With 19 New York Times bestsellers and more than 350 million copies of his works in circulation, L. Ron Hubbard is among the most enduring and widely read authors of our time. As a leading light of American Pulp Fiction through the 1930s and ’40s, he is further among the most influential authors of the modern age, including perennial and New York Times bestsellers such as Battlefield Earth, Mission Earth, Fear, Final Blackout, and To the Stars. Indeed, from Ray Bradbury to Stephen King, there is scarcely a master of imaginative tales who has not paid tribute to L. Ron Hubbard.
“One of the greatest literary figures of the 20th century.” —Publishers Weekly
L. Ron Hubbard was a renaissance man who traveled the world and studied 21 races and cultures. He had a vast canvas of raw material with which to create realistic characters and settings, and considered this a vital part of writing,
“I believe that the only way I can keep improving my work and my markets is by broadening my sphere of acquaintanceship with the world and its people and professions.” —L. Ron Hubbard
Mr. Hubbard’s true-to-life adventures and thorough research were the backbone of his fiction books—he was always “trying harder to make every word live and breath.”
Further, throughout his career, Mr. Hubbard freely passed along his knowledge of the craft. In 1983, he created and endowed the Writers of the Future Contest as a means to discover and nurture new talent in science fiction.
“I initiated a means for new and budding writers to have a chance for their creative efforts to be seen and acknowledged.” —L. Ron Hubbard
In the nearly 40 years of the Contest, there have been over 500 winners and 80 published finalists, who have gone on to publish more than 1,150 novels and nearly 4,500 short stories, including 32 New York Times bestsellers and over 60 million copies sold.
Its success in discovering and helping launch new authors has earned a special place in publishing.
“Writers of the Future ranks in importance with the Hugos and Nebulas for the science fiction genre.” —Kevin J. Anderson
The biographical chronology that follows profiles, although it cannot fully encompass, the dimensions of his life and work.
Visit Original Publications for a complete listing of the first printings of L. Ron Hubbard’s works.