Chicks in Chainmail

Introducing today's Warrior Woman: she's strong, she's capable, she's independent and she's serious. But most of all, as portrayed in the 20 stories collected here, she's absolutely unforgettable, whether dressed in a chic designer suit or the traditional chainmail bikini.

From Jan Stirling comes "Were-Wench," about a bold and brave swordswoman who's cursed to transmogrify into a wanton hussy whenever the moon is full.

David Vierling offers "Armor / Amour," about what happens after the sun-bronzed warrior hunk rescues the beautiful damsel from considerable distress.

Susan Shwartz spins a sharp contemporary tale called "Exchange Program," in which Hillary Rodham Blinton - victim of an Amtrak accident - finds herself in Valhalla, where she takes the Valkyries under her wing (and puts both Wodin and his boorish son Thor in their places).

And what would a Warrior Woman anthology be without George Alec Effinger's totally terrific Barbarian Swordsperson, Maureen "Muffy" Birnbaum? This time she's "Muffy in the MUD" (no, not mud, MUS, or Multi-User Dungeon), fighting her way through a computer role-playing game in the company of a "supernatural personage of ancient power and wisdom" who looks just like (this is going to sound omigod weird) Brad Pitt.

Also included, works by Lawrence Watt-Evans, Roger Zelazny, eluki bed shahar, Jody Lynn Nye and other ingenious writers.