Star Wars: Blogs | Continuity, Criticisms, and Captain Panaka | 3900 Planetary Systems And Counting...

Continuity, Criticisms, and Captain Panaka

by: Dan Wallace

date posted: Oct 09, 2007 8:50 PM | updated: Oct 12, 2007 3:09 PM

3900 Planetary Systems And Counting...

One invaluable asset in writing Star Wars: The Essential Atlas has been the Systems Database, an ever-expanding spreadsheet of Star Wars locations that my co-author Jason Fry has maintained for well over a decade.

Assembled with an eye for detail that ought to earn him the Bob Vitas award, Jason's database lists every planetary location ever mentioned in the Expanded Universe, along with sector and region locations (if known) and maybe-useful, maybe-not hints at proximity relationships (e.g. "An agricultural world near heart of Exp. Region; part of a star cluster located far enough from major trade routes to be 'rustic'; taken over by Empire c. ANH"). Yes, Jason has been preparing the Star Wars Atlas since 1995.

Unlike Bob's work, or even my own (long-vanished) stab at a planetary database, Jason never released his project on the 'net. But it's been a priceless behind-the-scenes resource, used by Lucasfilm as a reference and acting as a sort of Rosetta Stone for my and Jim Luceno's efforts at creating a New Jedi Order map.

Is there a way to include all 3900 entries in the Star Wars Atlas project? Maybe. We hope. We'll see!

Dan
(writing projects and current releases)

http://blogs.starwars.com/danwallace/87

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	eddie Obsessive Fanboy Eddie and his Timeline Chronicles
date Posted: Oct 09, 2007 9:05 PM Is there a way to include all 3900 entries in the Star Wars Atlas project? Maybe. We hope. We'll see! Sounds great! Otherwise, there's always starwars.com for an online enhancement of the book!!!

	blueskyJagged The Wookie That Never Got His Kiss
date Posted: Oct 10, 2007 3:36 AM This books sounds cooler and cooler everytime I hear about it.

	Bubba1227 Ramblings of a Completely Unofficial IA Engineer
date Posted: Oct 10, 2007 4:15 AM Uh-oh... I've only got 3,645 planets in the upcoming Version 9.2 edition, and that's just the raw number of planets. Many worlds are, of course, in the same system, so the total number of systems is much lower than that. I'd better get digging!

	nob01 Oil Bath Bubbles
date Posted: Oct 10, 2007 9:07 AM I've been compiling a database of every time a character uses a chair since 1977 - would you be interested?

	exarxan The chronicles of a writer
date Posted: Oct 10, 2007 10:26 AM I am looking forward to see this ofcourse, but I am wondering 1 thing (and my apologies if this sounds arogant or way to forward of me, thats not my intention): This month I won the Whats the Story contest (Niai Fieso) and in it I introduced the capitol of Troiken to be Veterned. Is this on time to be included in the book or not?

	Hedec Ga War Journal of Hedec Ga
date Posted: Oct 11, 2007 7:05 AM Bring on Lowick!!! (and perhaps a mention of the crew of the Dusty Duck?)

Dan Wallace
Continuity, Criticisms, and Captain Panaka

date Posted: Oct 11, 2007 10:27 AM

Fair questions about Troiken and Lowick. Keep in mind that not every planet will get a dedicated entry, and that the dedicated entries will cover the most important or recognizable planets first (so things aren't looking good for Troiken and Lowick). However, we've got lots of ground to cover with maps, appendices, and possibly other enhancements as well, so stay tuned.

Wampa_Jedi
Jedi Wampa's Playhouse

date Posted: Oct 11, 2007 3:44 PM

I have a simple question that does not need any detail. I completely understand if you can't answer, and I want to assure that this is on my 'to buy list regardless of the answer.

So, with all the hype, all build up, I have one yes or no question....

Is Kamparas in the Atlas?

And, in case I haven't mentioned it, thanks to all involved in this. I can not WAIT to get my hands on this....

	Rainbow Droideka Aren't you a little short for an egg?
date Posted: Oct 12, 2007 12:36 AM Whoa, awesome! I tried to do something like that once, but I lost interest after not too long.

	Hedec Ga War Journal of Hedec Ga
date Posted: Oct 12, 2007 6:14 AM Fair enough, Dan. I can't wait for this book, though. It's going to be awesome!

	Dan Wallace Continuity, Criticisms, and Captain Panaka
date Posted: Oct 12, 2007 3:45 PM Is Kamparas in the Atlas? Kamparas? Geez, how come nobody's throwing me a softball ... like Tatooine? :P scanning the manuscript Kamparas does indeed show up in an odd spot, but don't expect a full planetary profile. Again, we haven't done maps or extras, so maybe there's more opportunities to include Kamparas.

	Wampa_Jedi Jedi Wampa's Playhouse
date Posted: Oct 12, 2007 5:46 PM All I ask is that you NEVER, EVER detail Kamparas or give it a home....I've got about 300 pages of 6, 7 fan fiction stories that no one will ever, ever see, but that's the "Main Set" and I'd be heart broken to have to rewrite them all.... How selfish am I?

	jSarek jSarek's Infonet
date Posted: Oct 12, 2007 10:42 PM Again, we haven't done maps or extras, so maybe there's more opportunities to include Kamparas. I find this most curious, since you've submitted the first draft. Given its title, I would've figured maps would be, pardon the pun, essential to any draft of the book.

	TheSithEmpire
date Posted: Oct 15, 2007 6:46 PM Hey Dan, Excited about the book! So where have you placed Garn?

	Sompeetalay Sompeetalay's Source Blog
date Posted: Oct 16, 2007 2:37 PM I really hope there are planets in the Atlas from 'Star Wars: Droids' and lots of homeplanets from aliens and characters from the movies.

	Dan Wallace Continuity, Criticisms, and Captain Panaka
date Posted: Oct 17, 2007 2:59 PM So where have you placed Garn? You guys are a tough crowd.

	TheSithEmpire
date Posted: Oct 19, 2007 11:36 PM LOL! That's because we know you're up for the challenge! But no worries. I just wanted to make sure I had it right when I envisioned it way in the Outer Rim or even in Wild Space.

	Arf Maul We'll Blow Your Planet Up!
date Posted: Oct 23, 2007 6:02 AM Well, since everyone is asking about their "What's The Story?" creations... i wonder if Bal'demnic will get a mention in the Atlas? :-P

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