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Space Team: A Funny Sci-fi Space Adventure Kindle Edition

4.3 out of 5 stars 4,941 ratings

The galaxy just called for help. Unfortunately, the wrong man answered.

When small-time conman, Cal Carver, is thrown in jail and forced to share a cell with a semi-naked cannibalistic serial killer, he's pretty sure his day can't get any worse.

Boy, is he wrong.

It isn't until two-thirds of the human race is wiped out and Cal is mistakenly abducted by aliens that things
really start to go downhill.

Whisked across the galaxy, Cal is forced into a team of some of the sector's most notorious villains and scumbags and tasked with delivering a package to a warlord-run solar system where the authorities daren't venture.

The mission should be simple enough, but as one screw-up leads to another the ragtag group of unwitting heroes find themselves in a frantic battle to save an entire alien civilization - and its god - from total annihilation.

Featuring epic space battles, hilariously snarky characters, and a shapeshifting blob with the face of Tobey Maguire,
Space Team is the first book in the internationally bestselling series by award-winning author, Barry J. Hutchison.

Perfect for fans of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Galaxy Quest, Guardians of the Galaxy, and pretty much anything else with the word 'Galaxy' in the title.*

*Except Samsung's
Galaxy S series, which is a range of mobile devices, and so not really similar.

You don't really want to stick around on Earth, do you? Have you seen the state of the place? Buy Space Team now, or read FREE on Kindle Unlimited, and blast off on an action-packed adventure that'll have you laughing your puny human head off.

(Not literally.)

(I hope.)

Praise for Space Team:


"Thrill a minute space adventure."

"Laughed so hard I shot coffee out my nose."

"If Douglas Adams wrote the A-Team, Space Team would be the result."

"If all scifi was like this, everyone would be reading it."

"Space-perfect space comedy."

"Fun, frantic, fantastic fiction!"

"Relentessly funny scifi comedy adventure."

"Someone call Netflix - they've got a new show to make!"

"I rarely give out five-star reviews for books - generally save those for life-changing reads - but I think Space Team, for what it aims to be, deserves the highest praise I can deliver. Well-written and expertly paced, it held my attention from cover to cover."

"I cannot remember the last time a book made me literally laugh out loud. Not a low "haha" to yourself, not a big smile as you turn the page, LAUGH out LOUD. As in, having to stop and put it down to wipe your eyes. Having to remember to bite your lip so the people around you don't think you're undermedicated."
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There are 12 books in this series.

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From the Publisher

space team book promo - comedy scifi novel

space team funny science fiction novel

space team logo science-fiction

Loren from Space Team, a comedy sci-fi series

Space Team Mech cyborg not a robot

Splurt from Space Team

Mizette of the Greyx, Space Team

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Barry J. Hutchison"Call off the search - we've found the new Terry Pratchett." - The Independent

From the Author

Interview with Author Barry J. HutchisonQ. So, who are you then?
A.
I'm Barry J. Hutchison. I thought you already knew that?

Q. I did. It just seemed like a good way of starting the interview.
A.
Oh. Right. I see.

Q. I mean, in hindsight, I regret it. It feels a little obvious. Should we start again?
A.
If you like.

Q. OK, ready?
A. Ready.Q. You're Barry J. Hutchison.
A.
Yes.

Q. Better, you think?
A.
I think we should probably just get on with it.

Q. Fine. Wow. Someone got out on the wrong side of bed this morning.
A.
Sorry, it's just that Amazon has a strict word count for this section, and unless we get on with it we're probably going to run out of

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01LT76J7K
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Zertex Media
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 26, 2016
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.9 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 12 ‏ : ‎ Space Team
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 4,941 ratings

About the author

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Barry Hutchison
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Barry Hutchison is an award-winning children's author and screenwriter. His first book - INVISIBLE FIENDS: MR MUMBLES - was published in 2010 to critical acclaim. The book went on to win the Royal Mail Award for Scottish Children's Books in 2011, by which point two more books in the horror series had been published.

In 2012 HarperCollins Children's Books published Barry's comedy fantasy novel, THE 13TH HORSEMAN, which was even more well-received than MR MUMBLES, with fans including the multi-award-winning best-selling author, Neil Gaiman. Shortly after Horseman won the Scottish Children's Book Award, a sequel - The Book of Doom - was published.

Since 2008 Barry has written over fifty books for children, including several based on the hit Cartoon Network show, BEN 10. When not writing he is usually visiting schools and libraries to run events and story-writing workshops for kids and adults alike.

He recently wrote thirty-six episodes of the CITV comedy series, BOTTOM KNOCKER STREET, starring comedian Phill Jupitus.

Barry lives in the Highlands of Scotland with his wife, Fiona, and their two children, Kyle and Mia. His biggest fear is that someone will one day discover how much fun his job is and immediately put a stop to it. His second biggest fear is squirrels.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4,941 global ratings

Review this product

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Customers say

Customers enjoy this science fiction book for its wit and sarcasm throughout the story, engaging plot, and well-developed characters with endearing personalities. The writing is well-edited with brilliant dialogue, and customers appreciate its fast-paced and inventive nature. The humor receives mixed reactions - while some find it too funny, others say the jokes get stale.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

464 customers mention "Fun read"464 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy this book as a guilty pleasure read, appreciating its wit and sarcasm that flow throughout the story.

"A fun relaxing adventure in a comedic, silly and mysterious sci fi adventure...." Read more

"This was an unexpected entertaining book. The mismatched cast, their interactions and evolution was fun to follow...." Read more

"Funny, yes, and just plain fun. Greatest convoluted story line with lots of surprises. Barry has a vivid imagination and a very creative mind...." Read more

"...As you can see from my scale below, three stars is not bad, it is worth your time. And Space Team is definitely worth your time...." Read more

227 customers mention "Story quality"203 positive24 negative

Customers find the story engaging and among the most enjoyable sci-fi tales, with one customer noting its well-paced narrative.

"A fun relaxing adventure in a comedic, silly and mysterious sci fi adventure...." Read more

"...There was action galore and the plot twists extremely well crafted." Read more

"Funny, yes, and just plain fun. Greatest convoluted story line with lots of surprises. Barry has a vivid imagination and a very creative mind...." Read more

"...Space Team: A Comedic Sci-Fi Adventure is a good example of a western disguised as sci-fi. This, by the way, is book #1 in a series of eight...." Read more

140 customers mention "Character development"127 positive13 negative

Customers enjoy the character development in the book, particularly noting the witty dialogue and endearing nature of the remaining cast.

"...The characters are captivating and their interactions quite entertaining." Read more

"...The mismatched cast, their interactions and evolution was fun to follow. There was action galore and the plot twists extremely well crafted." Read more

"...Barry is a master of taking his interesting characters, putting them in whacky, way-out situations, and seeing where things go without anything that..." Read more

"...start and a comical read using mistaken identity and unusual paring of characters. I look forward to the next book." Read more

103 customers mention "Writing quality"84 positive19 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, noting it is well-edited and has brilliant dialogue throughout, with one customer comparing it to a Christopher Moore novel.

"...The second reason is that the book is intended to be a light read. It is a comedy that doesn't take itself seriously. Dostoyevsky, this is not...." Read more

"First off, this was a very enjoyable book. Top notch, great writing, only a few POV errors but altogether the prose was on point, there were no..." Read more

"...You've got cool and weird aliens. You've got snappy dialogue and funny situations...." Read more

"...This is a very funny, exciting series that is VERY well-written and VERY worthy of your time. Prepare to laugh out loud at times...." Read more

80 customers mention "Pacing"66 positive14 negative

Customers enjoy the book's pacing, describing it as a fast-paced craziness with a total change of pace, though some mention it starts slow.

"...The book is a quick read, moves at a swift pace, and is often quite funny. So why three stars instead of four?..." Read more

"...I enjoyed every minute of this story. It was fast-paced and quirky. I can't wait for book 2!" Read more

"...It feels new and at the same time familiar, which is a sweet spot to hit...." Read more

"...annoying to some people, and the book is derivative, but the writing, pacing, characters, structure, and the mix of action, dialogue, narrative, and..." Read more

41 customers mention "Creativity"41 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's creativity, describing it as inventive and original enough to be refreshing, with one customer noting the numerous nerdy homages throughout the story.

"...Barry has a vivid imagination and a very creative mind. He has developed an alternate dictionary of new words that amazes me...." Read more

"...Nonsensical. That said, rich, subtle, nerdy homages abound, of course; you'll find outright references to classic Sci Fi, nods to some of..." Read more

"...Not entirely unexpected but the WAY in which it happened was very inventive...." Read more

"...But from that framework, Hutchison hangs enough original ideas and literal-LOL moments that it doesn't feel like a rip-off...." Read more

23 customers mention "Plot"18 positive5 negative

Customers enjoy the plot of the book, describing it as fantastic and saying it works well within the story, with one customer noting how the characters play well off each other.

"...the mix of action, dialogue, narrative, and inner commentary, all work perfectly to deliver exactly what the author says he's written, a parody of..." Read more

"...my normal helpings of horror and doom and this book fit the bill.perfectly. It's like when you are on the joke that no one gets but you...." Read more

"...As a team composed of different alien species, the mix works quite well...." Read more

"...Absolutely a riot from start to finish. There’s even a good plot worked in there! Read this and you won’t be disappointed." Read more

82 customers mention "Humor"34 positive48 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the humor in the book, with some finding it too silly while others say it gets stale.

"...But it is also true that many of the intended jokes are not that funny, or are televised from a mile away...." Read more

"A fun relaxing adventure in a comedic, silly and mysterious sci fi adventure...." Read more

"...No, but it was a hilariously ridiculous read...." Read more

"...Seriously, there is very little serious about this fonking book. Read it and you'll see what all the fonking is about...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2025
    A fun relaxing adventure in a comedic, silly and mysterious sci fi adventure. The characters are captivating and their interactions quite entertaining.
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2025
    This was an unexpected entertaining book. The mismatched cast, their interactions and evolution was fun to follow. There was action galore and the plot twists extremely well crafted.
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2018
    Doofus in Space
    By Bob Gelms
    Space Team: A Comedic Sci-Fi Adventure by Barry J. Hutchison is not only a “must read” but also a “read immediately,” “read as soon as possible,” “read yesterday,” and very definitely “URGENT READ.” With everything happening in our country at the moment, what we all can use its multiple belly laughs. This book is where you will find them.
    Comedy and science fiction don’t often play well together. One book that quickly comes to mind as a complete success in merging these two genres is Douglas Adam’s The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. Mr. Adams is who our Mr. Hutchison is most frequently compared. I have to scrape the bottom of my memory to come up with any other books that are both great sci-fi and clever/humorous at the same time.
    The main character in Space Team is Cal Carver, a third-rate thief and con-man who keeps getting caught and thrown into prison. This time Cal is found guilty of identity theft and sentenced to two years in the slammer. He was supposed to serve his time in a general type prison but the prisoner delivery section dropped him off at the wrong place. Cal was conveyed to the dirtiest, darkest, toughest, most dangerous prison in America.
    One of Cal’s flaws is having a smart, sarcastic mouth which he unleashed on the warden trying to convince him they had made a mistake. Not very smart, as wardens always get the last laugh. They stuck him in a cell with a half-naked, psychopathic, cannibalistic serial killer, Eugene “The Butcher” Adwell. Cal went to a corner of the cell and tried to become part of the wall. He did not sleep well that night for other reasons, too.
    A prison riot started in the middle of the night. The cell door swung open and they grabbed Cal. He woke up in a room with a wall to wall picture of the Milky Way only to discovered that it wasn’t a picture, it was a window and that WAS the Milky Way. A guy named Sinclair came in and welcomed The Butcher of Earth. It didn't take Cal long to figure out that he was kidnapped from his cell and mistaken for The Butcher when Mr. Sinclair, the CEO of Zertex Corp and President of this part of the galaxy, needs Eugene to do a secret service for him.
    Cal as Eugene “The Butcher” Adwell will have some thoroughly dangerous help on this mission. First, Princess Mizette of the Greyx, part humanoid and part she-wolf, who has killed so many people nobody has an accurate count. Second, Gluk "Mech" Disselpoof, a Cyborg, half biological, half machine and full time “best hacker in the galaxy.” He has stolen billions of dollars and, oh yeah, a Class 11 Starship. Third, an adorable little guy named Splurt, a two-thousand-year-old shape shifter. And last, Gunso Loren, a member of the Zertex Corp Army and newly minted pilot – on simulators She is to accompany the group to make sure they stay on task.
    Their mission is to go to one of the baddest parts of the Galaxy disguised as pirates and deliver a ransom to the most fearsome warlord in this part of the Milky Way. They are to take away the plans for a weapon so terrifying and so powerful that it could allow the Zertex Corp to conquer this part of the Universe.
    You put all of that together and what you have is a blueprint for some great science fiction and a pure joy to experience.
    Cal can’t chew gum and think at the same time. He features himself Captain of their pirate starship. No one in the crew can think of a name for the ship. Cal was a TV junkie when he wasn’t in the can and he came up with the name “Shatner.” Since Cal is the only one who knows what Star Trek is, the pirate starship becomes "Shatner".
    There is another element at work in Space Team: A Comedic Sci-Fi Adventure, that is, Cal’s character. Even though it seems the plot is driven forward by Cal’s screw-ups, he does have some redeeming qualities. He is fiercely loyal to his friends and crew, to the point of putting his own life on the line, which he does a number of times. He doesn't t even think twice about it. It’s what you do for friends. He shares everything he has with his friends and crew and, most importantly, somehow it all works out in the end to Cal’s advantage.
    Space Team: A Comedic Sci-Fi Adventure is a good example of a western disguised as sci-fi. This, by the way, is book #1 in a series of eight. I’ll admit to you that I am doing something I almost never do: read past the first book. I liked this one sooooooo much I just finished reading book #5. I intend to read them all nonstop. I’m having a fantastic time. I’ll admit to you something else. I identify with Cal and I have no trouble at all putting myself in the story. It makes me forget about everything. The story takes me completely away from my life. That’s pretty darn good.
    71 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2017
    I really struggled how to rate this book. I fear my tougher rating scale will turn people away from reading this very enjoyable space yarn. But, I have to be loyal to my scale, so three stars it is.

    As you can see from my scale below, three stars is not bad, it is worth your time. And Space Team is definitely worth your time. The book is a quick read, moves at a swift pace, and is often quite funny.

    So why three stars instead of four? Well, it is true that the book is often quite funny. But it is also true that many of the intended jokes are not that funny, or are televised from a mile away.

    The second reason is that the book is intended to be a light read. It is a comedy that doesn't take itself seriously. Dostoyevsky, this is not. But it's not supposed to be. I like cereal. Quite a bit, actually. But I would never give my Lucky Charms a 4/5 or 5/5 on a food rating scale. That doesn't make sense. But it doesn't mean I wouldn't recommend Lucky Charms to a friend for breakfast. Same here.

    -----------
    I think people tend to rate books higher than they should, so I try to rate books on a harder scale, while being consistent over time. Jerry Foster's book rating scale:

    5 - Fantastic. Life-altering. Only 10-20 books in a lifetime.
    4 - Very good.
    3 - Worth your time.
    2 - Not very good.
    1 - Atrocious
    13 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2018
    In times like these, whether you're in space or not (oh, wait... technically we're ALL in space), a good laugh is necessary medicine.

    The Space Team series is your veritable pharmacopeia of laughs, guffaws, giggles, and groans, all sweetly coated in thrilling space adventure that will draw you in from premise one and take you on the ride of your life ...in space.

    Some folks have compared this cast of ne'er do wells to the Guardians of the Galaxy. I am not going there. Don't get me wrong; yay Marvel and all that, but these characters and this author deserve more way than just being described that way. This is a whole, imaginative universe unto itself that is in no way derivative of any of the major Universes we are seeing on the big screen these days. It's like comparing apples and banoffee pie. Nonsensical.

    That said, rich, subtle, nerdy homages abound, of course; you'll find outright references to classic Sci Fi, nods to some of our all-time favorite characters (cough *Kirk* cough), and even, if you look for them, exquisitely subtle pop culture references that will have the Dudeist in you vibrating with joy (kind of like Splurt when he's happy). Far out, man.

    From book one all the way through nine (the latest in the series as I write this), Barry weaves masterful, suspenseful, outright hilarious tales of the Space Team, and you can't help but find yourself rooting for them -- even when they mess things up -- and yes, maybe you'll even find yourself loving them a bit. Oh, and crying. Oh yes. You will cry... but don't let that deter you.

    Book one is the origin story of Space Team, a rag tag band of miscreants and misfits, thrown together into a difficult and convoluted space situation. Every element of their initial (and sometimes larger than life) character development becomes essential to the eventual gelling (sorry, Splurt) of this newly-formed maybe-not-Team-at-first. Then, in spite of their differences, the personalities, quirks, habits, and Cal's annoying propensity to put the word "space" in front of every noun, this weird combo actually makes for a kickass group of problem-solvers and doers. Even when they mess it up. Which they do. A lot.

    Barry is a master of taking his interesting characters, putting them in whacky, way-out situations, and seeing where things go without anything that happens feeling forced by the unseen hand (of the author, or space god, as it were). There is always the chance that situations will grow even larger than life, because the rules of this universe are only bound by the author's imagination and the nature of his characters. Whether he leads his characters or they lead him, the story is always going to go somewhere interesting, and the resolutions will be delightful and even poignant in their expansive creativity and heartfelt feels.

    These books get even better on the second read; I am in my second cycle of reading 1-9 while my husband takes his first read of them. I think that I laugh even harder this time and with greater joy. I know and love these characters now, and even though I know that Cal is going to be predictably verbose, Miz predictably whateverish, Lauren bumbling but strangely competent, Splurt, well, just splurty, and Mech either nerd or a tank, I find their antics, their relationships, their joys, and their heartbreaks just as exhilarating in re-reading, if not more so than the first read.

    I highly recommend this entire series to anyone who loves imaginative new SF! Come on. You know you need a laugh. Give this series a chance.
    107 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • TheOneTree
    5.0 out of 5 stars LMFAO, seriously!
    Reviewed in Australia on January 14, 2018
    No spoilers...

    If you like your sci-fi with a heavy dose of humour, then this is the book for you.

    The book is set around a non-stop self-deprecating protagonist with a serious attack of charm who managed to make me chuckle and cringe both at the same time.
    It’s rare for me to laugh out loud when reading, so I totally enjoyed this book enough for me to go and pickup Volume 1, ensuring that I get the next two books as well.
    Good fun, good read. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
  • Tibule
    5.0 out of 5 stars Trop délire !
    Reviewed in France on July 30, 2017
    Ce n'est pas de la romance, mais de la science-fiction. Cela dit, j'ai tellement rigolé, que la romance ne m'a pas manquée du tout !

    Si vous aimez les héros des "Gardiens de la Galaxie", vous allez adoré ce roman. Rien que la couverture vous donne le ton.

    Alors si vous voulez faire un break dans la romance pour vous dérouiller les zygomatiques, allez-y, c'est d'la bonne !
    Report
  • Jens Stark
    3.0 out of 5 stars Not my sense of humour.
    Reviewed in Germany on July 5, 2020
    Buy the book yourself, see if you like it.
    A bit too much slapstick for me and I must say that I skipped the last third.
    But I won't buy the second volume.
  • Gazz
    5.0 out of 5 stars Cal & Splurt … the Penn & Teller of Space
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 29, 2017
    Love this book. The star of the show is undoubtedly ‘Captain’ Cal Carver. His quick fire wit leaps off the page.
    This is really exceptional writing. Not only does the author build a successful plot but he also laces it with great humour. And that’s not easy to achieve. I can only think of a few British comedy creations which achieve the same level of quick fire wit with every sentence – Norman Stanley Fletcher (written and performed by Ronnie Barker) springs to mind. Cal Carver compares very favourably. I’m guessing that the author Barry J. Hutchison is Cal Carver – he must have been a nightmare as a schoolboy at the back of the classroom endlessly goading his teacher with ‘helpful’ quips.
    I don’t have any criticism to make. Great writing, entertaining story, a good bunch of characters … and so funny. What’s not to like.
    My 2nd favourite character is Splurt – a mute, blobby, shape-shifting alien. Cal & Splurt are a bit like Penn & Teller. I’m hoping that one of the Space Team series of books has Splurt discovering a voice, and it turns out that Splurt is every bit as cocky as Cal.

    Now then, which book to read next? How can I resist a title like “Space Team: The Search for Splurt”.
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliantly mad
    Reviewed in Spain on September 12, 2018
    How he thinks up all the asides and witty remarks I will never know, A star is born, would make a fantastic film

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