Two emissaries from the galactic equivalent of the UN visit an asteroid mining colony inhabited by religiously conservative quasi-Muslims. The conflict in this book centers on a young girl from this society, women rights in Islam, and the potentially greater freedom she might have in the broader galactic society (Russ addresses feminist issues in most of her writing). Both the female emissary and the quasi-Muslim society are treated with sympathy, with the male emissary being the designated asker of stupid questions and mouthier of sexist platitudes.
[Thanks to Steve T. for the Synopsis]