Book shelf: for the woman traveler.

Ulysses Press introduced a series of books especially for female travelers. Virago Woman's Travel Guides offer maps and tourist information plus intelligent discussions of practicalities (when to go, regulations, the cost of living), accommodations, restaurants, shopping and entertainment, but they add to the usual travel and cultural information a valuable perspective for women.

For example, the Paris guide's language section has categories labeled "when pestered" and "emergency situations." Some of the translations included here are how to tell someone to leave you alone in no uncertain terms (Fichez-moi la paix!) and that reliable old standard for discouraging unwanted company, I'm waiting for my husband (Jattends mon mari). There also are useful insights into local customs, such as, "A woman drinking a cup of coffee or lunching alone in Paris is totally unremarkable." The books include a section describing the atmosphere for businesswomen in each city and advice on traveling with children'

Volumes on Rome and New York also are available; editions on San Francisco, London and Amsterdam are expected in the spling. The paperbaek guides cost $13.95 each.