What's The Story?

Whats The Story entry example What's The Story? entry example What's The Story? was a distinctive element featured on the Star Wars Hyperspace fan club website, which can be found here: Star Wars Hyperspace. Hyperspace members were granted an opportunity to contribute to the Star Wars Expanded Universe by crafting backstories for specific elements of the saga. These elements were often obscure background characters or vehicles seen in the films.

Successful submissions achieved official Star Wars canon status, appearing in the Databank and being incorporated into the Holocron continuity database. This initiative commenced on June 24, 2005, and concluded on January 4, 2008, as initially suggested by Pablo Hidalgo from Lucas Online. The first backstory developed was for Tannon Praji, a character featured in the (at the time) recently released Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith. The final entry, somewhat fittingly, focused on Bane Malar, a character from Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi, which was, chronologically, the last Star Wars film at that time.

In October of 2008, Hyperspace began publishing fresh stories penned by What's The Story? contributors. As of March 2010, Hyperspace had published articles written by Edward M. Erdelac, Nathan O'Keefe, Adrick Tolliver, James McFadden, Gregory Walker, and John Hazlett.

The mechanics

The submission form was updated regularly, presenting a fresh topic for fan-created content. Initially, updates occurred weekly, then bi-weekly, and finally on the first Friday of each month. Submissions were required to adhere to the provided information and criteria, with a strict limit of 2000 characters. A panel of judges reviewed every submission, selecting the best as finalists. Subsequently, Pablo Hidalgo chose the winning entry, or combined and edited multiple entries into a final version. The Databank received updates featuring five or six winners simultaneously, or occasionally, individually.

List of entries and authors

Subsequent Appearances and References in Legends

Below is a compilation of elements from What's The Story? that have made appearances in later Star Wars Legends works.

Direct citations

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

Implied citations

Omitted citations

  • Bal'demnic : Abel G. Peña included Bal'demnic in Underworld Appendix: Swoops, Spice, and Wretched Rogues , however, Lucasfilm removed the reference. [6]

Newly Introduced Elements

The following elements were introduced (or initially identified) into the Star Wars continuity through What's The Story?:

Legacy of the Authors

From October 2008 onward, Hyperspace featured new stories and articles crafted by the writers of What's The Story?.

Resources

Hyperspace:

  • What's The Story?—Submit A Backstory on Hyperspace (content obsolete and backup link not available) (submission form, updated bi-weekly)
  • Hyperspace Presents: What's the Story? on StarWars.com (content now obsolete; backup link) (original announcement)

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 posts:

  • 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" — Only Sith Deal In Absolutes! — Abel G. Peña's StarWars.com Blog (content now obsolete; backup link)
  • "Your First Steps Into A Larger World" — Only Sith Deal In Absolutes! — Abel G. Peña's StarWars.com Blog (content now obsolete; backup link)
  • "What's the Story? …Behind the Scenes" — Only Sith Deal In Absolutes! — Abel G. Peña's StarWars.com Blog (content now obsolete; backup link)
  • "That Was One In A Million" — Only Sith Deal In Absolutes! — Abel G. Peña's StarWars.com Blog (content now obsolete; backup link)

Footnotes

Appearances