An interesting notion, that the desert is clean. I wouldn't have said it was typically clean, but I see Lawrence's point; it's natural and untouched and has a sense of purity but as Anakin Skywalker said, it's harsh, coarse, and it gets everywhere.

So why settle on a desert planet?

Just what is the attraction?

I've been trying to work out why anyone would live on the furthest point from the bright centre of the universe.

Tatooine is remote and harsh, the remoteness perhaps being good enough cause for the criminal element so that their illegal operations can be secreted away from law enforcement.

However, there has to be a better location, even Talon Karrde picked a nice planet with lots of vegetation (forget the Vornksrs) and nice scenery to run his base of operations.

No one has it easy on Tatooine, be it slaves, gangsters, families, honest hard working people - they all face the rigours of the desert world.

I've never been to a desert, but I've lived near the beach in the Mediterranean, and that wasn't always a bed of roses.

So what is the pull that enables people to settle on Tatooine? Why live on this planet, the planet that actually is such a pivotal planet in the galaxy? Just how do the estate agents (real estate) sell Tatooine to the masses (well, maybe not masses, but you know what I mean) when there's Tusken Raiders and a severe need for sun block - I hope they give away an allowance for sun block as part of the deal by the way. I mean, even the fact that Sand People are named after raiding Fort Tusken - a fort for crying out loud, as in fortress, isn't enough to drive people away, then I guess the people who do move there deserve what they get. They'll get no such sympathy from us. Right?

There are no sprawling cities - just townships and spaceports. If even just one spaceport had been expanded into some sort of metropolis, then I might be tempted. Something with a tower block that was self contained with its own sauna, pool, gym, bar(s), shopping centre and regular football channels on TV then I may consider it. But Mos Eisley? I'd rather live in Chatham (legend has it that this is the birthplace of the chav!).

But no, no one decided it was a worthy planet to invest in, not after the ore and mineral mining turned out to be not that profitable in the early expansion period of the Old Republic. So it was largely ignored, save for the citizens who tried to eke out an existence, the criminal element and a small, inconsequential government.

But there was a lure.

Something kept the residents rooted. Something kept Owen and Beru Lars there, they obviously preferred to stay and get withered by the suns - a condition that turns young 20-somethings to look as if they're in their late 50s in just 20 years, and also caused a late-30s Obi-Wan Kenobi to look like a crazy old wizard in the same space of time.

By this reckoning, Cliegg Lars, Wuher and Jira were in their 40s!

Have you figured it out yet?

I certainly haven't. This "third-world" planet is a haven for some, but for many, it's not.

"What a desolate place this is."

Is it the excitement of a "frontier" lifestyle? In the same way that pioneering Americans could ride into hamlets, tie up their horses and go about the gold rush, so could Tatooine immigrants do the same with their rontos. But where California grew, Tatooine did not. You'll still find that you can waltz into Mos Eisley today on your dewback and tie it up at Chalmun's cantina, I somehow doubt that you can do that in San Francisco.

So, lawlessness and slavery were very prominent on Tatooine. "The Republic doesn't exist here" said the blessed virgin, Shmi Skywalker. When referring to Anakin's Force-ability, Qui-Gon said "Had he been born in the Republic, we'd have identified him sooner." Yet Tatooine did spawn a famous bloodline of Jedi, the revered Diath family who all hail from the Outer Rim planet. One must assume that somewhere along the line, the Diath's emigrated into the Republic somewhere.

So the Republic neglected the planet, but it still proved to play a big role in galactic history.

Why?

Well obviously, it was the home to both Anakin and then Luke Skywalker although neither were born there. There's no need to go into their significance but needless to say, it's still an important planet. We know the reasons Obi-Wan took Luke there from Polis Massa, and perhaps the forthcoming Darth Plagueis novel may shed some light into Anakin's origins, perhaps not. I half-hope so; although I like the mystery surrounding his birth, I'd also wish to know why Tatooine was chosen, if indeed the speculation surrounding Shmi's immaculate conception is explained.

I'm still not getting it.

As I mentioned before, the reasons for initially settling there during the expansion of the galaxy were, according to my outdated Technical Manual (written before Mos Espa came along), to mine ore and minerals, which proved to not be as profitable as first thought.

So why not leave and let the place rot?

It must be something to do with the settlers not wanting to admit failure perhaps.

Fine. Stay then. See if I care, I bet there's nothing to do but play beach volleyball. Hmm, I've instantly conjured up images of beach volleyball with scantily clad Twi'Lek maidens.

Lets think about that for a moment.

Ok, diversion over. But wait. Maybe there is something worthwhile to do. I know, let us farm the moisture in the air!

Great idea. You can stay after all then.

Hmm, I'm no expert, but it you want to be a water farmer, wouldn't it be easier to do it on Hoth? You wouldn't need moisture vaporators, just a big fat cooking pot!!

I'm none the wiser.

Jundland Wastes, Tusken Raiders, krayt dragons, Jabba the Hutt, jawas, the Dune Sea, the Sarlacc, the Rancor, bounty hunters, smugglers, criminals...

...I'm with Anakin on this; I can't see why the desert is clean.

On the other hand, I'm sure there are those that would argue that because Tatooine gave us Anakin Skywalker, and then Luke Skywalker, the planet simply is the brightest centre of the Universe.

And because of that, perhaps the answer is indeed illuminating, as mentioned in Lawrence of Arabia.