Space Team: The Wrath of Vajazzle

By: Barry J. Hutchison

Narrated by: Phil Thron

Length: 8 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's Summary

Suicide Squad meets Galaxy Quest, in this fast-paced, laugh-out-loud novel from the author the Independent calls, "the new Terry Pratchett." After saving an alien race and its god from a sentient zombie virus, Cal Carver and the crew of the Dread Ship Shatner are feeling pretty pleased with themselves. Unfortunately, the creator of the zombie virus is out for revenge, and has recruited the galaxy's deadliest - and oldest - assassin, Lady Vajazzle, to hunt Space Team down. But when Vajazzle discovers the crew is under the protection of a wolf-like species known as the Greyx, she is forced to implement a Plan B so diabolical it threatens to plunge the entire star system into chaos. With time running out, Cal must find a way to outmaneuver and outgun the galaxy's greatest killer before she murders his friends, butchers the Greyx, and buys the whole galaxy a one-way ticket to total annihilation.

©2016 Barry J. Hutchison (P)2017 Barry J. Hutchison

Much, much, MUCH better than...

I don't know this jewel of a series has not been more widely recognized for its brilliance!

Anyone who enjoyed the movie or show "Serenity" will heartily enjoy the adventures of Captain Cal Carver and his Space Team.

Suspend disbelief, turn down the critical voice in your head and let yourself get lost in the lovable, oh-so-cheesy, entertaining banter provided by Mr. Hutchison and his characters.

Give it a shot and give it a thumbs up for not taking itself too seriously (I'm talking to Alerón Kong here), making us laugh, and still providing a great story.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

your mileage may vary

I listened to this book immediately after the first. In hindsight, I think that was a mistake. The jokes and situations get kinda old, and you start thinking...just get on with it. The plot felt thinner than the first. The ending made very little logical sense, except that it allowed more witty banter.

I think I would have found it just as fun as the first, if I had allowed a month or two to pass. So, is it worth the credit...eh. I would suggest letting some time pass between this book and the first.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Fun lighthearted adventure.

This is the second book in the Space Team series by Barry Hutchison. It's a fun lighthearted space adventure. At times I think it tries a bit too hard to be funny, but overall it's an enjoyable tale.

Phil Thron does a spectacular job narrating the book. I find it hard to believe he only has a handful of titles here on Audible. He sounds like a true profession, as if he's been doing voice for for years, and I hope this is just an indication that he's just getting started on his book narration career and we'll be seeing many more titles from this talented artist.

I received a copy of this audio title for free in exchange for an unbiased review.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

A must read!

So funny and entertaining. I can't wait for book 3. This book is a must read.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Fonking funny!

This one's even funnier than the first one. Really, really looking forward to The Search for Splurt to come out on Audible next. Great series!!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Made my fonking day!

This book is right up there with Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett and the narrator is a perfect fit. I'm looking forward to the other books in the series being released in audio form.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Hilarious

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This book hilarious! I was laughing so hard I cried.

Any additional comments?

I would recommend this for fans of Guardians of the Galaxy and Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Smartass and sometimes clueless lead character makes for many funny situations. The narrator does an excellent job of bringing the characters to life. Highly recommend giving this one a listen. I received a free copy of this audiobook at my request and I have voluntarily left this review.

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

loved it

well written with great be performance by narrator. lovesnthe characters. it's a giod follow up novel

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Keeps you laughing

I enjoyed the second book. Lots of surprises and character growth. I was suspicious at first with the name of the book but it turned out good.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Quirky, engaging and well performed.

enjoyed the snark and the narration was spot on. I am looking forward to more.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Worst pilot ever.

Any additional comments?

A comedy science fiction story, rather than a sci fi story with comedy: very different. And whilst it has the potential to be a very funny film, given excellent actors playing it for real (as opposed to for laughs as there is sufficient built into the text already, for example the astonishingly bad piloting of Lauren, able to accidentally land on the only building within a thousand miles of desert), I did not enjoy it as a book.

This was by no means the fault of narrator Phil Thorn, who read flawlessly with good intonation and understanding, and expression of the text as well as giving individual and differentiated voices to the various protagonists. A good performance, although I did increase the listening speed to 1.25, finding his pace just a tad too slow.

The book is well written and immaginative in content. If near slapstick humour is your thing, this is probably for you. Sadly, it did not appeal to me. My thanks, however, to the rights holder who freely gifted me a copy of the book, via Audiobook Boom.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Excellent.

Somehow not as funny as the book and yet just as enjoyable. Weird that! Now straight onto (into?) the Search for Splurt.

Funniest adventure!

The Space Team series is a must listen/read. Ot would make an excellent TV series. If done right. But having watched Ready Player One getting fonked by Spielberg I have my doubts that anyone would do it justice.

Fun and lighthearted mad sci-fi adventure.

A fun lighthearted adventure with a tongue in cheek attitude, this book made me smile with in the first few minutes, some bits of this book are truly hilarious. There is a great cast of characters and the banter between them really makes this an enjoyable listen from start to finish.

Barry J. Hutchison’s writing is smart, self-aware and funny, all the characters are well written with tons of personality. Some of the lines in this book are amazing, I will not say anything else about them to avoid spoilers.

Even though the plot has many a dark moment there is always the sense of fun, I would love to see this as a TV series. I feel like if the people that made Shaun of the Dead and Zombieland got together to make something like Red Dwarf you might get something like this.

The narration is clear, easy to listen to and conveyances to the tone of each situation well. Each character has a unique voice that really suits them enhancing the whole experience. Phil Thron has their timing down just right to help make the jokes just that little bit funnier.

This is just a great book and I highly recommend it.
5/5


I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Warning this will have you listening with a smile

In this the 2nd outing from the aptly named Space Team with our hero Cal yet again trying to escape from another Galaxy threatening disaster.
With many a purloined song , quick whit and some judicious hiding behind his teammates ,the adventure is carried along at a nice pace ,with many humours interjections and Earth pop quiz remembrances thrown in for our enjoyment.
Whilst our band of merry misplaced heroes attempt to fly a ship, argue how things should be named and work that damn sapce shower, political problens and one of the oldest and strangest assassins is sent to apprehend them.
If serious scifi and explanations are what you like then this is definitely not for you.
if you just like a merry adventure with lots of Monty Python and Galaxy Quest style humour is your cup of tea then this will have you a fan in no time at all.
Narration is very capable and actually made me like one of our heroes Mech more than Cal as i listened to what he would say in repsonse so many a silly quip.
This title was gifted to me exchange for an honest review and as such is my own opinion.

A disappointing second in the series

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Oh woe is me. For some reason this fails to achieve the playfulness of the first novel. It feels almost forced. I have tried to listen to it three or four times but just get distracted and bored. It is not engrossing or enthralling at all. At any point I can turn it off without feeling I am missing out or indeed any worse off than when it was on. The characters are flat, my favourites from the first book are not explored or expanded on at all, the tale is dull and I simply have no interest in how it ends. I thought this series would be a fun and light distraction from the world but it has quickly tailed of into a nothingness of the void. What a shame. I cannot tell you how sad I am about it. Series abandoned.

What about Phil Thron’s performance did you like?

Yes I do. I actually really like listening to his voice. It has a calming and yet engrossing tone that keeps me listening.

Space Comedy

Would you listen to Space Team: The Wrath of Vajazzle again? Why?

I dont generally listen to books more than once, but give it a year or two and I would, I love the Space Team books, they are the funniest books on audible, and great adventure stories too.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The main character Cal, he is very funny, followed by Mex, the droll cyborg.

Have you listened to any of Phil Thron’s other performances? How does this one compare?

Ive not heard any others but I have listened to plenty of narrators and Phil Thron does a superb job at delivering all the different character voices and he has great comedy timing with his delivery

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, and I did.

Any additional comments?

Like Sci fi and comedy.....listen to Space Team. Guardians of the Galaxy crossed with Red Dwarf!