Some Desperate Glory

by Emily Tesh

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

Riveting from the off, Some Desperate Glory boasts an action-packed plot and balances it with a dose of real and relentless consequences. With themes of found family and dynamic character growth, this is a rewarding read that will land with readers of Science Fiction new and old.

Instant National Bestseller and International Bestseller!

Hugo Award Winner for Best Novel!

Arthur C. Clarke Award Finalist!
Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction Finalist!

A thrillingly told queer space opera about the wreckage of war, the family you find, and who you must become when every choice is stripped from you, Some Desperate Glory is Astounding Award Winner Emily Tesh’s explosive debut novel.

"Some Desperate Glory surprised me at every turn. At once a space thriller, a tale of deprogramming, and a missive on identity and meaning, the result is a vitally refreshing addition to the SFF genre. This book has earned a permanent place on my favorites shelf."—V. E. Schwab

"Masterful, audacious storytelling. Relentless, unsentimental, a completely wild ride."—Tamsyn Muir

"This is the sort of debut novel every novelist hopes to write."—John Scalzi

"Deserves a space on shelves alongside Ursula K. Le Guin and Octavia Butler."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

National Bestseller | Sunday Times Bestseller | An Indie Next Pick | A LibraryReads Pick | a Goodreads Choice Finalist | With three starred reviews!

A Best Of Pick for The Guardian | GoodReads | Publishers Weekly | Powell's | Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Audible | Gizmodo | Book Riot | LitHub | Financial Times | Discover Sci-Fi | Locus | NPR | Library Journal

While we live, the enemy shall fear us.

Since she was born, Kyr has trained for the day she can avenge the murder of planet Earth. Raised in the bowels of Gaea Station alongside the last scraps of humanity, she readies herself to face the Wisdom, the powerful, reality-shaping weapon that gave the majoda their victory over humanity.

They are what’s left. They are what must survive. Kyr is one of the best warriors of her generation, the sword of a dead planet. When Command assigns her brother to certain death and relegates her to Nursery to bear sons until she dies trying, she knows she must take humanity's revenge into her own hands.

Alongside her brother’s brilliant but seditious friend and a lonely, captive alien, Kyr escapes from everything she’s known into a universe far more complicated than she was taught and far more wondrous than she could have imagined.

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250834997
Publisher:	Tor Publishing Group
Publication date:	04/11/2023
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	448
Sales rank:	7,661
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

EMILY TESH, winner of the Astounding Award and a Crawford Award finalist, is the author of the World Fantasy Award-winning Greenhollow Duology, which begins with the novella Silver in the Wood and concludes with Drowned Country. Some Desperate Glory is her first novel.

Editorial Reviews

★ 01/30/2023

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. Agent: Kurestin Armada, Root Literary. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

Instant National Bestseller and International Bestseller

Sunday Times Bestseller | An Indie Next Pick | A LibraryReads Pick | With three starred reviews!

A Best Of Pick for The Guardian | GoodReads | Publishers Weekly | Powell's | Gizmodo | Book Riot | LitHub | Financial Times | Discover Sci-Fi | Locus | NPR | Library Journal

"Some Desperate Glory surprised me at every turn. At once a space thriller, a tale of deprogramming, and a missive on identity and meaning, the result is a vitally refreshing addition to the SFF genre. This book has earned a permanent place on my favorites shelf."—V. E. Schwab, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

"Some Desperate Glory is honest, unflinchingly so. This book will hurt you and you will say thank you. It has everything you’d want in a queer space opera—wit and imagination and adventure, all within a brilliantly constructed world with an ‘unlikable’ and wholly irresistible lead. Reading this feels like bearing witness to something revolutionary... It will change you for the better."—Olivie Blake, New York Times bestselling author of The Atlas Six

"This is the sort of debut novel every novelist hopes to write. Spectacular from page one."—John Scalzi, New York Times bestselling author of The Kaiju Preservation Society

"Masterful, audacious storytelling. Relentless, unsentimental, a completely wild ride. I had a time. Talk about Mass Effect beating up Brave New World in a dark alley."—Tamsyn Muir, New York Times bestselling author of The Locked Tomb series

"Tesh crams in enough wild inventiveness for an entire trilogy, wrapped around an emotional core that's powerful and urgent and unmistakably real."— M. R. Carey, author of The Girl with All the Gifts

"Kyr is a revelatory hero—never have I so fervently wished the worst for someone, only to end up cheering for them... Fierce and heartbreakingly humane, this book is for everyone who loved Ender’s Game, but Ender’s Game didn’t love them back."—Shelley Parker-Chan, Sunday Times bestselling author of She Who Became the Sun

"A fantastic, engrossing space opera filled with found family and an incredible character arc as Kyr grows and learns the truth of the universe."–Library Journal, Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of 2023

"Raw and action-packed. . . . This riveting adventure deserves a space on shelves alongside genre titans like Ursula K. Le Guin and Octavia Butler."—Publishers Weekly, starred review

“A monumental journey. . . . An intriguing space opera and study of radicalization, indoctrination, and what happens when one breaks free in the most absolute way.”–Library Journal, starred review

"Bound to make waves as one of the best sf novels of 2023. Fans of She-Ra and the Princesses of Power will fall hard for this story . . . . [It's an] expansive story with an action-packed pace full of exciting battles and gut-wrenching twists."—Booklist, starred review

"Tesh writes compellingly...[blending] thrilling action with a mind-bending course in cosmic metaphysics, which keep shifting your sense of what this book is about. If you’re looking for a page-turner with fascinating ideas, then Some Desperate Glory absolutely qualifies."—The Washington Post

"What begins as classic military space opera blossoms into something far more complex and interesting. . . . The well-told story combines thrilling action with more thoughtful content, touching on such hot topics as AI, fascism and gender politics, and looks like another award winner."—The Guardian

"This brilliant, queer space opera combines smart worldbuilding with nuanced explorations of gender, fascism, racism, and more."—Buzzfeed

"A profoundly humane and brilliantly constructed space opera that will have you cheering, swearing, laughing, and ugly-crying. It's perfect."—Alix E. Harrow, New York Times bestselling author of Starling House

"This book hit me like a lightning bolt. From the destruction of Earth on the first page, to the human cult on a forgotten space station, to the indoctrinated teen soldier whose narrow worldview Tesh cracks open with pliers, this book is astoundingly good. An explosive and extraordinary story that I couldn't stop reading and will never forget."—Everina Maxwell, author of Winter's Orbit

"This book will turn you inside out and then casually remake you while you wheeze in gratitude. Unflinchingly intense, gloriously queer, and with one of the most finely-crafted and fascinating character journeys I've ever read, Some Desperate Glory is space opera at its absolute best."—Freya Marske, Sunday Times bestselling author of A Marvellous Light

"Devastatingly entertaining, horribly funny, Some Desperate Glory swoops through space and time with effortless precision, never pulling a punch or settling for an easy answer. There's nothing else like it."—A. K. Larkwood, author of The Unspoken Name

“Tesh turning her novelistic sights to space opera is an event that should make every speculative fiction reader take note: Some Desperate Glory is a masterful take on survival and revenge and what’s beyond them.”—The Chicago Review of Books

"I can't stop thinking about this novel. I wish there were a multiverse I could access where I hadn't yet listened to it just so I could experience it again. Emily Tesh's debut novel delivers a rich, terrifying vision of post-Earth humanity and a misguided hero whose redemption you can't help but root for."—Audible, featured in Best SFF of the Year So Far

“This is a spectacular space opera. It’s bold, imaginative, occasionally grim, and ultimately hopeful that individuals can change, and can make a difference.”—Locus

"Rife with rich settings and refreshingly distinct alien species, Some Desperate Glory will resonate with readers looking for messy morality and antihero redemption arcs."—BookPage

“Fans of military femme sci-fi and of queer space opera, take note. This is a book about how to pry your mind out of a fascist upbringing, and so much more. . . . Grief can be planetary in scale, too. . . . A keen observation of how catastrophe creates radicalism. In a book that is a heady mix of military space opera and sensitive character study, a girl bred for brutal combat begins to question the narratives that formed her.”—The New Scientist

"Some Desperate Glory has become one of my early favorites of the year. . . . [Kyr's] emotional journey . . . had me ugly-sobbing on the train."—LitHub

"Despite the toxic martyrdom of her upbringing, Kyr’s emotional growth is wholly earned. Emily Tesh unflinchingly plumbs black hole depths of bleakness, with a resolution that had me sobbing cathartically, ready to say goodbye."—NPR, "Books We Love" feature

"A coming-of-age space opera wherein children indoctrinated from childhood with a thirst for vengeance against an alien race are thrust into situations where they must question and unpack that learned ideology and radicalization? AND it’s a stand-alone. AND it’s a debut from a powerful new voice. AND it’s got that good good sci-fi worldbuilding. AND it's queer. Can I get a ‘HELL YEAH!’?"—Powell's, Best of 2023

"The novel . . . traces the awakening of Kyr’s conscience and her efforts to shake off the chains of a martial, heteronormative upbringing and embrace otherness. If that makes it sound dry and worthy, it is anything but. This is vigorous, action-packed space opera with a progressive slant."—Financial Times

“Engage hyperdrive, readers . . . . You’ll fly through this queer dark space opera—about a warrior raised to avenge the destruction of planet Earth—at the speed of light!”—WeAreBookish

"A queer space opera exploring the themes of war, found family, and fighting for who you are when your choices are taken away? Yes, please!"—Portalist

Praise for the World Fantasy Award-winning Silver in the Wood

"A true story of the woods, of the fae, and of the heart. Deep and green and wonderful."—Naomi Novik

"A wildly evocative and enchanting story of old forests, forgotten gods, and new love."—Jenn Lyons

"Find a quiet place in a nearby wood, listen to the trees whisper, and thank the old gods and new for this beautiful little book, of which I intend to get lost in again and again."—Book Riot

From the Publisher

★ 06/10/2024

Tesh ("Greenhollow" novellas) introduces Kyr, a young soldier emerging from the violent brainwashing of her youth. A rigid, single-minded soldier, Kyr lives aboard Gaea Station, where extremist humans plot to avenge Earth's destruction. Her only weakness is her love for her brother, Mags; when Mags disappears, Kyr leaves in search of him, accompanied by only a despised colleague and an enemy alien. As Kyr encounters the universe outside of Gaea Station, she begins to question the essential tenets of her upbringing. Along with introspective passages, Tesh entertains with jaw-dropping twists, multiverse mayhem, and epic scenes of battle and apocalypse. Narrator Sena Bryer conveys Kyr's quickly changing perspective, revealing different facets of her strength and determination, all of which will be necessary if she is going to save her brother's life. Bryer allows Kyr's voice to move through a spectrum of emotions and attitudes as the novel progresses—from blindly confident and willful to sorrowfully empathetic. She also captures the intricate emotional arcs of secondary characters, providing distinct voices for each. VERDICT An action-packed space opera that traverses the galaxy and considers issues of intolerance, homophobia, ableism, and misogyny. Perfect for fans of Ann Leckie and Tamsyn Muir.—Matthew Galloway

Library Journal - Audio

★ 12/01/2022

Those raised on Gaea Station know their destiny is to avenge the destruction of planet Earth and to continue the human race. Kyr has excelled in her training; she and her brother Mags are two of the best warriors of their generation. Yet when Mags is placed on a suicide mission, and she is assigned to the nursery to bear sons until she dies, she knows that her best path forward is to turn traitor, in order to become the hero she knows she should be. As she journeys to destroy the Wisdom, the Majoda's reality-warping weapon, she discovers that there are truths beyond what she was told and learns that the enemy are not always those on the other side of a battle. Kyr's character arc is a monumental journey of emotional growth and understanding, grounding the changes and choices throughout her development. Queer relationships and underrepresented characters are woven into the plot and reveal the extreme ableist beliefs that are central to the station. VERDICT The first novel from Tesh ("Greenhollow" novellas) is an intriguing space opera and study of radicalization, indoctrination, and what happens when one breaks free in the most absolute way.—Kristi Chadwick

Library Journal

Sena Bryer delivers a cinematic performance of Tesh's exhilarating space opera. The story follows a young soldier who is awaiting her first assignment on Gaea Station, where a group of extremist humans prepares to avenge the destruction of Earth. Kyr is eager to help, but everything changes when her brother, Mags, disappears and Kyr is assigned to bear supersoldiers for the future. Channeling Kyr's intensity, Bryer portrays Kyr's dawning realization that her home may not be a haven after all. Bryer's full-bodied characterizations--gruff Mags, Kyr's quietly rage-filled squadmates, and a sweetly naïve but powerful alien named Yiso--are so skilled that listeners may wonder if this is a full-cast production. Complete with time slips, a reality-warping artificial intelligence, and epic world-building, this is a gripping, can't-miss listen. S.A.H. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine

MAY 2023 - AudioFile

Sena Bryer delivers a cinematic performance of Tesh's exhilarating space opera. The story follows a young soldier who is awaiting her first assignment on Gaea Station, where a group of extremist humans prepares to avenge the destruction of Earth. Kyr is eager to help, but everything changes when her brother, Mags, disappears and Kyr is assigned to bear supersoldiers for the future. Channeling Kyr's intensity, Bryer portrays Kyr's dawning realization that her home may not be a haven after all. Bryer's full-bodied characterizations--gruff Mags, Kyr's quietly rage-filled squadmates, and a sweetly naïve but powerful alien named Yiso--are so skilled that listeners may wonder if this is a full-cast production. Complete with time slips, a reality-warping artificial intelligence, and epic world-building, this is a gripping, can't-miss listen. S.A.H. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine

MAY 2023 - AudioFile