Orbit 13
Twenty stories of distinctly bleak 1970s speculative fiction, ranging from post-apocalyptic nightmares to reality-bending psychological horror. Doris Piserchia and Kate Wilhelm deliver some excellent work, but the relentless gloom left me exhausted rather than hungry for more.
The Nature of Witches
An American scientist in Sweden begins to wonder whether his estranged wife is a witch. Surprisingly perceptive prose and vivid characterization give way to appalling misogyny, sexual violence, and an ending that rewards an utterly reprehensible protagonist.
An Exchange of Hostages
A compassionate surgeon is forced to train as a state-sanctioned torturer in a dystopian future. Brilliant psychological characterization initially had me hooked, but an abrupt turn toward sexual sadism made this a book I couldn't continue.