What do you think?
Rate this book
Also, the Cat
Even death is no match for a trio of elderly, stubborn, ever-sparring sisters, who refuse to rest in peace while their grudges live on...
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
56 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 10, 2024
About the author
Rachel Swirsky
130 books190 followersRachel Swirsky holds an MFA from the Iowa Writers Workshop and is a graduate of Clarion West. Her work has been short-listed for the Nebula, the Hugo, and the Sturgeon Award, and placed second in 2010's Million Writers Award. In addition to numerous publications in magazines and anthologies, Swirsky is the author of three short stories published as e-books, "Eros, Philia, Agape," "The Memory of Wind," and "The Monster's Million Faces." Her fiction and poetry has been collected in THROUGH THE DROWSY DARK (Aqueduct Press, 2010). A second collection, HOW THE WORLD BECAME QUIET: MYTHS OF THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE, is forthcoming from Subterranean Press.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
July 12, 2024
This short story about three elderly sisters squabbling beyond the grave is crafted with the kind of exquisite humour that only comes with a deep understanding of the human psyche. There are shades of Pratchett's witches in our three main characters, and the writing embodies a clear joy in the English language would also not be out of place in Sir Terry's books.
While the ending fell slightly short of satisfying, this story was a delight to read and one that I would recommend to many readers of all tastes.
While the ending fell slightly short of satisfying, this story was a delight to read and one that I would recommend to many readers of all tastes.
January 13, 2024
While it didn't go the way I expected or hoped, it's still a decent commentary on the animosity so often used as a shield against trauma and how setting healthy boundaries can be freeing.
It's up to each of us to break the generational cycle of abuse, and it's never too late.
Still, their own harms weren't addressed, and I'm not sure what the takeaway was meant to be, but at least it got me thinking, and that's enough for a pretty good short story for me.
It's up to each of us to break the generational cycle of abuse, and it's never too late.
Still, their own harms weren't addressed, and I'm not sure what the takeaway was meant to be, but at least it got me thinking, and that's enough for a pretty good short story for me.
January 11, 2024
What hateful characters... This story is very depressing, but saved minimally somehow by the end...
January 31, 2024
3.5 ⭐
A quick, Pratchett-like story about how expectations shape us, and the reaching for dreams long thought lost in spite of the narrative we think ourselves condemned to.
A quick, Pratchett-like story about how expectations shape us, and the reaching for dreams long thought lost in spite of the narrative we think ourselves condemned to.
January 13, 2024
Dispiriting
2.75⭐️
2.75⭐️
January 21, 2024
Three sisters who never got along well when they were alive and kicking find themselves (or their souls, rather) trapped in the same house after their death. Terry Pratchett with a touch of macabre - kind of a fun read.
Read for free on the Tor website.
Read for free on the Tor website.
January 14, 2024
3.5 for sure- some really interesting things to say about the nature family and conformity. I’d be curious to read more from this author, thanks Tor for the free fiction!!
February 24, 2024
An Odd Plot with Weird Characters
Fascinating plot with a lot of potential for a compelling story, but the ending was unresolved and flat. Good character development, and I was able to expand my vocabulary with plenty of strange, new words.
Fascinating plot with a lot of potential for a compelling story, but the ending was unresolved and flat. Good character development, and I was able to expand my vocabulary with plenty of strange, new words.
January 12, 2024
“Their exhausted progenitors had expected them to share everything from possessions to personalities. As a result, they despised sharing anything apart from heartfelt and mutual hatred”. That’s the whole short story in a nutshell.. I saved you the time wasted on it. No amount of 25 cent words like abstemious, concomitant and gimcrackery can save this story from being a dud (sorry, I mean platitudinal). 🙄
February 19, 2024
A delightfully dark bit of humour. Generational trauma and societal expectations get thrust upon women, gets internalised, and one day its what they have instead of a real personality. Don't pretend you don't know who Irene, Viola, and Rosalee are.
Also, the cat was a spooky treat that made so sad, I wished I was alive enough to cry on the outside.
The cover art is exquisite. Tor isn't a major contributor to the current cover art trends of juvenile, colourful, probably AI generated, silhouettes regardless of genre or style, but it's good to see something beautiful and linked to the story.
Also, the cat was a spooky treat that made so sad, I wished I was alive enough to cry on the outside.
The cover art is exquisite. Tor isn't a major contributor to the current cover art trends of juvenile, colourful, probably AI generated, silhouettes regardless of genre or style, but it's good to see something beautiful and linked to the story.
January 12, 2024
This piece of fiction is a bit absurdist, but it still managed to capture how delicate and fragile (and sometimes, not at all likable) people can be, while also provoking your sympathy for them, as they struggle to cope with the complexities of human nature. I would have preferred a concrete end to the story instead of leaving it open-ended and ambiguous. Without a clear resolution, the story feels incomplete and unsatisfying.
May 25, 2024
The parents of three sisters with nearly the same age required them to share possessions and personalities since young. Naturally, they hate each other and left as soon as possible. But now they are elderly, and events has bought them back to their parent's house. As the sisters die, their ghosts remain tied to the house, arguing with each other. But perhaps the ghost of a childhood cat can show them a path to leave the house that would involve them acting in a way they haven't done before.
July 5, 2024
This was a delightful little snack of a read. These three bickering, insufferable sisters were so charming in their petty ways and stubborn nature as this story was charming in its lush immersiveness.
My grandma actually stopped by my house as I was wrapping this up, so I told her the story up to where I was like school girls tell stories to each other. She laughed so much and wanted to read it for herself!
My grandma actually stopped by my house as I was wrapping this up, so I told her the story up to where I was like school girls tell stories to each other. She laughed so much and wanted to read it for herself!
January 14, 2024
It helps if you read this in the tone of a dark comedy.
January 22, 2024
This was an interesting little novelette. Not a super deep fantasy premise, more of a paranormal hook for the author to explore some themes.
February 6, 2024
It ruls
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2024
Sometimes things don’t have to mix.
Sometimes things are separate.
Read it here: https://reactormag.com/also-the-cat-r...
Sometimes things are separate.
Read it here: https://reactormag.com/also-the-cat-r...
April 1, 2024
This was incredibly fun to read.
April 5, 2024
Weird little short story. Didn't much like the three sisters, but the one's use of creative curse words was cute.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews