I have been reading S.M. Stirling’s Emberverse series for quite some time now. I have just finished the third installment, “A Meeting At Corvallis”, a few minutes ago.

I could go on, and on, and on about how difficult it would be for each and everyone of us to get readjusted into a no-electricity world. Probably most of us would freak out completely and a lot of us wouldn’t really make it. (a part of me is considering taking up archery, though I have no idea how expensive that would be).

However, the time is past for that rant… it IS the third book, for crying out loud! I have discussed this several times on the other posts referring to the Emberverse series. No, this time, I want to focus on two particular things:

First and foremost, the types of leadership. The Protector tends to be quite annoyingly evil. Evilness, coercion and spite are not what really make up a good leader. As I’ve learned, a good leader CAN be feared, even hated, but will always get results because their people know they are right. The Protector, Lord Arminger, was actually just thinking of himself and his close relations, not of the rest of his domain. This could very much lead ANY leader to disaster. Remember, if the people you work for feel screwed, they will leave when your hold on them is the weakest.

Juniper Mckenzie, the Queen Witch. I tend to side with her type of leadership more than the other two types. Juniper follows the “Threefold Law”. Point a finger at someone, something… do you see it? There…� you’re pointing one finger to them, but three to you. If you do something bad, it will come back three times as bad, likewise for the goodness. I REALLY believe that we reap what we sow, and her style of leadership leads you to that thought. She is strong. She takes care of her people, and tries to harm as little as possible, in fact, she despairs in the thought of warring several times.

Finally, Mike Havel. The Lord Beard himself. A trained marine, he survived against the horrible possibility of crashing an airplane during the Change. He’s as strong and concerned of his people as Juniper, though his leadership style is somewhat more strict. He is more analytic, while Juniper leads more through her heart.

Throughout the books, I have watched each of these three styles, and I am sure the one I feel most comfortable with is Juniper’s style, however, through lots of life lessons, I am very much aware that I have acquired a whole lot of organized, analytic leadership points I probably didn’t have at the beginning. And why not, maybe a little bit of evilness could also be reflected in myself. Some of them would fight for their people, some of them would die for their people not to laugh at them.

Another point in this book would be homosexuality. Thinking about Proposition 8 and how it was passed in the U.S. (remember I am not a U.S. citizen) leaves me appaled, but I am also extremely saddened by the reality that my country doesn’t really like gay people, and I know a few of them who are excellent examples of a beautiful heart.

In the McKenzie Clan, you can find several people who are homosexuals, and they can freely show their affection like a “normal” couple. They live and die by their beliefs, and they are as brave as anyone who would have to fight would be.

The Bearkillers also don’t seem to find Homosexuality a problem. Even Lord Bear himself laughs about a gay Bearkiller always finding boyfriends that sort of look like Mike Havel himself. It IS a high compliment.

However, the Protectorate could be part of our current homo-hating, god-fearing, church goers of our era. The Protectorate follows only one God, and they have their own Pope and everything. So, if you’re gay, or lesbian, you have to hide your preferences at every turn, EVEN when you’re one of the nobles surrounding Lord Protector.

All told, this series has been very interesting to read, and I am already thinking of ordering the next installment. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading.