So, here’s something I’ve been thinking about, figured I’d throw it out to the readership:
In our post-Star Wars society (e.g. after 1977), in your opinion is it possible for a writer to use laser swords/plasma swords/force swords (whatever alt. name for a lightsaber you want) and not look like they’re “ripping off” Lucas?
That’s with or without a group of monastic warriors using them.
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I would think not. Lightsabers were an original variant of all those laser pistols that once seemed to dominate popular SF. The little sword-and-sorcery I’ve read seems to favour ordinary blades, albeit made perhaps with some unique metal. Which no doubt leads to the subject of your next post…
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The two questions are completely unrelated. 🙂
“Laser swords” do pre-date Lucas by at least a couple decades, but became so closely associated with him after Star Wars went crazy. This question’s more a thought than anything else.
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Noted!
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The earliest example I can find is 1933, of debatable connection. Then Leiber (1943) and Asimov (1944).
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