For the record, this has taken over as my favorite Space Team books. It also goes up high on all of my other good book lists, too. Take Space Team, mash it together with 2001: A Space Odyssey, and take a little time to pluck at heartstrings, and you have this book.

Barry J. Hutchison really ups his writing game with this one. While maintaining all of the fun and attitude and hilarity of the Space Team series, he drops in healthy doses of unconventional mystery and heartfelt warmth. Once this book got going, I was absolutely spellbound throughout. I couldn’t imagine a Space Team book making me tear up, but this one did.

This really does sit at a level above the previous books, and I highly recommend it.

Phil Thron is just amazing. The different voices he does are varied and perfect. The pace and emotion he gives to the narration is spot on. I cannot imagine another of my favorite narrators giving this book the justice he does.

As amazing as this book is, I’m scared to go onto the next one. This book seems to be a once-in-a-series achievement, so I’m afraid to be let down by the next one. But I’m of course going to find out.