Space Team Books in Order

How to Read the Space Team Universe

Barry J. Hutchison’s Space Team universe is a hilarious romp through a chaotic galaxy. While you can read the main novels in their publication order, the author has shared a definitive, unified timeline. This recommended reading order seamlessly integrates the main novels, the Dan Deadman Space Detective spin-off series, and key short story tie-ins. Following this order ensures you experience the recurring jokes, character development, and narrative threads exactly as the creator intended.

The Ultimate Chronological Reading Path

Here is the complete, chronological reading path recommended by author Barry J. Hutchison for the full Space Team universe:

1. Space Team (Novel 1) – Cal Carver is abducted from an Earth prison and thrust into a misfit crew of galactic outcasts.
2. Space Team: The Wrath of Vajazzle (Novel 2) – The crew faces a deadly assassin and a galaxy-threatening zombie virus.
3. Space Team: The Holiday Special (Short Story) – A festive adventure set between books 2 and 3, collected in A Lot of Weird Space Shizz.
4. Space Team: The Search for Splurt (Novel 3) – Cal and the crew search for their missing shapeshifting friend, Splurt.
5. Space Team: Song of the Space Siren (Novel 4) – The crew deals with a galactic pop star and a plot that threatens the universe.
6. Space Team: The Guns of Nana Joan (Novel 5) – An action-packed quest to recover a legendary, galaxy-shattering weapon.
7. Space Team: Return of the Dead Guy (Novel 6) – Cal confronts a ghost from his past in a battle that changes the crew's dynamic.
8. Dial D for Deadman (Dan Deadman Space Detective Book 1) – This spin-off introduces Dan Deadman, a zombie detective solving crimes in the shady underbelly of space station Oasis.
9. Dead Men Don’t Get Paid (Short Story) – A Dan Deadman short adventure, collected in A Lot of Weird Space Shizz.
10. Space Team: Planet of the Japes (Novel 7) – The crew lands on a planet where humor is a matter of life and death.
11. Dead Inside (Dan Deadman Space Detective Book 2) – Dan's second investigation takes him deeper into Oasis's criminal corruption.
12. Space Team: The Time Titan of Tomorrow (Novel 8) – Cal and the crew face a reality-altering threat involving time travel.
13. Dead in the Water (Dan Deadman Space Detective Book 3) – The final core novel in the Dan Deadman spin-off series.
14. Space Team: The King of Space Must Die! (Novel 9) – An epic, chaotic confrontation against the galaxy's most dangerous dictator.
15. Space Team: Sting of the Mustard Mines (Novel 10) – The crew is forced to work in a brutal prison camp, hatching a chaotic escape plan.
16. Space Team: Sentenced to Death (Novel 11) – The crew faces a trial that could end their adventures permanently.
17. Space Team: The Hunt for Reduk Topa (Novel 12) – A high-stakes race against time to track down a elusive and dangerous target.

Space Team Main Novels: Publication Order

If you prefer to stick strictly to the main novels before diving into spin-offs and side stories, you can read the primary books in their original release order. Note that in some databases, the short story collection A Lot of Weird Space Shizz is listed as Book 8, which pushes the numbering of the later novels forward by one. Officially, however, there are 12 published novels in the main line.

1. Space Team (2016)
2. The Wrath of Vajazzle (2016)
3. The Search for Splurt (2017)
4. Song of the Space Siren (2017)
5. The Guns of Nana Joan (2017)
6. Return of the Dead Guy (2017)
7. Planet of the Japes (2017)
8. The Time Titan of Tomorrow (2018)
9. The King of Space Must Die! (2018)
10. Sting of the Mustard Mines (2018)
11. Sentenced to Death (2018)
12. The Hunt for Reduk Topa (2019)

Spin-Offs and Companion Works

The Dan Deadman Space Detective Series

Set in the same universe but adopting a grittier, noir-comedy tone, this spin-off follows Dan Deadman. Dan is a detective who happens to be dead. He lives on the space station Oasis, solving cases for clients who are often as bizarre as he is. While it features a different cast of characters, the crossover elements and shared setting make it a perfect companion to the main series. The trilogy is comprised of Dial D for Deadman, Dead Inside, and Dead in the Water. You can also find all three collected in Dan Deadman Space Detective: The Complete Adventures.

A Lot of Weird Space Shizz

This is a dedicated collection of short stories and bonus content set in the Space Team universe. It includes the essential Space Team: The Holiday Special and the Dan Deadman short story Dead Men Don’t Get Paid. It is highly recommended to keep this collection handy as you work your way through the chronological list.

What to Know Before You Start

Before you embark on your journey with Cal Carver and his dysfunctional crew, keep these practical points in mind:

• The Comedy Style: The series relies heavily on fast-paced banter, absurd situations, and pop-culture-infused sci-fi tropes. If you enjoy Guardians of the Galaxy or the dry humor of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, you will feel right at home.
• Audiobook Brilliance: The audiobooks, narrated by Phil Thron, are widely considered by fans to be the gold standard. Thron’s voice acting, character accents, and comedic timing elevate the humor significantly, earning the series multiple independent audiobook awards. Dramatized full-cast audio productions are also available for select books.
• The Future of the Series: While the author officially announced a thirteenth novel, All The President's Space Men, in late 2019, its publication has been delayed indefinitely. Following a serious accident in 2019, Barry J. Hutchison pivoted his career to write crime thrillers under the pen name J. D. Kirk (famous for the DCI Logan series). As a result, the main Space Team book series is currently on pause, making The Hunt for Reduk Topa the final novel for the foreseeable future.