Some Desperate Glory, by Emily Tesh

Emily Tesh’s book Some Desperate Glory is an excellent sci fi story (“queer space opera” quoth many other reviewers) about living inside fascism, coming to terms with and recognizing that fascism, and trying to find ways to resist that fascism even when resistance seems impossible. It’s grim. It’s painful. It feels uncomfortably true, real, and relevant. I mentioned it in passing earlier this spring.

This isn’t a book I wanted to feel was more relevant after I finished it, but here we are.

This is also a book that deals with sexual abuse, assault, forced pregnancy, and suicide. I think the story handles them well, but they’re still rough. You’ve been warned.

With all that said, why does this book still feel hopeful to me?

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4/17/25

I’ve just finished Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh. It is excellent. It is more than a little painful, especially right now. It is also lovely and full of hope. I hope to talk more about it here at some point.

For now our political crises continue to worsen, books like Some Desperate Glory feel more relevant, and I have a baby to take care of. I’m not yet such a professional papa that I can care for my child and get lots of work done at the same time (or much work at all). Please continue to enjoy pictures of Alex.