"The form is one page long. No back. Just a front."
January 13, 2025 10:46 AM Subscribe
"Six People to Revise You" by J.R. Dawson, a short and moving science fiction story published January 2025 in Uncanny Magazine (available in text and audio), begins:
A parent or guardian
Someone who has known you since childhood
A mentor or teacher
An employer or coworker
A spouse, partner, or close intimate friend
Someone who does not consider themself a loved one
Thank you - that was a lovely read.
posted by sedimentary_deer at 11:25 AM on January 13 [1 favorite]
posted by sedimentary_deer at 11:25 AM on January 13 [1 favorite]
Lovely story.
Also, I never heard "auncle" - is that a thing? It seems nice.
posted by Glinn at 11:45 AM on January 13 [2 favorites]
Also, I never heard "auncle" - is that a thing? It seems nice.
posted by Glinn at 11:45 AM on January 13 [2 favorites]
Who would be my six people?
I can think of two out of the six. Parents, guardians, childhood friends--gone. No more employer or coworkers. I could plug a friend into either mentor or close friend, but what do I do with the empty spot? The covid year wound up being a crevasse for so many.
posted by BlueHorse at 12:05 PM on January 13 [1 favorite]
I can think of two out of the six. Parents, guardians, childhood friends--gone. No more employer or coworkers. I could plug a friend into either mentor or close friend, but what do I do with the empty spot? The covid year wound up being a crevasse for so many.
posted by BlueHorse at 12:05 PM on January 13 [1 favorite]
Ugh. The story is good, the whole idea of revisions is horrible!
posted by Omnomnom at 12:06 PM on January 13 [3 favorites]
posted by Omnomnom at 12:06 PM on January 13 [3 favorites]
Wow, that was a powerful 4622 words! Thank you for posting.
posted by Lynsey at 12:38 PM on January 13 [1 favorite]
posted by Lynsey at 12:38 PM on January 13 [1 favorite]
Excellent read, thank you.
posted by sibboleth at 12:44 PM on January 13 [1 favorite]
posted by sibboleth at 12:44 PM on January 13 [1 favorite]
As I sit here doing my end of year reviews for my team, I think it would be rather lovely if we made it a practice to gather anonymous "you've awesome because" feedback for people and give it to them as a gift.
posted by drewbage1847 at 12:57 PM on January 13 [2 favorites]
posted by drewbage1847 at 12:57 PM on January 13 [2 favorites]
I'd like to be revised, please. I just get so tired of the dissonance between me and what I'm supposed to be for other people. I realize that's not the moral I'm supposed to take from this, but it's exhausting not to be, and the things people appreciate about me somehow never seem to make up for what's missing.
posted by jenfullmoon at 1:07 PM on January 13 [2 favorites]
posted by jenfullmoon at 1:07 PM on January 13 [2 favorites]
Enjoyed this, thank you for posting.
posted by Riverine at 1:15 PM on January 13 [1 favorite]
posted by Riverine at 1:15 PM on January 13 [1 favorite]
Thanks for posting. I can think of too many Carolines and not enough Sadies.
posted by winesong at 1:33 PM on January 13 [2 favorites]
posted by winesong at 1:33 PM on January 13 [2 favorites]
Lovely (sniff sniff), if it hits a bit close in many ways. The problem with revising anything is it takes effort, and sometimes the "new" thing is not as good as the thing that once was.
posted by maxwelton at 2:05 PM on January 13
posted by maxwelton at 2:05 PM on January 13
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posted by Well I never at 11:03 AM on January 13 [4 favorites]