The Happiness Variant

The Happiness Variant

Author: Vern Hume March 2, 2026 Duration: 35:42

Hana Grabowski, a genetic engineer with a failing gene-mod business, takes a secretive contract to restore humanity’s appetite for impulsive behaviour. When her staff threatens to revolt, she uses a variant to alter their attitude. However, the mosquitoes she uses to infect them escape, unleashing a fast-spreading contagion that rewires human reward centers. The world slips into a pandemic of happiness, and no one cares except Hana.

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CREDITS

Written by Vern Hume (AKA Alan V Hare).

Read by Cathleen Connelly.

Opening and closing were composed and created by Matthew Erdmann.

Produced by Vecada Studios.

Makeshift Stories is released under a creative commons non-commercial attribution, no derivative license.


Step into the world of Original Science Fiction-Makeshift Stories, an independent audio drama crafted by Vern Hume. This podcast is a monthly expedition into the vast territories of speculative fiction, blending elements of sci-fi and fantasy into original, self-contained narratives. Each episode is a new story, a fresh exploration of uncharted futures, strange realities, and the rebellious technologies that might define them. Listeners will hear fully-produced audio fiction, where character-driven plots unfold against backdrops of both wonder and warning. The focus is on immersive storytelling that asks "what if?" and follows that question down unexpected paths. It’s a podcast for those who crave thoughtful, original worlds built from sound and imagination, offering a regular escape into possibilities just beyond our own horizon. Tune in to discover what tomorrow might bring, one makeshift story at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Original Science Fiction - Makeshift Stories
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