Relooking At Leadership in Speculative Fiction
I’ve been a tad under the weather this week, which inclined me toward refeaturing a backlist post. In pursuit of which I stumbled on an earlier series on “Twelve Great Leaders of SFF” — so I hope you will forgive me for a “reprise” week.
The characters featured are in alphabetical order by name, so no preference should be inferred from the order in which they appear. đ
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Twelve Great Leaders of SFF: Part 1
B is for Bitterblue from Kristin Cashoreâs Bitterblue (Genre: YA; Fantasy)
I have always been a fan of Kristin Cashoreâs Bitterblue. In terms of why, I canât really say it better than Kristin Cashore herself did, during our interview in June 2012: ââŚI love her loyaltyâŚI love how hard she tries, and I love her refusal to give up.â A big part of what Bitterblue is trying so hard to do is be a good head of state for Monsea, the kingdom traumatised by the rule of her father, King Leck. In addition to Kristinâs comments, my own take on Bitterblue was that: âI was also impressed by her generosity, as well as her âfidelityâ: the way she strives to keeps faith with her subjects, and the truth of the pastâŚâ
So, yes, Bitterblue is definitely on my âgreat leaders of SFFâ list.
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C is for Coltaine, nomad horseman and a general of the Malazan empire in Steven Eriksonâs Deadhouse Gates, the second of the Malazan Book of the Fallen series. (Genre: Epic Fantasy)
Coltaine is another one of my favourites, a âbarbarianâ outsider regarded with suspicion by many, who puts his doubters to shame through his leadership, courage, and sacrifice. This includes holding together a fighting retreat known as the âChain of Dogsâ, a âgreat marchâ in the face of constant privation and hardship as well as battle. Throughout, Coltaine is courageous and astute, a strategist and leader. He is also very human, neither invulnerable nor infallible, but able and determined.
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C is also for Creideiki from David Brinâs Startide Rising. (Genre: Space Opera, SF )
Creideiki is the dolphin captain of the Terran spaceship Streaker, in a future where humans are constantly skirmishing to maintain their independence in a far-from-friendly alien universeâand where dolphins and chimpanzees have been âupliftedâ to sentience. When the story opens, he has managed, despite almost overwhelming odds, to outsmart and elude pursuing alien fleets, proving himself a leader who performs under pressure. He is also a thinker and a philosopher, pursuing keneenk, a hybrid style of reasoning that combines human logic and cetacean philosophy. Creideiki is brave, smart, and resilient, but Iâve also always thought him an interesting and credible as a non-human protagonist.
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E is for Elfrid, in Ru Emersonâs The Princess Of Flames (Genre: YA; Fantasy)
Elfrid is a character who has leadership thrust upon her when she must stand in for a kinsman as the general of a mercenary army. As such she is no figurehead, but must both lead in the field and devise military and political strategy. She is a trained warrior and shares the same magical gifts as the general she is pretending to be, but is challenged by the responsibility for othersâ lives. A reserved personality herself, Elfrid also finds it difficult to emulate the generalâs easy bonhomie and âcommon touch.â She is an excellent example of a person who teaches herself to become what she naturally is not, succeeding as much through hard work as natural gifts.
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F is for Faramir in JRR Tolkienâs The Lord Of The Rings (Genre: Epic Fantasy)
I know what youâre thinking, âWhy not Aragorn?â Unquestionably, the latter is a great leader of SFF, but so too is Faramir (imho) and in the books heâs also a much more human and accessible character than Aragorn. The qualities that make him a great leader include that, like both Galadriel and Aragorn, he is able to refuse the temptation of the ring. This demonstrates insight, personal integrity and strength of will. However, although a good start, on their own they do not a great leader make. But Faramir not only holds Osgiliath longer than anyone thought possible, but once it is overrun he also holds together a fighting retreat âagainst the oddsâ. Although readers learn from other parts of the story that the soldiers of Minas Tirith not only respect but love Faramir as a leader, I suspect the defence of and retreat from Osgiliath make that clear in any case.
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I is for Ista in Lois McMaster Bujoldâs Paladin of Souls (Genre: Fantasy)
Ista is a middle-aged dowager Queen, recovering from a prolonged period of magic-induced mental illness. She sets off on a pilgrimage, not so much to find herself as to escape from a stifling existence, but gets caught up in sequence of events that force her to once again assume a leadership role in her society and also to confront the exact same magic that led to her illness. Her leadership arises from an interesting mix of events, social hierarchy (she is the dowager Queen after all), but also from dogged determination, forcing herself to do what she sees as her duty, gradually accepting her own power â and finally, the willingness to take personal and political risks. Ista is a great example of an individualâs transition and/or rehabilitation back into a leadership role.
Great choices.Thank you. Of the Malazan novels I’ve read, I think Chain of Dogs is the stand out. And I love Paladin of Souls. All 3 novels in that trilogy are excellent. It’s impossible to argue with Faramir. Although Tolkien seems to see TLoR as an epic of loss and decline, there are signs of hope in Faramir and Eowyn.
Hi David, ‘Chain of Dogs’ definitely wowed me on first reading it, although I also really loved ‘Gardens of the Moon, which I know not all Malazan fans do (so much, anyway.) It’s an amazing series for world building & the magic system – & some ab-fab characters like Coltaine although in the end I found the sheer number of characters in the series a little overwhelming.:)
Re Tolkien & LoTR, grief & regret for all the good that has been lost is definitely a theme, but I always feel that ultimately it is a life-affirming story. Faramir has always seen clearly in that respect, but in choosing him Eowyn also chooses life over death & healing over war. And I always feel that Sam, Rosie & their children exemplify the continuance of life and its goodness.
It has been a very long time since I have read Startide Rising by David Brin but I know I loved it.
Hi June, I reread it ‘from time to time’ and so far it always aces the re-read test. đ