Lit The Essential Atlas and Galactic Cartography: Official Discussion

Jason's method sounds a lot like what I've done sometimes with my own "galaxies", though they aren't Star Wars related. The layers thing sounds very clever, a great way to track things by medium.

 

Sure. I'll generally reference clues to location and major points about history, important features, etc. As well as contradictions, decisions made to settle them, etc. It's not exhaustive, just the most important points.

 

I can't wait for the next Fry contribution - be it fiction or "nonfiction".

 

@CakeR & @ColeFardreamer Here's the galaxy background I use for my maps https://www.dropbox.com/s/9kw2mj4u8taxih0/SW Galaxy Backdrop.tif?dl=0.

 

Nice, that sounds like a really good resource. I'm starting to wish my database was more informational than just geographic.

 

The maps inside the Guide to Batuu were quite nifty - the overall galaxy and the 'local space' map. Especially loved the little references to some classic EU, like Bakura...

 

Bakura's gotten a surprising amount of mentions in canon works. Dunno if it's building up to something, or authors referencing it since the place was in a book's title.

 

Map-wise, I think it's largely just because it's easily the most recognizable planet in that part of the galaxy.

Like, I think Zonama Sekot has shown up on multiple canon maps of the Unknown Regions for similar reasons. (Though I may be misremembering how often this happens).

 

For a second I even considered Baatu being canon Bakura... Baatura? Given similiar functions they serve. But one does not revise existing planets like that (anymore).

 

Does anyone know why Tatooine isn't in Hutt space? I'm curious as to why it was left out when the maps were being developed; It seems really odd that the planet Jabba lived and operated on isn't considered part of the region. I'm guessing there's some lore reason?

 

I think Jabba was exiled to Tatooine which was technically within Hutt influence but officially part of the Arkanis sector and under the control of the Elder Houses of Arkanis or he just decided to go independent outside their main space.

 

Simple reason, ANH: Tatooine had an Imperial Garrison and was thus part of the Empire and maybe former Republic even if their laws and enforcement sparely if at all reached it. It cannot be in Hutt Space because of that.

Jabba was a local gangster before being elevated into galaxy level crimelord by Shadows of the Empire I think where he still operated under Black Sun uniting all crime instead of the Hutts being separate as in nuCanon. Now with TCW Jabba not only was a crimelord but de facto Hutt Space ruler and criminal empire leader beyond Hutt Space, ruling from a world not in Hutt Space. Headache yet?

Well, Jabba was no longer exiled but the leader and chose Tatooine probably due to connections to hyperlanes. Luckily the EU had him mobile enough with Nar Shadda, Nal Hutta and other holdings he travelled between so Tatooine was no longer his sole residence albeit his prefered one.

 

What era are we talking about? Going by the comments in TPM so is it part of it during that era (likehow the Falklands are part of the UK) but during the OT so do it seems to be a part of the Empire, and maybe all of Huttspace is also, even if the imps only seems to have mosly symbolic presence there

 

If you read the Essential Atlas, you'd notice that Hutt Space was actually huge, stretching out of known borders, at least in terms of their influence. Tatooine fell into this enlarged Hutt Space, though the core territory is the Hutt Space we know. This also meant several Republic worlds were within Hutt influence for centuries. When the Empire came in, it reduced Hutt Space down to its core territory though Jabba still largely stayed on Tatooine while Durga the Hutt did whatever he was doing with Black Sun.

 

Thank you, you motivated me to finally buy myself a copy of the Atlas. Though I've just skimmed it so far, it's an incredible piece of work. The amount of effort put into it is amazing.

I based my question off the "main" galaxy map from Essential Atlas, and other maps derived from it, which I now know reflects Hutt space in the Imperial Era. Having now read the book, Republic-era Hutt space is more what I had in mind. I was surprised by how much the borders were repressed in the Imperial era; I assumed that Hutt space was relatively unchanged, if not expanding, throughout the time of the Republic and Empire.

I guess now my question is, why is that so? My understanding of Hutt space was wherever the Hutts maintained power, regardless of who made official claim of the territory. Even the book acknowleges that much of Hutt space's coreward region was Republic territory on paper. What's the difference with the Empire? I wouldn't think Tatooine having an Imperial presense would make it Hutt space no longer. According to the book, all of Hutt space fell under Imperial jursitiction, though the Empire stayed out of Hutt business for the most part. What determined whether something stayed or was left out of the new border? Is it illustrating Hutt territory that is completely absent of any physical Imperial presense?

 

If you don't have Essential Guide to Warfare I would recommend that one too.

 

Discussed on pp. 26-27. Basically a difference in governing philosophy. The Republic was subverted and then gave up on having any presence; the Empire established a presence which was then subverted. You could also think of it as "Who'd be willing to fire shots/send a battleship if things went badly?" Not true of the Republic, hence the Hutts did as they pleased and we get Shmi's comment that the Republic doesn't exist out here, but the Empire would show its teeth if it felt disrespected/threatened. Which the Hutts knew enough not to do.

 

When was established that Tattooine was even a part of the Republic? I mean based on the movies is there nothing that say that it's a Republic word.

 

It is possible that it was always a Republic world...the Republic just did not care because it was so far out. Shmi's comment could mean the Republic just did not maintain a presence. No governmental offices or military/law enforcement presence.

 

Ah, thank you for spelling it out for my slow brain.

I guess it's possible Tatooine was a Republic world on paper and neglected, as @Chris0013 said, though I don't think either Jason or I were suggesting that. We were just discussing the difference between Republic-claimed Hutt worlds (certain mid-rim sectors) and Empire-claimed Hutt worlds (Tatooine, Teth, etc.), because I was confused as to why one affected Hutt borders and not the other.

Now that I think about it, it makes sense that Tatooine in particular would be a target for Imperial subjugation. The Empire would want to minimize non-Imperial influence in the Arkanis sector considering it's where (in canon) the Death Star was being built. And Tatooine is especially close.

 

To be honest, I disliked having Geonosis so close to Tatooine. Tatooine was already pretty important: Despite Luke's being whiny about it, it's at the juncture of a major hyperlane and a pretty important secondary route that winds its way through a big chunk of the Outer Rim, including Hutt Space. That's reason enough for the Empire to lock it down (a Death Star controller says Mos Eisley and not Tatooine, and Tarkin knows what he's talking about) and for it to be useful to Jabba as a power base.

 

Luke does live out in the desert, nearest settlement is Anchorhead and I think trips to Mos Eisley and Mos Espa are far and in between. He has likely seen all the settlements on Tatooine but probably thinks the planet is small due to its population than really its actual location. He's an energetic teen who is locked in by his uncle.

 

I'm still wonderign when it was established that Tattooine was a part of the Republic? To clarify, I mean in RL

 

Probably West End Games that developed its background in most detail. But if not OT or WEG, then Prequels may be relevant. TPM had Kenobi say that it is controlled by the Hutts en route to it in the Queens ship. And Watto claims Republic credits are no good there. TCW treated it as Jabbas and thus the Hutts capital when asking for permission to use Hutt controled hyperlanes.

 

But all those things point to Tatooine being a Hutt planet so I have hard to see how that would make people think that it's a Republic planet