
Narrator: Jeffrey Kafer
Series: Space Academy #1
Published by Podium Audio on April 12, 2022
Genres: Space Opera
Length: 8 hours and 19 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Author
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm





"Boldly going because they're completely lost."
The newly renamed Vance Turbo has sabotaged his own career at Space Fleet Academy due to a desire to atone for training accident. Unfortunately, his actions result in him getting press-ganged into an expendable crew of misfits recruited by a legendary starship captain. Their mission? To recover a collection of lost sun-destroying missiles that could restart a galactic war. Unfortunately, Vance is smart enough to know something is wrong with this picture. After all, no sane person would recruit this crew to save the universe.
SPACE ACADEMY DROPOUTS is an all-new series from C.T. Phipps (Supervillainy Saga, Agent G) and Michael Suttkus (I Was a Teenage Weredeer, Lucifer's Star) that lampoons the space opera as well as military science fiction genres.
I’m not a huge fan of space operas in books. I shouldn’t say that. I just don’t pick them up very often. So I would say I’m very picky about picking up a space opera story. I’m a huge fan of C.T. Phipps and Michael Suttkus. I’ve read them in several different genres and I always have a great time with their stories. I do watch more space operas than I read and most are referenced at some point in this story. And even the ones I didn’t watch, didn’t mean that I missed any part of the story. It was all still fun.
Space Academy Dropouts is exactly what I would expect from Phipps and Suttkus. It was a fast paced story with lots of snark and even more pop culture references. The characters are all people you would want to meet and hang out with if you could.
We follow our main character, Vance Turbo, which is a name he chose, as he is abducted to be part of a mission to save the galaxy. That sounds great, like why abduct him, right? Well, the plan is that his team is cannon fodder that is unlikely to survive the mission. Also on the mission is Vance’s ex-girlfriend who is a telepath, so can read his mind. And an AI that takes on the body of a very human-like android.
Not only are the characters wonderful and the story funny, it is also action-packed with loads of twists and turns. I don’t want to get into too much detail about the story, because I don’t want to give anything away. But if you enjoyed Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Starship Troopers or any of Phipps or Suttkus’ work, then you will love this start to a new series.
Narration:
Jeffery Kafer has narrated many of Phipps/Suttkus stories. He does an amazing job with this one as well. There’s a reason they keep getting Kafer to perform their stories. He’s just great at it. He’s wonderful at all the voices and puts all the emotion into each scene. I really fall into the stories when Kafer is telling them. I always look forward to when there is a new book out performed by him. If you’ve never listened to him, you’re really missing out.
Listen to a clip: HERE
Rating Breakdown | |
---|---|
Plot | |
Writing | |
Characters | |
Dialogue | |
Narration (Audio) | |
Overall: | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
- 🎧 Love You More by Lisa Gardner @LisaGardnerBks #KirstenPotter #KatieMacNichol @penguinaudio.bsky.social @PRHAudio #BantamBooks @audiobookmel.bsky.social @AudiobookMel #LoveAudiobooks - February 14, 2025
- 🎧 Live to Tell by Lisa Gardner @LisaGardnerBks #KirstenPotter #RebeccaLowman @amleestories @PRHAudio #BantamBooks @AudiobookMel #LoveAudiobooks - January 10, 2025
- 🎧 The Neighbor by Lisa Gardner @LisaGardnerBks #BantamBooks @AudiobookMel #LoveAudiobooks - December 20, 2024
That cover made my day!
I am so glad you are bringing these books to my attention. I don’t know how I miss them but you always find them!
The title alone makes me want to read this one! 😀
Oh boy, this looks like fun! That cover is very fun too
This sounds amazing and with Kafer narrating – that seals the deal. I need this in my life! Have your read/listened to the Janitors of the Post-Apocalypse Series by Jim Hines – similar type of lampoon of space operas. Wonderful!
Ha! I am always on the scout for fun space opera and I know this writer/audio team are some of your favs.