Euphoria
The year is 2132, Earth is nothing but a distant memory, and the next destination for humanity is out there ready to be explored. Command One's exploration program is yet to be successful after sending dozens of men and women to countless planets. The duo of young hotshot Theo Bentega and veteran Benjamin Smith find themselves on one of these missions to planet Eden in the Euphoria system. What looks like paradise at first, is soon discovered to be something much worse. Even with the highest grade technology, the adventures that lay ahead of the men are nothing that they have experienced. From the perspective of Theo, the thoughts, memories, and flashbacks build the world around him and pave his actions onward. Connections are established, mysteries are to be uncovered, and threats are suspiciously around them, the duo sticks to the mission, but sooner rather than later the question is asked, at what cost?
Where to read Euphoria:
Behind The Cover:
Euphoria is where it all began. It was the spark that set the rest of my creative projects in motion. It introduced me to incredible collaborators, gave me the confidence to tell deeper stories, and proved that I could turn my passion for storytelling into something real.
The idea came to life in the summer of 2020. After my first year of university was cut short, I moved back home and spent that summer reconnecting with my hometown friends, especially one of my closest friends, Nick DeKort. I consider Nick not only the most talented painter I know but also one of my biggest role models when I was starting out as an artist. One day at his house, he showed me a sketchbook filled with his artwork. Among the pages was a two-page spread that stopped me in my tracks: a dystopian world where punk-rock rebels wielded advanced technology, including wrist pads that could scan and analyze nature. That image stayed with me. A year later, Nick gifted me that very sketch for my birthday. He even created an early concept for the cover art, sketched entirely by hand. My biggest regret is not making it the official cover for Euphoria. You can see this image at the bottom of this page.
The morning after hanging out with Nick, I was back home in the shower when the ending of a story hit me like lightning. Suddenly, an entire world started forming in my mind. But then came the question: what do I do with this? I had not read a book for fun since elementary school, but I thought, why not try writing one? I started with a single chapter. Then another. By the time I reached six chapters, I thought, if I have come this far, why not finish it? I even wrote the title Euphoria on a piece of paper, taped it to my wall, and scribbled underneath: “It ain’t gonna write itself.”
What started as a simple test to see if I could write a single chapter turned into a year-and-a-half-long journey. It was not consistent work, and it certainly was not professionally edited, but it was something I poured my heart into. My girlfriend, Connie Di Raimo, was a huge motivator throughout the process, always asking if I had written that day or how far along I was. She is one of the people I dedicated this novel to, and if I had not met her around the same time I started this project, I do not know where I would have found the motivation to keep going.
Eventually, I connected with a publisher. Two years after that first spark of inspiration, I was on a road trip in the United States with two of my best friends when I got the email: I was officially a published author. That moment, surrounded by the people I love, was unforgettable.
Euphoria draws inspiration from a mix of influences, including Halo, Wall-E, the Alien franchise, and even the sharp dialogue of Quentin Tarantino films. You will find nods to these throughout the book, like a reference to Teletraan from Transformers, drones reminiscent of Wall-E, and other easter eggs for those who look closely.
The story follows two main characters, Theo Bentega and Benjamin Smith. Theo, a young explorer born on Command One, embarks on one of his first missions with Ben, a seasoned veteran from Earth. Their bond is the heart of the story, with Ben as the mentor and Theo as the eager learner. Theo is loosely based on me at the time: inexperienced, determined, and willing to stumble, fall, and grow along the way. As the journey unfolds, other crew members join them, each with their own personalities and backstories. Keep an eye out for Sarah Owens, who plays an important role in future instalments.
Looking back, I am proud of what Euphoria became: a story full of suspense, heart, psychology, and sci-fi wonder. It is more than just a book to me. It is the beginning of everything that came after.
You can find a playlist I created while working on Euphoria, along with the original sketch Nick drew and the concept cover art he made:
