Some Desperate Glory

May 22, 2024 9:07 AM

By Emily Tesh. World Fantasy Award winner Tesh (the Greenhollow duology of novellas) jumps from quiet fantasy to ambitious sci-fi in her raw and action-packed full-length debut.....

Publishers Weekly review:

World Fantasy Award winner Tesh (the Greenhollow duology of novellas) jumps from quiet fantasy to ambitious sci-fi in her raw and action-packed full-length debut. Raised on Gaea Station with the last of humanity, Valkyr has been indoctrinated from childhood into intense hatred of the majoda—the alien race that destroyed Earth—and thirsts for vengeance. When Kyr comes of age, however, she’s disappointed to be assigned to Nursery rather than combat, her body designated to breed future supersoldiers. Meanwhile, Kyr’s brother, Magnus, is assigned off-station to certain death. Kyr takes justice for humanity into her own hands to save Magnus—but once she’s away from Gaea Station, the principles she’s been fed her whole life are called into question. Tesh’s sweeping epic wrestles with the nature of hatred, vengeance, and radicalization. The political theme of breaking away from fascist ideology pairs beautifully with smart sci-fi worldbuilding—which encompasses shadow engine technology and time slips—and queer coming of age. This riveting adventure deserves a space on shelves alongside genre titans like Ursula K. Le Guin and Octavia Butler.

posted by lalochezia (3 comments total)

This book was a joy and packed so much into its length. I loved how our perception of Kyr changes and evolves, and how her own understanding of herself lags just a bit behind ours.

When the resets started happening, I was braced for bullshit. But I enjoyed and became invested in all of the alternative presents.

My favourite moments have to be later in the book where Kyr realises that not only had everyone in her dorm squad always seen her as an annoying preppy tyrant - they'd also all twigged to the truth behind Gaea station long ago.

Also the chief engineer playing bejeweled before the climax.
posted by Lorc at 10:21 AM on May 22 [1 favorite]

I confess I do not remember too much about this book, because the trade-off for my fast reading speed is that my recall is terrible, but I remember really loving it, and it's on my list to revisit in a few years.
posted by skycrashesdown at 9:56 AM on May 26

I enjoyed this book and appreciated what she did with the "oh, Space Nazi Cult" premise because I could see it doing for some young person what Swing Kids did for me, which was to have the "okay, I see how you could get pulled into this bullshit" realization.

I think it would be an interesting recommendation for someone who enjoyed Hunger Games, and it very much reminded me of The City in the Middle of the Night in the Chrysothemis section.

Definitely on my "who has optioned the movie/miniseries rights?" list
posted by DebetEsse at 11:14 PM on June 21 [1 favorite]