Book Review of the Month: Some Desperate Glory
Michael Maag reviews the best and worst science fiction novels so you know what you should - or shouldn’t - read next.
“Some Desperate Glory”
by Emily Tesh
What is the book about?
The hype promoted it as a queer coming of age space opera. However, the execution of the story fell disappointingly short, leaving me irritated with the characters and a sense of frustration at the missed opportunities.
The protagonist, Kyr, short for Valkyr, initially appeared to have the potential for a compelling character arc. As a young queer person living in an isolated space station controlled by a militaristic cult, one would expect Kyr's experiences to be complex and thought-provoking. Unfortunately, Kyr's character development was hindered by her constant self-berating and abrasive behavior toward her cohort. She started out as a poster child for trigger warning; completely indoctrinated, homophobic, transphobic and an “ist” of every stripe. Instead of offering a nuanced exploration of her inner struggles, Kyr's jerk-like tendencies overshadowed any empathy or connection I could have developed with her.
The author repeatedly relied on unlikely coincidences and convenient Deus Ex Machina to bail Kyr out of horrible results of her poor choices. This approach, much like returning to a saved point in a video game, rendered Kyr's journey repetitive, contrived and forced. The supporting characters lacked depth. Kyr's brother felt underdeveloped and the convenient computer genius she teams up with possessed an even less likable personality than Kyr herself. Like a flask of “unobtanium” the captured alien is little more than a prop, with a convenient ability to return our hapless heroes to the last save point.
One of the most frustrating aspects of “Some Desperate Glory” was the missed potential in addressing societal issues such as indoctrination, extremism, gender identity and the weight of familial expectations. Despite establishing Kyr as a queer individual struggling within the confines of a gender binary paradigm, the book failed to delve into this aspect with the depth and sensitivity it deserved. It felt like a superficial addition to the story, just checking the boxes for easy book sales rather than a meaningful exploration of identity and personal growth.
On a scale from one to five, how much did you like this book?
I give this book one star – I read this drivel so that you did not have to.
Is this book worth reading or can the content be covered in a book review?
I encourage you to not bother at all. In fact, you’ve already spent too much time on the subject. Please read Ender’s Game, A Deadly Education or The Wee Free Men if you are interested in a coming-of-age story set against difficult odds.
What is the best or worst quote, chapter or item in the book?
“While we live the enemy shall fear us”