The raging debate over the proper spelling of Toshi Station continues to gain stunning momentum (I shudder to think where something of this proportion could lead if left unchecked). Tatooine residents are divided into two camps: those who spell the power station "Toshi" and those who prefer the "Tosche" spelling.

According to the original Star Wars script (the one penned by George "What He Says Goes" Lucas) the spelling is "Toshi". The scene in question occurs while the while the Jawas are pushing hot droids on the Lars fam:

OWEN: Luke, take these two over to the garage, will you? I want you to have both of them cleaned up before dinner.
LUKE: But I was going into Toshi Station to pick up some power converters...
OWEN: You can waste time with your friends when your chores are done.
Now come on, get to it!

   However, according to the Star Wars book that came out prior to the movie (ghost written by Alan Dean Foster) the spelling is "Tosche." Both THE ILLUSTRATED STAR WARS UNIVERSE that was recently published and the GUIDE TO THE STAR WARS UNIVERSE also claim the station is spelled "sche." This all, no doubt, stems from liberty Foster took with the screenplay when he whipped off that first Star Wars novel. When the scripts were reprinted by Premiere Magazine (Square bound with die-cut covers and sold in Suncoasts across the land) the station spelling was "Toshi" -- the obvious source of reference for these reprinted scripts would be what? If you said the "original manuscripts" take the rest of the day off, because you are correct!

   The title of this site will continue to camp on the "shi" side of the fence:

  • I suspect Alan Foster decided the "sche" spelling was more to his liking than what was in the script he was working from.
  • Lucas was undeniably influenced by Oriental culture (and if I were of the Oriental persuasion, I would spell it "Toshi").
  • By the Maker, I will be following the teachings of the original text!

UPDATE: You just knew a debate of such monstrous proportions would eventually reach the eyeballs of someone in-the-know. Alan Dean Foster himself recently wrote in to give the following multi-spelling explanation:

"On the variant spellings of Toshi / Tosche station, it depends what part of Tatooine you're from."

Succinct, eh? I for one am buyin' what he's sellin'. Case closed. Just relieved to see the whole debate gain closure without violence. A thanks to Mr. Foster for the insight (good man, stout fellow).

I'll let you good people make up your own minds as to which is the correct spelling, and will attempt to keep score right here. If you see something I don't have listed please send it in

TOSHI TOSCHE
-Original script -Subtitled VHS/Laser SW/SE movie
-Premiere Magazine Scripts -Star Wars (the book)
-Star Wars Insider (various issues) -Guide to the SW Universe
-National Pub. Radio Drama -Illustrated Guide to the SW Universe
-Star Wars Trivial Pursuit -SW Technical Journal
-Star Wars Visual Dictionary -Diplomatic Corp. Exam
-Star Wars Illustrated Screenplay -Behind the Magic CD-ROM
-www.mosespa.com -Star Wars Manga #1 (comic book)
-Luke's Fate (children's book) -Complete Galaxy Tatooine Globe (map)
-Decipher's CCG
-Planet of Twilight by Barbara Hambly (pg 149)

Gah! It pains me to see the "tosche" spelling gaining such ground over the correct spelling! Don't these people do any research before they write these books?