A World of Soma

For some, the pursuit of happiness does not come easily. Almost by definition, being human means to be imperfect, scratched, and scarred. Countless multitudes of men, women, and children are prevented from that very pursuit because they suffer from depression or various mental disorders. But then, four scientists working on the edge of possibility and hope invent a drug that eliminates depression, and a new era of peace and bliss for all emerges. Blending science fiction with hard science, this contemporary fairy tale for a technological world explores the very morality of such a discovery. The work of the fictional scientists is based on real-world research, and they explore the psycho-neurological causes of depression and how new drugs are developed. Can four scientists actually create a sustainable utopia in a lab? Can bliss in a pill truly come without consequences? Is peace for all mankind even a possibility? Sometimes, the price of true happiness-even when it comes in a little pill-may be higher than expected.