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In the 1988 scifi/space-opera novel, the Dragon Never Sleeps, the FTL travel is via the 'Web' which is a pre-existing structure that has strands that people hop on and off to travel FTL. Later in the book, we find the entire thing is a construct and one of the mysteries were it's self repair systems. Also, every faction and race that uses it was taught or found out how to get on it by another in some way, with no recollection of its origins or who made it.

Did this influence the webway or was there an even earlier iteration of the concept?

The same author also had written nulls, but in a fantasy novel where the character who was a null could cancel out magic within her bubble. This one was from the early 80s.

The Webway is essentially just a sci-fi version of fae doors/gates/portals.

The magic elf people having their own ways to travel great distances that non-elves can't use and all that.

I’d need to check me books, but given Rogue Trader came out in 1987 and included some Eldar info?

The Webway may entirely predate that novel. At a gig right now so can’t check.

The Eldar and Craftworlds were there but I don't recall the Webway until WD127, in the early 90s. I may need to give it another read though.

I’ll also check Codex Titanicus, which included very early Eldar background stuff.