Bloody Fabulous

Sedia (Moscow but Dreaming) turns the spotlight on fashion in this ensemble of 14 stories. Six pieces are reprints, anchored by Holly Black’s “Coat of Stars,” a lovely take on the timeless story of winning back a lover from the faeries. Highlights include Genevieve Valentine’s “Bespoke,” the poignant tale of a seamstress who can only live vicariously through her time-traveling customers, and Kelly Link’s “The Faery Handbag,” featuring a lost accessory that contains far more than lipstick. Eight original stories by both established and up-and-coming authors enhance the collection: Maria V. Snyder’s striking “Capturing Images” celebrates out-of-the-box thinking when a photographer needs to take an impossible picture, John Chu’s intriguing “Incomplete Proofs” gives a new twist to the mathematical science of tailoring, and a banshee rediscovers her heritage in Sandra McDonald’s romantic “Dress Code.” While some stories may not click with all readers, the uniformly strong writing makes this tasty sampler a fine foray into the fashionable side of speculative fiction. (Nov.)