A weak issue, two decent stories but the rest lack ideas...

Johnny and Emmie-Lou get married - Kim Lakin-Smith

Two street racers from rival gangs race to the Church with opposing aims in their souped-up (steam powered?) racers. Would make a great film, rather less exciting as text.

Unexpected outcomes - Tim Pratt

Extremely 'Dickian' take on a well-known event which involves the author himself. A very neat story which manages to explain itself.

Lady of the White-Spired City - Sarah L. Edwards

An emissary of the high regent arrives at a remote colony. After the high-level business is done she journeys to a remote mountain village, to seek her past, now long distant because of the relatavistic effects of space travel. Elegaic and sad.

Microcosm - Nina Allan

This is a well written tale of what appears to be a family visit (parents and child) in a hot dustbowl/polluted setting to a relative. There is an unsettling view of paramecia under a microscope for the child and hints about the relative. And then it ends.

Ys - Aliette de Bodard

Ys is a Breton goddess who, in dreams, gets Francoise pregnant. An obstretician says there are complications so Francoise confronts the goddess, with the help of a friend who knows the ritual. Rather too Buffy-like.

Mother of Champions - Sean McMullen

A field team observing cheetahs in Africa makes a ground breaking hypothesis about their genetic history. This team though is cover for another team whose goal is to release cheetahs enhanced with wolf DNA into the wild. They are all, however under the observation and control of the 'Mother of Champions'...A nice story which gives too much away and goes a little over the top. ( )