Title: Aramay: The Janus Set, Book One
Author: Alan Stapf
Publisher: AuthorHouseUK
ISBN: 978-1-5462-8658-5
Pages: 562
Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy
Reviewed by: Susan Milam

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Aramay: The Janus Set, Book One sets up a complex world that offers intriguing prospects for a strong new science fiction franchise. Author Alan Stapf unveils the byzantine political history of the Federation slowly. Along the way, Mr. Stapf creates a strong female protagonist in Aramay and an equally strong Machiavellian villain in Her Royal Highness Jathonica.

Turquoise-eyed Aramay heads back to the Alpha base reluctantly. Her mind keeps returning to the shackled native girl who chose the certain doom of a Kazakh-Siberian blizzard over being captured by the Federation. Reaching the base, Aramay does everything she can to convey her disdain for Korlan and his presentation of the Ex-Op’s accomplishments thus far, or rather its lack of accomplishments. Orphaned at the age of three, Aramay has always felt distant from those around her, despite her loving foster parents. Aramay feels even more removed from the Federation, although in Rio, she may have found a kindred soul at this cold Federation outpost. An extremely gifted empath, Aramay is also a muse, which further sets her apart from society. Muses with their “aesthetic appreciation of music and its enrichment of the emotions” are a minority amongst the Federation populace, and they are considered “freaks and eccentrics.”

After introducing Aramay, Mr. Stapf quickly sets up her character although he is careful not to give away too much about her birth parents. Aramay’s status as an outsider and her compassion for the natives being hunted by the Ex-Op are established early on, and set the stage for the relationships that will unfold as the story progresses. The book takes its time unraveling the convoluted past of the Federation, a tactic which allows readers to fully immerse themselves in the world being built by the author. The complicated lineage of the Federation’s ruling families keeps readers guessing about the alliances between the key players and the subterfuge that fuels the plot. Jathonica, the cunning Empress and Ruler of the Federation, is a fascinating female character. She hides her duplicitous nature from all but her closest advisors, and even they are not fully aware of her malevolent intent. The time travel snafu results in the Ex-Op’s destination is a creative twist, and Mr. Stapf handles it adeptly. In addition, the author makes the book’s environment come alive by filling it with telling details such as the sibs, industrious bots that have taken over much of human drudge work.

Setting up a new science fiction franchise is an enormous undertaking; with Aramay: The Janus Set, Book One, author Alan Stapf proves himself up to the task. He creates two dynamic and distinctly different female characters in Aramay and Jathonica, and he surrounds them with a well-developed supporting cast. The book’s main conflict is fully realized but the ending still sets up an interesting premise and a possible romance for the saga’s next chapter. Science fiction aficionados will find themselves pulled into this new world and eager to see where the author takes it in the future.