"Covenant" is a 2014

science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel unive ...

short story by

Elizabeth Bear Sarah Bear Elizabeth Wishnevsky (born September 22, 1971) is an American author who works primarily in speculative fiction genres, writing under the name Elizabeth Bear. She won the 2005 John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer, the 2008 Hugo A ...

. It was first published in the anthology ''Hieroglyph''.

Synopsis

A former

serial killer A serial killer is typically a person who murders three or more persons,A * * * * with the murders taking place over more than a month and including a significant period of time between them. While most authorities set a threshold of three ...

— the beneficiary of "rightminding", a process that cures

psychopathy Psychopathy, sometimes considered synonymous with sociopathy, is characterized by persistent Anti-social behaviour, antisocial behavior, impaired empathy and remorse, and Boldness, bold, Disinhibition, disinhibited, and Egotism, egotistical B ...

by forcibly bestowing

empathy Empathy is the capacity to understand or feel what another person is experiencing from within their frame of reference, that is, the capacity to place oneself in another's position. Definitions of empathy encompass a broad range of social, co ...

— finds herself in a very dangerous situation.

Reception

"Covenant" was a finalist for the 2015

Locus Award for Best Short Story The Locus Award for Best Short Story is one of a series of Locus Awards given every year by ''Locus Magazine''. Awards presented in a given year are for works published in the previous calendar year. Originally known as the Locus Award for Best Sho ...

.The Winners Of The 2015 Locus Awards Have Been Announced!
by Andrew Liptak, at

Io9 ''io9'' is part of Gizmodo media since 2015, and it began as blog launched in 2008 by Gawker Media. The site initially focused on the subjects of science fiction, fantasy, futurism, science, technology and related areas but over the years has ...

; published June 27, 2015; retrieved October 31, 2017

SF Signal ''SF Signal'' was a science fiction blog and fanzine published from 2003 to 2016. The site was launched by John DeNardo and JP Frantz and focused on writings, events, and other topics focusing on the genres of science fiction, fantasy, and other ...

considered it to be 'suspenseful' and 'fairly riveting', with '(a)n interesting premise'.THE YEAR’S BEST SCIENCE FICTION #32 Edited by Gardner Dozois is This Year’s Definitive Go-To Volume for Science Fiction Literature
by John DeNardo, at ''

''; published September 17, 2015; retrieved October 31, 2017

Daniel Keys Moran Daniel Keys Moran (born November 30, 1962), also known by his initials DKM, is an American computer programmer and science fiction writer. Biography Moran was born in Los Angeles to Richard Joseph Moran and Marilynn Joyce Moran. He has three ...

stated that the story made him "wish ewere a member of SFWA, so ecould vote

or it Or or OR may refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television * "O.R.", a 1974 episode of M*A*S*H * Or (My Treasure), a 2004 movie from Israel (''Or'' means "light" in Hebrew) Music * ''Or'' (album), a 2002 album by Golden Boy with Miss ...

on the Nebulas."Just read "Covenant" by +Elizabeth Bear over on Slate.
by

, at

Google+ Google LLC () is an American Multinational corporation, multinational technology company focusing on Search Engine, search engine technology, online advertising, cloud computing, software, computer software, quantum computing, e-commerce, ar ...

; published September 16, 2014; retrieved October 31, 2017

References

External links

Text of the story
at ''

Slate Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism. It is the finest grained foliated metamorphic rock. ...

'' 2014 short stories Science fiction short stories Works by Elizabeth Bear {{2010s-sf-story-stub