THE MAN WHO TOOK A BITE OUT OF HIS WIFE

In Jafek's sciento-feminist stories—nine in this first collection—social and sexual problems are exaggerately cast into a realm of conceptualism and theory. Holograms come to life; a cat belonging to Schrîdinger the physicist proves the man's theories of hyperreality more conclusively than might have been humanly desired; a word processor becomes the literal ghost in the machine; Mickey Mouse goes on a TV talk show and can't be censored. The whimsy behind all these, though, is hardly light—Jafek worries each of her stories compulsively; if you've got the point five pages in, you'll have another chance to get it at page ten, also at fifteen. The title story, a family literally cannibalizing its wife and mother, in spasms of transcendence all the while, is the messiest of all: lyricism, satire, and gluey victimization-conceit all thrown in a stewpot that crusts quickly. Heavy-handed.