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293 reviews for:
The Vela: The Complete Season 1
Becky Chambers, Rivers Solomon, Yoon Ha Lee, S.L. Huang
3.83 AVERAGE
293 reviews for:
The Vela: The Complete Season 1
Becky Chambers, Rivers Solomon, Yoon Ha Lee, S.L. Huang
3.83 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a fantastic read! The sound design kept me listening and engaged at a much slower pace than I normally prefer to listen to audiobooks at. One of my favorite about this book, which is so masterfully done by these authors, is that none of the characters are good. Some are selfish, others do what they must to survive, some have a self-sacrificing martyred savior complex about violences that were initiated and/or perpetrated before they were born, and others are so good and optimistic that it circles back around to folly as a failure to see the truth of the humanity they're trying to save.
If you love a good complex narrative, space opera, buddy comedy, found family story, or anything in between, this is for you. This is a fantastic combination of post and pre apocalyptic fiction, spanning an entire star system with all the class consciousness and political commentary that entails.
If you love a good complex narrative, space opera, buddy comedy, found family story, or anything in between, this is for you. This is a fantastic combination of post and pre apocalyptic fiction, spanning an entire star system with all the class consciousness and political commentary that entails.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, War, Classism, Deportation
Minor: Sexual content
Racial slurs tagged for fictional slurs against a fictional people, but very reminiscent of white nationalism
An exciting, distressing, dystopian sci-fi story about colonialism. Having multiple authors for the component parts of this novel worked surprisingly well, but having as many character perspectives and stories included as there were worked less well, causing it to be a little fragmented/disjointed.
Maybe someday a poet would write a tragedy about this day. In it, she would be a villain.
3.5 stars. I have mixed feelings about this book, but most of those feelings are good? As it often is whenever I come back to scifi after a long break from it, this reminded me powerfully of all of the things I love about the genre; the space opera, the worldbuilding and all the potential in it, and this in particular had so many meaningful real world parallels that I adored. My mind was whirring all while reading this, and I was never not fully engaged.
I actually went in pretty much blind, which I found really enjoyable, though not everyone would. The broad stroke are: the story takes place in a system on the brink of death. Years of mining have taken a toll on the sun, and it's about 100 years away from dying. The planets on the outer rings are suffering, literally freezing to death, while the planets on the inners rings who are responsible for the mining continue to profit from it. The situation has created a refugee crisis, with thousands upon thousands fleeing the dying worlds, and most of the inner worlds being ambivalent or downright hostile to them. The main character, Asala, is a refugee, having been sent off world by her family more than 30 years ago, and she's eked out a life as a soldier/sniper in the inner rings.
The plot starts with the micro and grows in scale to encompass the whole system in fascinating and surprising ways. It's been a while since I've read deeply involved scifi like this, but the worldbuilding and characters didn't take very long for me to grasp at all. It's just really great to take these huge, universe-altering plots and put them in the hands of normal people, and see how things spin out from there. It worked really well in the beginning, where I just devoured all the political workings, all the gradual reveals. Coming down to the end, as the scope of everything just got bigger and bigger, it started to feel like things are were happening out of control, and all the big reveals and revelations were coming too fast; so fast they stopped really having an impact, no matter how shocking they were. The authors wanted to do a lot, and near the end, the narrative started suffering for it imo.
Speaking of the authors! This was really masterfully written and crafted by all of them; I've only ever read Solomon before this, but they're all obviously juggernauts of scifi and they know what they're doing. This was serialised; 10 episodes in all, shared up amongst the four writers. I thought that each writer would be handling a different set of characters, but that wasn't the case. Asala was the main POV (along with a few important secondary POVs) and they all wrote her. This didn't work super well for me? The first episode was written by Huang, and I absolutely loved it, and loved Asala as written by her. And since that was my first experience with Asala, every other writer's interpretation of her felt... slightly off? Not by much, not anything that's terribly noticeable, but I did notice, and it made the story feel a bit disjointed. Unavoidable, with a work that's been serialised like this, but I thought I'd mention it, as it did curb my enjoyment some.
But there is undoubtedly a LOT to enjoy here. I was super impressed with all the culture here; all the stories and nuances about the different worlds. The was an emphasis of written and oral history as told by plays and poetry that reminded me very favourably of A Memory Called Empire. I really loved our main characters, especially Niko; they were so freaking brave, and I understood every decision they made, even if I didn't always agree. This shines a spotlight on humanity at its worst, but also its finest. And the ways authors do that through scifi is always very rewarding to me.
I definitely enjoyed this a lot, even if that enjoyment waned coming down to the very end. I don't know if I'll read the next season, but it's definitely intriguing enough for me to want to give it a try.
Content warnings:
Spoiler
death, murder, injury, gore, genocide☆ Review copy provided via NetGalley.
Ahoy there me mateys! I received this sci-fi eARC from Serial Box in exchange for an honest review. Here be me honest musings. . .
Well mateys, do I have some absolute treasure to share with the crew. Settle down because I have a yarn to spin. Ye see I have been avidly reading everything Becky Chambers writes because she be awesome (new novella coming in 2019!). And recently I read some of Yoon Ha Lee’s work and he be awesome. Book one of his machineries of the empire series is on me 19 for 2019 list. S.L. Huang’s novel zero sum game has been glitterin’ in the hold waiting to be read at the first spare moment. Plus I have me eye set on Rivers Solomon’s lovely looking novella about denizens of the deep coming out later this year. This be a talented bunch o’ scribblers.
So shiver me timbers was I was extremely surprised when a company called Serial Box contacted this salty Captain to ask if I would be willing to read the vela. I wasn’t sure exactly what Serial Box was but took one look at the list of authors and immediately said “Aye!” Oh ye scalawags, rascals, and reprobates why didn’t any of ye tell me about Serial Box sooner? Me spy network apparently needs a shakedown but, luckily fer ye, Serial Box be savvy enough to approach yer Captain first! For those of ye knuckleheads that still don’t know by now, Serial Box nicely informed me that:
"Serial Box brings everything that’s awesome about TV (easily digestible episodes, team written, new content every week) to what was already cool about books (well-crafted stories, talented authors, enjoyable anywhere).
Like TV, we release a new episode of our serials every week and serials typically run for seasons of 10-16 weeks. Easy to pick up, episodes are enjoyable on their own but build over the course of the season to tell a bigger story. Each episode is available in ebook and audio and takes about 40 minutes to enjoy."
Serial Box was generous in their terms and offered me the entire series of the vela in one go. Seriously how sublime is that? So I stole some time and settled in for a whopping good tale.
The Vela is a missing spaceship filled with refugees from a dying planet. Asala Sekou is a soldier-for-hire who has been tasked with finding the missing ship in the name of politics. However Asala wants nothing to do with this assignment or to be saddled with the President’s youngest child in tow. Asala knows the life of the refugee and that dying planet all too well. She has put that past behind her in the name of survival and has no wish to return to said planet in person or in memory.
But of course she gets sucked into the madness. I absolutely loved Asala and her toughness, intelligence, and tactics. She really floats me boat and I would be happy to have her on me crew any day. Even the President’s kid Niko managed to get some sea . . . er space legs and grew on me in time. But while the characters are fantastic, the plot be even better. It seemed like every single person’s plans went sideways at every opportunity. And what a debacle and fun it be! Seriously by the end I didn’t really know what was gonna happen or who to cheer for besides Asala. And her choices were awful and worse. The plot kept me guessing and the writing by four authors was practically seamless. I was just hangin’ on fer the ride and grinnin’ like a madwoman. I refuse to spoil it by giving more details but I want more seasons of what happens next! Avast ye swashbucklers! Go out and listen to this fantasic tale.
So me hearties, I raise me grog in toast to Serial Box and this fantastic season. May we continue to savour this truly wonderful partnership. Arrrr!
So lastly . . .
Thank you Serial Box!
Side note: I read the ebook version of the vela but am certainly going to look into their back catalog of audio books beginning with Sarah Gailey’s the fisher of bones. Have ye read her hippo westerns yet? Arrr!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
Well mateys, do I have some absolute treasure to share with the crew. Settle down because I have a yarn to spin. Ye see I have been avidly reading everything Becky Chambers writes because she be awesome (new novella coming in 2019!). And recently I read some of Yoon Ha Lee’s work and he be awesome. Book one of his machineries of the empire series is on me 19 for 2019 list. S.L. Huang’s novel zero sum game has been glitterin’ in the hold waiting to be read at the first spare moment. Plus I have me eye set on Rivers Solomon’s lovely looking novella about denizens of the deep coming out later this year. This be a talented bunch o’ scribblers.
So shiver me timbers was I was extremely surprised when a company called Serial Box contacted this salty Captain to ask if I would be willing to read the vela. I wasn’t sure exactly what Serial Box was but took one look at the list of authors and immediately said “Aye!” Oh ye scalawags, rascals, and reprobates why didn’t any of ye tell me about Serial Box sooner? Me spy network apparently needs a shakedown but, luckily fer ye, Serial Box be savvy enough to approach yer Captain first! For those of ye knuckleheads that still don’t know by now, Serial Box nicely informed me that:
"Serial Box brings everything that’s awesome about TV (easily digestible episodes, team written, new content every week) to what was already cool about books (well-crafted stories, talented authors, enjoyable anywhere).
Like TV, we release a new episode of our serials every week and serials typically run for seasons of 10-16 weeks. Easy to pick up, episodes are enjoyable on their own but build over the course of the season to tell a bigger story. Each episode is available in ebook and audio and takes about 40 minutes to enjoy."
Serial Box was generous in their terms and offered me the entire series of the vela in one go. Seriously how sublime is that? So I stole some time and settled in for a whopping good tale.
The Vela is a missing spaceship filled with refugees from a dying planet. Asala Sekou is a soldier-for-hire who has been tasked with finding the missing ship in the name of politics. However Asala wants nothing to do with this assignment or to be saddled with the President’s youngest child in tow. Asala knows the life of the refugee and that dying planet all too well. She has put that past behind her in the name of survival and has no wish to return to said planet in person or in memory.
But of course she gets sucked into the madness. I absolutely loved Asala and her toughness, intelligence, and tactics. She really floats me boat and I would be happy to have her on me crew any day. Even the President’s kid Niko managed to get some sea . . . er space legs and grew on me in time. But while the characters are fantastic, the plot be even better. It seemed like every single person’s plans went sideways at every opportunity. And what a debacle and fun it be! Seriously by the end I didn’t really know what was gonna happen or who to cheer for besides Asala. And her choices were awful and worse. The plot kept me guessing and the writing by four authors was practically seamless. I was just hangin’ on fer the ride and grinnin’ like a madwoman. I refuse to spoil it by giving more details but I want more seasons of what happens next! Avast ye swashbucklers! Go out and listen to this fantasic tale.
So me hearties, I raise me grog in toast to Serial Box and this fantastic season. May we continue to savour this truly wonderful partnership. Arrrr!
So lastly . . .
Thank you Serial Box!
Side note: I read the ebook version of the vela but am certainly going to look into their back catalog of audio books beginning with Sarah Gailey’s the fisher of bones. Have ye read her hippo westerns yet? Arrr!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
I feel like there's not enough good science fiction out there to satisfy my reading desires, but this one ticks all the boxes - good protagonist, some real problems, a little social justice. It also grapples with the messy realities of trying to avert a system-wide crisis. I mean, [a:Becky Chambers|22659598|Becky Chambers|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] and [a:Becky Chambers|22659598|Becky Chambers|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], of course I liked it.
I didn't read it in serial form, and I could sort of feel the episodes, but... I didn't mind it. I am mostly mad that the same authors didn't come back for the sequel, because there's no way it's as good without that particular alchemy.
I didn't read it in serial form, and I could sort of feel the episodes, but... I didn't mind it. I am mostly mad that the same authors didn't come back for the sequel, because there's no way it's as good without that particular alchemy.
An interesting concept does not make a good story.
2.5 stars rounded up for some good parts, especially by Chambers.
I’m sure the authors had a lot of fun crafting this and I wish I could say I had as much fun reading it, unfortunately that’s not the case.
The storytelling is too uneven, the small cast of characters enforces some unbelievable coincidences and behaviours, like when the rulers of planets participates very hands on in every small matter.
The ending is a massive cliffhanger, but not enough too make me read the sequel.
2.5 stars rounded up for some good parts, especially by Chambers.
I’m sure the authors had a lot of fun crafting this and I wish I could say I had as much fun reading it, unfortunately that’s not the case.
The storytelling is too uneven, the small cast of characters enforces some unbelievable coincidences and behaviours, like when the rulers of planets participates very hands on in every small matter.
The ending is a massive cliffhanger, but not enough too make me read the sequel.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Just read Series One of "The Vela", by Becky Chambers, Yoon Ha Lee, Rivers Solomon and SL Huang
Great idea, an episodic sci-fi book written by 4 well known if not exactly mainstream authors. A good story, lots in common setting and contents-wise with The Collapsing Empire and Ghost Brigades (both by John Scalzi).
Will be on the hunt for Series Two next... after some exciting proof reading for @beyondcataclysm and @johndavison82 #readingbooks
Great idea, an episodic sci-fi book written by 4 well known if not exactly mainstream authors. A good story, lots in common setting and contents-wise with The Collapsing Empire and Ghost Brigades (both by John Scalzi).
Will be on the hunt for Series Two next... after some exciting proof reading for @beyondcataclysm and @johndavison82 #readingbooks
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes