Absurd Ventures is excited to announce the forthcoming novelization of A BETTER PARADISE Volume One: An Aftermath, adapted from the hit science-fiction audio series written by Dan Houser. Set for publication in Fall 2025, this novel marks the first release from Houser’s new Absurd Ventures imprint in partnership with Simon & Schuster distribution.
What is A Better Paradise?
Set in the near future, A BETTER PARADISE delves into the ill-fated development of an ambitious, addictive video game project led by inventor and psychologist Dr. Mark Tyburn. When the advanced software begins delivering unexpected and disturbing results, the project—and the team behind it—falls apart under mysterious circumstances. The game world and its super-intelligent entity are abandoned, left dormant and undiscovered…until now. The novelization expands on the audio series, revealing the origins and secrets of the game’s development as told by the tortured souls now on the run from the very AI they helped unleash.
The audio podcast has quite the following
The audio fiction podcast A BETTER PARADISE debuted at #1 on Apple’s Fiction charts and earned the 2024 Signal Award for Best Episode of Scripted Fiction for its season finale. Praised by Sports Illustrated as “fascinating… thought provoking… there’s humanity in every line,” the series captivated audiences worldwide. Now, the novelization promises to take fans deeper into its expansive universe.
Who is Dan Houser? I mean, I know because I still play GTA V
Dan Houser, co-founder of Rockstar Games and creative force behind iconic series such as Grand Theft Auto, Red Dead Redemption, and Bully, brings his visionary storytelling to this new universe. A BETTER PARADISE Volume One: An Aftermath is the inaugural story in an expansive new IP universe that Houser is developing under the Absurd Ventures banner.
Additionally, Absurd Ventures is actively developing A BETTER PARADISE for television and an open-world action-adventure video game set within this intriguing universe.
Final Thoughts
A BETTER PARADISE Volume One: An Aftermath promises to be a thought-provoking, expansive narrative that redefines the boundaries of science-fiction storytelling. With its roots in a critically acclaimed audio series and the visionary legacy of Dan Houser, this novel is poised to captivate fans of the genre. Keep an eye out for its release in Fall 2025 and prepare to dive deeper into a world where the line between human ambition and technological consequence is more blurred than ever.
