Passionate Warriors

Alphia and Zanthonia have been at war for generations. Alphian astronavigator Jena A5D45623 is captured in a daring raid by the Zanthonians upon the planet Alphia. When she awakens from stasis, Jena discovers that they have stolen only women. Why only women is a mystery to the Alphians, who are cloned rather than born, and who live in a unisex society. Little do the Zanthonians know that this particular group of women contains some of the best minds on their planet in many fields, and it is their duty to try to escape their captors.

Captain Stallon, the Supreme Commander of the Zanthonian military, undertook this mission only because what was left of the government insisted. After losing most of their population to a plague, the ones who are left are mostly young and strong men, with only a few women. The Alphian women have been captured to see whether they can be used to breed children for the Zanthonians. Unfortunately, the Zanthonian doctors discover that the Alphian women have a lower hormone level than that of prepubescent girls, which accounts for their unfeminine bodies. Even if that can be medically corrected, will the Zanthonian men ever want to mate with their enemies?

All of the primary and secondary characters are complex and interesting in this story, but the central characters of Jena and Stallon are especially well drawn. It is fascinating to see each of them develop and grow from unreasoning hate for their enemy, to grudging admiration, liking and understanding, and finally agreement and love. The love scenes are more sensual and loving than graphic, so there is nothing for the sensitive reader to worry about. This book is perfect for the reader who prefers more serious science fiction adventure over the SF bodice-ripper -- would that be a spacesuit-ripper? Those with a bent for romance will find the emotionality of the story very fulfilling.

If you are a science fiction fan, you will love this book. I was swept away by this novel that chronicles the conflict between the Alphians and the Zanthonians. The author does an incredible job of combining science fiction with romance to create a story that has great depth and emotional resonance, as well as being a rousing good SF story. This is Ms. Winn’s first science fiction story, and I, for one, am eagerly awaiting future SF stories from her pen.

Reviewed by: Jean