The Vela: Salvation

The Vela #2

by Ashley Poston, Maura Milan, Nicole Givens Kurtz

In a dying star system, a soldier for hire uncovers a universe-shattering secret while hunting for a missing refugee ship.

WHY SERIAL BOXERS LOVE IT: Planet-killing, ship-exploding space opera with a strong female lead and important issues—environmental collapse, refugee crises, and ugly nationalism

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Audiobook, LGBT, Queer, Lesbian

Unknown Binding

First published August 26, 2020

About the author

New York Times best-seller by day, fanfic author by night.

Viist her at www.ashposton.com.

Reviews

[imyril is not really here any more · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh dear. Salvation picks up six months after The Vela, with a new writing team and a new type of challenge: settlement of a new world. Unfortunately, the careful world building and nuanced characters of the first season all seem to have been lost in the process. Instead of a fast paced action/conspiracy thriller, we get a slow, repetitive plot that ultimately creates its drama from having its alienated characters refusing to resolve their issues until forced to by a psychic fungus (the fungus is even red, so if you ever spent hours playing Alpha Centauri you get to snigger through the final episodes). Sadly disappointing across the board.

Full review

[Maryam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating 3.5

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

Season two got a new writing team, so some discontinuity was expected. But it felt like a slow trainwreck, veering off course into fantasy with the introduction of a godlike telepathic fungus and the reinvention (not evolution) of some characters. For completionists only, which apparently includes me, alas.

[Johanna · Rating 1 out of 5]

A major letdown after The Vela #1. Writing is inconsistent (to be expected) but so is the plotting. Lots of telling, not much showing, and it feels like this is for the benefit of the other writers ("here, look at this, I want to develop this point") rather than for the story. The characters' personalities have been changed from Season 1, generally for the worse, and there is no consistency for character arcs across the season. The overarching plot is very contrived and guilty of a great deal of deus ex machina. Furthermore, rather than adding to the experience, the background sounds are so intermittent as to be distracting. In terms of disability rep, it took until episode 6 (of 12) before any of the writers even acknowledged that Asala has hearing implants. It was then mentioned a few times but it gave the impression that the writers only put it in when it was convenient. LGBT rep also felt like it was added only when convenient.

[Ergative Absolutive · Rating 3 out of 5]

As much as I was invested in the characters, this season couldn't compare to the standout qualities of the first season, and now that I see that the entire writing staff was different, that makes sense. The politics were trivial--no longer the sophisticated multiway allegory for climate politics on earth. No, instead we have evil mad scientist who wants to destroy a planet vs. good people who want their families that were left behind. The solution to the problem is a real deus-ex-machina: magic fungus can make everything ok again! And the believable constraints on interplanetary travel from the first book---must wait 17 years for the orbits ot line up if you want to go to Hypatia---suddenly disappear: as long as Asala has a space ship she can seed the fungus on other planets in other solar systems. If it's that easy to go to other solar systems, then the whole constraint on evacuating the original solar system no longer exists, so why are we bothering with wormholes? Even a throwaway line from the fungus 'oh, yes, I can generate enough exotic matter for a mini temporary travel wormhole, no problem! Not enough for whole planets, but certainly enough for one tiny ship' would have solved that problem, but it's not even addressed. Boo.

[slp · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, sadly, the season got worse as it progressed and I believe the whole of it was misconceived. Without spoilers, Niko's storyline jumps far too quickly, requiring huge, improbably coincidences to propel them back into the storyline, in a way where all conflict is portrayed as huge but no conflict lasts long enough to feel important; Asala's moves far too slowly, with huge amounts of summary and recap, and a character who was the most instinctual, the anchor of understanding, becomes truly dull in comprehension. The writing itself around Asala's slow realizations of things a) the audience has known far before but b) she also should have intuited sooner or not been so astonished at as she realized them (and re-realized them, almost all the time, which always shock her).

Spoilers, I think it's misconceived to focus so narrowly on Niko's need to get back to Asala across the space of the possibly untraceable wormhole; not only does it require several huge coincidental plot leaps to get them there almost immediately, it leaves behind the biggest, most surprise stake of the entire first season: the global devastation of Gan De being pulled by the wormhole and everything that would happen because of it. In the first season, this 11th hour stake was amazing, and the moral quandary of it truly shocking—you knew several refugees had no idea this was happening but those that did had reason to choose it. Still you knew they'd have to live with the weight of it. Season two sidesteps this entirely; even when we get the General back, who was so concerned with the global devastation of her world and its impact on her population, she doesn't mention it at all. Meanwhile, we're supposed to think that several people would follow Ozuchi and destroy a planet for no stakes at all. And this new planet's fungus would be fascinating if it weren't so awkwardly developed, always through convenient exposition by Niko or not-Niko, because, again, Asala suddenly can't deduce anything and is always shocked when she finally does. The season would have been better served by allowing the difficulty of the separation and dealing with the actual moral complications it spent so long setting up.

Finally, the deus ex machina of the fungus is just annoying. If I thought the AI projection across the universe was overly convenient, why would I think it would end any differently.

[Ada]

I think (if I have the right one) you can listen this as a podcast on the Realm.fm website.

As it said on the website:

A refugee returns to her home planet in search of a missing ship that holds the key to saving humanity. Season 2 episodes release on Fridays.
As her planet’s star dies, Asala Sikou doesn’t have much hope for the future of civilization. She’s already survived disaster once and is pretty sure she won’t make it a second time. But when she is given a top-secret mission to find a missing ship the government believes was last seen on her former, dead planet, Asala dares to hope that maybe someone from her family survived.

This is no ordinary rescue mission: the missing ship may be the last piece in a complex puzzle designed to bring salvation to the failing galaxies. And Asala isn’t the only one trying to find it.

A crumbling solar system. A daring space mission. A harrowing journey of survival. The Vela returns with a breathtaking sequel that will shake you to your core in The Vela: Salvation.

Voiced by Robin Miles. Written by Becky Chambers, SL Huang, Rivers Solomon, Ashley Poston, Yoon Ha Lee, Nicole Givens Kurtz, Sangu Mandanna, and Maura Milan. Art by Armin Rangani and Hector Mateo Pino.

[Bill Courson · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Vela: Salvation" is an enthralling continuation of the science fiction series, seamlessly blending intense action with profound emotional depth. The story picks up with the same momentum as the first book, propelling readers into a universe where the stakes are higher than ever. The protagonists are intricately developed, their arcs reflecting a compelling mix of vulnerability and strength. The narrative excels in its exploration of themes such as survival, loyalty, and sacrifice, offering a thought-provoking commentary on the human condition in the face of cosmic adversity. Mysteries that arose in the first volume “The Vela: Realm” are resolved, lost lives lives, reclaimed, broken Friendships and failed loves restored.

The authors' collaborative storytelling is seamless, with each chapter building tension and expanding the richly detailed world. The pacing is impeccable, balancing heart-pounding sequences with moments of introspective calm. "The Vela: Salvation" is a captivating read that satisfies existing fans and serves as a powerful incentive for new readers to dive into this meticulously crafted universe.

This is Science Fiction at its best: suspenseful, riveting and heart-warming.

[Corey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This season generally got stronger as it progressed. There was 1 episode in which the writing was poor and some things didn't make much sense, but on the whole it felt even more cohesive than season 1, and I think season 2 featured different writers.

[Mikey Stack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, it lost me in the first few chapters, but ramped up again by chapter 3/4. Great storytelling, amazing characters, and a beautiful ending. If there isn't a 3rd season/book, then I'm happy with this ending, but honestly could listen to many more adventures with these characters.

[Sherri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm being generous with my 4 stars, really it's s 3.5.

This edition, as has been noted, doesn't have the same caliber of authors as the first book. It's enjoyable, and I'd even want to continue following these characters, but it lacks in the richness created by Rivers, Lee, and Chambers.

[Benjamin Jancewicz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just couldn’t get into it. I picked it up because I have been reading through everything that Becky Chambers has written, and she wrote some of this. But I found it so unlike all of the rest of her novels that it was a bit jarring.

[Kara Headley]

DNF ~50%

[WJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comparison (to the first season) is the thief of joy judging by most of the reviews here.

Enjoyable read the longer it went.

[London Summers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as season 1, but still quite good. Feels like there wasn't as clear as plan with this story.

[Emmaby Barton Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

not as good as book 1 but still v good, especially after the first few chapters

[Joey Schafer · Rating 4 out of 5]

First was better, but still enjoyable :)

[A'Llyn Ettien · Rating 2 out of 5]

Enjoyed the first one, but the differently-authored chapters in this volume didn't hold together as well, and were a lot less polished.

[Sarah Kahre · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't enjoy it as much as the first one, but it gives the story a more satisfying conclusion.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book is less adventurous than the first book. This one deals with the consequences of the actions taken at the end of book one.

[Jeannette · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Vela: Salvation is the second and final book of the Vela series. I listened to the podcast because I couldn't find it in the library. It has a different set of authors from the first book, but they still alternate writing chapters. Each chapter is an episode of the podcast. This book takes place a few months after the last book which left on a cliffhanger. While it leaves the possibility open for future books, it wraps up The Vela storyline. I suggest reading it if you are curious to know how things ultimately turn out.

[Joanne Spence · Rating 5 out of 5]

And now I’m ready for season three ..... this serial ends on so many cliffhangers!!!

[Ursula Fricke · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF 58%