Mind Probe: Interview with Skip Shayotovich
| Interviews by Fans | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Mind Probe: Interview with Skip Shayotovich |
| Interviewer: | Jennie Jivan |
| Interviewee: | Skip Shayotovich |
| Date(s): | conducted in summer of 1993, printed in 1994 |
| Medium: | |
| Fandom(s): | Star Wars |
| External Links: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Mind Probe: Interview with Skip Shayotovich is a 1993 interview conducted by Jennie Jivan. It has a focus of curative fandom and tie-in novels.
The subject of the interview was the moderator of Star Wars Echo, via Fidonet BBS. Star Wars Echo had been created two years previously.
The interview was conducted at the 1993 San Diego Comic Con and printed in Technological Terror, a Star Wars zine in 1994.
Introduction
Many Star Wars enthusiasts are also involved with computers. In fact, a computer is probably the best way to keep up with what's happening in the Star wars universe. Available through the Fidonet BBS, the Star Wars Echo is THE place for everything Star Wars. It's also a great place for debate on all sorts of Star Wars issues, games, books, and new products.
Excerpts
JJ: How did you start the SW Echo?
SS: Fidonet has been around for a long time. It has, I believe, at least four different Echos for Star Trek. I was having a hard time finding one place to go to talk about Star wars, so I decided to make the SW Echo. While Fidonet is free, it does have it's problems, such as the dreaded bureaucratic red tape monster. Man, what a mess. Trust me, you don't want to know the full details...it's boring. Needless to say, it took almost a year just to get it hooked up to the main backbone (that's when it made it to the "big time") so that it would go national, and then international. But it made it as I kew it would. Its success has EVERY THING to do with the many fans. I created the forum for discussion, but without the avid SW fans out there in computer land, the Echo would not be the success it is today.
JJ: How many people do you think are reading/posting on the echo. Do you have any idea how many fido nodes carry it?
SS: A lot. Seriously? I have no idea. It's gotten so big that I can't keep track anymore. I know there are at least 300 individual nodes hooked to the Echo. And those are just the ones I've been able to document. I think it would be safe to say that thousands of BBS carry the SW echo. "They cover the entire U.S. I think there is at least one in every state at this point, many throughout Canada too. We have folks from Brazil, Sweden, Germany, and Australia on the Echo as well, so it's truly inter-galactic!
Just last week I've noticed a real surge in the amount of messages coming through...looks like we're getting about 500 messages a week now. The number of nodes is really increasing too. I probably have another 75 or so nodes on a piece of paper that I haven't added to the overall list of 300 yet.
JJ: How much time do you spend on Echo business during the week?
SS: Again, a lot. I would say at least 20-30 hours a week, easy. I'm a big collector of information, and I like to think of the Echo as an information brokerage. You come to the echo to get ALL the latest information, best discussion, etc. I'm active on the internet SW ares, America On-line, and other online services. I draw all the information that goes through those systems, and transpose it onto the Echo for all the other SW fans out there. If I could do this and get paid for it, I'd be on happy camper (hahaha).
JJ: What's the longest running thread you can remember having on the Echo?
SS: Believe it or not, some of the best discussions we had were back in the days of the Echos beginning when there weren't a lot of users. The users the Echo did have were diehards, because they were having to call long distance to the BBS whether the echo was started. Tom Veitch (writer of Dark Empire and Tales of the Jedi), was one of the early users back then. (He still is) We had some deep discussions that helped him in his writings. Most of the long threads usually dealt with the Force and the Jedi. Those two subjects always seem to spark the most interest. As a matter of fact, there is a pretty lengthy thread on those very topics going on right now, trying to figure out "Jedi logic."
JJ: Why do you think so many people are still interested in SW even though there has not been another film for 10 years?
SS: Well, recently it would most certainly have to do with the resurgence in SW memorabilia. With West End Games producing so much more new source material, and Zahn's novels, the new Dark Horse comics, the re- release of the models, etc. the craze has returned. The SW trilogy had a profound impact on the culture of he world. In may respects, it's like Star Trek. Things from the trilogy have been accepted into our culture. Everyone can relate to the trilogy on some level. I feel it's impact is unprecedented in the history of film. I see SW being around for a very long time.
JJ: Tell us about any future plans for the SW Echo.
SS: Well, I'm always trying to get more "pros" onto the Echo. Of course we have Tom Veitch, he's been a great addition. Kevin Anderson, who is writing a tree novel trilogy of his won due out [this] year is now a regular. I've recently been in touch with Stephen Sansweef and he should be joining us soon, providing his computer software cooperates it s worse than a droid' I've recently sent letters to three more authors that are penning new SW books of their won and invited them on board too. There are some other things I've got going, but I can t talk about them at the moment. Secrets...I can't allow the Empire to overhear what they are.