Motherlines carries on Alldera's story.

Fleeing east through the desert, she discovers two new civilizations, both entirely female. The Riding Women, the result of a prewar genetic experiment, reproduce through parthenogenesis and have developed a sophisticated and intriguing nomad culture which revolves around their horses. In contrast, the Free Ferns, former slaves who have escaped from the Holdfast, live in a culture which mirrors the patriarchal society they fled.

Although Charnas's Riding Women's society is fascinating, the author carefully avoids the temptation to make it in any sense Utopian. Rather, Charnas studies both her women's cultures with an objective eye, carefully pointing out strengths and weaknesses. This makes for a thoughtful but at times somewhat slow-moving book. Motherlines is better written than is Walk to the End of the World, but lacks some of the earlier novel's power. The book has stirred up less controversy than...