The Age of Cynicism

"The Age of Cynicism" was begun by Kara Wild in May 2000 and finished in August 2007. It is the fifteenth installment of the Driven Wild Universe. Like most other installments, it is written in quasi-script form with three Acts and commercials.

Tied for "Favorite Helen" story in the 4th Daria Fanworks Awards

Background
Wild began writing the installment a few months after completing "Primarily Color." However, due to time constraints and the demands of research, she finally abandoned "The Age of Cynicism" and moved on to "Charge of the Math Brigade." In 2007, she would finish it "posthumously," the last Driven Wild Universe installment, "Tomorrow Never Knows," having been completed in November 2005.

Summary
The story revolves the months leading to Daria's birth in 1981. Helen and Jake struggle to maintain their hippie ideals with regard to parenting in the face of money concerns, self-doubt, and the incoming Reagan administration.