A sometimes dated, but still worthwhile collection of short stories by women from the mid-1980s. Some big names (Bobbie Ann Mason, Toni Cade Bambera, Anne Tyler, Lorrie Moore) and several new-to-me authors. My favorites include Mason's "Shiloh," Ella Leffland's "Last Courtesies," and Bette Pesetsky's "A Walker's Manual." 1986 doesn't seem that long ago, but the introduction and author biographies over-emphasis on the literary powers of women are remarkable for their out-of-placeness today, which is probably a good thing. ( )