Science Fiction Book Review Podcast · Luke Burrage

SFBRP #567 – Emily Tesh – Some Desperate Glory

June 8, 2025·1 hr 14 min·7 clips

Luke reveals the Hugo-winning book started strong but devolved into what he calls 'young adult drek'.

Luke Burrage and Juliane Kunzendorf review Emily Tesh's Hugo award-winning novel 'Some Desperate Glory,' critiquing its promising start that devolves into a messy, unsatisfying narrative with problematic themes. They discuss issues like cheat codes diminishing stakes, racial implications in a hair-touching scene, and the book's failure to grapple with its own political messages, ultimately rating it poorly.

As heard by us

A sharp, spoiler-heavy take on a Hugo winner that is blunt, argumentative, and never especially polite.

Luke Burridge and Juliana take a Hugo award-winning novel apart with a sharp, spoiler-heavy argument about what it asks readers to accept and where that faith begins to wobble.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want a blunt Hugo-winner verdict without the usual polite hedging.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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