Living Out Loud: The Inspiration Behind “In Living Color”

Living Out Loud: The Inspiration Behind “In Living Color”

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In this behind-the-scenes look at Writers of the Future Volume 42, debut sci-fi author Michael T. Kuester discusses how his personal experiences with urban loneliness and generational misunderstanding shaped his winning story, “In Living Color.” He highlights why modern speculative fiction demands radical empathy to truly understand the struggles and perspectives of others.
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Place, Horror, and Comedy That Kills: Why Your Story Can Only Happen Here

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Author Dorothy de Kok explores why irreplaceable settings are the secret to blending body horror and dark comedy in her award-winning story “Thickly.”
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How the Writers of the Future Volume 42 Audiobook Came to Life

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Go behind the scenes of the Writers of the Future Volume 42 audiobook with producer Stefan Rudnicki, acclaimed narrators, and Orson Scott Card as they discuss bringing fifteen science fiction and fantasy stories to life.
Time Travel Sci-Fi and the Ozymandias View

Time Travel, Sci-Fi and the Ozymandias View

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Shaun Stevenson explores time travel, extinction, and the “Ozymandias View” behind his Writers of the Future Volume 42 story “The Triceratops Effect.”
Exploring Digital Personhood and the Ethics of Cyberpunk Existence

Exploring Digital Personhood and the Ethics of Cyberpunk Existence

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A long tradition of technological dystopia in science fiction gives us plenty of reasons to be wary as we enter a real-life era of cyberpunk existence.
When Is a Dragon Just a Dragon

When Is a Dragon Just a Dragon?

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What do dragons really represent in fantasy? From Smaug to a dragon in the Bronx Zoo, explore meaning, power, and captivity in modern dragon stories.
Time Travel Stories

Time After Time: Why Time-Travel Stories Captivate Us in Books and Film

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Explore why time-travel stories fascinate us, how writers keep timelines believable, and how new tales in Writers of the Future Volume 41 twist time in fresh ways.
The Allure and Terror of First Contact with Aliens

The Allure and Terror of First Contact with Aliens

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Explore the allure and terror of first contact with aliens—from SETI and NASA’s James Webb to classic sci-fi and the story “Code L1” in Writers of the Future Vol 41.
Death of Social Interaction

The Death of Social Interaction: How Smartphones and Screen Time Are Destroying Human Connection

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Smartphones and screen time are replacing real conversation. Explore the decline of human connection in the digital age and its effects on society.
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Survival Instincts at the Heart of Dystopian Fiction

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Explore survival instincts in dystopian fiction—from Atwood to Karma Birds—where women face impossible choices and fight for control.