The most distinguished of anthologies may begin as a survey of a given subfield but end up as collections that highlight the strongest work of the larger field. So it is with The Moment of Change: though the anthology focuses on feminist speculative poems, the book is easily among the strongest collections of the wider genre. Lemberg gives us a brief history of feminist speculative poetry, then a glimpse at the diversity of poems and poets featured in the book. Across the board, the poems are solid, and the balance between fantasy and science fiction works well. This is the first book I recommend to readers interested in knowing more about speculative poetry, and it's one I highly recommend to those who have read widely in the genre as well. ( )

"I want to go moonwalking
on it or under it I don't care
I just want to go moonwalking
alone."
— from "Werewomen" by Ursula K Le Guin

The Moment of Change assembles speculative poetry that addresses feminism in a variety of ways and from a multitude of cultural points of view. As such, many of these poems address not only feminism, but colonialism, race, culture, and broader gender issues in moving, lyrical and vivid portrayals.

"The world is wrong and I am wrung,
a bell of cloth dripping salt
into an earth too broken for roots."
— from "Pieces" by Amal El-Mohtar

Most of the poetry is myth-based, delving into fantasy and folk lore, with only a few poems that focus on science fiction themes. I don't know if this is because poets tend to be drawn to myth more than science fiction, or if perhaps it is more that Lemberg, as editor, is particularly interested in these kinds of stories. Regardless, Lemberg has done an excellent job of selecting and arranging the works within this anthology.

"Perfection is frictionless —
I need to stub my soul on yours,
I need to lick the slivers in your wounds."
— from "In Defiance of Sleek-Armed Androids" by Lisa Bradley

You could, perhaps, have a discussion as to whether all of these poems are truly speculative or feminist; some poems seem to be only peripherally so. I could easily see this book or selections therefrom be included in college courses on literature and/or women's studies. I'd like to read each poem again and then sit and think about them more, maybe break a few of them down and analyze them line-by-line. These poems leave plenty of room for reflection.

"She makes no magic. Although the stories won't tell you,
witches are magic."
— from "The Witch" by Theodora Goss

But even without such deeper analysis, the quality of the poems is excellent throughout the anthology and there is something to be said for the pleasure of the experience alone. I've certainly enjoyed reading these words, and many poems I've gone back to read twice, or more than twice. I'll be picking this book up off my shelf and enjoying the poetry within for years to come. Highly recommended.

"This is a story,
and it is true of all stories
that the sound when they slam shut
is like a key turning."
— from "The Girl with Two Skins" by Catherynne M. Valente

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