Fans of blockbuster video game franchises like Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption can now delve into a new literary work by their former lead writer, Dan Houser. His debut novel, A Better Paradise: Volume One – An Aftermath, co-authored by the co-founder of Rockstar Studios, hit store shelves on October 14. This hardcover edition is available for purchase at major retailers, with a digital Kindle version also offered.
Houser`s first novel is an expanded adaptation of a narrative audio series from 2024, originally produced by Absurd Ventures, the multimedia studio he established in 2021 after departing Rockstar. The story of A Better Paradise: Volume One centers on a video game project that was canceled but subsequently evolves into a decade-long psychological ordeal. The book was published under Absurd Ventures Press, a new imprint of the studio, and distributed by Simon & Schuster, a prominent publishing house. Dan Houser is widely recognized for his extensive contributions as the head writer for every Grand Theft Auto game since 1999, both Red Dead Redemption titles, Bully, and Max Payne 3.
Exploring the World of A Better Paradise
The narrative of A Better Paradise unfolds in the near future, specifically 2041. It revolves around “Daisy`s Ark,” a sophisticated virtual game world conceived by visionary psychologist Mark Tyburn and developed by his tech startup, Tyburn Industria. Despite its advanced design, Daisy`s Ark was eventually scrapped due to a series of “unexpected and disturbing results.” A decade later, this abandoned creation refuses to fade into obscurity, instead haunting those who were intimately involved in its development.
The novel employs multiple first-person narrators to tell its intricate story. These include Kurt Fischer, a pivotal former employee of Tyburn Industria; Daisy Tyburn, Mark`s daughter and the namesake of the enigmatic game world; and an artificial intelligence known as NigelDave.
While the hardcover edition spans 448 pages, its distinct formatting, which separates each short paragraph with a line break, makes for a quicker and more accessible reading experience due to the ample white space on each page.
Audiobook and Future Expansions
For those who prefer audio, an audiobook version of A Better Paradise is exclusively available through Audible. Special promotions are often available for new Audible subscribers, offering significant savings on the audiobook’s retail price by utilizing monthly credits.
As noted, the novel expands upon the narrative of the audio series, which launched in June of the previous year and consisted of 12 episodes. This audio series featured an impressive ensemble cast, including Andrew Lincoln of The Walking Dead, Shamier Anderson, and Paterson Joseph, and is freely accessible on various podcast platforms. The novel delves deeper into the origins of Tyburn Industria`s video game project and provides more background on its creators.
True to its title, A Better Paradise is envisioned as the inaugural volume in a series by Houser. While the total number of planned volumes remains unconfirmed, it is known that the universe of A Better Paradise will eventually be home to an actual video game, currently under development at Absurd Ventures.
In addition to his literary endeavors, Absurd Ventures has also collaborated with Dark Horse Comics on American Caper, a 12-part comic book series also created and written by Houser. The first issue of American Caper is scheduled for release on November 12, with the second issue following on December 24.
Recommended Fiction Inspired by Video Games
If you enjoy narratives centered around video games and the individuals who craft them, consider exploring the following novels:
- Jason Rekulak – The Impossible Fortress: Particularly recommended for enthusiasts of retro gaming.
- Gabrielle Zevin – Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow: A moving saga about two friends whose shared passion for video games leads them to establish their own game development studio.
- Austin Grossman – You
- Collin Armstrong – Polybius
- Neal Stephenson – Reamde
- Neal Stephenson – Fall; or, Dodge in Hell
- Ernest Cline – Armada
- Ernest Cline – Ready Player One
- Ernest Cline – Ready Player Two
- Marie Lu – Warcross
- D.B. Weiss – Lucky Boy Wander