The Tangled Strings of the Marionettes

In this sequel to Castro's Hugo and Nebula Nominee "The Funeral March of the Marionettes," journalist Paul Royko travels to the planet Vlhan, home of a mysterious alien ritual where a hundred thousand natives (and an increasing number of humans) annually dance themselves to death. His assignment: to interview this year's human dancer, Shalakan. The surprise: she's not the real story...