When I wrote the Ironstone Saga, I wanted to strike one main theme at the heart of the series. Alongside other themes like mateship, honour, resiliency, and the will not only to survive but persist forward when all seems lost, I wanted to highlight the importance of a peace-loving nation.
At first glance, this might not seem obvious because there is so much violence throughout the books. But rest assured that the nation of Wendurlund is one of peace. They wanted to exist peacefully, but unfortunately, war found them, through no fault of their own.
I’d argue there is violence throughout the books because the people of Wendurlund were peace lovers. Had they been pacifists, the story would have ended a quarter way through the first novel (Fallen Empire) with the nation of Wendurlund subjugated.
Pacifists are a dangerous breed of people in any nation. In fact, it's a theme that blurs across the boundaries of books or movies and into real life. Pacifists are the weak, bland and cowardly people who will throw their hands in the air or bury their heads in the sand at the first sign of a threat in the hope that the threat will leave. Peace lovers want to remain in a state of harmony, but the difference is that when a threat is at their front gate, they are willing to fight and, yes, even kill to ensure they can not only remain in peace but that their people are safe.
If you want to remain within the realms that peace provides, make damn sure you have warriors on the wall. Just because you want to remain at peace does not mean others do. You better be ready to fight to protect yourself, those whom you love and that which you hold dear. Peace can only remain so by the will of a sharp sword safely sheathed. But there should always be a hand resting on the pommel.
At first glance, this might not seem obvious because there is so much violence throughout the books. But rest assured that the nation of Wendurlund is one of peace. They wanted to exist peacefully, but unfortunately, war found them, through no fault of their own.
I’d argue there is violence throughout the books because the people of Wendurlund were peace lovers. Had they been pacifists, the story would have ended a quarter way through the first novel (Fallen Empire) with the nation of Wendurlund subjugated.
Pacifists are a dangerous breed of people in any nation. In fact, it's a theme that blurs across the boundaries of books or movies and into real life. Pacifists are the weak, bland and cowardly people who will throw their hands in the air or bury their heads in the sand at the first sign of a threat in the hope that the threat will leave. Peace lovers want to remain in a state of harmony, but the difference is that when a threat is at their front gate, they are willing to fight and, yes, even kill to ensure they can not only remain in peace but that their people are safe.
If you want to remain within the realms that peace provides, make damn sure you have warriors on the wall. Just because you want to remain at peace does not mean others do. You better be ready to fight to protect yourself, those whom you love and that which you hold dear. Peace can only remain so by the will of a sharp sword safely sheathed. But there should always be a hand resting on the pommel.
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