Space: 1969

by Bill Oakley, Natasha Lyonne (Reading)

What if President John F. Kennedy had survived and rocketed the Space Race of the 1960s into overdrive? And what if he was, maybe, not quite...himself?  

Space: 1969 is a wild and outrageous sci-fi comedy from the mind of Emmy-winning writer Bill Oakley (The Simpsons, Futurama, Portlandia). 

Nancy Kranich (played by Emmy-nominated actress Natasha Lyonne of Russian Doll and Orange Is the New Black) is a night nurse on an orbiting space station. But Nancy hates her job, is sick of space, and longs to find adventure and a safe place to smoke cigarettes that won't blow everyone up.  

But when Nancy gets caught up in an outer-space conspiracy involving President Kennedy (serving his third term), former vice-president Richard Nixon (now a miserable, forgotten lawyer practicing estate law in New York City), and an intergalactic object that could change the course of history, she gets way more adventure than she bargained for.  

Can Nurse Nancy save herself, the Moon Colony, and the future of the entire United States of America?  

Space: 1969 is a retro sci-fi comedy adventure that has to be heard to be believed!   

Narrators: 


Natasha Lyonne 
Jim Meskimen
LJ Ganser 
Catherine Taber
Barrett Leddy
Bill Andrew Quinn
Chris Andrew Ciulla
Dina Pearlman
Gabriel Vaughan
Jay Snyder
Kevin Pariseau
Kevin T. Collins
Khristine Hvam
Mark Boyett
Helen Laser
Nick Sullivan
Piper Goodeve
Robert Creighton
Steve Routman
Thom Rivera
Ron E. Rains
Richie Moriarty
Jeb Kreager
Henry Strozier
Bartley Booz
Adrian Roberts
Joniece Abbott-Pratt
Carol Monda
Bill Oakley
Josh Weinstein
Shaun O'Hagan
Marc Vietor

Genres: Audiobook, Science Fiction, Humor, Fiction, Comedy, Historical Fiction, Alternate History

Audio CD

First published June 30, 2022

About the author

William Douglas Oakley was a letterer for numerous comic books from Marvel, DC, and other companies.
(source: Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Over the top wacky, fast paced sci-fi/alternative history fun that is equally hilarious and corny with abundant non sequiturs and witty dialogue and deep in 60's pop culture and politics. Audio is well produced with a talented cast and excellent audio effects.

[David Firmage · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bonkers.

[Gilbert Stack · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a strange story featuring a maniacal JFK just starting his third term in office, and many other historical figures, with Richard Nixon serving as both a character and narrator. The fully dramatized cast plays their parts for jokes and the plot is so absurd that it is funny. It’s also very hard to figure out what is going on for most of the time. The main character is a nurse on the space station who sneaks out for a smoke with Jerry Lewis and therefore knows that the story of how he dies on the station could not be correct.

This mystery is followed by a lot of senseless action including JFK convincing himself that he’s God and destined to start an American Empire in the solar system, a space shuttle hijacking, Richard Nixon running for Mayor of the Moon, and ultimately, an assassination attempt on the moon.

I think the voice actors had a lot of fun recording this story. It would have been nicer if they had a stronger, more coherent script to read.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of fun!

My fav moment that perfectly sums up this show:

“Can you tell me who?”
“I can, but it would really spoil my next scene…”
“Gotcha, tell me while the theme music is playing so nobody will hear wha-“ *doop doop doop…*

[Henry · Rating 1 out of 5]

Silly and moronic.

[Athena (OneReadingNurse) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is absolutely amazing and hilarious and everything I would expect from the Futurama crew. It's also everything I've ever wanted to scream at a patient that I'm a registered f*cking nurse not a waitress 😂😂

Great entertainment on a flight and definitely recommend if JFK tripping on timelines and LSD sounds hilarious to you

[Thelma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This audio was amazing I really enjoy the whole vibe, it was very realistic and I laugh so much I really enjoy the narrations and the crazy characters, I thought I wasn't going to like it but it was a surprise to really enjoy. I really recommend this audiobook is hilarious.

[Tim Wetzel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Extremely extremely dumb but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy it

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lot of fun. 3+ for the story and 4 for the audio.

[John Somerlott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was weird, wacky, zany perfection. Do not expect this to be a sensible story that takes its narrative with the slightest degree of seriousness. Imagine Futurama meets Monty Python. This is an easy and quick listen whether you are working or in the car. Pizza Pie.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

An alternate universe where Kennedy isn't assassinated and goes on to serve a third term with slightly less sanity than the previous terms, and oh yeah, we get to space way faster and establish a moon colony.

And the story was narrated by Richard Nixon (and sometimes his well meaning secretary rosemary)

So so funny

[JalapenoSoup · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very funny but very profane, so do be aware of that.

The writers and voice cast all had so much fun with the characters, format, and concept. All sorts of historical figures and "Easter eggs" are sprinkled throughout the story, there's constant breaking of the fourth wall, and really silly but somehow still compelling characterization.

I'll say it again: The voice cast is AMAZING. I got so involved. If you love humor, alternate history, the 1960s and the space race, or radio theater, definitely give this a listen. (DON'T listen if swearing, smoking or "second base" is a deal-breaker.)

Nurse Nancy is a delightful hot mess of a main character, and I loved her and Ian's unconventional friendship. I was also really rooting for good ol' Ben, even if he is a bit of a square.

I feel this scratches a similar itch to Futurama, so if you like one you may like the other. (A certain character sounds almost the same in both productions, so that may be what drew my mind to the connection in the first place.)

[Emski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a bloody fun listen! I need more like this!

[Martha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I listened for three hours before the cussing became intolerable to my ears - particularly taking the Lord's name in vain. This wacky, distasteful humor is not for me. This is clearly a parody/spoof of old radio drama (Nixon as the Narrator and a character) full of corrupt politics using people from the late 1960s such as President Kennedy and Richard Nixon, and adding entertainers like Jerry Lee Lewis and Dean Martin, Goldie Hawn, many from the Laugh In crew, and more.

I did love most of the voices, and the performance is entertaining for those of an age to know the characters, themes, and voices of the era. However, the performance and the unclear plot direction (other than maniacal intergalactic power by third term president Kennedy) was not enough to overcome my distaste for cigarettes (main character Nurse Nancy and others), LSD (used by the president and friends), inferred sexual infidelity (again the president) and foul language (used by almost everyone).

I'm not sure if nurse Nancy Kranich will end up being a take off on Nurse Ratchet but this did make me think of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. I wasn't a big fan of that movie. I also am not a fan of The Simpsons with all of its disrespect, so maybe I should have realized I might not care for this.

I decided to stop and find something more palatable for the remaining 2 and a half hours.

[Cheyenne · Rating 5 out of 5]

If a light-hearted science-fiction comedy spy story about the 1960s sounds like it would be up your alley, then this story is for you! While I can't claim to have gotten all the references as someone born in the early 90s, I feel that I got enough of them to enjoy the story, though I suspect it would have been even funnier to someone who was alive in the time of these references. I also thought they did a great job of arranging the music/sound effects and generally handling a very large cast in a full-cast narration. I also appreciated the subtle calling-out of the misogyny of the time and the overall badassery of Nurse Nancy.

[Dean · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the premise was great and I really enjoyed about the first 40% of the story. Sadly, I think the author got a bit lazy with the story and it started to drag and the end was a let down. Telling the story with the feeling of watching an old Laugh-In episode was creative. I wish the ending could have better lived up to the beginning.

[Brian S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sci-fi meets historical fictions meets political thriller meets comedy: what a fun story with loads of great pop culture references! True, this may not resonate with the 20 and 30-something’s of today, but must it?

[Rea · Rating 3 out of 5]

You work in a pizza parlor on the moon. Dick Nixon’s your boss. And you’re about to be framed for the assassination of John F. Kennedy. You’re in the shit now.

This was so silly and stupid and I loved it

[appleblossomorchard]

4 stars: honestly a bit of a random book but well performed, ft. natasha lyonne, and a good laugh

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent full cast Sci fi comedy from Audible. Easily 4.5 stars. Richard Nixon as the narrator was flat out hilarious! Make more please!!

[mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious Audible original with a full cast, but featuring Natasha Lyonne! Very entertaining

[Carolyn (heynonnynonnie) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This just wasn't for me, which was odd because I like Bill Oakley's television work and wacky scifi stories. Honestly, I was bored for a lot of this. It might be the medium since the whole thing is a script. The voice acting and music were flawless. I wish I liked it more.

[Wendy Bunnell]

DNF at 35%
I'm Gen X and can remember most of the pop culture references but this was clearly for the Boomers.

[Patrick O'Leary]

Hilarious, well done, acted out fantastically. If you have a handful of hours to listen, it is absolutely worth it. Golden Glode nominated comedian Jerry Lewis wants you to listen.

[Art · Rating 4 out of 5]

I laughed a lot listening to this. I usually don't care much for "full cast" audiobooks, but this one really made it work. If you like goofy, and profanity filled, sci-fi comedy I recommend this.

[Damien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frolicky radio drama set in a pitch perfect era for the medium and with that razor sharp, sci-fi wit you’d expect from Bill Oakley. Outstanding cast, intriguing premise, and spot on production.

[John David Bull · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great production and definitely the laugh I needed.

[Cora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audio production from Audible. Very well done, humorous, alternate history. Highly recommend. Not for kiddos.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun tale, and Natasha Lyonne does a great job as Nancy. I enjoyed the “what if” and such an imaginative tale of space.

[Mangy Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a romp! 😂