In the year 2050, the vast majority of Americans make up the liberated class: promised freedom from labor, but given inescapable poverty and societal decay. In spite of his dystopian upbringing, 18-year-old “libertine” Henry Simon starts a band with his friends in a desperate attempt to find meaning and happiness in a world ruthlessly deprived of both by its automated authoritarian government.

Meanwhile, Helene Shock is a fully-conscious musical “autogen” whose continual refinement as an artist and clout as a superstar leads her to help the forsaken libertines in any way she can. As their paths cross, Henry and Helene must navigate the treacherous conditions of the liberated cities, mind-bending developments in automated technology, and the overwhelming political pressures placed upon them by a government increasingly controlled by the autogens that ushered in their dangerous new world.

Jam-packed with music, humor, and politics, NextGen offers thrilling suspense, thoughtful analysis, and—most importantly—a bright glimmer of hope.

After all, the future is unwritten…

About the author

NextGen is the first novel by author Steven Cary, who draws upon his double life as a professional musician and political attorney to fill its highly musical and politically fraught pages. Inspired by a lifelong passion for classic world literature and punk rock, Cary mixes gritty action-packed prose with a literary philosophical flair to create a dystopian world that’s not without its comforts, much like his home in sunny Florida.

For further reading, including the short story, “The Universe,” please visit substack.com/@stevencary and subscribe for articles and updates.