A Planet Called Happy

An uplifting sci-fi adventure from the award-winning author of The Last Gifts of the Universe

By: Riley August

Brought to you by Penguin.

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 will they discover something even more valuable?


'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