Real world events are very much  putting political leadership in the spotlight right now. Correspondingly, SFF is frequently about large scale and world-altering political and social events, so I can’t really think of a better time to turn the spotlight onto some of characters in the genre who are great leaders  — and what it is that makes them great.

SFF also frequently includes encounters with non-human species, so I intend to include some non-human leaders in the mix. The characters featured are in alphabetical order by name so no preference should be inferred from the order in which they appear. 😉

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B is for Bitterblue from Kristin Cashore’s Bitterblue (Genre: YA; Fantasy)

I have always been a fan of Kristin Cashore’s Bitterblue. In terms of why, I can’t really say it better than Kristin Cashore herself did, during our interview in June 2012: “…I love her loyalty…I love how hard she tries, and I love her refusal to give up.”  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 Kristin’s comments, my own take on Bitterblue was that: “I was also impressed by her generosity, as well as her “fidelity”:  the way she strives to keeps faith with her subjects, and the truth of the past…”

So, yes, Bitterblue is definitely on my “great leaders of SFF” list.

C is for Coltaine, nomad horseman and a general of the Malazan empire in Steven Erikson’s Deadhouse Gates, the second of the Malazan Book of the Fallen series. (Genre: Epic Fantasy)

Coltaine is another one of my favourites, a “barbarian” 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 “Chain of Dogs”, a ‘great march’ 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.

C is also for Creideiki from David Brin’s 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 universe—and where dolphins and chimpanzees have been “uplifted” 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  I’ve also always thought him an interesting and credible as a non-human protagonist.

E is for Elfrid, in Ru Emerson’s 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 others’ lives. A reserved personality herself, Elfrid also finds it difficult to emulate the general’s easy bonhomie and “common touch.” 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.

F is for Faramir in JRR Tolkien’s The Lord Of The Rings (Genre: Epic Fantasy)

I know what you’re thinking, “Why not Aragorn?” Unquestionably, the latter is a great leader of SFF, but so too is Faramir (imho) and in the books he’s 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 ‘against the odds’. 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.

I is for Ista in Lois McMaster Bujold’s 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 — and finally, the willingness to take personal and political risks. Ista is a great example of an individual’s transition and/or rehabilitation back into a leadership role.

Check back in on Wednesday for Part 2 of Twelve Great Leaders of SFF (because Tuesday is poetry day. 🙂 )