Our Faces, Radiant Sisters, Our Faces Full of Light!

by Kameron Hurley

Original Fiction, Short Story

On International Women’s Day, several of the best writers in SF/F today reveal new stories inspired by the phrase “Nevertheless, she persisted”, raising their voice in response to a phrase originally meant to silence.

The stories publish on Tor.com all throughout the day of March 8th.

Genres: Fantasy, Short Stories, Feminism, Fiction, Science Fiction, High Fantasy, Adult

5 pages, ebook

First published March 8, 2017

About the author

Kameron Hurley is the author of the upcoming science ficition thriller These Savage Stars (2026), The Light Brigade, and The Stars are Legion, as well as the award-winning God’s War Trilogy and The Worldbreaker Saga. Hurley has won the Hugo Award, Locus Award, Kitschy Award, and Sydney J. Bounds Award for Best Newcomer. She was a finalist for the Arthur C. Clarke Award, the Nebula Award, and the Gemmell Morningstar Award. Her short fiction has appeared in Popular Science Magazine, Lightspeed and numerous anthologies, and appears in two collections: Future Artifacts and Meet Me in the Future. Hurley has also written for The Atlantic, Writers Digest, Entertainment Weekly, The Village Voice, LA Weekly, Bitch Magazine, and Locus Magazine. Her most popular essays, including the viral hit "We Have Always Fought" are collected in The Geek Feminist Revolution. She posts regularly at KameronHurley.com. Get a short story from Kameron each month via: patreon.com/kameronhurley

Reviews

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Tor short story (free online here) is another of the "Nevertheless, She Persisted" set of flash fiction published March 8, 2017 on Tor.com. Review first posted on Fantasy Literature:

Women are discouraged from fighting the giant monsters in the mountains that threaten to overwhelm their city. Moira’s own grandmother died trying. But Moira knows that she has to try, despite the life-threatening danger.

We all fight monsters, she knew. There was no shame in losing.

The title, interestingly, is based on “Your Faces, O My Sisters! Your Faces Filled of Light!,” a 1976 post-apocalyptic short story by James Tiptree, Jr.

A moving (if very brief) story of bravery against all odds.

[karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

One less monster to take the city, one less woman to defend it.

more excellent work by tor! this is a linked-theme story project where eleven authors took the now-immortalized sentences regarding elizabeth warren’s senate-floor bouncing: She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted and each structured an all-new story around them. the stories themselves are really short, so i’m not going to write proper reviews, but you should definitely check them out, and i’ve even left a load of links at the bottom to make it really easy for you. BOOM!

read more about the project here:

http://www.tor.com/2017/03/06/neverth...

links:

Our Faces, Radiant Sisters, Our Faces Full of Light! by Kameron Hurley

God Product by Alyssa Wong

Alchemy by Carrie Vaughn

Persephone by Seanan McGuire

Margot and Rosalind by Charlie Jane Anders

Astronaut by Maria Dahvana Headley

More than Nothing by Nisi Shawl

The Last of the Minotaur Wives by Brooke Bolander

The Jump Rope Rhyme by Jo Walton

Anabasis by Amal El-Mohtar

The Ordinary Woman and the Unquiet Emperor by Catherynne M. Valente

[Meagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

8/19/2020
This is my third time reading it and it still as good as the first time! I absolutely love it! I even have a new theory after this reading 😊. I will probably continue to reread this forever.

6/29/19
The reference to James Tiptree's short story is fucking brilliant. 😭😭 Tiptree is one of my faves. This was such a powerful story contained in so few pages! I thought Tiptree's story was about passing the torch and it seems in this story the women do just that; they pick up the torch and continue fighting 😭😭. This was fucking brilliant.

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another one of the short stories posted on tor.com for International Women's Day under the motto "Nevertheless, she persisted". You'll find the story *here* .

The monsters rose from their beds, already armored and bristling for another attack on the city below. They came to extinguish light, and hope. She was here to remind them they wouldn’t do it unchallenged.

"persist" is the great motto of this wonderful story that, in my opinion, is one of the best this year.
It's about sacrifice, courage, doing what needs to be done no matter the outcome or even especially when you already know there's only so much you can do. A very powerful and important message indeed, especially combined with the description of the protagonist's world that on one hand worships the warrior women while also not understanding that someone has to fight the monsters.

[Jess ❈Harbinger of Blood-Soaked Rainbows❈ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favorite of the "nevertheless" stories published on tor. Without a doubt. Kameron Hurley is a master with words. She knows how to create them, and make them burn, and make them linger long after the story is finished.

The monsters rose from their beds, already armored and bristling for another attack on the city below. They came to extinguish light, and hope. She was here to remind them they wouldn’t do it unchallenged.

Moira is one of a race of warrior females who have taken it upon themselves to rid their world and city of the monsters who live in the caves, who terrorize their kin, and who have slain all of Moira's ancestors. Despite impossible odds, Moira climbs the mountain alone, facing adversity, animals, weather, injuries, and fate. She stares into the faces of the terrifying beasts and gives them the all the fight she has left.


This one earned the coveted 5 stars most short stories cannot hope to receive from me by being something I won't forget and for being, in my opinion, the story which best captures the essence of the phrase, "Nevertheless, she persisted." Bravo Ms. Hurley.

This is the eighth story I read in the "Nevertheless, she persisted" project for International Women's Day of tor.com.

[Ginger · Rating 5 out of 5]

"We all fight monsters, she knew. There was no shame in losing."

A lovely shorty for a lovely project.

[C. (Comment, never msg). · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Our Faces, Radiant Sisters, Our Faces Full Of Light!”, a tiny story contributed to a 2017, Tor.com feminist initiative, introduces me to Kameron Hurley. A winner of so many literary awards, she must be successfully published in this day & age of writers getting their own work printed. I can seldom get invested in this medium, which does not grant authors the space to exercise their best work. Two pages only comprise for most writers an ambiguous scene, with fleeting information filling us in along the way.

They might utilize their title to infuse additional meaning. However, if a reference is not mainstream, I am annoyed to not be in the know. Authors may incorporate their favourite connections but research should not be necessary to glean what a story means. I did not see the citation about “Racoona Sheldon” the first time I read this high octane scene, a science fiction authoress named Alice Bradley Sheldon with a similar story title. A reread did not alter my original reaction, which is to give 3 stars for a few reasons. My grade might have been 2 stars for the criticisms I have that surely must be glaring to most readers.

A village has for ages endured mountaintop monsters. A villager woman kills one daily but also dies. I assume the monsters cannot breed and that dwindling them is the goal. Instead of sacrificing a life to peg off one monster at a time, an organized offensive campaign would be eminently more effective! Additionally, an organized group attack should result in few lives sacrificed. I love the bravery of this brief tale but do not find it intelligently or logically approached. However, I certainly honour with 3 stars and admire Kameron’s heart, sensitivity, originality, and her emotional images of powerful, radiant women.

[Phoenix2 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Our Faces, Radiant Sisters, Our Faces Full of Light! is a strong short story, part of the Nevertheless, She Persisted. The story was well constructed, but it needed more time to explain the whole monster plot.

[Soph Barker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Celebrating outspoken women.

[Igrowastreesgrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slightly empowering short.

[Rebecca Crunden]

The monsters rose from their beds, already armored and bristling for another attack on the city below. They came to extinguish light, and hope. She was here to remind them they wouldn’t do it unchallenged.

Another great short, very evocative prose.

[Sheereen · Rating 4 out of 5]

this short story invented feminism

[nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Someone had to hold back the monsters.

i felt this one deep in my chest. empowering and sad at the same time

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted.

Words that sound so chilling, yet were spoken on the US Senate floor February 7, 2017 and instantly became a battle cry (and meme and tweet inspiration) for women feeling the clock moving backward in the Trump era.

In celebration of International Women's Day on March 8, Tor publishing company posted online a collection of flash fiction written by 11 top female science fiction/fantasy writers with those three lines as their inspiration.

All the stories are worth reading (and of course at 2-3 pages each, why not?) but a few stood out to me:

"Astronaut" by Maria Dahvana Headley: This was my favorite probably because I've always been interested in the subject matter of this story and the way she wrote it was just brilliant.

"The Ordinary Woman and the Unquiet Emperor" by Catherynne M. Valente: Whew! Really powerful.

"The Last of the Minotaur Wives" by Brooke Bolander: Heartbreaking with a hopeful ending.

[K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's Women's History Month in the U.S. (and UK and Australia, apparently). Elizabeth Warren's recent exit from the primary race for the 2020 elections made this an appealing tribute to her campaign work. All of the stories contained within the loose collection are based on the quote adopted by many feminist movements: "nevertheless, she persisted" (spoken by good ol' Moscow Mitch when Warren justifiably objected to Sessions' appointment as U.S. Attorney General).

This one is short and powerful and lacks detail in a way that can contribute to some serious metaphorical comparisons to modern day life.

They fell together, she and the monster, gazing into one another’s ruined faces.

One less monster to take the city, one less woman to defend it.

[Alex Sarll]

"She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted." Even by the lowered standards of 2017, it was a particularly chilling line. Here it becomes the grit in oysters: 11 very short International Women's Day stories by female fantasy and SF writers about the fight against monsters or tyrant kings, the better or worse times ahead. Despite other contributions coming from some of my favourites (Cat Valente, Charlie Jane Anders), my favourite remains Jo Walton's skipping rhyme. Here's hoping the line really does end up that little and disregarded a piece of history.

[L J · Rating 3 out of 5]

These stories ranged from 5* to 1* for me and I reviewed each separately on its page. Even the ones I didn't like were well written. Since they are very short and are posted on Tor I suggest trying them. You could check the reviews for each story before reading. With 11 stories from 11 different authors you might find some you love.

Merged review:

very short story with good world building, character and plot - some might find the ending sad but to me it is hopeful because the message I get is strong women will persist

[Danyel · Rating 4 out of 5]

For International Women's Day some science fiction authors wrote stories inspired by the phrase “She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted." This story was my favourite yet. Moira, continues the fight of her foremothers against the monsters and the gathering darkness. The short story ends as follows: "The women pressed their hands to the words there until the only script that remained visible of the epigraph on Moira’s statue was a single word: “persist.” Just delightful.

[Netanella · Rating 4 out of 5]

International Women's Day was celebrated by Tor.com with a flash fiction writing contest from women of the science fiction and fantasy genres. Their prompt, the following lines: "She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted." This story, about a warrior woman named Moira who sacrifices her life against the mountainous monsters and the impending darkness that has plagued her people for generations, is one of the best I've read so far. Very well done.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some intriguing short stories. Nothing particularly bad or particularly incredible.

[E.A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous.

[Silvana · Rating 3 out of 5]

An evocative story about female resistance. Too short, but at least there are more of these from the author and also others in the Tor.com's International Women's Day short story collection.

[Quỳnh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Một trong 11 truyện ngắn tham gia sự kiện chúc mừng 8/3 của Tor. Tất cả đều do cây bút nữ viết, có nhân vật chính là nữ, và lấy cảm hứng từ 3 câu "She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted." (Cô đã được cảnh báo. Cô đã được giải thích. Tuy vậy, cô vẫn dấn thân." Các truyện này đều quá ngắn (hoàn toàn có thể đọc xong trong 5p) để giới thiệu mà không spoil mất nội dung.

"Our Faces, Radiant Sisters, Our Faces Full of Light!" thuộc thể loại fantasy với phép thuật, pháp sư và quái vật,... Mình không đánh giá cao truyện này vì cốt truyện quá tuyến tính, còn văn phong không có gì đặc sắc. Hành động đơn thân độc mã chiến đấu của nhân vật chính có vẻ rất anh dũng, nhưng không hợp lý về mặt chiến thuật trong một cuộc chiến dài kỳ. Thành ra, mình thấy truyện hơi sáo và giáo điều.

[Jelka · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5*

[Cass · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5

[Lance · Rating 3 out of 5]

"We all fight monsters, she knew. There was no shame in losing."

Kameron Hurley is one of my favourite authors of all time. She is a passionate feminist who deserves a lot more recognition for her intersectional representation and the uncomfortable themes she tackles which are both empowering and a call to action. I a literary culture where watered down, safe, depictions of women are praised as "strong feminist characters" just because they shoot a bow and arrow a few times or have a magical power no but no strength of will to go with it, writers like Kameron Hurley help me keep my sanity. Her portrayals of women are so immensely empowering because they are so fundamentally routed in what it feels like to inhabit a body, but without any limits or constraints on the female mind.
This short story, another cool and free-to-access project by Tor, packs an impressive generalist message for such a short short. Superficially, it is a story about a lone woman who goes out to fight the monsters that threaten civilisation, inspired but not deterred by the deaths of all the women who have gone before her. "When she pulled herself up onto the great ledge at the top, she saw what remained of her sisters: wizened, mummified visages, scattered bones, discarded shoes, two broken crystal staves. She limped through the detritus of her kin and into the cave where the monsters lay." This story celebrates what some may see as failure, for there are still many monsters remaining, as a necessary and crucial stage of the fight. As long as women are still fighting the monsters, even though they lose, they are showing that the fight is possible and that it might one day be won. Will be won. In many ways more inspirational than the US Senator's warning that inspired this story and and others in the collection, Hurley really captures the meaning of "Nevertheless, she persisted."
I really hope some day that stories like this are taught in schools. When I studied female authors, like Carol Ann Duffy's hopeless and ruined Miss Haversham, there was always a sense that women's suffering was inevitable, pointless, and final. I don't get that here at all. I think we need more fiction like this, calls for action not sympathy.

[Shadow the Hedgehog · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 2017, Tor created a short story event inspired by the words of Elizabeth Warren: She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted.

You can read about the event and find all the short stories to read for free here: https://www.tor.com/2017/03/06/nevert...

Having read one micro short story from this collection, it was high time I read the rest.

This story features Moira, a brave woman who lives in what is apparently an all-woman city, gated off to protect it from the monsters that dwell in the darkness of the mountainside. Each generation, another woman goes to fight on behalf of the city's protection. Each time she gives her life while fighting the monsters. This time it is Moira's turn to fight. Despite the pleas of the women to stay - it's too dangerous, they say - Moira carries her crystal staff up the mountain to fight anyway. Along the way she finds the mummified and scattered remains of her female kin who died before her. 

We all fight monsters, she knew. There was no shame in losing. 

I will admit, I had to read this one twice for the brilliance of it to hit me. The first time I read it, it struck me as being much too short and I found myself asking questions that the story did not answer, such as wondering about the monsters. I see now that the story wasn't about those questions. The story functions as a poignant reminder that, even though the struggle is painful, we cannot give up. 

[Marco · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is the work of many famous sci-fi and fantasy female authors celebrating international woman day, with short work of fiction. The story are all inspired by the following 3 short phrases: She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted. Three short lines, fired over social media in response to questions of why Senator Elizabeth Warren was silenced on the floor of the United States Senate on February 7th, 2017, for daring to read aloud the words of Coretta Scott King. As this message was transmitted across the globe, it has become a galvanizing cry for people of all genders in recognition of the struggles that women have faced throughout history.
Each author offers her unique interpretation. While the results are uneven, some are noteworthy. I particularly enjoyed Seanan McGuire's Persephone (that also touches themes of the ills of high income inequalities), Alyssa Wong's God product (thematically less fitting than the others), and Maria Dahvana Headley's Astronaut (based on a real history).

[Divine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is just the second flash fiction of the Nevertheless, she persisted tag originally meant to celebrate International Women's Day. Although I'm long overdue starting these series I can't help but feel awe and gratitude for these words. This is the kind of relevant metaphor induced stories I need in my life right now. And this one just pricked my heart in all the right spots huhuhuh.
And wait, what. I just realized that Hurley was also the author of one of my all time fave short story Elephants and Corpses huhuhuhu w/c is also amazing btw. PLEASE READ IT

[Mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

"We all fight monsters, she knew. There was no shame in losing."