Short Story Collection: Emperor, Swords, Pentacles

Introduction
"Emperor, Swords, Pentacles" is a collection of short stories written by Phyllis Gotlieb, released in 1978. It combines ten speculative stories under the styles of emperor, swords, and pentacles, referencing the stereotypical cards and meaning from the Tarot deck. Each story reflects profound human issues and emotions in a science fiction or fantasy setting.

The Emperor
The first set of stories in this collection revolves around the theme of the emperor. The emperor frequently represents authority, power, and control, which are echoed in the various narratives.

1. "The Prison House of the Mind": This story is embeded in a world where individuals have the capability to interact telepathically however are governed by an overbearing routine that penalizes unapproved use of this capability. The lead character, Earlene, challenges this system and sets out to release her fellow telepaths from their psychological jails.

2. "She Walks in Fear and Loathing": In this tale, Gotlieb presents us to a world where ladies hold enormous power and are considered emperors. Men, on the other hand, are dealt with as subservient animals. The lead character, a guy named Ron, should browse his method through a female-dominated world and concerns question the societal standards.

3. "Earth Sonata, Moon Aria": A woman named Marian is forced to marry an alien ruler, the emperor, as part of a peace treaty between Earth and an alien civilization. As she adapts to her brand-new life and deals with homesickness, she discovers a dangerous secret about the alien emperor and plans to overthrow him to save her house planet.

Swords
The second set of stories incorporate the theme of swords, signifying both dispute and power battle. These stories focus on the martial and violent aspects of life while exploring the effects of such actions.

4. "Son of Light": Set in a dystopian future, this story has to do with a group of genetically engineered superhumans called the Keepers who are charged with safeguarding mankind. However, their commander ends up being disillusioned with their function and questions the ethics behind their creation and objective.

5. "To Free the Future from today": In a fantastical world, wizards exist alongside people and animals. The king's wizard, Baladron, decides to develop an instrument of huge power - a captivated sword - efficient in altering the course of history. As he deals with the responsibility of possessing such power, Baladron must choose the appropriate course to take and whether to utilize it for good or evil.

Pentacles
The 3rd and final set of stories concentrates on the theme of pentacles, symbolic of the material world and the consequences of actions taken in pursuit of wealth, security, and power.

6. "No Imitation House": Jan, a chemist in a passing away Earth, creates a solution that can quickly build unbelievable structures. However, as Jan discovers the tremendous power and potential risks of this creation, he should face his own morality and make a decision that might figure out the fate of humanity.

7. "A Trifle?": A story about the greed and callous ambition of a female called Jill, who wed into a stylish household. Jill controls her way through the family, striving for wealth and eminence at any cost.

8. "Poor Little Saturday": Living in a world where machines do everything and mankind has ended up being lazy, Alan risks his comfortable lifestyle to look for a new dimension of experience - the dimension of labor and craftsmanship.

9. "All the Treasures of the Earth": In a world where huge pests have taken control of the Earth, human survivors form cyclist gangs to hunt for valuable artifacts. Joel faces the loss of individual worths when he scavenges for loot and interests in the wreckage of civilization.

10. "Capturing the Slaver": In the far future, humans are kept as slaves by an alien race called the Larkandians. A female human servant, Katini, must persuade her unwilling fellow servants to eliminate for their freedom.

Overall, "Emperor, Swords, Pentacles" offers an abundant variety of stories, touching upon a series of severe problems through science fiction and fantasy lenses. Phyllis Gotlieb creates unique worlds for her readers to explore, using the Tarot-inspired styles to trigger self-questioning and broaden the imagination.