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Star Wars did not invent the concept of a magic blade, or even a laser sword — those pop up in Asimov’s Lucky Starr series, among others — but as with many of the series’ pulp influences, George Lucas refined and reduced them to their essential elements, creating the series’ ultimate addition to the pop-culture canon. Think of the otherworldly glow, the distinctive hum, the (illogical, but who cares?) weight of the blade. For the Jedi, a lightsaber is a symbol of their innate exceptionalism; for Luke, it’s a connection to his father; for the Sith, it’s one more way to assert their dominance over the weak. But of all the lightsabers we’ve seen in Star Wars so far, which one is the best? To answer that question requires an elegant listicle, for a civilized age. Cue up “Duel of the Fates,” and meet us below the jump. Continue reading →