When it comes to iconic Star Wars weapons, few are more recognized than the lightsaber. Fueled by kyber crystals in a metal hilt, these plasma blades are individual to each Force user and a sign of their connection with the universe.
Typically straight and cylindrical, these hilts are hand-built as part of a Jedi or Sith’s training regimen. For more lightsaber collection, click here.
Jedi of the Galactic Republic
While releasing a new Star Wars movie is still months away, fans can fill their time with many different ways to enjoy the universe. The one item that has garnered immense popularity is the lightsaber – the elegant weapon of choice for Jedi. A new book chronicles the many different lightsaber hilts and designs in this beautiful volume from Insight Editions.
The black glossy background and detailed hilt illustrations look stunning. There are even fold-out pages for double-bladed lightsabers. The author and illustrators do not repeat the explanations given in character dialogue but add a fresh context.
The first of the books highlights the Old Republic era Jedi, including Ahsoka Tano, Anakin Skywalker, Sifo-Dyas and Lord Corvax from Fallen Order. It also introduces Stellan Gios, who wielded a unique crossguard design called the “Rallion”. The book will be released Nov 17 along with the Stellan Gios Legacy Lightsaber Hilt, which will launch at Dok Ondar’s Den of Antiquities at Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge and shopDisney.
Acolytes of the Dark Side
Few things say Star Wars more than a lightsaber, and this hardcover compendium is the definitive look at each one that’s been wielded in the saga. It’s a must-have for any fan!
It begins with introductory sections covering the history of lightsabers, their importance in the galaxy and behind the scenes, and hilt design. There are interviews with prop designers, animators and technicians who’ve contributed to the evolution of a lightsaber’s appearance in the films and beyond. For more lightsaber collection, click here.
Then, it dives into the sabres themselves, starting with the iconic Skywalker blade that’s become a symbol for the franchise. From there, it moves through acolytes of the dark side — Maul, Sidious, and Count Dooku, among others — and even a slew of inquisitors. Finally, there’s a section for the new generation of Jedi, including Rey, Leia Organa, Ezra Bridger and Fallen Order’s Cal Kestis. Lukasz Liszko photo-realistically renders each of these lightsabers across a two-page spread with fine character portraits by Ryan Valle inset on each.
A New Jedi Tradition
In the new era, Jedi are encouraged to find nonviolent solutions to conflict. They can counsel or persuade, but if necessary, a Jedi may resort to the Force to resolve a dangerous situation. This doesn’t mean that a Jedi should never fight; it simply means that combat should be a last resort when everything else has failed.
The new era also sees several lightsaber types that didn’t exist in the previous one. Those include double-bladed sabres like the fearsome one wielded by Darth Maul, crossguard sabres, which are favoured by Jedi such as Ezra Bridger and Kylo Ren, and the dark sabre, forged by the Mandalorian Jedi Tarre Vizsla and used only by members of his non-Force-sensitive ruling class.
In The Force Awakens, we saw Rey repair her broken lightsaber and use it to defeat Kylo Ren in a spectacular duel. We’ll probably see her use it again in future saga instalments, though we’re unsure whether she’ll keep or abandon it. For more lightsaber collection, click here.
Conclusions
A visually-heavy testament to the elegance of this elegant weapon, Star Wars: The Lightsaber Collection offers fans a chance to learn more about each of the many remarkable lightsabers found throughout the canon. The book begins with introductory chapters that delve into the lightsaber’s meaningfulness and significance in George Lucas’ original conception of Star Wars.
From there, each pair of pages highlights a single lightsaber and its wielder in extraordinary detail. This is accompanied by short blurbs that give you further information about the character and a bit of lore and history behind the weapons. Some of these are familiar to fans, such as the backstory of Luke Skywalker’s iconic blade, but others will surprise some. An excellent book for fans of all ages, it’s also a wonderful gift for any Star Wars fan.