Review by Kathi IssermanSB Zarben opens Amicus Humani Generis with a thrilling intergalactic fight that includes aliens, rescue attempts and the formation of an alliance between a friendly group of aliens and humans.
On its face the story may seem like another sci-fi book, but there is nothing typical about Amicus Humani Generis. The humans on the ship Avenger need to escape the Ebokras, creatures who are threatening their very existence with a deadly, rapidly spreading virus that must be contained. They cannot conquer the pervasive threat without the reluctant help of nonhuman allies. This is where Zarben introduces Janus, a character that embodies the true definition of a heroine.
Zarben envisions a world where strength, courage, and goodness are not only human traits. With her character Janus, we witness an energy force that is used to heal people even at the expense of her own well-being. She exhibits kindness, beauty, and nobility that eventually melt even the hardened hearts of the most extreme human supremacists. As the story unfolds, the reader is presented with the prejudice that the humans on the Avenger have for Janus because she is unlike them. Most question her motives, but not Ensign Connie Barker who is attracted to this compelling alien. The connection draws Janus to this brave human, and they both discover feelings that are unfamiliar.
Zarben effectively imagines a world where we can visualize it and the creatures that inhabit it because her descriptions are vibrant. Our hearts beat faster as the war rages between the outside forces trying to destroy the Avenger and its occupants. But the crux of this multi-layered plot is how Zarben exposes the way we treat those who are different from ourselves. Zarben uses the age-old issue of acceptance of one another’s differences to craft a heartwarming and persuasive love story. She tackles the unfairness of preconceptions subtly without moralizing.
Zarben succeeds in dealing with a very difficult subject in a unique way without demeaning the reader, and this is the heart of what makes Amicus Humani Generis a stand-out read.
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