The story has multiple themes, being set in a future where the North American Alliance, which is a part of the Atlantic Federation, is dependent on the New Islamic States represented by the Council of Mukhtars and Arabic is the official language, and where the East Coast of the North American Alliance needs dikes for protection from the rising waters. In addition, the protagonist is deeply interested in the possibility of terraforming Venus. Set well before her Venus series but with a character mentioned there (See 1986, 1988, 2000, and 2001 Sargent).\
}, year = {2004}, journal = {Microcosms}, pages = {40-87}, month = {01/2004}, publisher = {DAW Books}, address = {New York}, isbn = {978-0-7564-0171-9 }, note = {Rpt. in her Masters of Science Fiction (Lakewood, CO: Centipede Press, 2025), 371-416 with {\textquotedblleft}Afterword to {\textquoteleft}Venus Flowers at Night{\textquoteright}{\textquotedblright} on 415-416. 978-1-61347-389-4
}, }