Her Smoke Rose Up Forever

Like any short fiction collection, there are some speedbumps, but among some unforgettable reads. Sheldon/Tiptree is graphic: she writes trancelike sex and gut-wrenching violence. Stories alternate between catchy, aggressive prose, and overly-poetic narrative (I prefer the former). Led by memorable, eye-opening moments like "The Screwfly Solution," "A Momentary Taste of Being," and "We Who Stole the Dream", it also includes historically-critical works ("The Girl Who Was Plugged In" "And I Awoke and Found Me...") and important socially critical works ("Houston, Houston, Do You Read?" "The Women Men Don't See"). Alice Sheldon is one SF writer I wish I could talk to. Highly recommended, but remember to pay attention to the timeline and pseudonym swaps as you read these.