SWFA: 7 Star Warsesque Essays: Rejects of the Star Wars Universe 1.0

7 Star Warsesque Essays

I. Rejects of the Star Wars Universe 1.0

This is the first in a series of seven informal essays exploring some of the more obscure aspects of the Star Wars mythology. In this essay, originally written in the year 2000, before I began writing official material for Lucasfilm, we examine what has become of one of the first encyclopedic attempts at pulling all (then) existing Star Wars lore into a single volume, Raymond L. Velasco’s long out-of-print 1984 book A Guide to the Star Wars Universe, in light of “revised” editions.

I want to discuss one of my favorite Star Wars books. Though not a novel, Raymond L. Velasco’s A Guide to the Star Wars Universe, first edition, provides a great deal of entertainment for the long-time Star Wars fan. Like a flash drive, there’s something quaint about the pocket-sized ’84 version of the Guide, the first of its kind in Star Wars.

The first thing a fanboy notices in comparing Velasco’s guide to Bill Slavicsek's A Guide to the Star Wars Universe 2^nd edition update is that a slew of its entries were not only revised but were cut completely, a revelation that is sure to sadden any fanboy. Admittedly, it’s perhaps understandable why some entries didn’t make the second edition grade. Such as...

Gyro Balance Circuitry—the aggregate devices which give a machine a three dimensional, direction-sensing capability and also provides a means for achieving stability in all three planes, regardless of whether or not a body is in motion.

Say what? Read it a few times like I did and you should get it.

Other items omitted from the second edition, however, are done so at great cost to fans’ delight. These include several colloquial expressions like, "Haul jets" (slang for a fast departure; as in "Let's haul jets!"); "Scratch gravel" (slang for "Get lost!"); and of course "Choobies," slang for "one's posterior or personage." What a loss.

As well, Velasco originally introduced the idea of including pronunciations for several of the more complexly spelled entries (e.g. l'lahsh is actually pronounced "losh"), a move not repeated by Lucas Licensing until the Essential Guide to Alien Species. Missing, however, from Velasco’s first edition is a distinction as to what information belonged to the films of the Classic Trilogy and what was owed to Expanded Universe sources when an entry was a combination of the two. This was a practice followed by the Star Wars Encyclopedia and the 3^rd edition of A Guide to the Star Wars Universe, though rejected by Slavicsek’s second edition and the Official Star Wars Website’s Databank entries. I have mixed feelings about this.

Some of the changes from the first to second edition of the Guide were minor alterations or omissions in the description, though arguably significant (e.g. replacing the word "native" for "found" in the entry describing the T'ill plant on Alderaan, the former meaning the plant is indigenous to that world, the latter that it is merely present on that world, but not necessarily that it originated there). Also, while Velasco always placed references to source material at the end of every one of his entries (see below for examples), a lot of the details about persons, creatures, or events under particular entries actually debuted in Velasco’s guide. These include descriptions found under such entries as gundark, the Battle of Taanab, and hydrospanner. Velasco also took the initiative in relating things not necessarily originally intended to be, such as dovetailing synthflesh with bacta (the first from Daley’s Han Solo's Revenge published in 1978, and bacta of course from The Empire Strikes Back in 1980), a macrofuser and fusioncutter (the former from the Han Solo Adventures and the latter from the Empire novelization), and – as mentioned in an interview with Brian Daley – between the character Squeak and the Tin-Tin Dwarf species: both entries are from the Star Wars Radio Drama, though in different episodes and never intended by Daley to be related. It is clear, then, that Velasco was the father of the ret-con in the Star Wars Universe and, perhaps, the very first fanboy.

Velasco’s guide is not perfect. It is sorely missing entries from the Lando Calrissian novels by L. Neil Smith, as well as any of the comics or newspaper strips extent at that time (a testament to how far respect for the comics medium has come since the early 80s). But included are such marginalized sources as the Art of… books, The Empire Strikes Back Official Collectors Edition magazine, the Star Wars radio dramas, and the Wookiee Storybook.

Besides those already mentioned in passing, here's an extensive compilation of the more interesting entries that didn't make the transition from the first to the second edition of A Guide to the Star Wars Universe. SW, E, and RJ are abbreviations for information attributable to the novelizations of the classic films, while HSE, HSR, HLL (Han Solo at Star’s End, Han Solo’s Revenge, and Han Solo and the Lost Legacy, respectively) are also frequently referenced by Velasco. The titles of other abbreviated works are given where applicable.

One entry in particular from the first edition of the Guide deserves to be singled out. While the list below will give you an idea of just how many entries that were left out of the second edition (notably ones having to do with fauna, a loss for Gungan Frontier programmers), the omission that I just can't understand is the coup de grâce of Velasco's guide—the Behavioral Circuitry Matrix:

Behavioral Circuitry Matrix—the aggregate mechanical and neutronic subsystems which produce behavior in a droid. A chart of a typical behavioral circuit matrix would look like this:

Basically, the Behavior Circuitry Matrix is what makes up the basics of a droid's personality. While the phrase itself comes from Han Solo at Stars' End, Velasco married droid-related concepts from that book (such as gyro balance and management circuitry), the Star Wars novelization (cogitative theory unit and obedience-rationale module), and a number of other undefined systems (like sensory-response module and spectrum analysis) to come up with an incredibly complex relationship that describes droid behavior. Not only that, but the Behavioral Circuitry Matrix entry comes with a diagram of the entire system.

A salute to Raymond L. Velasco! Star Wars’ very first fanboy author.

“Acceleration Straps”—Yet another version of or name for Star Wars seat belts. [SW]

“Artificial Perspirator—Microscopic devices that are implanted into the epidermal layers of the skin and used to simulate the action of natural sweat glands ... often used following major reconstructive plastic surgery; in addition they rid the body of toxins by thermally siphoning the body's fluids through microcapillary ducts. [SME (Splinter of the Mind’s Eye)]”

“B-wing—The vessel gets its name from its particular shape, which happens to resemble a lower-case 'b'. [RJ, RJS (Return of the Jedi Sketchbook)]"

“The Battle of Taanab”—According to this take on the Battle of Taanab, it wasn't only Lando who helped the "Taanabians" get rid of the "Norulackian" pirates, but some of Lando’s buddies too: "Lando and his companions managed to outwit and destroy the Norulackians with superior tactics, the aid of farmers, and a little luck. [RJ]”

“Blue Max”—Velasco states that Blue Max, a character from Daley’s Han Solo books, was "the creation" of some outlaw techs, while the Corporate Sector Sourcebook, an excellent work written by Michael Allen Horne (author of the Dark Empire Sourcebook), later states that Max was a Merendata design.

This one's interesting: "Bothan (pronouced Bah-than)—the planet where spies played an instrumental part in the military campaign which led to the destruction of the new Imperial Death Star and the rout of the Imperial fleet near Endor. [RJ]" The Thrawn Trilogy later named the homeworld of the Bothan people “Bothawui.”

“Breath Mask—Breath masks are given to persons who have sustained massive thoracic injuries or who have contracted disabling diseases ... Lord Darth Vader wears such a device. [E, RJ]”

This one's too cool: "Burning, The—a form of torture involving the use of a blaster set at low power, to scorch and sear the flesh from a prisoner. Usually the burning begins with the legs and, if unsuccessful in eliciting the desired response (rare), continues with the subject's other extremities. [HSE (Han Solo at Star’s End]" According to Brian Daley, this was intended to be the method by which Owen and Beru were reduced to charred corpses.

"Clear Skies—A salutation used among spacers, it conveys the with that the person saluted have a pleasant journey. [SWR6 (The Star Wars Radio Drama, chapter 6]"

“Concussion Missile— Sublight-speed projectile that relies on its shock (or concussion) effect to penetrate and destroy large, hardened targets. Such missiles carry non-nuclear munitions and are small enough to be carried aboard fighter craft. The Rebel Alliance used a concussion missile to destroy the Imperial Death Star near Endor. [RJ]"

I wish I had one of these: "Conform Lounger—furniture which alters its shape to accomodate the individual resting upon it. Alteration is accomplished through a pneudraulic capillary system. [HSR (Han Solo’s Revenge), HSE (Han Solo at Star’s End]"

Corellian Bloodstripe—In the first edition of the Guide, the bloodstripe is described as a "symbol of bravery in military action." By contrast, the Corporate Sector Sourcebook does not specify that to earn the stripe an individual must be in the military. In fact, the Corporate Sourcebook practically states that military bravery doesn't really count, since that sort of bravery is more akin to instinctive action. (Incidentally, the Corporate Sector Sourcebook strongly suggests that Han earned his Second Class bloodstripe – the yellow one seen in The Empire Strikes Back – saving Chewie).

Crystalline Vertex—Another form of currency aside from Cash Vouchers used in the Corporate Sector. It's made from a mineral found on the planet Kir (for which no entry exists).

“Cyber Pilot System—A guidance system which merges organic brain matter with machine, the result is a sentient machine used primarily for exploratory space vessels. [HLL (Han Solo and the Lost Legacy)]" Possibly a forerunner to the Shadow Droids of Dark Empire II.

Dinko—While the Corporate Sector Sourcebook states that the dinko's putrid smell is not for deterring predators but establishing mating dominance, the Guide says just about the opposite: "The dinko secretes a very foul-smelling liquid to mark its territory or discourage predators. [HSE (Han Solo at Star’s End]"

Disruptor—According to the Guide, a disruptor blast will "shatter" objects it comes in contact with, but again, according to the Corporate Sector Sourcebook and the first edition of the Essential Guide to Weapons, a disruptor is a disintegration weapon.

“Droid—An automaton typically fashioned in the likeness of its creators ... The word 'droid' is a shortened form of the word android, and, as such, originally referred to a manlike droid. [SW]" The blunt suggestion being that the first droids were created by humans.

“Duplicator—A high speed, high-resolution printing machine. [HLL (Han Solo and the Lost Legacy]" A Xerox machine!

“Durindfire—A type of firework. [SW]" This one is interesting since reference to durindfire gems, not fireworks, is the predominate use of this term in Star Wars literature, and later as an alcoholic beverage in X-Wing: Wedge’s Gamble.

"Ebla beer”—Originally a reference to Han Solo’s Revenge, this entry is also in the second edition of the Guide, though Slavicsek turned it into “Elba beer." The Expanded Universe has followed both versions and has attempted to make no formal clarification between the two.

“ERG—A standard unit of energy. [SW]"

“Grazer—A herbivorous pack animal that typically feeds on scrub, rock lichen, and grasses. The large antlered animals have shaggy wool coats and are supported by six legs. Grazers travel in herds and are bred for their meat, leather, wool, and oil. [HSR (Han Solo’s Revenge)]"

The parts scuttled from Han Solo’s entry for the second edition revamp provide some of the most interesting information of Velasco’s guide: "Han Solo—He attended the Imperial Academy and graduated with honors, but became entangled in a chain of events that would affect him for the rest of his life ... Han was 'framed' for a criminal act and consequently banished from military service." Obviously, this was pure interpolation on the part of Velasco.

“Heel-and-toe express—Colloquial for a long march, walk, or run. [HLL (Han Solo and the Lost Legacy)]”

“Hurt Vector—Slang for someone who attracts misfortune to himself or, more frequently, to others [HLL (Han Solo and the Lost Legacy)]”

“Hypno-imprinting—The use of hypnosis to indelibly ingrain information into the memory of a human subject [HLL (Han Solo and the Lost Legacy), SWR2 (Star Wars Radio Drama, chapter 2)]"

“Identi-marks—graphic symbols used to describe a person, place, thing, or service. [HLL (Han Solo and the Lost Legacy)]" Trademark? Logo? Not sure.

“IG-88—A battered chrome war droid which was leased by its master to anyone who could pay for its services. [E, EL (The Empire Strikes Back official movie magazine)]"

“Invisible Market—A 'Black Market' where anything of an illegal nature can be traded or sold. [HSR (Han Solo’s Revenge)]"

“Jet Juicer—Colloquial for a person who is addicted to liquid intoxicants. [HLL (Han Solo and the Lost Legacy)]”

"Kiirium" is an antiquated shielding material used around starship engines and heavy guns [HLL (Han Solo and the Lost Legacy)]

“Liar's Cut—A card game. [HSR (Han Solo’s Revenge)]"

“Memo-wire—An antiquated medium for recording audio information. Memo-wire was a fine, magnetically encodable wire. When passed through a special recorder, the molecular arrangement of the wire was altered and changes in the frequency of speech pattern were electronically transferred onto the wire. This audio information was reproduced when played on the recorder. [HLL (Han Solo and the Lost Legacy)]"

“Mind-jam—A coin operated game. [HSE (Han Solo at Star’s End]" An arcade game!

Molecular bonding—In the Corporate Sector Sourcebook, molecular bonding is a very sophisticated and expensive form of creating one of the strongest and most durable substances in the galaxy (which, admittedly, is way cool). However, the Guide puts a much more mundane spin on the process: "This technique is often employed for attaching the hull plates of space vessels under construction or repair. [HSE (Han Solo at Star’s End)]" Which isn’t to say they can’t both be right.

“Narcotic Incense—A fragrant smoke used for stimulating or depressing the central nervous system of its user ... addicting to some life forms and quite lethal to others. [SME (Splinter of the Mind’s Eye)]"

“Nerf—The nerf is a relative of the grazer. [E]"

“Omniron—A personal hygiene device, the omniron lathers the skin with needle streams of biodetergents, sprays water, palpates the skin and flesh with sonics, dries and heats the skin, and rubs emollients onto it with autoapplicators [HLL (Han Solo and the Lost Legacy)]"

“Parking Slip—A defined space used to station surface effect vehicles. [HLL (Han Solo and the Lost Legacy)]"

“Pharynx Flute—A musical instrument resembling a ring, which can be placed around the neck of most humanoid species ... the flute produces shrill sounds corresponding to vibrations produced in the pharynx by breathing or humming. [HSR (Han Solo’s Revenge)]"

“Photosensor—A video camera. [SW]"

In the following entry from Velasco’s guide, carefully selected portions were omitted from the second edition, presumably because they contradict the background for the Victory-class Star Destroyer developed by West End Games on several counts (these first edition omissions are here set off by [brackets]): "Pocket Cruiser—an obsolete [class of Imperial] vessel, small by modern standards, and saw extensive service during the last days of the Clone Wars. [These vessels were the forerunners of the modern-day Imperial cruiser. No longer manufactured,] they are considered relics and are primarily used as [space going classrooms] and police picket ships. [HLL]" In the first place, if we assume the pocket cruiser and Victory-class Star Destroyer are two different ships, there's a discrepancy as to which actually led to the design of the Imperial-class Star Destroyer. If we instead assume that they are one and the same, then we have to deal with references of "obsolete" and "relic," and its primary use.¹

“Proton Torpedo—A vehicle-launched projectile which is laden with nuclear ammunitions and is less than a kiloton in explosive force. [SW, RJ]" One might balk at this reference to the proton torpedo as a vehicle, rather than vessel launched projectile. However, Boba Fett is known to have used a proton torpedo on his wing-blast rocketpack (of course, that was a toy…)

“Prototyper—A duplicating machine. [HHL (Han Solo and the Lost Legacy)]" Lots of copying machines in the Star Wars galaxy.

Here's another example of an entry that was warped in the transition from first to second edition (again, the altered verbiage from Velasco’s version is in brackets): "Pui-ui (pronounced Pooey-ooey)—a small sentient being from the planet called Kyryll's World. Fully grown, pui-uies measure 1.25 meters tall. This life form consists of two spherical bodies [connected by a 0.5-meter-long neck ... Pui-uies propagate through hermaphroditic reproduction]. [HLL]" The Womprat Syndrome rears its ugly head once again.² The second edition interprets a 0.5 meter neck (just shy of 2 feet) simply to mean "short" neck length in the 2^nd edition. Also, I wonder why that hermaphrodite bit was left out.

“Q'mai (pronounced Kah-mah-ee)—Kamarian word for 'religious offering.' [HSR (Han Solo’s Revenge)]"

Instead of getting blacklisted in the Star Wars universe, credit agencies put you on the... "Red List—A roster kept by collection agents and creditors listing all persons who have defaulted on their loan payments. [HSR (Han Solo’s Revenge)]"

“Reflex Races—A three dimensional audiovisual game. [HSE (Han Solo at Star’s End)]" Sounds like Podracer for Nintendo 64. :-)

“Renegade Flight—the code name for a group of Rebel Alliance fighter pilots who were assigned to escort and protect a Rebel supply convoy ..." The only part of this that was excluded from the 2^nd edition of the Guide is the phrase "code name," relevant because it can help solve all the problems related to the awkward connection between the Renegades and the Rogues. If Renegade flight is just a code name, commander Narra might have really been in charge of Rogue Squadron, but put a special team of pilots (Rogues or otherwise) together for this very important run to Derra IV, depicted in The Empire Strikes Back radio drama. That way, we solve the problem of having this strange double squadron idea. I don't think there's any reference to the Renegades besides Derra IV, so I think it'll stick. Also, the fact that there are more fighters in this "Flight" than four, the common number associated with flights, is also reconciled by the fact that that's only a code name, maybe even trying to dupe any potential threats who hear about them into thinking there are a lot less in the group, giving the Renegades an edge.

Sabador—A Rakririan that was a native of the planet “Rakrir.” His planet of origin did make it to the second edition, but not into the Corporate Sector Sourcebook. This, in my opinion, led to the continuity error thus to be found in West End Games’ Alien Encounters which designates "Ballikite," and not Rakrir, as the Rakririan homeworld.

“Shield Generator—These generators range in size from man-portable units to large multistorey structures. [RJ]" Notice, "man-portable." I suppose that explains video game shields.

“Snow screen—Part of an Imperial stormtrooper's cold weather kit that fits over the standard issue helmet and serves as a breather hood to warm the air before it feeds into the suit's liner and reaches the user's lungs. [E]" This implies that all stormtroopers have these cool little hoods in a special "cold weather kit"; but if so, what do we need snowtroopers for?

“Snowmen—Slang for Imperial stormtroopers. [HLL (Han Solo and the Lost Legacy)]" And retroactively, probably Snowtroopers in particular.

Star Destroyer—According to the first edition, an Imperial Star Destroyer has 30 turbolaser and ion cannons, and two TIE fighter squadrons (24 ships). Compare this to the second edition claiming 60 turbolasers, 60 ion cannons, and a wing (72) of TIE fighters. These latter stats were originally from the first edition of the Star Wars Sourcebook.

“Subspace Planetary Relay—A deep-space communications station serving to receive, amplify, and retransmit commo transmissions toward some specified direction. While most relays are deployed in the void of deep space, some can be deployed on celestial bodies. [SME (Splinter of the Mind’s Eye)]"

“T'iil-T'iil—An expensive liquid intoxicant manufactured near the Moss Caverns of the planet Loj. [HLL (Han Solo and the Lost Legacy)]" An interesting omission from the second edition, since the entry immediately preceding it in Velasco’s guide is for the T'iil plant of Alderaan, also created by Daley (in his Star Wars radio drama), implying some kind of connection.

“Vis Pickup—The part of an audiovisual communications system which is responsible for receiving and transmitting video information. [SME (Splinter of the Mind’s Eye)]"

“Vo Pickup—The part of an audiovisual communications system which is responsible for receiving and tranmitting audio information. [SME (Splinter of the Mind’s Eye)]"

“Voice Writer—A small, portable word processor which prints whatever is spoken into it. [HSE (Han Solo at Star’s End)]"

“White Hats—Slang for Imperial Stormtroopers. [HLL (Han Solo and the Lost Legacy)]"

“Wookiee Honor Family—A special bond of friendship between a Wookiee and any other being. The Wookiee family is prepared to die in mortal combat in order to protect the special friend(s). Other families will look after a Wookiee honor family, if necessary, while one or more members are away fulfilling their debt. [HLL (Han Solo and the Lost Legacy)]" While this entry is also in the second edition, it turns it completely on its head. Instead of referring to the family that a life-debt-serving Wookiee leaves behind (e.g. To Chewie, this would be Mala, Itchy, and Lumpy), Wookiee Honor Family becomes a reference to those with whom a Wookiee forms "special bonds of friendship ... a Wookiee's true friends and boon companions ... Chewbacca the Wookiee considers his companions Han Solo, Leia, Luke, and the droids to be part of his honor family."

“Y-wing—This rugged vessel is a formidable adversary in ship-to-ship combat. The Y-wing fighter has a long and distinguished record of service in the many military campaigns of the Galactic Civil War. [SW, E, RJ, SWS (The Star Wars Sketchbook)]" Folks who have read the X-wing books or comics will probably get a good laugh out of that “formidable” description of the Y-wing.

“Zuckuss—Human bounty hunter hired by Darth Vader ... [E]"

[1] The new war vessels of the prequels have actually rendered this argument groundless, as there are now a number of precursors to the Imperial-class Star Destroyer, including the Acclamator and Venerator warships, besides the already existing Victory and Republic Star Destroyers.

[2] “I used to bullseye womprats back home, and they’re not much bigger than two meters” – Luke in Episode IV: A New Hope.

The Womprat Syndrome refers to a confusion, mostly among Americans, resulting from a lack of familiarity with the metric system (i.e. Womprats have often been depicted as being no larger than two feet, including its tail, when they are in fact two meters long—about as big as Darth Vader is tall).

Abel G. Peña is a fanboy who “made it,” beginning his official Lucasfilm stint with the popular article, “The Emperor’s Pawns” with frequent collaborator, illustrator Joe Corroney, for issue #5 of Star Wars Gamer magazine. He has since written numerous articles for multiple Star Wars publications, including Star Wars Gamer, Star Wars Insider, Star Wars Fact Files, Dungeon/Polyhedron, and the Official Star Wars Website. His latest piece is an article detailing the complete history of the galaxy’s greatest warriors, the Mandalorians for Insider #80.

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