This anthology captures the excitement of contemporary women's fiction in Malayalam by presenting a cross-section of the finest short-stories by women writers published in the language over the last two decades in very readable translations. The selection has been done carefully, keeping in view the aesthetic and stylistic quality of the stories as well as their narrative ability to portray women's experiences and attitudes to life in general. They are also diverse in the ways in which they articulate their vision of the world: humorous and tragic, angry and hopeful. I recommend the collection to anyone interested in contemporary Indian fiction particularly that by women. K. Satchidanandan, Eminent Indian Writer, Translator and Critic .While all of the authors herein explore women's issues from a woman's perspective, their reaction to the Malayalam term pennezhuthu ( woman-writing') varies. Some claim to be allergic to the term, others to wear it as a badge of honour as they reveal the marks left by the sharp teeth of patriarchy'. In any case, each one addresses restrictive societal taboos in order to liberate the word, and the ten stories contained in this wonderful book challenge, uproot and subvert' our understanding of women's writing in India. Sreedevi K. Nair has done an especially great service for readers by including provocative interviews that offer context and real engagement with the world of contemporary Malayalam short fiction. Valerie Henitiuk, Director, British Centre for Literary Translation, UK .By offering an English translation of her edited collection of ten Kerala women writers, Sreedevi K. Nair has ensured their robust presence for the rapidly growing global readership in world literatures. Sneja Gunew, Professor of English and Women's Studies, University of British Columbia, Canada.The stories and interviews of the ten women writers of Kerala (edited by Sreedevi K. Nair and translated by Mary Nirmala) is wonderful reading for anyone interested in women's writing, Malayalam fiction or translation. I was moved by the truthfulness of these women writers and their courage to question the values of Kerala society. These stories, however, speak to women all over the world and we can only be grateful for this translation of Malayalam literature into English. Jane E. Wilhelm, Marie Curie Fellow, Université Sorbonne Nouvelle, Paris 3, France. About The Author Dr. Sreedevi K. Nair is Associate Professor of English in NSS College for Women, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Her doctoral and post doctoral research were in Translation Studies. In 2004, she received the Best Translator Award of Kerala State Lalit Kala Academy for her Malayalam translation of Ananda Coomaraswamy's An Introduction to Indian Art. In 2011, she won the International Translation Grant Award from the International Center for Writing and Translation (ICWT), University of California, for the English translation of the Jnanpith winning Malayalam novel Oru Desathinte Katha of S.K.Pottekkat, which she translated together with Dr. P. Radhika. She is also the recipient of the Post-doctoral Fellowship of University Grants Commission (UGC); Senior Fellowship of the Indian Council of Social Sciences Research (ICSSR); Post-doctoral Fellowship of the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR); Academic Associateship of the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Shimla and the Fellowship for Literature from the Ministry of Human Resource Development. Her major areas of interest are Translation Studies and Women's Studies. (E-mail: devisat@gmail.com)