Writers of the Future Volume 40
Available as Paperback, eBook, and Audiobook.
15 Illustrated Short Stories
Bonus short stories and art and writing tips by
Gregory Benford / Bob Eggleton / L. Ron Hubbard / Nancy Kress / S. M. Stirling / Dean Wesley Smith
This 40th anniversary edition of the L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future, the bestselling and most widely influential anthology of its kind, brings you 12 strikingly original stories and illustrations—by the best new creative talent in speculative fiction, all winners of the Writers and Illustrators of the Future Contests. The collection is rounded out with 3 bonus stories plus 4 articles providing art and writing tips from bestselling authors and internationally renowned artists.
The Contests were created by L. Ron Hubbard out of his lifetime commitment to helping new writers and artists, and are judged by a hall-of-fame roster of top professionals. The Writers of the Future anthology has provided a spectacular launching pad for emerging writers and illustrators who over the past 4 decades have gone on to publish over 2,000 novels—many of them international bestsellers—and helped shape the field of contemporary speculative fiction as it is today and into the future.
Open the Writers of the Future and be carried away by stories—and illustrations—that will make you think, make you laugh, and make you see the world in ways you never imagined.
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12 Award-Winning Authors—Story Synopses
Experience these powerful new voices—vivid, visceral, and visionary—as they explore uncharted worlds and reveal unlimited possibilities.
“The Edge of Where My Light Is Cast” by Sky McKinnon, illustrated by Carina Zhang: When her owner goes missing, a digital housecat must become more than simulation to find her dearest companion through the virtual world.
“Son, Spirit, Snake” by Jack Nash, illustrated by Pedro N.: No one came to his brother’s funeral. Not even the spirits. Étienne knew it was his fault.
“Nonzero” by Tom Vandermolen, illustrated by Jennifer Mellen: Man overboard is a nightmare scenario for any sailor, but Lieutenant Susan Guidry is also running out of air—and the nearest help is light years away.
“The Imagalisk” by Galen Westlake, illustrated by Arthur Haywood: Dementia has landed Dan Kennedy in Graydon Manor, and what’s left of his life ahead seems dismal, but a pair of impossible visitors bring unexpected hope.
“Life and Death and Love in the Bayou” by Stephannie Tallent illustrated by Ashley Cassaday: When a teenage swamp witch fears her mama will be killed, she utilizes her wits and the magic of the bayou—no matter the cost to her own soul.
“Five Days Until Sunset” by Lance Robinson, illustrated by Steven Bentley: Our exodus family awoke on the new world—a paradise inexplicably teeming with Earth life, the Promise fulfilled. But 154 of us are missing.…
“The Wall Isn’t a Circle” by Rosalyn Robilliard, illustrated by Guelly Rivera: A new app lets users see through the eyes of any human in history, but it’s not long before the secrets of the past catch up with the present.
“Da-ko-ta” by Amir Agoora, illustrated by Connor Chamberlain: In the shadows of Teddy Roosevelt’s wendigo hunt, a Native American boy resolves to turn the tables on his captors, setting his sights on the ultimate prey—America’s Great Chief.
“Squiddy” by John Eric Schleicher, illustrated by Tyler Vail: When squids from outer space take over, a punk-rock P.I. must crawl out of her own miserable existence to find her client’s daughter—and maybe a way out.
“Ashes to Ashes, Blood to Carbonfiber” by James Davies, illustrated by May Zheng: Planet K2-18b is almost dead, humanity is enslaved, and it’s Rickard’s fault. Now in his twilight years, he’d give an arm and a leg for redemption. Literally.
“Summer of Thirty Years” by Lisa Silverthorne, illustrated by Gigi Hooper: What if magic could undo the unthinkable, and undo Death itself? Would you use it no matter the cost? What would you sacrifice for love?
“Butter Side Down” by Kal M, illustrated by Selena Meraki: Joe is a prospector tasked with exploring the cosmos on behalf of an all-powerful government. Breadna is a toaster. There have been weirder love stories, but that’s unlikely.
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Art and Writing Tips:
“Forty Years of Writers of the Future” by Gregory Benford: Benford reflects on the SF giants of his youth, the societal changes in the last forty years and provides some advice to aspiring writers.
“L. Ron Hubbard’s Illustrators of the Future at Thirty-Five” by Bob Eggleton: Renowned artist, Eggleton, reflects on the truly amazing talent that has emerged through the Contest and provides his insight on ability to illustrated.
“On Writing and Science Fiction” by L. Ron Hubbard: An interview with Mr. Hubbard that provides invaluable insight into the art and craft of writing, the role of science fiction in society, and sound advice for aspiring writers everywhere.
“It Seemed Like Just Yesterday” by Dean Wesley Smith: Dean’s professional journey since winning the Writers’ Contest forty years ago.
3 Bonus Short Stories:
“The Last Drop” by L. Ron Hubbard and L. Sprague de Camp, illustrated by Chris Arias: Mac wanted to invent a cocktail to burn itself upon the pages of history—but this one had some unexpected side effects.
“Halo” by Nancy Kress, illustrated by Lucas Durham: Another outbreak? This time it’s a virus with an eighty percent infection rate that affects personality changes … permanently.
“Shaman Dreams” by S. M. Stirling, inspired by Dan dos Santos’s Starcatcher: Spirits were supposed to lurk beneath the Lake of Death, hungry and patient and hostile to all life.
Order Your Copy Today
Available as Paperback, eBook, and Audiobook.
The Sci-FI and Fantasy of Tomorrow Selected by Masters of Today
Stories selected by writer contest judges:
Kevin J. Anderson
Doug Beason
Gregory Benford
Orson Scott Card
Brian Herbert
Nina Kiriki Hoffman
Hugh Howey
Nancy Kress
Katherine Kurtz
Todd McCaffrey
Rebecca Moesta
Larry Niven
Jody Lynn Nye
Nnedi Okorafor
Tim Powers
Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Brandon Sanderson
Robert J. Sawyer
Robert Silverberg
Dean Wesley Smith
S.M. Stirling
Sean Williams
Artists selected by illustrator contest judges:
Echo Chernik
Lazarus Chernik
Ciruelo
Vincent Di Fate
Diane Dillon
Bob Eggleton
Craig Elliott
Larry Elmore
Laura Freas Beraha
Brian C. Hailes
Brittany Jackson
Val Lakey Lindahn
Stephan Martiniere
Mike Perkins
Sergey Poyarkov
Rob Prior
Irvin Rodriguez
Dan dos Santos
Shaun Tan
Tom Wood
Stephen Youll
Critical Acclaim
“This is where the next stars are born.”
—Hugh Howey
“These are the people who are going to be creating trends.”
—Brandon Sanderson
“The Illustrators of the Future is an amazing compass for what the art industry holds in store for all of us.”
—Dan dos Santos
“See the best of the best culled for you, curated and selected in a single volume every year.”
—Robert J. Sawyer
“Writers of the Future is always one of the best anthologies of the year.”
—Tangent
“It’s an honor to present these amazingly talented individuals and their wonderful work in this anthology.”
—Tom Wood
“I’m very happy to be able to lend my help to the Writers of the Future program. The more good writers there are, the more good readers there will be. We’ll all benefit—writers and readers alike!”
—Frank Herbert
“Writers of the Future is the gold standard of emerging talent into the field of science fiction fantasy that has contributed more to the genre than any other source.”
—Midwest Book Review
“The best new stories by new writers, anywhere.”
—Larry Niven
“Some of the most excellent speculative fiction that you can find anywhere. They’re cutting edge. They’re new.”
—Nnedi Okorafor
“From cutting-edge high-tech to evocative fantasy, this book’s got it all.”
—Tim Powers
“Reading a Writers of the Future volume is like looking at the desert after the rainstorm—suddenly, when you least expect it, you’ll see an explosion of color and life in an amazing variety.”
—Kevin J. Anderson
“There’s only one reason to pick up Writers of the Future, and that’s because the stories are wonderful.”
—Orson Scott Card
“L. Ron Hubbard ignited the spark of imagination, which in the minds of these new artists has become a blaze.”
—Bob Eggleton
“The benefit of the Writers of the Future Contest is not only to individuals; it is to the community of SF writers as a whole, for such a program elevates the quality of SF writing by bringing on board talented future professionals.”
—Brian Herbert
Start Reading Your Copy Today
Available as Paperback, eBook, and Audiobook.