The Shore of Women
A fascinating post-apocalyptic society where women rule technologically advanced cities and men live as wilderness barbarians. Unfortunately, the intriguing worldbuilding takes a backseat to a tedious, unconvincing romance, uneven pacing, and frustrating gender essentialism.
Orbit 13
Twenty stories of distinctly bleak 1970s speculative fiction, ranging from post-apocalyptic nightmares to reality-bending psychological horror. Doris Piserchia and Kate Wilhelm deliver some excellent work, but the relentless gloom left me exhausted rather than hungry for more.
Extra Ellies
A nine-page science-fiction story about a society so obsessed with mortality statistics that people have practically stopped living. Julia Ecklar's imaginative worldbuilding shines, but its message about manipulating safety information hit very differently when I read it during the COVID-19 pandemic.
An Exchange of Hostages
A compassionate surgeon is forced to train as a state-sanctioned torturer in a dystopian future. Brilliant psychological characterization initially had me hooked, but an abrupt turn toward sexual sadism made this a book I couldn't continue.