Somewhat distanced from the first volume's attempts to be a science fiction companion to feminist fantasy series Sword and Sorceress
, this collection offers up 15 stories of varying strength and appeal. Standouts include Ian Whate's “Shop Talk,” in which a young woman deals with xenophobia; Lee Martindale's “Lady Blaze,” which puts a new spin on pirates and prostitutes in space; and Jennifer R. Povey's “Working the High Steel,” an adventure involving high-atmosphere construction. Less successful are Jennifer Brisset's death penalty allegory “The Executioner” and DJ Cockburn's “Rainfire by Night,” a postapocalyptic fantasy about a tribe of car worshippers. This series is still finding its voice, but James has done a good job of assembling a lineup that satisfies more than it disappoints and is a properly varied representation of feminist science fiction. (June)
