About this book
When four men descend in a lifeboat to the shores of Venus in Mack Reynolds and Fredric Brown's "Happy Ending," one passenger carries secrets that could mean the difference between survival and death. Wrapped in bandages and dark glasses, he studies the alien landscape below—dazzling white sand, impossible blue waters, and emerald jungles untouched by the devastation that has ravaged the solar system. This science fiction short story collection explores humanity's desperate search for refuge in a cosmos torn apart by war and conflict.
As the unnamed fugitive settles into this forgotten corner of a nearly destroyed world, he grapples with an inescapable truth: safety comes with a price, and trust is a luxury few can afford. The queerly shaped Venusian trees and semi-intelligent creatures that inhabit this paradise offer peace, but only temporary respite. With three crew members who know his identity, he faces the constant threat of discovery—a gamble he's forced to accept.
Reynolds and Brown masterfully blend hard science fiction concepts with intimate human drama, examining themes of isolation, redemption, and what it truly means to find sanctuary in a broken world. Their spare, evocative prose brings alien landscapes to vivid life while exploring the moral complexities of escape and survival.
Perfect for listeners who appreciate thought-provoking science fiction that challenges assumptions about freedom and belonging, "Happy Ending" offers a haunting meditation on second chances in an unforgiving universe.
