Generation Mars
@douglas.generationmars.space
Generation Mars is a series of children’s books that follows the first generation of space-faring kids. It's hard science fiction scaled for kids.
https://generationmars.space/
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08P5P3986
https://generationmars.space/
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08P5P3986
...The music oozed comfort and good vibes. The sisters looked at each other as they floated and bobbed in their straps.”
-- from Food: Generation Mars, Book Four
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXvi...
open.spotify.com/track/5YLnfy...
end 🧵
-- from Food: Generation Mars, Book Four
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXvi...
open.spotify.com/track/5YLnfy...
end 🧵
I'll Take You There
YouTube video by The Staple Singers - Topic
www.youtube.com
December 18, 2025 at 4:27 PM
...The music oozed comfort and good vibes. The sisters looked at each other as they floated and bobbed in their straps.”
-- from Food: Generation Mars, Book Four
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXvi...
open.spotify.com/track/5YLnfy...
end 🧵
-- from Food: Generation Mars, Book Four
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXvi...
open.spotify.com/track/5YLnfy...
end 🧵
Excerpt:
“Several minutes later, as the main engines shut off and the girls realized they were weightless, a soft funky bass line and a gospel female voice invited them to a place where nobody was crying, and nobody was worried...
“Several minutes later, as the main engines shut off and the girls realized they were weightless, a soft funky bass line and a gospel female voice invited them to a place where nobody was crying, and nobody was worried...
December 18, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Excerpt:
“Several minutes later, as the main engines shut off and the girls realized they were weightless, a soft funky bass line and a gospel female voice invited them to a place where nobody was crying, and nobody was worried...
“Several minutes later, as the main engines shut off and the girls realized they were weightless, a soft funky bass line and a gospel female voice invited them to a place where nobody was crying, and nobody was worried...
It’s such an easy and hopeful groove, but as with so much good music, it emerges from a cultural context that is in no way easy or hopeful. That juxtaposition seemed a good fit for this book.
December 18, 2025 at 4:27 PM
It’s such an easy and hopeful groove, but as with so much good music, it emerges from a cultural context that is in no way easy or hopeful. That juxtaposition seemed a good fit for this book.
...Cas thought the music might be too loud for Ori, but then she heard her sister yelling Higher! Higher! in the comms.”
-- from Food: Generation Mars, Book Four
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lyP...
open.spotify.com/track/4qpIk2...
-- from Food: Generation Mars, Book Four
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lyP...
open.spotify.com/track/4qpIk2...
I Want to Take You Higher
YouTube video by Sly and the Family Stone - Topic
www.youtube.com
December 17, 2025 at 7:10 PM
...Cas thought the music might be too loud for Ori, but then she heard her sister yelling Higher! Higher! in the comms.”
-- from Food: Generation Mars, Book Four
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lyP...
open.spotify.com/track/4qpIk2...
-- from Food: Generation Mars, Book Four
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lyP...
open.spotify.com/track/4qpIk2...
...A voice sang that it wanted to take them higher while a trumpet played syncopated notes between the words. Their weight suddenly increased, and they knew the Peregrine was rising from its pad as the voice continued to beckon them higher and higher...
December 17, 2025 at 7:10 PM
...A voice sang that it wanted to take them higher while a trumpet played syncopated notes between the words. Their weight suddenly increased, and they knew the Peregrine was rising from its pad as the voice continued to beckon them higher and higher...
...The guitar was joined by an organ, both playing a funk counterpoint to the bass as it settled into a churning distorted riff that seemed to shake their seats, though Cas knew that wasn’t the music doing that...
December 17, 2025 at 7:10 PM
...The guitar was joined by an organ, both playing a funk counterpoint to the bass as it settled into a churning distorted riff that seemed to shake their seats, though Cas knew that wasn’t the music doing that...
Whatever. I loved the idea of that churning bass line merging with the vibration of the engines and had to use it. Chills!
Excerpt:
“There was a pause, then the voice said ‘T-minus 10… 9…’
A guitar and bass played a syncopated descending line. A voice yelled Hey! four times on the down beat...
Excerpt:
“There was a pause, then the voice said ‘T-minus 10… 9…’
A guitar and bass played a syncopated descending line. A voice yelled Hey! four times on the down beat...
December 17, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Whatever. I loved the idea of that churning bass line merging with the vibration of the engines and had to use it. Chills!
Excerpt:
“There was a pause, then the voice said ‘T-minus 10… 9…’
A guitar and bass played a syncopated descending line. A voice yelled Hey! four times on the down beat...
Excerpt:
“There was a pause, then the voice said ‘T-minus 10… 9…’
A guitar and bass played a syncopated descending line. A voice yelled Hey! four times on the down beat...
...for his daughters to listen to as they embark on a great and dangerous adventure. I also like the idea of sitting in a rocket waiting for launch, listening to an old-timey song about sitting in a station waiting for a train.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNWF...
open.spotify.com/track/0eRHaq...
end 🧵
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNWF...
open.spotify.com/track/0eRHaq...
end 🧵
Choo Choo Ch 'Boogie
YouTube video by Louis Jordan - Topic
www.youtube.com
December 17, 2025 at 12:28 AM
...for his daughters to listen to as they embark on a great and dangerous adventure. I also like the idea of sitting in a rocket waiting for launch, listening to an old-timey song about sitting in a station waiting for a train.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNWF...
open.spotify.com/track/0eRHaq...
end 🧵
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNWF...
open.spotify.com/track/0eRHaq...
end 🧵
Choo, Choo, Ch’boogie, by Louis Jordan, was a favorite of one of my daughters when she was little. We put it on her child’s MP3 player, and she would play it over and over, singing along.
I like the idea of a dad remembering this as he puts together a playlist...
I like the idea of a dad remembering this as he puts together a playlist...
December 17, 2025 at 12:28 AM
Choo, Choo, Ch’boogie, by Louis Jordan, was a favorite of one of my daughters when she was little. We put it on her child’s MP3 player, and she would play it over and over, singing along.
I like the idea of a dad remembering this as he puts together a playlist...
I like the idea of a dad remembering this as he puts together a playlist...
“Next came a shuffle beat, brass and woodwinds playing a woo-woo sound, and a smooth voice singing a song about a train and a boogie. This one had been a favorite of Ori’s when she was little. The girls bounced in their seats to the walking bass line.”
-- from Food: Generation Mars, Book Four
-- from Food: Generation Mars, Book Four
December 17, 2025 at 12:28 AM
“Next came a shuffle beat, brass and woodwinds playing a woo-woo sound, and a smooth voice singing a song about a train and a boogie. This one had been a favorite of Ori’s when she was little. The girls bounced in their seats to the walking bass line.”
-- from Food: Generation Mars, Book Four
-- from Food: Generation Mars, Book Four
...The singer drew the word "you" out long and smoothly, voice shifting across several notes. Cas felt as if she were floating on that voice.”
-- from Food: Generation Mars, Book Four
youtu.be/aZzFQqNtmPQ?...
open.spotify.com/track/39FFlq...
end 🧵
-- from Food: Generation Mars, Book Four
youtu.be/aZzFQqNtmPQ?...
open.spotify.com/track/39FFlq...
end 🧵
You And Me
YouTube video by Penny and the Quarters - Topic
youtu.be
December 16, 2025 at 12:13 AM
...The singer drew the word "you" out long and smoothly, voice shifting across several notes. Cas felt as if she were floating on that voice.”
-- from Food: Generation Mars, Book Four
youtu.be/aZzFQqNtmPQ?...
open.spotify.com/track/39FFlq...
end 🧵
-- from Food: Generation Mars, Book Four
youtu.be/aZzFQqNtmPQ?...
open.spotify.com/track/39FFlq...
end 🧵
Excerpt:
“At T-minus six minutes, their helmets were filled with softly strummed electric guitar chords. A chorus of voices sang "you and me" in harmony, while a plaintive female voice riffed wordlessly over them…
“At T-minus six minutes, their helmets were filled with softly strummed electric guitar chords. A chorus of voices sang "you and me" in harmony, while a plaintive female voice riffed wordlessly over them…
December 16, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Excerpt:
“At T-minus six minutes, their helmets were filled with softly strummed electric guitar chords. A chorus of voices sang "you and me" in harmony, while a plaintive female voice riffed wordlessly over them…
“At T-minus six minutes, their helmets were filled with softly strummed electric guitar chords. A chorus of voices sang "you and me" in harmony, while a plaintive female voice riffed wordlessly over them…
I get that at exactly one minute and fifty-four seconds into You and Me, by Penny and the Quarters, on the word “you”. I encountered this little known piece while working on Part Three, and knew I had to work in a passing reference to it somehow.
December 16, 2025 at 12:13 AM
I get that at exactly one minute and fifty-four seconds into You and Me, by Penny and the Quarters, on the word “you”. I encountered this little known piece while working on Part Three, and knew I had to work in a passing reference to it somehow.
We've all felt like one at some point. It’s a good song with the sort of staying power that will take it deep into the century. Maybe even to Mars.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFkz...
open.spotify.com/track/70LcF3...
end 🧵
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFkz...
open.spotify.com/track/70LcF3...
end 🧵
Radiohead - Creep
YouTube video by Radiohead
www.youtube.com
December 14, 2025 at 6:43 PM
We've all felt like one at some point. It’s a good song with the sort of staying power that will take it deep into the century. Maybe even to Mars.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFkz...
open.spotify.com/track/70LcF3...
end 🧵
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFkz...
open.spotify.com/track/70LcF3...
end 🧵
Excerpt:
“You’re just different, and different is good. We’re all different. In fact, I’ll tell you a secret that is true for everyone: we are all lonely and feel like creeps sometimes. That’s a good thing. It reminds us to treat each other kindly.”
-- from Food: Generation Mars, Book Four
“You’re just different, and different is good. We’re all different. In fact, I’ll tell you a secret that is true for everyone: we are all lonely and feel like creeps sometimes. That’s a good thing. It reminds us to treat each other kindly.”
-- from Food: Generation Mars, Book Four
December 14, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Excerpt:
“You’re just different, and different is good. We’re all different. In fact, I’ll tell you a secret that is true for everyone: we are all lonely and feel like creeps sometimes. That’s a good thing. It reminds us to treat each other kindly.”
-- from Food: Generation Mars, Book Four
“You’re just different, and different is good. We’re all different. In fact, I’ll tell you a secret that is true for everyone: we are all lonely and feel like creeps sometimes. That’s a good thing. It reminds us to treat each other kindly.”
-- from Food: Generation Mars, Book Four
The end goal of the Schism was to build a culture in which we do a better job of treating each other well. Reading the text of the flyer pictured here, I feel like Kathleen Hanna would make a good Martian.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0oe...
open.spotify.com/track/0Xyjty...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0oe...
open.spotify.com/track/0Xyjty...
Rebel Girl
YouTube video by Bikini Kill - Topic
www.youtube.com
December 13, 2025 at 5:31 PM
The end goal of the Schism was to build a culture in which we do a better job of treating each other well. Reading the text of the flyer pictured here, I feel like Kathleen Hanna would make a good Martian.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0oe...
open.spotify.com/track/0Xyjty...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0oe...
open.spotify.com/track/0Xyjty...
Maybe the sisters recognize a kindred soul in the confrontational lyrics. Mars had its moment of revolution (the Schism). It was quiet, as revolutions go, but likely not without trauma. Of course the kids share that rebellious streak.
December 13, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Maybe the sisters recognize a kindred soul in the confrontational lyrics. Mars had its moment of revolution (the Schism). It was quiet, as revolutions go, but likely not without trauma. Of course the kids share that rebellious streak.
...The sisters looked at each other, smiled, then they shouted the chorus together: Rebel Girl!”
-- from Food: Generation Mars, Book Four
-- from Food: Generation Mars, Book Four
December 13, 2025 at 5:31 PM
...The sisters looked at each other, smiled, then they shouted the chorus together: Rebel Girl!”
-- from Food: Generation Mars, Book Four
-- from Food: Generation Mars, Book Four
Excerpt:
“A heavy drumbeat filled the cabin of the Peregrine. A guitar moaned softly then erupted into distorted power chords. The singer came in, shouting the first verse...
“A heavy drumbeat filled the cabin of the Peregrine. A guitar moaned softly then erupted into distorted power chords. The singer came in, shouting the first verse...
December 13, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Excerpt:
“A heavy drumbeat filled the cabin of the Peregrine. A guitar moaned softly then erupted into distorted power chords. The singer came in, shouting the first verse...
“A heavy drumbeat filled the cabin of the Peregrine. A guitar moaned softly then erupted into distorted power chords. The singer came in, shouting the first verse...
She still loves loud music that challenges social norms, and I love that she loves that. I also love the idea that Martian tweens have that same rebellious streak, even in a culture more nurturing than our own.
December 13, 2025 at 5:31 PM
She still loves loud music that challenges social norms, and I love that she loves that. I also love the idea that Martian tweens have that same rebellious streak, even in a culture more nurturing than our own.