SF & Fantasy Anthology
On sale date: May 16, 2023 US & Canada | July 18, 2023 UK, Australia and South Africa
9781619867680 | USD $22.95 • CND $29.95 • UK £23.99 • SA R490 • ANZ $29.95
Trade Paperback | 528 pages |
Trim: 6″ x 9″
Other Available Formats:
Ebook: 9781619867659 | $9.99
Audiobook: 9781619867703 | $24.95
PDF: 9781619867673 |
Audiences: sci-fi/fantasy readers and aspiring writers
Interest level: Grades 7-up / Lexile 800 / GRL Z+
Discussion Guide download here.
eARC available on request.
Edelweiss catalog: Writers of the Future.
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 39
Be amazed.
Be entertained.
Be transported by . . .
The Sci-Fi and Fantasy of Tomorrow Chosen by the Masters of Today
Discover who Brandon Sanderson, Orson Scott Card, Nnedi Okorafor, Robert J. Sawyer, Kevin J. Anderson, Jody Lynn Nye, and other bestselling authors chose as the best new voices of the year.
From dark fantasy to humor and alien contact to mythical creatures … From space exploration and time travel to cyberpunk and alternate history … these stories will captivate and entertain you.
12 Award-winning short stories
Plus 3 bonus short stories by L. Ron Hubbard, Kevin J. Anderson, and S.M. Stirling.
3 Articles with art and writing tips by L. Ron Hubbard, Lazarus Chernik and Kristine Kathryn Rusch.
16-page full-color gallery of artwork.
Cover art by Tom Wood.
Also available as an audiobook. 18 hours and 20 minutes.
Narrated by Jim Meskimen, Taylor Meskimen, and Tamra Meskimen.
Listen to a sample:
Content
Twelve captivating tales from the best new writers of the year accompanied by three more from bestselling authors you’ve read before.
A miracle? An omen? Or something else? One day, they arrived in droves—the foxes of the desert, the field, the imagination. . . .—“Kitsune” by Devon Bohm
When a vampire, a dragon and a shape-shifting Chihuahua meet on a beach in Key West, fireworks go off! But that’s just the background.—“Moonlight and Funk” by Marianne Xenos
The Grim Reaper, trapped in an IRS agent’s dying body, must regain his powers before he dies and faces judgment for his original sin.—“Death and the Taxman” by David Hankins
In a metaverse future, a woman who exposes falseness in others must decide what is real to her—the love she lost or the love she may have found.—“Under My Cypresses” by Jason Palmatier
Vic Harden wasn’t lured by glory on a daring mission into the reaches of outer space—he was ordered out there by his editor.—“The Unwilling Hero” by L. Ron Hubbard
Dangerous opportunities present themselves when an alien ship arrives in the solar system seeking repairs.—“White Elephant” by David K. Henrickson
With her spaceship at the wrong end of a pirate’s guns, a former war hero must face down her enemies and demons to save Earth’s last best chance for peace.—“Piracy for Beginners” by J. R. Johnson
Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I., faces one of his funniest and most perplexing cases ever—an enlightened ogre, a salamander with low self-esteem, and a raging fire dragon terrorizing the Unnatural Quarter!—“Fire in the Hole” by Kevin J. Anderson
Years after the Second Holocaust, the last surviving Jews on earth attempt to rewrite the past.—“A Trickle in History” by Elaine Midcoh
When I said I’d do anything to pay off my debts and get back home to Earth, I didn’t mean survey a derelict spaceship at the edge of the solar system—but here I am.—“The Withering Sky” by Arthur H. Manners
High-powered telescopes bring galactic life to our TVs, and network tuner Hank Enos figures he’s seen everything—until the day an alien boy stares back.—“The Fall of Crodendra M.” by T. J. Knight
Knights, damsels and dragons, curses and fates foretold—the stuff of legends and stories, but unexpectedly perverse.—“Constant Never” by S. M. Stirling
Determined to save his wife, Tumelo takes an unlikely client through South Africa’s ruins to the heart of the Desolation—a journey that will cost or save everything.—“The Children of Desolation” by Spencer Sekulin
When a terrorist smuggles a nuclear weapon into London, a team regresses in time to AD 1093 to assassinate a knight on the battlefield, thereby eliminating the terrorist a millennia before his birth.—“Timelines and Bloodlines” by L. H. Davis
The Grand Exam, a gateway to power for one, likely death for all others—its entrants include ambitious nobles, desperate peasants, and Quiet Gate, an old woman with nothing left to lose.—“The Last History” by Samuel Parr
Art and Writing Tips by Lazarus Chernik • L. Ron Hubbard • Kristine Kathryn Rusch
“What Is Art Direction?” by Lazarus Chernik: In the worlds of marketing and publishing, an art director is to art as an editor is to the written word or the music producer is to rock ’n’ roll. We are the voice of reason that helps the artist shape their vision into the finished product. Our names rarely get mentioned for our contributions, but those in the know—know.
“Circulate” by L. Ron Hubbard: Hubbard tells the story of fellow high-production writer Jack London, who worked out a formula that allowed him to write even when he seemed fresh out of ideas. This bit of advice proved magical for top production writers in the past and remains just as effective today.
“Prioritize to Increase Your Writing” by Kristine Kathryn Rusch: Kris’s life is challenging, but she is still one of the most prolific writers of her generation. Here she writes about what works for her in the hopes that others might find inspiration from it. She hopes this helps you or a loved one. Taking care of yourself includes taking care of your dreams.
BOOK CONTENTS
Introduction by Jody Lynn Nye
The Illustrators of the Future Contest by Echo Chernik
Art Gallery
“Kitsune” by Devon Bohm and Illustrated by Drazini
“Moonlight and Funk” by Marianne Xenos and Illustrated by April Solomon
“Death and the Taxman” by David Hankins and Illustrated by Sarah Morrison
“Under My Cypresses” by Jason Palmatier and Illustrated by Helen Yi
“Circulate” by L. Ron Hubbard
“The Unwilling Hero” by L. Ron Hubbard and Illustrated by Bruce Brenneise
“White Elephant” by David K. Henrickson and Illustrated by Kristen Hadaway
“Piracy for Beginners” by J. R. Johnson and Illustrated by Chris Binns
“Prioritize to Increase Your Writing” by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
“Fire in the Hole: A Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I. Adventure” by Kevin J. Anderson and Inspired by Tom Wood’s Wyvern Crucible
“A Trickle in History” by Elaine Midcoh and Illustrated by José Sánchez
“The Withering Sky” by Arthur H. Manners and Illustrated by Ximing Luo
“The Fall of Crodendra” M by T. J. Knight and Illustrated by Chris Arias
“What Is Art Direction” by Lazarus Chernik
“Constant Never” by S. M. Stirling and Illustrated by Nick Jizba
“The Children of Desolation” by Spencer Sekulin and Illustrated by Cyberaeon
“Timelines and Bloodlines” by L. H. Davis and Illustrated by Clarence Bateman
“The Last History” by Samuel Parr and Illustrated by Dao Vi
The Year in the Contests
Bisac Codes
Writers of the Future Volume 39 – BISAC
Twelve captivating tales from the best new writers of the year accompanied by three more from bestselling authors you’ve read before.
FIC009040 FICTION / Fantasy / Collections & Anthologies
FIC009000 FICTION / Fantasy / General
FIC009010 FICTION / Fantasy / Contemporary
FIC028040 FICTION / Science Fiction / Collections & Anthologies
FIC028000 FICTION / Science Fiction / General
“Kitsune” by Devon Bohm
A miracle? An omen? Or something else? One day, they arrived in droves—the foxes of the desert, the field, the imagination. . . .
FIC009070 FICTION / Fantasy / Dark Fantasy
FIC009050 FICTION / Fantasy / Paranormal
FIC009060 FICTION / Fantasy / Urban
“Moonlight and Funk” by Marianne Xenos
When a vampire, a dragon and a shape-shifting Chihuahua meet on a beach in Key West, fireworks go off! But that’s just the background.
FIC009120 FICTION / Fantasy / Dragons & Mythical Creatures
FIC009050 FICTION / Fantasy / Paranormal
FIC009060 FICTION / Fantasy / Urban
“Death and the Taxman” by David Hankins
The Grim Reaper, trapped in an IRS agent’s dying body, must regain his powers before he dies and faces judgment for his original sin.
FIC009080 FICTION / Fantasy / Humorous
FIC009060 FICTION / Fantasy / Urban
FIC009050 FICTION / Fantasy / Paranormal
“Under My Cypresses” by Jason Palmatier
In a metaverse future, a woman who exposes falseness in others must decide what is real to her—the love she lost or the love she may have found.
FIC028100 FICTION / Science Fiction / Cyberpunk
FIC028000 FICTION / Science Fiction / General
“The Unwilling Hero” by L. Ron Hubbard
Vic Harden wasn’t lured by glory on a daring mission into the reaches of outer space—he was ordered out there by his editor.
FIC028130 FICTION / Science Fiction / Space Exploration
FIC028020 FICTION / Science Fiction / Hard Science Fiction
FIC028010 FICTION / Science Fiction / Action & Adventure
“White Elephant” by David K. Henrickson
Dangerous opportunities present themselves when an alien ship arrives in the solar system seeking repairs.
FIC028020 FICTION / Science Fiction / Hard Science Fiction
FIC028090 FICTION / Science Fiction / Alien Contact
FIC028130 FICTION / Science Fiction / Space Exploration
“Piracy for Beginners” by J. R. Johnson
With her spaceship at the wrong end of a pirate’s guns, a former war hero must face down her enemies and demons to save Earth’s last best chance for peace.
FIC028010 FICTION / Science Fiction / Action & Adventure
FIC028120 FICTION / Science Fiction / Humorous
FIC028030 FICTION / Science Fiction / Space Opera
“Fire in the Hole” by Kevin J. Anderson
Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I., faces one of his funniest and most perplexing cases ever—an enlightened ogre, a salamander with low self-esteem, and a raging fire dragon terrorizing the Unnatural Quarter!
FIC009050 FICTION / Fantasy / Paranormal
FIC009080 FICTION / Fantasy / Humorous
FIC009060 FICTION / Fantasy / Urban
FIC009120 FICTION / Fantasy / Dragons & Mythical Creatures
“A Trickle in History” by Elaine Midcoh
Years after the Second Holocaust, the last surviving Jews on earth attempt to rewrite the past.
FIC028080 FICTION / Science Fiction / Time Travel
FIC046000 FICTION / Jewish
FIC009030 FICTION / Fantasy / Historical
FIC040000 FICTION / Alternative History
“The Withering Sky” by Arthur H. Manners
When I said I’d do anything to pay off my debts and get back home to Earth, I didn’t mean survey a derelict spaceship at the edge of the solar system—but here I am.
FIC012000 FICTION / Ghost
FIC028130 FICTION / Science Fiction / Space Exploration
“The Fall of Crodendra M.” by T. J. Knight
High-powered telescopes bring galactic life to our TVs, and network tuner Hank Enos figures he’s seen everything—until the day an alien boy stares back.
FIC028010 FICTION / Science Fiction / Action & Adventure
FIC028090 FICTION / Science Fiction / Alien Contact
FIC028130 FICTION / Science Fiction / Space Exploration
“Constant Never” by S. M. Stirling
Knights, damsels and dragons, curses and fates foretold—the stuff of legends and stories, but unexpectedly perverse.
FIC009120 FICTION / Fantasy / Dragons & Mythical Creatures
FIC009030 FICTION / Fantasy / Historical
FIC009020 FICTION / Fantasy / Epic
“The Children of Desolation” by Spencer Sekulin
Determined to save his wife, Tumelo takes an unlikely client through South Africa’s ruins to the heart of the Desolation—a journey that will cost or save everything.
FIC028070 FICTION / Science Fiction / Apocalyptic & Post-Apocalyptic
FIC055000 FICTION / Dystopian
“Timelines and Bloodlines” by L. H. Davis
When a terrorist smuggles a nuclear weapon into London, a team regresses in time to AD 1093 to assassinate a knight on the battlefield, thereby eliminating the terrorist a millennia before his birth.
FIC028080 FICTION / Science Fiction / Time Travel
FIC028010 FICTION / Science Fiction / Action & Adventure
FIC028050 FICTION / Science Fiction / Military
“The Last History” by Samuel Parr
The Grand Exam, a gateway to power for one, likely death for all others—its entrants include ambitious nobles, desperate peasants, and Quiet Gate, an old woman with nothing left to lose.
FIC009070 FICTION / Fantasy / Dark Fantasy
FIC061000 FICTION / Magical Realism
“Writers of the Future competition features expertly crafted and edited stories and art, running the gamut from humorous to bone-chilling.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Some of the most excellent speculative fiction that you can find anywhere. They’re cutting edge. They’re new.”
—Nnedi Okorafor
“Speculative fiction fans will welcome this showcase of new talent.”
—Library Journal
“The best of the best culled for you, curated and selected in a single volume every year.”
—Robert J. Sawyer
“A first-rate collection of stories and illustrations.”
—Booklist
“An explosion of color and life in an amazing variety.”
—Kevin J. Anderson
