Can a punk rock band save humanity from itself?

This is the story of one generation's headlong plunge into a world dominated by automation; and the next generation, who must fight to reclaim their right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Henry Simon and his friends are young "libertines"—members of the liberated class promised freedom from work, but given inescapable poverty. They want to start a band, but in their collapsed totalitarian society, all jobs have been automated (including that of "band"). Helene Shock is a fully-conscious musical “autogen” whose continual refinement as an artist and clout as a superstar among the pampered anchor class prompts her to help the forgotten libertines in any way she can. As their paths cross, Henry and Helene must navigate the treacherous liberated cities, the mind-bending developments in automated technology, and the overwhelming pressures placed upon them by a government increasingly controlled by the autogens that ushered in their dystopian world.

Jam-packed with music, humor, and adventure, NextGen offers adults and young adults accessible meditations on the nature of politics, creativity, and consciousness, thrilling suspense, 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.