"My sister is not going to be into something so sepulchral"

December 21, 2021 8:22 AM

"I have my own personal banshee. Most mornings, usually during my second bowl of cereal, she lets out a soul-melting wail to give me a heads-up on my impending death that day. I used to get worried, but it’s been going on awhile. And I’m still here." "Keening" by Josh Denslow is a short fantasy story in which it is frustrating and edifying to have a banshee as a constant companion.

Thanks to the folks in the John Wiswell kaffeeklatsch at Worldcon this past weekend who recommended this!

posted by brainwane (6 comments total)

OMG.
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:31 AM on December 21, 2021 [2 favorites]

Loved this. The scales falling from the narrator's eyes, the hope of a more collaborative future, the banshee desperately wanting to save the life of the only person who treats her with kindness--great stuff.

Super fun, thanks for sharing.
posted by lesser weasel at 4:58 PM on December 21, 2021 [2 favorites]

Oh, that was fucking lovely! Thank you once again, brainwane. Adore your posts.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 5:35 PM on December 21, 2021 [3 favorites]

Really enjoyed this story, thank you for posting it! I think many people have a banshee that they ignore.
posted by twelve cent archie at 7:38 PM on December 21, 2021 [1 favorite]

Superb work again, brainwane
posted by DeepSeaHaggis at 12:08 AM on December 22, 2021 [1 favorite]

Believe the hype, this is the world's best wipe.
posted by Literaryhero at 6:26 PM on December 22, 2021 [1 favorite]