Great Leaders in Speculative Fiction #8: Dr Mensah from "All Systems Red" by Martha Wells

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I promised this post series would include leaders from SciFi as well as Fantasy, and have already featured the great Pyanfar Chanur. This month, I'm returning to the SciFi greats with Dr Mensah, from All Systems Red by Martha Wells. 

Those of you who know (and I imagine it's quite a few ;-) ), will know that All Systems Red was the very first instalment in the Murderbot series, which was recently released on Apple TV. You may also know that Dr Mensah is prominent throughout the novella quartet that founded the series.

Nonetheless, her character and leadership chops were established in All Systems Red, which is also the basis for the smallscreen show, hence my focus. 

Now for what qualifies Dr Mensah's leadership for the "greatness" tag. (Totes imho, of course!) First and foremost, she emulates the immortal words of Rudyard Kipling (paraphrased) by keeping her head when all those about her are losing theirs. 

Dr Mensah

To be fair, we're talking really tough and challenging circumstances, including hostile megafauna trying to eat a crew member and the wholesale murder of another research crew on the same planet, before her own team become the next target for the mysterious killers. Plenty of grounds for losing one's head -- but Dr Mensah never loses her cool, or her nerve. 

The other part of the Kipling quote is about blame -- but Dr Mensah is not one of those who wastes time on blame when events go west. Instead she takes action and responsibility, holding her crew together by her personal example. As leader, she listens to others' input, but makes the tough decisions to ensure their survival.

And as Murderbot, the human-robot construct at the center of the series puts it, Dr Mensah "really is an intrepid galactic explorer." When the chips are down and the going gets uncompromisingly tough, she has his back.

Having Murderbot's back -- with a mining drill!

Finally, Dr Mensah is not the kind of leader that leaves a team member behind -- not even when the team member is a human-bot construct that Corporation Space (which governs a large swathe of galactic space in this series) designates as equipment and disposable.

It speaks to her character, and leadership, that once she realizes Murderbot is a sentient entity, she won't continue to treat it as a machine. In other words, Dr Mensah is not just level-headed, responsible, courageous under fire, and both open- and tough-minded -- she's ethical as well.

So when it comes to great leadership in the speculative fiction 'verse, I think it's indisputable: Dr Mensah is the complete package. 

~*~

About Helen Lowe

Helen Lowe is an award-winning novelist, poet, and lover of story. With four books published to date, she is currently completing the final instalment in The Wall Of Night series.
.
Helen posts regularly on her “…on Anything, Really” blog, monthly on the Supernatural Underground, and tweets @helenl0we.

......................................~*~

Prior Posts: Great Leaders in Speculative Fiction ~ 
Where To Find 'Em & Why They Rock

February: Mara of the Acoma in the "Empire" series by Raymond E Feist & Janny Wurts

March:  Kaladin and Dalinar in "The Stormlight Archive" by Brandon Sanderson

April: Pyanfar Chanur in "The Pride of Chanur" series by CH Cherryh

May: John Aversin in Dragonsbane, by Barbara Hambly

June: Katniss Everdeen in "The Hunger Games" Trilogy, by Suzanne Collins

July: Ulric of the Nadir in Legend by David Gemmell

August: Signe de Barbentain in A Song for Arbonne by Guy Gavriel Kay 

Great Leaders in Speculative Fiction #7: Signe in "A Song For Arbonne" by Guy Gavriel Kay

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In last month's post, I focused on when a book's "big bad" can also be a great leader. This month, I want to hone in on Signe de Barbentain in A Song for Arbonne by Guy Gavriel Kay. 

Signe is definitely on the side of the angels, but she has also had leadership thrust upon her, in a country -- Arbonne -- divided by a bitter rivalry for the past quarter century. 

For starters, she is an old woman, and the widow of Arbonne's ruling Count, rather than having always held the throne in her own right. The reason she does so now is because her husband died without an heir -- and the divisive rivalry is between the heads of Arbonne's two most powerful political and military families. So Signe, despite her age, must rule alone and in her own right, in order to hold the balance of power, and keep the peace, between the two.

What further complicates the situation for Signe, is that the cause of the feud was her daughter, Aelis. Aelis was married to one great nobleman, Urte de Miraval, but fell in love with the other, Bertran de Talair. She died in childbirth, but brought matters to a head by revealing the affair to Urte and telling him Bertran was the father of her child -- who also died, leaving no heir to Arbonne and a bitter feud between the two men. By the time Signe comes to rule alone, the rift is irreconcilable.

The problem for Signe is that Arbonne's neighbour, the militarily powerful and fervently religious nation of Gorhaut, makes no secret of its ambition to annexe Arbonne -- an ambition fueled by Gorhaut's desire to eradicate the worship of the goddess Rian, which prevails in Arbonne. 

Under such circumstances, Arbonne needs unity desperately, because unless Urte and Bertran reconcile, Gorhaut will conquer it. As Countess, Signe must strive to prevent that outcome. She also knows that Urte and Bertran will never work together, despite considerable effort by herself and other Arbonnais leaders. (Including 'influencers', as we would say. :-) )

Signe's unenviable dilemma is brought to a head when a very high-ranking Gorhautian noblewoman, Rosala de Garsenc, arrives in Arbonne requesting political sanctuary for herself and her about-to-be-born child. This is a considerable test for Signe in terms of living her "side of the angels" values, because granting it will give Gorhaut the perfect pretext to invade. 

The easiest, and most politically expedient, course for Signe would be to refuse Rosala and send her and the child back, irrespective of the adverse fate that awaits them. But although Signe is old, and tired, she is also astute. She understands that Gorhaut will invade at some point regardless, but most probably soon, and that sending Rosala back will very publicly negate the values that Arbonne -- and the disputed worship of the goddess Rian -- claim to stand for. So in bowing to Gorhaut, Arbonne will appear weak and craven, eroding public confidence and causing its allies to waver. 

In other words, Signe is capable of evaluating both immediate threats and a bigger picture, and -- however old, and physically frail -- of making the big calls. Yet the elephant in the Arbonne room is always the feud between Miraval and Talair, and defying Gorhaut will lay bare its consequences. 

Signe's dilemma is that Bertran de Talair is the most able military leader and must lead Arbonne's defense -- but if he does, Urte de Miraval won't fight himself or field Miraval's considerable military force. An impossible decision, but as ruler, Signe must make it. She appoints Bertran, as she must, and Urte withdraws. Leaving Arbonne's defense a forlorn hope, or so we think... 

[Herewith a "Spoiler Alert" for anyone who hasn't read this book, but thinks they might like to.] 

Signe realizes the only way to save Arbonne is to accept that she can't reconcile or compel Urte and Bertran, so she must come up with an alternate plan based on their division. But to work, complete secrecy must be maintained -- not only from Gorhaut, but from Arbonne's allies and the rest of Signe's leadership team. Only one other person, necessary to make it work, can be privy to the plan.

Here's the thing, though. Like many such secret plans, it's high risk and requires Signe to proceed on the basis of trust, even if she cannot be entirely certain of her ace in the hole. So Arbonne's fate rests on a gamble, but also Signe's nerve, wit, and determination in playing for the highest stakes.

So when I look across the array of leaders present in the Fantasy and Science Fiction genres, Signe de Barbentain is right up there in the ranks of the great. Among the many qualities that qualify her for greatness, the foremost (in my 'umble opine :-) ) is Signe's ability to accept what cannot be changed. Then use it, to defend the country, and way of life, she loves. 

~*~

About Helen Lowe

Helen Lowe is an award-winning novelist, poet, and lover of story. With four books published to date, she is currently completing the final instalment in The Wall Of Night series.
.
Helen posts regularly on her “…on Anything, Really” blog, monthly on the Supernatural Underground, and tweets @helenl0we.

......................................~*~

Prior Posts: Great Leaders in Speculative Fiction ~ 
Where To Find 'Em & Why They Rock

February: Mara of the Acoma in the "Empire" series by Raymond E Feist & Janny Wurts

March:  Kaladin and Dalinar in "The Stormlight Archive" by Brandon Sanderson

April: Pyanfar Chanur in "The Pride of Chanur" series by CH Cherryh

May: John Aversin in Dragonsbane, by Barbara Hambly

June: Katniss Everdeen in "The Hunger Games" Trilogy, by Suzanne Collins

July: Ulric of the Nadir in Legend by David Gemmell

Great Leaders in Speculative Fiction #6: Ulric & "Legend" by David Gemmell

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So far in this series, which focuses on leadership across the full gamut of speculative fiction novels, the featured leaders have all been from Team "the good guys", if not outright heroes. (If you want to check them out, there's a list at the end. :-) )

Today, though, I'm looking at Ulric, the chief "bad guy" from David Gemmell's Legend (Drenai #1.) Ulric is not a "monolithic evil" villain like Sauron in The Lord of the Rings (discussed here), but he is Legend's  primary antagonist and prepared to use black magic to achieve his ends. He's also a great leader.

I'll get to why in a moment, but the basic premise of Legend is that Ulric has achieved what's never been done before, and unified the warlike Nadir tribes. Now, he wants to conquer the world -- but the Drenai fortress of Dros Delnoch, which holds the Delnoch Pass, stands in his way. 

Ulric, unsurprisingly, intends taking it by any means necessary. Rek, the Earl of Bronze, and a patchwork army of defenders (including Druss, the legendary axeman), aim to prevent him. And the rest, as they say, is history -- or at least, the rest of the Legend story. :D

The original cover

So what makes Ulric, the Legend-ary antagonist, so great a leader? First and foremost, he has unified the Nadir, which as mentioned above, has never been done before. He's also charismatic and a military genius, which is part of what convinces so many Nadir to follow him. They're a warlike society and bask, so to speak, in the reflected glory of his successes.

As a leader, Ulric models outstanding performance, inspiring others to emulate him, but he also demands it of his followers. The same with loyalty -- but he doesn't just demand. He rewards both performance and loyalty generously, a leadership practice that revolutionizes the Nadir way. Conversely, failure and disloyalty are brutally punished, consistent with Nadir tradition.

So as a leader, Ulric not only offers both carrot and stick, but simultaneously revolutionizes and maintains the Nadir norms -- in a way that cements his followers' loyalty and serves his imperial ambitions. In order to create an empire, though, Ulric understands (yep, he's a very smart guy) that he must not only conquer, but rule. And that successful rulership and enduring empires both require stability.

Consequently, what was begun with the Nadir, Ulric extends to those he seeks to conquer. Surrender, and your lives, homes, and livelihoods will all be spared; fight, and your society will be exterminated and/or enslaved. Here's the important thing, though: either way, Ulric is scrupulous in keeping his word -- which is another reason he's a great leader. He understands that continued success, and a stable empire, depend on his followers and subjects being able to rely on his promises, while enemies really believe his threats. 

Echoes of Mongol warriors, as seen in "Marco Polo"

(By the way, if you're thinking all of this sounds a lot like Genghis Khan, I am "pretty sure" he was the inspiration for Ulric.) 

Or put another way, Ulric has internalized the observation of Joseph Stiglitz, the Nobel-prize winning economist, that, “It’s trust...that makes the world go around.” And no, Stiglitz and his quote aren't mentioned in the book (grins :D) but understanding, and manifestation, of the observation is implicit to Ulric's leadership.

Charismatic; military genius; smart; generous; both demands and rewards performance and loyalty, while brutally punishing their opposite; a man of his word, whether promise or threat; ambitious and and clearly ruthless -- all these qualities contribute to why Ulric, although the "bad guy" in Legend, is one of genre fiction's great leaders.

Charismatic leadership

He does have one other, notable quality, though.  In the midst of a bloody and bitter conflict, Ulric is prepared to honor greatness, even in his enemies. So when one of the great heroes of the Dros Delnoch defense dies, Ulric allows a funeral truce and pays respect to his fallen enemy. Doing so is a considerable risk, but honoring and respecting the hero's greatness cements his own -- and elevates, rather than diminishes, his leadership.

So, the "bad guy" notwithstanding, when it comes to leadership in genre fiction, I tip my hat to Ulric of the Nadir.

~*~

About Helen Lowe

Helen Lowe is an award-winning novelist, poet, and lover of story. With four books published to date, she is currently completing the final instalment in The Wall Of Night series.
.
Helen posts regularly on her “…on Anything, Really” blog, monthly on the Supernatural Underground, and tweets @helenl0we.

......................................~*~

Previous Posts: Great Leaders in Speculative Fiction -- Where To Find 'Em & Why they Rock 

February: Mara of the Acoma in the Empire series by Raymond E Feist & Janny Wurts

March:  Kaladin and Dalinar in The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson

April: Pyanfar Chanur in "The Pride of Chanur" series by CH Cherryh

May: John Aversin in Dragonsbane, by Barbara Hambly

June: Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games Trilogy, by Suzanne Collins

Great Leaders in Speculative Fiction #5: Katniss Everdeen & "The Hunger Games"

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Can you believe it's June already? Time swoopin' by, as it does! Howeverz, it does mean we're at #5 in the "Great Leaders In Speculative Fiction" series -- *and* the spotlight is on the inimitable Katniss Everdeen from Suzanne Collins' "The Hunger Games" trilogy.

Katniss Everdeen

Up until now, the leaders featured in this series have all come from a leadership background in their society -- yes, even Kaladin in Stormlight Archive, although his background is by no means as elevated as that of Dalinar Kholin.

Katniss, though, truly is a commoner, and poor with it. Not only that, she's a poor commoner from one of her society's poorest Districts (think state, province, shire.) Although close to her mother and sister, she's also a loner except for her hunting buddy, Dale, who is also a friend. 

The most interesting aspect of Katniss as a leader, not just a hero and champion (although she's very clearly that, too) is that she remains a loner throughout. From the moment she volunteers to take her sister's place in the Hunger Games lottery, Katniss's leadership is moral, rather than the more usual paths of governance or military prominence. 

In her person, and by her deeds, she exemplifies a riposte, and an alternative, to the cruelty and repression of the Capitol, which masterminds the Hunger Games.

I feel very sure everyone reading this knows the Hunger Games premise, but 'just in case', every District must supply two of their children, one girl, one boy, to the Capitol every year, to compete in an arena where all tributes must kill or be killed. Only the last tribute standing survives the arena.

And no one volunteers -- except for Katniss. The second book is titled Catching Fire and Katniss burns very brightly throughout, but it is a flame of moral integrity as well as physical and mental courage. The combination of the two make her an inspirational leader as well. Seeing and hearing her, people's spirits catch alight. They want to follow her example and do as she does.

Yet Katniss always stands alone. In part, because she sees the realities and uncomfortable truths that most people prefer to avoid. The trilogy ends, as it begins, with Katniss taking a moral stand -- but this time, it's not one that all, if any, among those who follow her, readily understand. 

Katniss has been pushed to a brink. The fact she survives it illustrates the degree to which she has become more symbol than person. The symbol cannot be allowed to fail, or fall, which is also why her final deed carries so much weight and does bring a lasting end to the Hunger Games.

Yet for all the fires Katniss has lit, she is more alone at the end than at the outset. And however bright her personal flame, the path from the Games, through revolution, to reach that end was always a precipice, with death on one side and failure of integrity on the other. 

Unquestionably, though, the fire Katniss Everdeen lit was a conflagration, both in the trilogy's world of Panem, and in readers' enthusiasm for her story. 

~*~

About Helen Lowe

Helen Lowe is an award-winning novelist, poet, and lover of story. With four books published to date, she is currently completing the final instalment in The Wall Of Night series.
.
Helen posts regularly on her “…on Anything, Really” blog, monthly on the Supernatural Underground, and tweets @helenl0we.

......................................~*~

Previous Posts: Great Leaders in Speculative Fiction -- Where To Find 'Em & Why they Rock 

February: Mara of the Acoma in the Empire series by Raymond E Feist & Janny Wurts

March:  Kaladin and Dalinar in The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson

April: Pyanfar Chanur in "The Pride of Chanur" series by CH Cherryh

May: John Aversin in Dragonsbane, by Barbara Hambly

Great Leaders in Speculative Fiction #4 -- John Aversin & "Dragonsbane"

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Just squeaking in under the wire here, but made it for May 2 -- phew! And am stoked to be featuring post #4 in the Great Leaders of Speculative Fiction series.

This month we're back to Fantasy with the legendary John Aversin, from Barbara Hambly's Dragonsbane.  

I always think of John Aversin as a fairly ordinary kind of guy, at face value. He is the local, and only, ruler left in what was once the northernmost province of an empire. The Winterlands province has been abandoned and the inhabitants left to fend for themselves for over a century. No light matter, when the fending off involves regular raiding by barbarian tribes, the return of demons and monsters as the population dwindles, and the brutalization of that human population as dangers, poverty, and deprivation deepen.

As the local lord, it falls to John Aversin to organise, equip, and lead the local militia against these threats and maintain the rule of law, thereby supporting the local community and sustaining civilization. All of which he does, from a commitment to the aforementioned civilization and the rule of law, and because if he didn't, all those seeking to maintain those values in the Winterlands would perish. 

So-o, just another smalltime, local lord, abandoned by the world's great powers and fighting a losing battle, so doomed to be forgotten by history. That's one way the story could go. Except that John Aversin has a claim to fame that has spread beyond the Winterlands -- because he has slain a dragon, something that is notoriously difficult to do. And completely impossible, as Jenny Waynest, the local witch, puts it, if the knight tries to take: 

"...a three-foot steel blade against twenty-five feet of (airborne) spiked and flaming death."

Needless to say, John hasn't done anything nearly that stupid. Consequently, he is the only living Dragonsbane, aka successful dragonkiller. So when a dragon (Morkeleb the Black) infests the capital city of the Kingdom of Belmarie, the crown prince (Gareth) seeks out John Aversin, to ride to the south and slay it. Initially, John has no intention of going, since as he points out to Gareth, he is the Winterlands' only knight and military leader, whereas the king has hundreds at his command. 

Although my summary is just the beginning of the story, I hope it's already clear why I consider John Aversin one of the great leaders of speculative fiction. First and foremost, he lives his commitment to his people, the values of civilization, and the rule of law, and puts himself at continual hazard to uphold those values. It is, in fact, the only reason he fought the dragon.

It's also the reason he does eventually go south to take on Morkeleb the Black -- because Gareth promises him, in the king's name, that if he does, then Belmarie will re-establish civil government in the Winterlands, and send the soldiers necessary to defend them. So once again, John will hazard himself to secure a future for his people.

When he (and Jenny) reach the capital, however, they find a court far from universally supportive of Gareth's mission. Worse, some factions are prepared to tolerate the dragon's depredations (devouring, destroying, and burning) in order to further their acquisition of wealth and power. John, therefore, rather than being welcomed and helped, finds his reputation disputed and his appearance and speech mocked. He is also hindered at every turn.

What makes John a great leader is that despite the baiting, verbal abuse, and obstacles put in his way, he continues to place the larger mission and the Winterlands' wellbeing ahead of personal affront. He also, despite his rough northern speech and patched armor, exemplifies the behavior of a true knight and person of honor, by defending the refugees that the dragon has forced into the city, including those of nonhuman species, who are being falsely accused of summoning the dragon and persecuted accordingly.  

Defending the weak and persecuted might just make John Aversin a hero. The reason I believe it also makes him a great leader, is because he is capable of convincing others to emulate the behavior he models. And because in doing so, he is motivated by the same values and vision that led him to slay the first dragon and be prepared to fight the second -- the commitment to civilized behaviour, the rule of law, and the wellbeing, primarily of the Winterlands community (his people), but also of all people.

So yes, when it comes to great leaders of speculative fiction, John Aversin is not only right up there. He rocks. 

~*~

About Helen Lowe

Helen Lowe is an award-winning novelist, poet, and lover of story. With four books published to date, she is currently completing the final instalment in The Wall Of Night series.
.
Helen posts regularly on her “…on Anything, Really” blog, monthly on the Supernatural Underground, and tweets @helenl0we.

......................................~*~

Previous Posts: Great Leaders in Speculative Fiction -- Where To Find 'Em & Why they Rock 

February: Mara of the Acoma in the Empire series by Raymond E Feist & Janny Wurts

March:  Kaladin and Dalinar in The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson

April: Pyanfar Chanur in "The Pride of Chanur" series by CH Cherryh

Great Leaders in Speculative Fiction #3 -- Pyanfar Chanur & "The Pride of Chanur"

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Roll up, roll up, 'tis time for Instalment #3 in the great leaders of Fantasy and Science Fiction series.

If I'm being true to the theme, it's very very difficult indeed to go past Pyanfar Chanur, from CJ Cherryh's now-classic Chanur series.

The opening standalone is The Pride of Chanur, on which today's post is chiefly based, but I believe my comments apply equally to the subsequent trilogy: Chanur's Venture, The Kif Strike Back, and Chanur's Homecoming. The fifth novel, Chanur's Legacy, is a spinoff that follows another member of the spacefaring Chanur clan. 

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As you've probably gathered from the covers, Pyanfar Chanur is not human. She's a Hani, from a lion-like race where (in pride fashion) only females go into space, to trade and deal with a range of other species, some oxygen, and others methane breathers. Collectively, they call their space system Compact space. 

The Pride story starts when Pyanfar's ship (the titular Pride of Chanur) is docked at Meetpoint station, where an unknown creature is loose on the docks. Hani and spacer practice is to mind one's own business and leave well alone, but Pyanfar and her crew's luck is out, because the stray makes a determined incursion into their loading bay, then the ship itself.

The stray turns out to be a human being, a species previously unknown in Compact space. Tully was a crew member on an exploration vessel that was pirated by another species called the Kif, who are inclined to raiding, kidnap, and torture. Tully is the final survivor and has managed to escape, but the Kif want him back and are prepared to go to any lengths to get him. 

Dockside skirmishes, interstellar pursuits, and space battles ensue, because this is space opera at its finest, and Pyanfar and her five Hani spacers are a riproaring, swashbuckling crew. In the midst of the furor, Pyanfar definitely leads from the front. But what begins her transformation into a great leader, rather than a courageous fighter alone, is when her moral line of sand becomes a line of blood, spilled on the Pride's deck. One that she's not willing to cross -- or to back away from.

When Tully seeks refuge on the Pride, he speaks no Compact language and is completely different to any species Pyanfar has previously encountered. She also knows that taking something the Kif want will bring down a world of trouble, not only on the Pride, but other Hani ships. The easiest course would be to hand Tully over and forget all about him.

The reason Pyanfar won't do that is because she realizes that Tully is a sentient being and should be accorded full Compact's rights in that respect. Her leadership shines in not only about holding to that point herself, but convincing others, both Hani and other species, to do the same -- despite a general reluctance to cross the piratical Kif. Her journey also involves a shift in  perspective, from seeing the Compact and its species from a purely Hani point-of-view, to comprehending a much bigger picture -- one that encompasses dealings with new species like humans, as well as the existing Compact members.

Pyanfar's ability to see that picture not only enables her to discern that change is needed, both in the Compact and within Hani society, but to be the change that will bring it about. Ultimately, this leads her to become (by the end of the trilogy) the equivalent of a president of Compact space, whose work has become wrangling the differences between its species, in order to preserve the cooperation that Tully's arrival threatened.  

Not by handing him over to the Kif, turning her back, and walking away, though. And the fact that Pyanfar Chanur can always be relied upon to kick-arse and take names, just makes her journey from spacer captain to galactic leader all the more enjoyable for readers. 

~*~

About Helen Lowe

Helen Lowe is an award-winning novelist, poet, and lover of story. With four books published to date, she is currently completing the final instalment in The Wall Of Night series.
.
Helen posts regularly on her “…on Anything, Really” blog, monthly on the Supernatural Underground, and tweets @helenl0we.

......................................~*~

Previous "Great Leaders in Speculative Fiction" Posts:

February: Mara of the Acoma in the Empire series by Raymond E Feist & Janny Wurts

March: Kaladin and Dalinar in The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson

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Great Leaders in Speculative Fiction #2 -- Kaladin, Dalinar, & "The Stormlight Archive"

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Yep, it's March, with hints of spring for some and harbingers of autumn for those in southern hemisphere climes -- but here on Supernatural Underground it's time for Instalment #2 of great leaders in Fantasy and Science Fiction!

Stormlight #1

The series I'm focusing on today (which currently comprises five books) is the Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson -- although I'm chiefly talking about Book One, The Way of Kings. I also had an impossible task deciding whether the featured leader should be Kaladin Stormblessed or Dalinar Kholin. In the end, I decided there was nothing for it but to discuss both, so here goes!

Kaladin and Dalinar of "The Stormlight Archive" Fame

The Stormlight Archive is an epic fantasy, set in the world of Roshar. As the story unfolds, we learn that Roshar has endured many cycles of cataclysmic war, but has currently experienced over a millenium of peace. It's still a world where warfare, inequalities, and injustice, are rife, however, and from the story's outset, both Kaladin and Dalinar are enmeshed in its strife. 

Stormlight #2

Dalinar is the brother of the recently assassinated king of Alethkar. Historically, he was also his brother's principal general in successive wars of conquest, with a violent and bloody past. Well suited, in other words, to lead Alethkar's armies in a war of vengeance against the enemies (Parshmen) who engineered his brother's murder.

Kaladin

Again at the story's outset, Kaladin is a young commoner with a soldiering background, who has been enslaved and serves as a "bridgeman" for the Alethkar armies. The terrain where they are fighting is distinguished by deep (and monster infested) chasms, and the bridgemen's part is to carry the wooden bridges that enable the soldiers to cross the chasms and close with the enemy. Needless to say, being slaves, they are unarmed but must go ahead of the main force, so casualties are high and morale correspondingly low.

Stormlight #3

Kaladin's morale is also at very low ebb (unsurprisingly!) when he is forced into the bridge carriers. Yet he is also a natural leader, with a gift for motivating others, chiefly through leading by example. He is also poured from the mold that I term "his brother's keeper", in that he both feels and takes responsibility for the wellbeing of those about him -- in this case, his fellow bridge slaves. Although as the backstory unfolds, the reader discovers that it's a considerable part of why he is enslaved.

What makes Kaladin a great leader, is that he not only feels responsibility but acts upon it. He is also physically courageous and tactically adept, as well as having a charisma that inclines other to follow him.  It's not just charisma, though -- Kaladin also has a gift for inspiring others to be and do better, irrespective of circumstances. Together, these qualities enable him to instill the discipline and train the bridge carriers in tactics that greatly improve their effectiveness and survival rates. 

During the course of The Way of Kings, Kaladin's circumstances change for the better. In large part because of his leadership qualities and because he has an ethical compass that endures despite slavery, injustice, and brutalization.  

These qualities continue to define Kaladan's path through the Stormlight Archive -- but as to how and why his personal fortunes change, that's in large part because both path and fate cross that of Dalinar Kholin. 

Stormlight #4

Dalinar

Dalinar, as mentioned, has a chequered past. Correction, a very chequered past, and his path requires significant personal change, from brawler, drunkard, and war leader, to statesman. In this he is guided by chaotic visions and a book titled the Way of Kings, both of which set him on a path at odds with received wisdom and the traditional behaviors of Alethkar nobility. 

Dalinar's outstanding personal quality is his willingness to remake himself. Like Kaladin, he has personal courage in spades. Unlike Kaladin, the ethical compass must be learned. Yet Dalinar persists, despite considerable private and public cost, because he perceives the new path, and the attendant changes required of him, as necessary -- not just for the survival of Alethkar and its peoples, but also Roshar.

In other words, Dalinar is a big picture thinker. Convincing others, however, firstly to believe him capable of change, then to follow his path at all, requires more and harder work. Chiefly of persuasion, cooperation, and demonstrating respect, rather than war and destruction (his previous m.o.) Dalinar's willingness to put in that work (again, like Kaladin, leading by example) is part of what makes him an effective leader. Picking and promoting subordinates on proven merit is another -- which leads us back to Kaladin.

Stormlight #5

When their paths cross, Dalinar not only perceives Kaladin's courage and outstanding leadership qualities. He also believes that he owes Kaladin a profound debt of honor. Convenience might dictate overlooking the debt owed to a slave, but having adopted the Way of Kings, Dalinar is not prepared to renege on its tenets. He pays a kingly price to uphold his honor, one that most of Alethkar's nobility would never contemplate -- because he not only sees a larger picture, but understands that it must apply equally to individual dealings as well as affairs of state. 

Dalinar is a head of state and leader of armies, and throughout the Stormlight Archive he holds his followers to a high standard. But he holds himself to it first, which is the core of his personal integrity and leadership style, and why others, however reluctantly in some cases, are prepared to follow him.

Even, as it turns out, to contesting the ending of the world and surviving the death of their god. 

~*~

About Helen Lowe

Helen Lowe is an award-winning novelist, poet, and lover of story. With four books published to date, she is currently completing the final instalment in The Wall Of Night series.
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Helen posts regularly on her “…on Anything, Really” blog, monthly on the Supernatural Underground, and tweets @helenl0we.

Great Leaders in Speculative Fiction -- Where To Find 'Em & Why they Rock

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Well, here I am on February 2nd as promised last month -- which is not a huge shift, but still takes a bit of adjustment, having posted on the 1st of every month for so long. :-)

You may consider the adjustment made, though, as -- bright-eyed and full of verve ;-) -- I kick off a 2025 featuring Leaders and Leadership in speculative fiction. (That's fantasy and scifi, just in case you're wondering!)

In particular, I hope to highlight each leader's style and why others in the story follow them, starting with an enduring favorite: 

Mara of the Acoma in Daughter of the Empire

Mara is the lead character in the Empire trilogy by Raymond E Feist and Janny Wurts: Daughter of the Empire, Servant of the Empire, and Mistress of the Empire respectively. 

The story opens when a young Mara discovers that she is the sole surviving member of House Acoma, with its rulers and armies annihilated by treachery in a distant war. She has been training for a religious life, but if her clan are to survive, she must forgo that genuine calling and assume political leadership. So great a change would be daunting under any circumstances, but House Acoma has powerful enemies, bent on obliterating Mara and enslaving her clan. 

Rulership in the Empire is hereditary, so bloodline and rank are the initial basis for Mara leading the Acoma. She also chooses to accept the role, forgoing a religious calling when pursuing it would have preserved her own life. Yet without a hereditary ruler, everyone else in the clan would be either enslaved or condemned to outlawry, forgoing all honor. So the second aspect of Mara's leadership, demonstrated in that initial choice and reinforced throughout the story, is a strong sense of duty and service. In other words, it's never all about her. 

Mara's position, however, is extraordinarily weak. To survive, she must not only adapt, learn fast, and outwit her enemies, but think well outside the square. In an Empire hidebound by tradition, her ability to question custom and reshape social codes without breaking the laws, win Mara new followers and vital alliances. 

Mara's sense of duty and service inspire loyalty in others. Similarly, her acumen and success, particularly with the outside-the-square solutions, build confidence in her leadership. Mara also demonstrates considerable courage in the face of adversity -- but just as tellingly, she is merciful in victory. And it's the mercy, building on her other qualities, that eventually changes the Empire.

All in all, I consider Mara of the Acoma one of the great leaders in speculative fiction.

~*~

About Helen Lowe

Helen Lowe is an award-winning novelist, poet, and lover of story. With four books published to date, she is currently completing the final instalment in The Wall Of Night series.
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Helen posts regularly on her “…on Anything, Really” blog, monthly on the Supernatural Underground, and tweets @helenl0we.