Summary:
In a world that has idealized and perfected social contracts and licenses for every potential kind of love, with some crossover, Derren and Anli meet and begin a relationship with very different expectations--despite the supposed clarity of their situation.
Discussion with Spoilers:
Anli knows Derren is nonmongomist, but that doesn't deter Anli from trying to maneuver him into a committed relationship--so much so, the story ends in tragedy, in as much as a perfect society could have a tragedy.
The best story to contrast this with would be Frederik Pohl's "Day Million." Both spend most of their time telling the story more than the standard story.
The second and perhaps primary thing to pay attention to is the narrator's voice--both of which look down their noses at those who might disagree (although Soukup's narrator assume you'd agree). Though we feel for the situation Anli put Derren into, a number will also feel for Anli. While some readers may have zero sympathy for Anli, more than a handful may feel for her attempts to get Derren into an exclusive relationship. Unlike Pohl, everyone on the planet knows someone (or is someone or has received overtures from someone) who tried to force another into a relationship the other party didn't want.
That it won a Nebula people can debate, but it is a worthy candidate. Is it a classic? Again, one might debate its merits, but if Pohl's is a classic, then surely this is, too, being more complex.
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