What's The Story?

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. 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)These entries were published along with a retrospective after the competition had finished. 	Bane Malar 	caledre 	Edward M. Erdelac 	Link
10 (5) 	Pontifex Maxiron Agolerga 	Sompeetalay 	Tim Veekhoven 	Link
10 (4) 	Teckla Minnau 	Shadowcultist 	Evan Burger 	Link
10 (3) 	Slyther Bushforb 	jSarek 	John Hazlett 	Link
10 (2) 	Seib Nod 	Captain Yossarian 	Benjamin Christopher Norton Dawe 	Link
10 (1) 	Oakie Dokes 	Grand Admiral Sean8 	Unknown 	Link
09 (9) 	Theomet Danlé 	winstonvalleyjedi 	Unknown 	Link
09 (8)Round 9 databank entries were released individually, rather than a group as were previous rounds.	Yoxgit 	caledre 	Edward M. Erdelac 	Link
09 (7) 	Janus Greejatus 	vader_of_bast 	Timothy S. Maddocks 	Link
09 (6) 	Niai Fieso 	exarxan 	Sander de Lange 	Link
09 (5) 	Willrow Hood 	Captain Yossarian 	Benjamin Christopher Norton Dawe 	Link
09 (4) 	Tian Chyler 	yoda's waiter, the fragrant wookiee (provided name) 	Timothy Carlsson, Ian Tapley (provided name) 	Link
09 (3) 	Mini-Huvicko/Yuzabi Dowser binary hydromech droid 	caledre 	Edward M. Erdelac 	Link
09 (2) 	Pello Scrambas 	Darth NTM 	Aidan Hennessy 	Link
09 (1) 	Lushros Dofine 	AdmiralD'orl001 	James Lord 	
Link
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 trooperWas 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. 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.	 	 	
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 	
Link
05 (4) 	Wam "Blam" Lufba 	Sompeetalay 	Tim Veekhoven 	
Link
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) 	
Link
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	
Link
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: , 
*Tannon Praji: , 
*Rango Tel: 
*Ottegru Grey: 
*Cebann Veekan: 
*Tian Chyler: 
*Wam Lufba: 
====Entries reprinted in Star Wars Insider====
*Tzizvvt and E-3PO: Star Wars Insider 89
*Dusty Duck and Utapau Shadow Trooper: Star Wars Insider 100
===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 
*Luptoom in 
*A'roFilter, mentioned in 
*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.
==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
* (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:
* (fortnightly submission form)
* (original media release)
Databank:
* - (Round 1 winners in Databank, published August 12, 2005)
* - (Round 2 winners in Databank, published September 30, 2005)
* - (Round 3 winners in Databank, published November 18, 2005)
* - (Round 4 winners in Databank, published February 3, 2006)
* - (Round 5 winners in Databank, published April 17, 2006)
* - (Round 6 winners in Databank, published August 31, 2006)
* - (Round 7 winners in Databank, published September 28, 2006)
* - (Round 8 winners in Databank, published January 12, 2007)
Forum threads:
*
*
Blog entries:
*
*
*
*
==Notes and references==
Category:Hyperspace: The Official Star Wars Fan Club features