Self-organisation and evolution of social systems Book

22 short stories have styles from straight to goofy. Among humor twists, life truths, and duds, you may like more than my four * starred favorites, still the best, happy celebrations of how strong females can change their worlds, if not ours, so on re-reading, I re-rated the whole book up for them.
The Girl's Guide to Defeating the Dark Lord.

First publication by novice Cassandra Claire (aka Clare, City of Bones) is the hilarious journal "Girl's Guide" of a princess who rescues herself (and joins the Dark Lord aka Simon) "maybe it would help if your men had more cheerful uniforms" maybe pink minions p102. X-rating is for uncomfortable bits that get pinched in chain mail armor on naked female skin in Selina Rosen's "I Look Good", Helgar solves cold hard tiny top and loincloth issues that complicate with age "two cannon balls fighting over the same" paunch p241. "You didn't get to be an old minion unless you were also a smart minion" p202.

Lesley McBain's McDiarmid sisters, brawny fighter Deirdre, cunning boyish lock-picker Fiona, and lusciously lovely singer middle Maeve, rescue their brother's beloved Raina before the dolt himself, set to hang by Raina's handsome cousin prince, then proclaim in unison "A Woman's Armor" "is anything she wants it to be" p246. Jodie Nye's "Defender of the Small" is Dawna Keen-Eyed, sell-sword tired from defending the land, hopes for peace "breathing country air full of the smells of new-cut hay, wood smoke, and pig poop" p345 but cats stoned and persecuted in Cabbage Town hire her for protection from vicious villagers showing her "the common courtesy that I thought humans owed to one another" p362.

Alphabetically by author:
* Favorites

Bailey, Robin - Princess Injera Vs the Spanakopita of Doom
Castaway Ethiopian pirate sent for box by dashing Greek Gyro (yee-row) with magic whip.

* Claire aka Clare, Cassandra - The Girl's Guide to Defeating the Dark Lord
Narrator makes best of kidnap

Coats, Yvonne - She Stuffs to Conquer
Slender tavern narrator describes her inherited large set of pink possessed armor.

Flint, Eric - The Truth About the Gotterdammerung
Viking incites Odin and fellow gods to revenge Loki's death on Christian god.

Frankos, Laura - A Late Symmer Night's Battle
Shakespeare riff, fairy and name-drops, otherwise hohum.

Friesner, Esther - Giants in the Earth
Tirzah, concubine to psalmist King David, expert slingshot, wants more.

Hemry, John - Mightier than the Sword
Mini-spirit muse Calliope advises Suzanne, get armor, flourish pen to frighten bandits

Hines, Jim - Over the Hill
Old guardswomen show young Lissa how they rescue grandson Jacob from bandits.

Lee, J. Ardian - Battle Ready
Could be standard student issue? Sergeant Peter tests Texan Private Daryl Deal's new battle bra's defenses.

Martindale, Lee - Combat Shopping
If Horatia the Heroic had to replace armor from contemporary ladies-wear mind-sets.

* McBain, Lesley - A Woman's Armour
is anything she pleases prove village McDiarmid maidens Dierdre, Maeve and Fiona when rescuing brother Ian from noose and castle dungeon.

Moen, DS - A Sword Called Rhonda
Narrator Karma, after the Collapse in California tries to release non-stop whiny like-y'know shopper spirit from her sword

* Nye, Jodie - Defender of the Small
Sadly true. Dawna, heading home from the wars, stops in Cabbage Town, where cats are friendlier than humans.

Piziks, Steven - Smoke and Mirrors
Dagmar warns brother talismonger not to risk his soul in spell, then blackmailed to find gorgon.

* Rosen, Selina - I Look Good
Funny twist. Narrator Helgar, sagging 38, displaced second to evil sorcerer Ikious, finds chain mail bra achingly cold.

Shaffer, Catherine - The Gypsy Queen
Cross-dresser Lorayne-Loris likes Coedric and women, chases sister Esmeralda and double-crosser Guano to G'morra wedding chapel. Predictable end.

Spencer, Wen - Rituals for a New God
Everyday tools battle supernatural. Sculptor Madeline answers Mac Pierson's brandy BBQ steak prayer offering to heal wife, fights monster.

Stirling, Jan - Branded
Magician Feric foils bad prince who wants to coward-brand Captain Iron-Breast Avia and sweety Teri.

Turner, Michael - Psyched Up
Good trick. Narrator net porn boob-job fools ugly protected by spell in single combat.

Turtledove, Harry - Of Mice and Chicks
Brainy Georgia and brawny too-friendly cousin Lani ride war bunnies to raise money for bunny ranch, in service to Baron whose son Curls is handsome beef and jerky too.

Underwood, Laura - Brunhilde's Bra
Valkyrie bra shrinks to fit Gerta.

Wentworth, KD - Hallah Iron-Thighs and the Hall of the Puppet King
Narrator and pal Gerta hired during annual bandit seaside holiday to conduct home brat with betrothed, shape-shifter plump Abbysmina, and incompetent magician Merval.

Typo
p185 devote - devout, devoted