The Future Generation: The Zine-Book for Subculture Parents, Kids, Friends & Others

In 1990, Martens, a young "anarchist punk rock mother who didn't feel that the mamas in her community had enough support," started the zine The Future Generation. An anthology was produced in 2007 and is reprinted here in an anniversary edition. While parenting styles and struggles have changed since this pre-Internet text, many of the author's political complaints will resonate with today's readers, including heavy-hitting topics such as "Violence" (1991), in which the author writes, "Our hierarchical capitalist government promotes violence through exploitation while it obscures the root causes of injustice… Is this the way it has to be? Is this human nature?" In some places, the narrative feels like a diatribe, while in others, Martens piques curiosity and tickles your funny bone. An afterword by the author's now-grown daughter is appended.