The Beautiful Biting Machine
A short story.
The Nightfair is a valley five miles long and four miles wide. It is only one of many attractions on this world, this pleasure planet. Qire is the owner of Malvanda's Mansion, a pavilion located within The Nightfair. Qire's pamphlets describe Malvanda as "The Night-Blooming Bella Donna of Eternal Gothic Fantasy." Through her unique capabilities, Malvanda is able to satisfy the different appetites of Qire's customers, and of his valued employee Beldeck.
Tanith Lee
Tanith Lee (1947-2015) was a British writer of science fiction, horror and fantasy. She was the author of over 90 novels and 300 short stories, a children's picture book (Animal Castle), and many poems. She also wrote two episodes of BBC science fiction series Blake's 7. She was the first woman to win the British Fantasy Award best novel award (also known as the August Derleth Award), for her book Death's Master (1980).
She also wrote under the pseudonym Esther Garber.