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L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 31 Paperback – Illustrated, May 4, 2015

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 483 ratings

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Purchase options and add-ons

2015 Best Science Fiction and alien anthology, Publisher's Weekly Science Fiction Best Seller

The future is here...the future is now! Orson Scott Card, Kevin J. Anderson and Larry Niven have seen the future. Now, you can, too.

A constellation of the brightest lights in the Science Fiction and Fantasy firmament have judged these authors to be the best, the brightest, the truest emerging stars in the field.

From Alien Invasion to Alternate History, from Cyberpunk to Comic Fantasy to Post-Apocalyptic Worlds, these are the winning writers who have mastered every version and vision of sci-fi and fantasy.

Don't be left behind. Get a read on what's next.

"The Writers of the Future contest looks for people with the best imaginations who can see through the possibilities of the strangest and best ideas and tell stories that intrigue us and involve us." --Orson Scott Card

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From #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover comes a novel that explores life after tragedy and the enduring spirit of love. | Learn more

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Science fiction as a genre has always looked to the future and the Writers of the Future looks to the future of science fiction.”—Kevin J. Anderson (co-author of the Dune sagas)

“Some of the most excellent speculative fiction that you can find. They’re cutting edge.”—NnediOkorafor

“These are the people who are going to be creating trends.”—Brandon Sanderson

“Writers of the Future, as a contest and as a book, remains the flagship of short fiction.”—Orson Scott Card

“The best new stories by new writers, anywhere.”—Larry Niven

“See the best of the best culled for you, curated and selected in a single volume every year.”—Robert J. Sawyer

“An absolute wealth of imagination, adventure, excitement, stimulation and joy, every possible human emotion.”—Sean Williams

“A very generous legacy from L. Ron Hubbard a fine, fine fiction writer for the writers of the future.”—Anne McCaffrey

“Writers of the Future is a terrific program for new writers, and goodness knows, there are few enough of those. It has my heartiest support and unqualified recommendation.”—Terry Brooksp>“It all started when I won the Writers of the Future Contest. Without them, I can honestly say I would not be where I am today.”—Patrick Rothfuss

“The Illustrators of the Future is an amazing compass for what the art industry holds in store for all of us.”—Dan dos Santos

“The best-selling SF anthology series of all time.”Locus Magazine

“Writers of the Future collection is exciting and engrossing, with stories that range across the spectrum of SF and fantasy. Tried-and-true space opera and epic fantasy, these stories explore new mysteries and ideas.”Publishers Weekly

“Verdict: Speculative fiction fans will welcome this showcase of new talent.”Library Journal, Starred Review

About the Author

With 19 New York Times bestsellers and more than 230 million copies of his works in circulation, L. Ron Hubbard is among the most acclaimed 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. Indeed, from Ray Bradbury to Stephen King, there is scarcely a master of imaginative tales who has not paid tribute to L. Ron Hubbard.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Galaxy Press (May 4, 2015)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 496 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1619863227
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1619863224
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.4 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9 x 1.25 x 6 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 483 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
483 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the stories captivating and delightful. They praise the writing quality as excellent, believable, and concise. The stories are described as entertaining, engaging, and satisfying. Readers appreciate the talent of the authors, describing them as talented and great. They find the concepts interesting and thought-provoking. The artwork is vivid and appealing to the eye. The characters are described as fun and relatable.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

110 customers mention "Story quality"102 positive8 negative

Customers enjoy the engaging stories in this collection. They find the stories delightful and easy to read, with interesting worlds and a good twist. The stories are written by talented writers and presented with concise synopses and author introductions. Overall, readers praise the book as an enjoyable read with captivating stories and challenging worlds.

"...34;Between Screens" was both fascinating and depressing, much like what the characters are going through. But ultimately, depressing won out. &#..." Read more

"...That Make Dark Heaven Light" by Sharon Joss which combines a beautiful YA story with philosophical insight and a running literary parallel...." Read more

"...Patrick Rothfuss to Aliette de Bodard, demonstrates the diversity of the fiction sought, and perhaps more importantly, establishes that the contest..." Read more

"...has this books gala and awards celebration online with quick story synopsis, author and illustrator intros if you like your info "straight from..." Read more

51 customers mention "Writing quality"47 positive4 negative

Customers find the writing quality good. They say the dialogue is believable, and the book is easy to read. The illustrations are gorgeous by talented emerging artists. Readers appreciate the variety of themes and voices being introduced.

"...THE ILLUSTRATIONS: Nearly all of the illustrations are top notch, and considering the average age of the artists being college age, it's truly..." Read more

"...The stories are the work of emerging writers, and hence, they're not perfect--though it needs to be said that the collection's singular highlight,..." Read more

"...for Sci Fi anthologies because it has brilliant depth on the cover art printing, 14 color plates in the back, whiter smoother paper makes it a..." Read more

"...and the narrative is as concise as the dialogue is believable...." Read more

34 customers mention "Enjoyment"34 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book. They find the writing engaging and entertaining. The collection of short stories offers something for everyone and every mood. Readers particularly enjoy The God Whisperer, which is humorous and fun.

"...Enjoyable, engaging. "Half Past" by Samantha Murray - Sometimes you don't understand the magic you grow up with as well as you think...." Read more

"...What each of the stories is, however, is FUN. There's not a moment in which reading becomes a burden or a chore...." Read more

"...Or how or why they got here. It was an interesting read overall, though, kept me wanting to know more, and the ending was quite good...." Read more

"...The story felt rushed, but was entertaining. Poseidon’s Eyes by Kary English was fun too...." Read more

24 customers mention "Author talent"24 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's authors. They find the writers entertaining, with a mix of young and experienced writers. The book offers an opportunity for hopeful writers to become published.

"Writers of the Future is a great way to find new talent at the start of their careers and because all the stories have to be breakthrough-level,..." Read more

"...has offered recognition, publication, and a paycheck to emerging authors of sci-fi and fantasy...." Read more

"...note that this book is a compilation of short stories from promising new writers with NO AFFILIATION, expressed or implied, with Scientology or any..." Read more

"...great mix of science fiction and fantasy stories from the genres’ best new authors...." Read more

19 customers mention "Creativity"19 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's creativity. They find the ideas original and thought-provoking. The one-liners are also described as inventive. The story explores the complexities, tragedies, and motivations related to drugs.

"...plot and a final action scene so intense, yet so detailed and inventive it makes one think this author needs to "switch" to screenplays and..." Read more

"...Moving with some interesting philosophical aspects, including how we respect the beliefs of those we love. &#..." Read more

"...I guess you never know from whose lips or pen a gem might fall! A very clever and thoughtful story of love in an alien world...." Read more

"...The Graver by Amy. M. Hughes. This felt like a good idea that was delivered improperly (hence four start rather than five here)...." Read more

15 customers mention "Art quality"15 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the artwork, vivid storytelling, and appealing fonts and typesetting. They find the color plates a nice addition.

"...Beautiful, moving. "Wisteria Melancholy" by Michael T. Banker - A man with a problem ends up being treated in a home for kids...." Read more

"...smoother paper makes it a delight to hold and the font and typesetting is appealing to the eye...." Read more

"...The God Whisperer by Daniel J. Davis. This is a very fun and engaging look into the life of the owner of a very temperamental pet..." Read more

"...Zach's futuristic science fiction story is intriguing, beautifully vivid, and horrifying...." Read more

15 customers mention "Humor"15 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the humor in the book. They find the characters fun and empathetic, with just the right touch of humor and pathos. The narrative is described as amusing and sad, with humorous group home relationship dynamics. Readers enjoy the interesting concepts and compelling character story of a teenager trying to fit in. They also appreciate the wide range of variety in characters, plots, worlds, and emotions.

"...THE GOOD ONES: "The God Whisperer" was hilarious, but a bit short, and it felt like some of the characters were slightly underdeveloped. &#..." Read more

"...The God Whisperer by Daniel J. Davis. This is a very fun and engaging look into the life of the owner of a very temperamental pet..." Read more

"...I especially like how he puts the central character in bright focus, leaving everyone else dark and insignificant, visually communicating the effect..." Read more

"...The stories are well crafted, ranging from humorous (The God Whisperer) to haunting (Half Past), tense and exotic (Twelve Minutes Vinh Quang) to..." Read more

14 customers mention "Pacing"10 positive4 negative

Customers enjoy the pacing of the book. They find it humorous and sad, with a touch of macabre and horror. The dark thriller Switch is enjoyed, with an emotional ending. Readers find the plot compelling, with an intense action scene.

"...depiction of addiction, mixed with a compelling plot and a final action scene so intense, yet so detailed and inventive it makes one think this..." Read more

"...This had a bit of oomph behind it, but didn't resonate with me. &#..." Read more

"...It shows the complexities, tragedies, and motivations involved with drugs, other addictions, loss (of life, of relationships, of lifestyles, of hope)..." Read more

"...were all written, but the ideas behind them seemed more tame and not that exciting...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2015
    Every story is engaging, with a huge range of variety in characters, plots, worlds and the emotions they draw out of the reader. Though I've developed some clear favorites,

    THE GREAT ONES: (In order of appearance) "Switch" - A realistic depiction of addiction, mixed with a compelling plot and a final action scene so intense, yet so detailed and inventive it makes one think this author needs to "switch" to screenplays and liven up Hollywood's ideas of action scenes. "Stars That Make Dark Heaven Light" builds slowly. Etta is a compelling character you will find yourself rooting for before you even know why. I don't want to give too much away here, but it has an unconventional-yet-conventional happy ending. "A Revolutionary's Guide To Practical Conjuration" presents an interesting world where how much light one sees in a day depends on your wealth and social standing. Connected to this - less light, more crime. More light, less crime. Humor is woven like leaven throughout the story to help the spirit of the reader rise to hope for something better to happen to the main character, and the resolution he effects will have you grinning. "Rough Draft" was inspiring, with enough detail that it felt like a realistic near-future world. Similarly, "Unrefined" makes pioneering in zero-gravity down-to-earth via the very human relationship dynamics, and all-too-familiar dual nemesis of corporate espionage and governmental over-reach. I can hardly wait to read more, as I've learned that a short-story sequel is in the works! "Half Past" mixes magic, mystery and melancholy together effectively. You'll want to read it again right after the first reading to "see" the hints at the truth you (may) have missed. "Inconstant Moon" is a thoroughly likeable love story that just happens to take place when the sun appears to have exploded and they only have one last night to live. "Wisteria Melancholy" was a surprisingly pleasant story of self-discovery with hilarious group home relationship dynamics mixed in with the interesting idea of psychomorphically unstable people. "Planar Ghosts" managed a fine balance between haunting and hopeful, portraying life -after- the end of the world. The final scene is so innocent when juxtaposed with how -hard- the characters have been forced to act in order to survive it makes one ache for the characters.

    THE GOOD ONES: "The God Whisperer" was hilarious, but a bit short, and it felt like some of the characters were slightly underdeveloped. "When Shadows Fall" has the earnest (if a bit preachy and dated) concern of keeping mankind united in protecting Earth as the mother planet at it's heart. "Twelve Minutes To Vinh Quang" has a lot of trickery between characters going on in it to keep you guessing, and features some cool new ideas of how future tech will both help and hinder human traffickers/coyotes, but didn't pack the emotional punch I thought it would. "Between Screens" was both fascinating and depressing, much like what the characters are going through. But ultimately, depressing won out. "Purposes Made For Alien Minds" was fascinating, but a bit of mental exercise to read, due to it being narrated by a pentamemer. It's worth the effort, but still... it's satisfaction you have to earn. "The Graver" is a story of unresolved sorrow and it's effects on those left behind after a tragic death. A (only somewhat predictable) bittersweet ending provides unexpected insight into the daughter's character that had, at first, seemed a bit stereotypical. "Poseidon's Eyes" is a quirky fantasy story, told in a small-town-turned-boom-town. It explores the natural and supernatural dynamics of new money clashing with old ways, from the point of view of a transplanted outsider. It's a little too melodramatic/sentimental for my taste, personally, but still an okay read.

    THE ILLUSTRATIONS: Nearly all of the illustrations are top notch, and considering the average age of the artists being college age, it's truly impressive to see such quality and story-accurate thought put into them. Only 2 illustrations disappointed slightly, for different reasons: The "Poseidon's Eyes" illustration was a bit rough in execution, and it's depiction of the story came across a little stereotypical, and "A Revolutionary's Guide To Practical Conjuration" didn't seem to have much relation at all to the story itself, although it was creative and very well done.

    The essays included gave me some insight into the writing and publishing world that I appreciate gaining. I like the tone struck by the judges that wrote for this anthology - so encouraging and helpful and humble. All told, I would buy this again, and will be looking forward to the next year's edition for sure!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2015
    Writers of the Future is a great way to find new talent at the start of their careers and because all the stories have to be breakthrough-level, they tend to be of a very high standard. I've been keeping up with anthology for a while and I consistently enjoy it. This is the first one I've read on ebook and I would say I prefer the printed version of the anthology, especially the new version where you can see all the art in colour.

    There are a couple of reprint stories in this volume from judges / previous winners. I don't really understand why these are included. The non-fiction pieces from the judges are normally more useful.

    Lots of really great stories in here - though in two cases the ones I liked least came in first in their quarters. My stand-out favourite was "Stars That Make Dark Heaven Light" by Sharon Joss which combines a beautiful YA story with philosophical insight and a running literary parallel. But there a bunch of authors in this volume I'll be keeping an eye out for!! Definitely worth the read!

    Perfect for me
    "Stars That Make Dark Heaven Light" by Sharon Joss - A kind of retelling of Romeo and Juliet on a newly colonised planet. Just exquisite. Beautiful YA feel combined with deep philosophical questions about identity and how far we are comfortable changing. Reminded me of Zenna Henderson for some reason.
    "Planar Ghosts" by Krystal Claxton - An imaginary friend in a post-apocalyptic world is not so imaginary after all. Beautiful, moving.
    "Wisteria Melancholy" by Michael T. Banker - A man with a problem ends up being treated in a home for kids. A lovely blend of atmosphere and emotion.

    Enjoyable, worked for me
    "Switch" by Dave Pantazis - A cop investigates a case which strikes a bit too close to home. Engaging piece of science fiction police procedural.
    "A Revolutionary's Guide to Practical Conjuration" by Auston Habershaw - A young man from the wrong side of the tracks tries to fix the world but it's never as straight-forward as you think. Fun, sweet.
    "Unrefined" by Martin L. Shoemaker - A disaster in space means a best friend has to step in to resurrect some important dreams. Enjoyable, engaging.
    "Half Past" by Samantha Murray - Sometimes you don't understand the magic you grow up with as well as you think. Moving story with a clever ending.
    "The Graver" by Amy M. Hughes - A man who's lost his wife won't lose his daughter, but she's no longer interested in protection. Moving with some interesting philosophical aspects, including how we respect the beliefs of those we love.
    "Poseidon's Eyes" by Kary English - Living at the sea sounds like a great idea but sometimes comes with a price. Engaging, atmospheric.

    Didn't talk to me
    "Between Screens" by Zach Chapman - A teenager skips between worlds in search of adventure and a soul-mate. This had a bit of oomph behind it, but didn't resonate with me.
    "Purposes Made for Alien Minds" by Scott R. Parkin - A construct made to mediate with an alien species can only think in five-word sentences. Annoying to read, but some interesting ideas.

    Not my Cup of Tea
    "The God Whisperer" by Daniel J. Davis - What if you wrote a story where you inverted dog to god? This is one of the first place stories but I did not get the appeal.
    "Twelve Minutes to Vinh Quang" by Tim Napper - A woman holds up officials while negotiating with a criminal. Another story that won first place and I just didn't get.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Lee
    5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best sci-fi anthologies I've had the pleasure of reading
    Reviewed in Canada on September 26, 2017
    I've only finished 4 of the stories, but from what I've read, I am really impressed! One of the best sci-fi anthologies I've had the pleasure of reading!
  • NewR
    5.0 out of 5 stars Emerging talent
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 11, 2015
    I recommend this collection to those interested in the emerging talent of science fiction / fantasy writing and illustration. Thirteen short stories selected from the quarterly call for works are presented alongside shorts from established authors (L. Ron Hubbard, Larry Niven, Kevin J. Anderson and Rebecca Moesta) and a series of essays on art and writing (L. Ron Hubbard, Orson Scott Card, Bob Eggleton). Accompanying illustrations are included in both b&w and full colour.

    A personal favourite from the competition was the laugh-a-plenty 'God Whisperer' by Daniel J. Davis (illustrated by Alex Brock), with its fun and novel twist on a common domestic problem.

    Enjoy!
  • Gaurav Gupta
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great collection - bodes well for the future of Sci-fi
    Reviewed in India on November 3, 2015
    Great collection, sure some of the stories were of variable quality, but as a collection, thoroughly enjoyable.
  • Norbert R.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Australia on June 8, 2015
    These are one of the bst stories I have read recently.
  • whiskeyj
    4.0 out of 5 stars It's hard to pick a favorite when I tend to like different stories for different ...
    Reviewed in Canada on November 24, 2015
    I look forward to this release every year, you get a variety of stories that run the gamut of science fiction subgenres from interesting new voices to the field. It's hard to pick a favorite when I tend to like different stories for different reasons. The God Whisperer made me laugh. Twelve Minutes to Vinh Quang gave me this sense of a noir with a taste of cyberpunk, had me re-reading it several times. The Graver was dark and let me really delve into the soul/psyche of the character.
    I suppose some I liked a little less than others, but as a whole this was another excellent collection by the contest judges.