential Guide to Alien Species, The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Pax and Trax Bonkik: Hasbro action figures, The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- 3B6-RA-7: StarWars.com Visual Guides
- Wol Cabasshite: Jedi vs. Sith: The Essential Guide to the Force, The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Clone shadow trooper: Echoes of the Jedi
- Krayt's Honor: Starships of the Galaxy Saga Edition, The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Bane Malar: Hasbro action figure, Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game: Galactic Hunters
- XJ-2 airspeeder : Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game: Champions of the Force, Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided
- Tannon Praji: The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Praji
- Rango Tel: The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Magaloof: The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Janu Godalhi: The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia, Death in the Slave Pits of Lorrd
- Swilla Corey: The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Romeo Treblanc: The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Kalyn Farnmir : The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Yavid: The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Leektar: The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia, Hasbro action figure, Star Wars Miniatures: Imperial Entanglements (as "Ewok Scout")
- Melee: The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Acros-Krik: The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Diva Shaliqua: The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedi
- Tzizvvt: The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- E-3PO: The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Bal'demnic: The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Praji, The Essential Atlas
- BesGas Three: The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Silya Shessaun: The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Ottegru Grey: The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Praji
- Wam Lufba: The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- DC0052 speeder: The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Dusty Duck: The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia, The Wrath of Darth Maul
- Cane Adiss: The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Braha'tok-class gunship: The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Cebann Veekan: The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Nar Hida: The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Y'bith:The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Myhr Rho: The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Antidar Williams: The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Rolo droid: The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Eddicus-class planetary shuttle: The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Augara Jowil: The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Lushros Dofine: The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Pello Scrambas: The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Mini-Huvicko/Yuzabi Dowser binary hydromech droid: The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Tian Chyler: The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Willrow Hood: The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Niai Fieso: The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Janus Greejatus: The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Theomet Danlé: The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Oakie Dokes: The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Seib Nod: The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Slyther Bushforb: The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Teckla Minnau: The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Onara Kuat: The Essential Guide to Warfare
References in other What's The Story? entries[]
- Romeo Treblanc: Shaliqua, Diva in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link), Grey, Ottegru in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)
- Tannon Praji: Grey, Ottegru in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link), Kuat, Onara in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)
- Rango Tel: Dusty Duck in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)
- Ottegru Grey: Kuat, Onara in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)
- Cebann Veekan: Rho, Myhr in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)
- Tian Chyler: Willrow Hood in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)
- Wam Lufba: Yoxgit in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)
Entries reprinted in Star Wars Insider[]
Indirect references[]
- Onnelly Praji, daughter of Tannon Praji, in Evasive Action: Recruitment and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Praji
- Ongree species information from the Acros-Krik databank entry in The New Essential Guide to Alien Species
- Tusus Comestibles, connected to Belo Tusus, in Rekab, Captain Teyora in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)
- Luptoom in Rekab, Captain Teyora in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)
- A'roFilter, mentioned in Yoxgit in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)
- Acceptance in Jedi vs. Sith: The Essential Guide to the Force
- Hamadryas in Legacy of the Force: Sacrifice, The Force Unleashed novel, Knights of the Old Republic Campaign Guide, and The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Doovo Bonkik, sharing the surname of Pax and Trax Bonkik, in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Praji
- Ensolica in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Praji
- Tash Metonae, sharing the surname of Corla Metonae, in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Praji
- Aneesa Dym in The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Almak and Leffingite in The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Praji
Cut references[]
- Bal'demnic: Abel G. Peña mentioned Bal'demnic in Underworld Appendix: Swoops, Spice, and Wretched Rogues, but Lucasfilm cut the reference.[6]
Minor elements introduced[]
Other elements introduced (or first identified) into continuity through What's The Story? include:
- A'roFilter
- Almak
- Aneesa Dym
- Bak'rofsen system
- Beezar Pert
- Belo Tusus
- Braha'tok
- Brotherhood of Cognizance
- Bryyn Woolery
- Chesea
- coolth suit
- 84-U hunting rifle
- Noslo-19 slug rifle
- Daystar Craft
- DC0040 speeder
- DC-19 "Stealth" carbine
- Diva
- Dornean Braha'ket Fleetworks Conglomerate
- Eminence
- Enso
- Ensolica
- The Eye of the Beyonder
- Hamadryas
- Honorary Elder
- Imperial Entertainers' Guild
- Ingoda
- Kon'me
- Layn Wynest
- Leffingite
- Luptoom
- Musikagung
- Naftrat Odarr
- New Nozho
- Org Banelli
- parental collective
- Plasma leech
- Pontifex
- Prospector's Riot
- Qel-Droma
- Red Bush Grove
- Tash Scrambas
- Scri Oscuro
- Set
- Siqo Vass
- Sisterhood of the Beatific Countenance
- Spanner
- Sono-class thrust pod
- symponik
- Symponik Nabooalla
- Symponika Crunchen-Grand
- TechSpan I
- Torktarak
- Trax Bonkik
- Tusus Comestibles
- Vekka Lodik
- Veré
- Veterned
- Wol Cabassh
- Yarlubb river
- Yuvernian
Author legacy[]
Beginning in October 2008, new articles and stories authored by What's The Story? writers have been published on Hyperspace.
- Fists of Ion (October 2008) by Edward M. Erdelac
- Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Praji on Hyperspace (article) (content removed from StarWars.com and unavailable) (February 2009) by Nathan O'Keefe
- Death in the Slave Pits of Lorrd (June 2009) by Adrick Tolliver
- The Forgotten War: The Nagai and the Tofs (November 2009) by James McFadden
- "Dining at Dex's" (December 2009) by Gregory Walker
- The Written Word (March 2010) by John Hazlett
Sources[]
Hyperspace:
- What's The Story?—Submit A Backstory on Hyperspace (content removed from StarWars.com and unavailable) (fortnightly submission form)
- Hyperspace Presents: What's the Story? on StarWars.com (content now obsolete; backup link) (original media release)
Databank:
- Hyperspace Presents: What's the Story, Round 1 on StarWars.com (content now obsolete; backup link) - (Round 1 winners in Databank, published August 12, 2005)
- Hyperspace Presents: What's the Story, Round 2 on StarWars.com (content now obsolete; backup link) - (Round 2 winners in Databank, published September 30, 2005)
- What's the Story, Round 3 on StarWars.com (content now obsolete; backup link) - (Round 3 winners in Databank, published November 18, 2005)
- What's the Story, Round 4 on StarWars.com (content now obsolete; backup link) - (Round 4 winners in Databank, published February 3, 2006)
- What's the Story, Round 5 on StarWars.com (content now obsolete; backup link) - (Round 5 winners in Databank, published April 17, 2006)
- What's the Story, Round 6 on StarWars.com (content now obsolete; backup link) - (Round 6 winners in Databank, published August 31, 2006)
- What's the Story, Round 7 on StarWars.com (content now obsolete; backup link) - (Round 7 winners in Databank, published September 28, 2006)
- What's the Story: Episode I on StarWars.com (content now obsolete; backup link) - (Round 8 winners in Databank, published January 12, 2007)
Forum threads:
- Whats the Story? Discussion and Analysis on StarWars.com Message Boards. (content obsolete and backup link not available)
- Official "What's the Story?" Hyperspace Databank Feature Discussion on the Jedi Council Forums (Literature board) (backup link)
Blog entries:
- "To Aspiring Writers" — Halagad — Abel G. Peña's StarWars.com Blog (backup link)
- "Your First Steps Into A Larger World" — Halagad — Abel G. Peña's StarWars.com Blog (backup link)
- "What's the Story? …Behind the Scenes" — Halagad — Abel G. Peña's StarWars.com Blog (backup link)
- "That Was One In A Million" — Halagad — Abel G. Peña's StarWars.com Blog (backup link)
Notes and references[]
- ↑ "What Is (And Isn't) Hyperspace?" — Lucas Online — Pabawan's StarWars.com Blog (backup link)
- ↑ Webstrip Chatter at Celebration IV by Pablo Hidalgo on starwarsblog.wordpress.com (June 27, 2007) (archived from the original on March 23, 2020)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 These entries were published along with a retrospective after the competition had finished.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 Round 9 databank entries were released individually, rather than a group as were previous rounds.
- ↑ Was not published. To quote Pablo Hidalgo: "A winning entry was selected, but it became apparent that projects in the works tread too closely to the lore being established in the CO troopers, that the call was made to pull it. Better that than introduce an instant-continuity error." It is unknown if the entry will ever be published in the future. Whats the Story? Discussion and Analysis on StarWars.com Message Boards. (content obsolete and backup link not available) The winning entry was not entered into the Holocron continuity database in any form, and Lucasfilm Ltd. has not revealed who was the writer of the entry. Holocron continuity database questions on StarWars.com Message Boards. (content obsolete and backup link not available)
- ↑ Insider 89: "Underworld: A Galaxy of Scum and Villiany" by Abel, Ryan, and Joe on the Jedi Council Forums (Literature board; posted by Halagad_Ventor on August 29, 2006, 2:05pm) (backup link)