Can a Star Wars movie be a Star Wars movie without at least one lightsaber duel? Unthinkable! And the duel must be even more edge-of-the-seat spectacular than the last. Over the course of the two trilogies, the duels have become steadily more elaborate and thrilling, culminating in the battle between Obi Wan and Anakin in Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. Comparing the first duel (old Obi Wan's stately performance against an ageing Darth Vader) with that latest one, the change in pace and ferocity of lightsaber clashes is remarkable. Can this progression in the ferocity of the duels be maintained, or will J. J. Abrams instead opt for a duel between opponents who are not as well versed in the dueling arts in Episode VII, perhaps building tension by showing a hero who is clearly outmatched and must rely on his wits or cheat to survive? The trailer did show a Sith with that lightsaber, so at least one duel seems on the cards.
Mike has lived in the UK, Japan and the USA. Currently, he is based in Iowa with his wife and 2 young children. After working for many years as a writer and editor for a large corporation, he is now a freelancer. He has been fortunate enough to contribute to many books on Doctor Who over the last 20 years and is now concentrating on original sci-fi & fantasy short stories, with recent sales including Flame Tree, Uffda, and The Martian Wave. Also, look for his contribution on Blake's 7 to "You and Who Else", a charity anthology to be released later this year.
You can find him on Tumblr at https://www.tumblr.com/blog/culttvmike
