The world of punk is one of the most vibrant cultures in the world. Centered principally on music, it’s rich in art, fashion, and activism. It’s a movement and a culture that goes beyond mere aesthetics, a driving force to influence and change Western culture for the better. It is definitely not rebellion cosplay.

But as rich and vibrant as punk culture is, there is one crucial piece that it is missing, one area of creative and intellectual expression where it’s sorely lacking

Literature.

If you want to find books about punk culture there are many excellent non-fiction books. Please Kill Me, the book Violence Girl about Alice Bag, and The Story of Crass are just a few of the many excellent books on that topic. But when it comes to fiction there is a gaping and empty maw. Short stories, novels, and graphic novels about punks and punk culture are not so prolific. There is a shortage of fables, stories, and narratives centered on punk culture.

Dani Dassler’s PR is not only
an excellent novel, its cultural
message is one that cannot be
understated. It’s an important work,
especially in the realm of punk culture.

Some people bristle when I say this, about the literary gap in that culture, and to counteract my assertion they point to specific works as evidence that there is good punk fiction. It’s not that there are not good fictional works centering on punk and punk culture, it’s just that when it comes to that niche it’s not nearly as prolific or evident as other aspects. Sure enough, there are excellent stories and writing that jibe with punk. Dani Dassler’s PR is the first thing that comes to mind, as is CE Hoffman’s Sluts and Whores. There’s Stephanie Kuhnert’s I Want to be Your Joey Ramone, and Punks by Richard Cucarese. And, of course, the Love and Rockets graphic novel series by the Hernandez Brothers.

There are other books that skirt near this aesthetic, such as the poetry of Simon Warwick Beresford and the urban drama The Ghetto’s Tryin’ ta Kill me by Contel Bradford, works that are not necessarily centered on that culture, but have the punk attitude and aesthetic.

There are some graphic novels and fiction that insist they are stories centered around punk culture, but too many of them quickly fall into unrealistic criminal tropes that brings to mind the punk episode of CHIPs, making it more the mainstream made-for-TV version of punk than an actual reflection of the culture, simply becoming unrealistic and implausible.

Perhaps the idea that punk needs a stronger literary culture is not the most salient criticism of such an alt-culture, especially one that is centered in music. After all, it’s not as if hip hop and heavy metal have a widespread fictional representation, at least not one that has emerged into the mainstream. Some music centered cultures such as country and jazz can point to many literary inspirations that are not necessarily centered on those musical cultures, but still are held as an inspiration. (Goth is a prime example, which can draw on so many classic works of literature and tales from the horror genre for inspiration. Why write your own book when you can appeal to Edgar Allan Poe?)

I’m attempting the fill the punk lit
void with my own works,
based on my crazy life and
experiences within punk culture.
Nine novels so far
with number ten on the way!

But punk is so much more than a musical culture. It’s influence in activism, fashion, and its efforts to bring a new take on Western culture had been a driving force of the movement for decades. Punk has been so much more influential than many people realize or will admit. Punks don’t just pay lip service to ideals, they live them. Which makes me wonder, where are the punk scribes? Where are our beat poets and novelists?

I’ve been going to shows and punk events and protests and all manner of events for decades. I have more than a few crazy stories to tell. And when I talk to punks and like-minded urban adventurists, all of them have wild, wonderful, terrifying, and bizarre stories to tell. They talk to me about them, their crazy show experiences, their insane drug and alcohol tales, and encounters with all kinds of twisted urban types, as well as their intense activist struggles. When they tell me these stories I think to myself, “Why aren’t you writing this down?”

James Frey, the author of A Million Little Pieces, should’ve stuck to fiction instead of insisting his stories were a memoir. I have not read his book yet but I understand it’s quite good. I already knew I wanted to write fiction when I started pounding the word processor to tell my tales, but my writing has been inspired by my real life events. I have had a wild, exotic, insane, and all too interesting life that is not far from, and sometimes even more intense, the stories my characters experience. The way I put it is that if they made a movie about a young me, they would have to get John Waters to direct it.

So what is the point of this spiel? Why am I ranting against the lack of punk-inspired fiction? Well, hopefully to goad some people into hitting that computer and writing out some stories. Maybe inspire someone to write a novel or two. Why not? That’s my hope anyway.

The one thing I can do is try to point out what’s already out there. If this kind of work gets around, maybe it will inspire more scribes.

Must read books:

Dani Dassler’s PR is a MUST read! She shows different cultures intertwining as young people try to figure out their places in life.

I cannot fanboy flail enough about CE Hoffman’s work. This is an excellent collection of unique short stories.

Simon Warwick Beresford’s work is the pinnacle of modern poetry, mixing classical and modern themes, from poem you could read to your sweet grandma, to work you will want to hide from your kids!

We need more stories like those told by Stephanie Kuhnert. This kind of work doesn’t happen often enough!