Space Academy Graduates by C.T. Phipps, Michael Suttkus Narrator: Jeffrey Kafer
Series: Space Academy #6
Published by Podium Audio on April 15, 2025
Genres: Space Opera
Length: 8 hours and 3 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Author
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible
"The final voyage begins! As soon as we find the parts for the engine."
Space Academy Graduates is where the worst crew in the galaxy's adventures come full circle! Vance Turbo and company have returned to Space Academy, the place where it all began, in order to investigate the murder of Earth's highest decorated officer. Along the way, they'll discover the secrets of the mysterious Department 12, the responsibilities of power, and the dangers that come from SPACE VAMPIRES! Yes, it's always capitalized.
Vance Turbo is melancholy after the losses to his crew in Space Academy Vagrants and struggling with the belief that he's done more harm than good as a captain. Space Academy brings up many memories of his days as a young officer as well as his relationship with his long-lost friend, the Sorkanan Tommy. Can he overcome his sorrow to save the universe from itself? Should he?
Space Academy is an all-new series from the hilarious duo of C.T. Phipps (Supervillainy Saga, Cthulhu Armageddon) and Michael Suttkus (I Was a Teenage Weredeer, Lucifer's Star) that lampoons the space opera as well as military science fiction genres.
Includes a bonus short story, "The End of History."
It’s bittersweet sitting down to write this review, because Space Academy Graduates is the last book in the series, and it has been such a fun ride from the beginning.
Vance Turbo, Hero of Spaaace, and his crew are back at Space Academy, the place where it all started, to investigate the murder of Earth’s most decorated officer. Vance is still carrying the weight of the losses from Space Academy Vagrants (the previous book), struggling with the idea that he’s done more harm than good as a captain, and wrestling with the fact that he’s something of a nepo baby, with his aunt pulling strings behind the scenes for him. He is not happy about it at all, which felt very true to who Vance is. There are also some flashbacks to his time at the Academy, and of course, SPACE VAMPIRES (yes, always capitalized, and yes, it is as fun as it sounds).
This one feels like Phipps and Suttkus really went all out for the finale. The snark and pop culture references are as sharp as ever, but there are genuine stakes here too. Some long-running characters don’t make it out, and Vance gets the ending his story deserves.
The bonus short story, The End of History, is a fun crossover between the Space Academy and Lucifer’s Star universes. A nice little extra, especially if you’ve read any of Phipps and Suttkus‘ other work.
If you haven’t tried this series, start with Space Academy Dropouts and work your way through. It’s worth every book.
Narration:
Jeffery Kafer closes out this series the same way he carried it, wonderfully. I really have run out of new things to say, other than I can’t imagine this series in anyone else’s hands. It was a fitting send off for both him and Vance.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Jeffrey Kafer
An award-winning, Los Angeles audiobook narrator, Jeffrey Kafer has performed over 375 titles in all genres from indie authors to bestsellers.
About C.T. Phipps
C.T. Phipps is a lifelong student of horror, science fiction, and fantasy. An avid tabletop gamer, he discovered this passion led him to write and turned him into a lifelong geek. He is a regular reviewer at The United Federation of Charles and the author of Agent G, Cthulhu Armageddon, The Red Room series, Lucifer’s Star, Straight Outta Fangton, and The Supervillainy Saga.
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I started listening to audiobooks when a new book in a series was coming out and I wanted to get a refresher, but didn’t have time to read all the books (I think it was Anita Blake). I fell in love. I stayed with strictly re-reading books that I’d already read for a long time. I eventually tried an audiobook for something that I hadn’t read first and was hooked there too. Now, I listen to audio for both re-reads and first time. I have some series that I’ve given up reading and only listen. I try to get any many books/audiobooks from the library to help save on my budget. Books on CD and the newer digital downloads from the library really allow me to listen more. I then purchase my favorites (because who can wait in line for your favorite book??) and less mainstream books from Audible or some other online retailer.
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- 🎧 Space Academy Graduates by C.T. Phipps and Michael Suttkus @ctphipps.bsky.social @CT_Phipps @JeffreyKafer @PodiumAudio #LoveAudiobooks @audiobookmel.bsky.social @AudiobookMel - July 10, 2026
- 🎧 Space Academy Vagrants by C.T. Phipps and Michael Suttkus @ctphipps.bsky.social @CT_Phipps @JeffreyKafer @PodiumAudio #LoveAudiobooks @audiobookmel.bsky.social @AudiobookMel - June 12, 2026
- 🎧 The Third Victim by Lisa Gardner @LisaGardnerBks #BrillianceAudio #BantamBooks @audiobookmel.bsky.social @AudiobookMel #LoveAudiobooks - May 8, 2026
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