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A Planet Called Happy
An uplifting sci-fi adventure from the award-winning author of The Last Gifts of the Universe
Author: Riley August
Narrator: Kate Handford
Unabridged: 12 hr 6 min
Format: Digital Audiobook Download
Publisher: Penguin
Published: 07/23/2026
Categories: Fiction, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Action & Adventure, Political
Synopsis
The fun new sci-fi adventure from the award-winning author of The Last Gifts of the Universe, perfect for fans of T. J. Klune and Becky Chambers.
Ellis appears to have it all – a great job, a loving girlfriend, and a loyal dog – yet each morning he wakes up feeling that something is missing.
In a desperate quest for true happiness, he boards a luxury shuttle to Planet Happy, a hedonistic paradise where guests seek the elusive ‘Happiness X’, the trademarked secret to instant joy.
There, he encounters Nara, a VIP attendant with her own dreams of freedom, whose job is to ensure Ellis has the time of his life. But when an activist group disrupts their plans, Ellis and Nara embark on a thrilling adventure that challenges their understanding of happiness and the influence of corporate power.
Will they find what they’re searching for, or is there more to Planet Happy than what’s in the brochure?
'Riley August is a major new voice in science fiction and I will read anything they write' Nadia El-Fassi
‘Raw, funny, and wise.' Julie Leong
‘Last Gifts is a quietly profound story about grief, purpose, and our place in the universe – told with a touch of humor, and a dash of adventure. Come for the cat, stay for the story.’ Sunyi Dean
© Riley August 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026
Ellis appears to have it all – a great job, a loving girlfriend, and a loyal dog – yet each morning he wakes up feeling that something is missing.
In a desperate quest for true happiness, he boards a luxury shuttle to Planet Happy, a hedonistic paradise where guests seek the elusive ‘Happiness X’, the trademarked secret to instant joy.
There, he encounters Nara, a VIP attendant with her own dreams of freedom, whose job is to ensure Ellis has the time of his life. But when an activist group disrupts their plans, Ellis and Nara embark on a thrilling adventure that challenges their understanding of happiness and the influence of corporate power.
Will they find what they’re searching for, or is there more to Planet Happy than what’s in the brochure?
'Riley August is a major new voice in science fiction and I will read anything they write' Nadia El-Fassi
‘Raw, funny, and wise.' Julie Leong
‘Last Gifts is a quietly profound story about grief, purpose, and our place in the universe – told with a touch of humor, and a dash of adventure. Come for the cat, stay for the story.’ Sunyi Dean
© Riley August 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026