While the "What's the Story?" contest came to an end months ago, the final winning entries were just published along with a review of all the winning entries of the past. This opportunity for fans to write the stories of background characters, species, planets, ships, and droids was, at least for me, a great perk of Hyperspace. I submitted plenty of entries, and even had two of them selected as winners (Rango "Tank Head" Tel and Romeo Treblanc; you can read about how I developed the entries here).

The final list of published entries includes a number of noteworthy aspects: some recognizable characters who finally received backgrounds, such as Willrow "The Ice Cream Maker Guy" Hood and Pello Scrambas; some elements clearly in need of stories, such as Nar Hida and Wol Cabassh_ites; some great continuity nods, such as Olana Chion and Augura "Augie" Jowil; some well-constructed retcons, such as Corla Metonae and the Y'bith; and some examples of just hands-down beautiful storytelling, like Slyther Bushforb and Nobot.

But really, I encourage everyone to explore not just these entries, but the rest of the "What's the Story?" Databank entries as well. It's fun to see fans get hands-on with canon. And some of the retcons and continuity Easter Eggs are incredibly well-done--which makes sense. If 100 fans submit entries, you're bound to get a couple that not only make great stories but relate other elements of the Galaxy Far, Far Away together in ways that are just naturally pleasing to fans.

Of course, all this raises a question: is it good for fans to get this close to continuity? This is a tough issue, because we would all love a chance to write part of the Star Wars Galaxy ourselves. But should a feature like "What's the Story?" run for too long, it could potentially have surprising effects on Star Wars in general.

When fans write and submit stories, then see one out of the pack chosen, it could create certain problems. Fans could at least conceivably think, "Well, it could have just as easily gone my way and been my story that became canon." And were fans to question canon in this little way, it could create a mindset that extends to all of continuity. "Why are things that way, instead of this way? Really, it would make more sense and be better of things were this way." And this could lead to a general perception of the Star Wars universe that views it more as fiction (which it is, to be fair), and therefore as less important.

Clearly, it doesn't take something like "What's the Story?" to have this effect--fans do it anyway. But I'd think that an opportunity to directly influence canon would lead fans to see front-and-center how fictional the Star Wars universe is, and how subject to the whims of fallible authors it is.

And let me be clear, I'm not passing judgment as to whether this is necessarily a bad thing. It's not even a knock against "What's The Story?" and projects of its nature; if taken negatively, it really just means that such features should not be indefinite. All I'm presenting is reasoning that I'd like to think is worthy of consideration.

...And I'd love feedback! More than anything, I'm trying to be provocative here and ask all of you if you think this is present at all, if it's a drawback, and if so, what that means. Similarly, do authors of Star Wars see Star Wars inherently differently than readers of Star Wars? Are there relevant differences between a Star Wars fan that's a reader and a Star Wars fan that's an author? I really have no idea, but I'd love to hear your opinions! Do we need a buffer between fans and creation of the product we're a fan of? Should canon be kept at arms' length, or are there advantages to grassroots continuity?

All of this said, I would be overjoyed if it were announced tomorrow that "What's the Story?" will be returning. A chance to add my voice--and a chance for other fans to add their voices--to that galaxy we love is a tough opportunity to turn down. And, frankly, even if all of what I've said is true, in the end, I think it's probably still worth it.