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L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 31 Paperback – Illustrated, May 4, 2015
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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
- Print length496 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherGalaxy Press
- Publication dateMay 4, 2015
- Dimensions9 x 1.25 x 6 inches
- ISBN-101619863227
- ISBN-13978-1619863224
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
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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
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
- Best Sellers Rank: #3,655,235 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #681 in Science Fiction & Fantasy Writing
- #1,866 in Science Fiction History & Criticism
- #3,859 in Military Fantasy (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the authors
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. Indeed, from Ray Bradbury to Stephen King, there is scarcely a master of imaginative tales who has not paid tribute to L. Ron Hubbard.
Then too, of course, there is all L. Ron Hubbard represents as the Founder of Dianetics and Scientology and thus the only major religion born in the 20th century.
While, as such, he presents the culmination of science and spiritual technology as embodied in the religion of Scientology.
LARRY NIVEN is the multiple Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author of the Ringworld series, along with many other science fiction masterpieces. He lives in Chatsworth, California. JERRY POURNELLE is an essayist, journalist, and science fiction author. He has advanced degrees in psychology, statistics, engineering, and political science. Together Niven and Pournelle are the authors of many New York Times bestsellers including Inferno, The Mote in God's Eye, Footfall, and Lucifer's Hammer.
Yes, I have a lot of books, and if this is your first visit to my amazon author page, it can be a little overwhelming. If you are new to my work, let me recommend a few titles as good places to start. My major new fantasy trilogy (all finished!) consists of SPINE OF THE DRAGON, VENGEWAR and GODS AND DRAGONS. My newest Dune novel with Brian Herbert is THE HEIR OF CALADAN, end of a new trilogy. I also love my Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I. series—newest one is DOUBLE-BOOKED— humorous horror/mysteries, which begin with DEATH WARMED OVER. My steampunk fantasy adventures, CLOCKWORK ANGELS, CLOCKWORK LIVES, and CLOCKWORK DESTINY, written with Neil Peart, legendary drummer from Rush, are some of my very favorite novels ever. And my magnum opus, the science fiction epic The Saga of Seven Suns, begins with HIDDEN EMPIRE. After you've tried those, I hope you'll check out some of my other series.
I have written more than 175 books, including 59 national or international bestsellers. I have over 24 million books in print worldwide in thirty languages. I've been nominated for the Nebula Award, Hugo Award, Bram Stoker Award, Shamus Award, and Silver Falchion Award, and I've won the SFX Readers' Choice Award, Golden Duck Award, Scribe Award, and New York Times Notable Book; in 2012 at San Diego Comic Con I received the Faust Grand Master Award for Lifetime Achievement.
I have written numerous bestselling and critically acclaimed novels in the Dune universe with Brian Herbert, as well as Star Wars and X-Files novels. In my original work, I am best known for my Saga of Seven Suns series, the Terra Incognita trilogy, the Dan Shamble, Zombie PI series, and Clockwork Angels and Clockwork Lives with Neil Peart. Along with my wife Rebecca Moesta, I am also the publisher of WordFire Press. Find out more about me at wordfire.com, where you can sign up for my newsletter and get some free fiction.
FOR RIGHTS INQUIRIES (Film/TV/Gaming/Foreign/Literary) please contact me directly at info (at) wordfire (dot) com, and I will put you in touch with my appropriate representative.
David Farland, aka Dave Wolverton is an award-winning, international best-selling author with over 60 novels in print. Published in over 20 languages. He has won the Phillip K. Dick Memorial Special Award for "Best Novel in the English Language", the Whitney award for "Best Novel of the Year", the Hollywood Book Festival, Grand Prize and several others. He has been a repeat writer for major franchises such as Star Wars and The Mummy. However, He is best known for his New York Times best-selling fantasy series The Runelords, which will soon be made into a graphic novel and, likely, a movie.
"Nightingale has got superb world-building, strong characters, and Farland's characteristic excellent prose. It was a quick read, fast moving, very fun!"
- Brandon Sanderson
"The Runelords is a first-rate tale, an epic fantasy that more than delivers on its promise. Read it soon and treat yourself to an adventure you won't forget."
- Terry Brooks
"When I reached the end of this first volume, The Runelords, and saw grace arise from a devastating battlefield where too many great hearts lay dead, Farland had earned the tears that came to my eyes. It was not sentiment but epiphany."
- Orson Scott Card
As a writing instructor, Farland has mentored dozens who have gone on to staggering literary success, including such #1 New York Times Bestsellers as Brandon Mull (Fablehaven), Brandon Sanderson (Wheel of Time), James Dashner (The Maze Runner) and Stephenie Meyer (Twilight)
Farland judges L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future, perhaps the largest worldwide writing competition for new fantasy and science fiction authors. He has worked in Hollywood greenlighting movies and doctoring scripts. He set the Guinness World Record for the largest single-author, single-book signing.
David Farland has been hailed as "The Wizard of Storytelling" and his work has been called "compelling", "engrossing", "powerful", "profound" and "ultimately life-changing".
"I still use the writing techniques he discussed, and constantly reference him and his instruction when I teach creative writing myself. . . His explanations led me directly to getting an agent, and subsequently, my first book deal."
Brandon Sanderson, #1 Bestselling Author of Way of Kings
"He understands storytelling and writing on a freaky level. All of us feel like we owe a huge debt to him."
James Dashner, #1 Bestselling Author of The Maze Runner
"Aside from being a talented writer, David Farland is an excellent writing teacher. Hearing him teach live and reading his written advice has helped me focus many of my own thoughts about the writing process. Those who would like to learn more about the craft of writing would be wise to pay attention."
Brandon Mull, New York Times Bestselling Author of Fablehaven
Orson Scott Card is the author of the novels Ender's Game, Ender's Shadow, and Speaker for the Dead, which are widely read by adults and younger readers, and are increasingly used in schools. His most recent series, the young adult Pathfinder series (Pathfinder, Ruins, Visitors) and the fantasy Mithermages series (Lost Gate, Gate Thief, Gatefather) are taking readers in new directions.
Besides these and other science fiction novels, Card writes contemporary fantasy (Magic Street, Enchantment, Lost Boys), biblical novels (Stone Tables, Rachel and Leah), the American frontier fantasy series The Tales of Alvin Maker (beginning with Seventh Son), poetry (An Open Book), and many plays and scripts, including his "freshened" Shakespeare scripts for Romeo & Juliet, The Taming of the Shrew, and The Merchant of Venice.
Card was born in Washington and grew up in California, Arizona, and Utah. He served a mission for the LDS Church in Brazil in the early 1970s. Besides his writing, he teaches occasional classes and workshops and directs plays. He frequently teaches writing and literature courses at Southern Virginia University.
Card currently lives in Greensboro, North Carolina, with his wife, Kristine Allen Card, where his primary activities are writing a review column for the local Rhinoceros Times and feeding birds, squirrels, chipmunks, possums, and raccoons on the patio.
Martin L. Shoemaker is a programmer who writes on the side… or maybe it’s the other way around. He told stories to imaginary friends and learned to type on his brother's manual typewriter even though he couldn't reach the keys. (He types with the keyboard in his lap still today.) He couldn't imagine any career but writing fiction... until his algebra teacher said, "This is a program. You should write one of these."
Fast forward 30 years of programming, writing, and teaching. He was named an MVP by Microsoft for his work with the developer community. He is an avid role-playing gamemaster, but that didn't satisfy his storytelling urge. He wrote, but he never submitted until his brother-in-law read a chapter and said, "That's not a chapter. That's a story. Send it in." It won second place in the Baen Memorial Writing Contest and earned him lunch with Buzz Aldrin. Programming never did that!
Martin hasn't stopped writing (or programming) since. His work has appeared in Analog, Galaxy's Edge, Digital Science Fiction, and select service garages worldwide. His novella "Murder on the Aldrin Express" was reprinted in The Year's Best Science Fiction: Thirty-First Annual Collection and in Year's Top Short SF Novels 4. Learn more at http://Shoemaker.Space.
SCIENCE FICTION AUTHOR
As an author, Martin has sold stories to the following markets:
"Not Close Enough", in Analog Science Fiction and Fact, May 2013.
"Murder on the Aldrin Express", in Analog Science Fiction and Fact, September 2013.
"Brigas Nunca Mais", in Analog Science Fiction and Fact, March 2015.
"Il Gran Cavallo", in Galaxy's Edge #5, November 2013.
"Pallbearers", in Galaxy's Edge #7, March 2014.
"Murder on the Aldrin Express", in The Year's Best Science Fiction: Thirty-First Annual Collection edited by Gardner Dozois.
"Murder on the Aldrin Express", in The Year's Top Short SF Novels 4.
"The Night We Flushed the Old Town" in Therefore I Am: Digital Science Fiction Volume 2.
"Father-Daughter Outing", the cover story for Heir Apparent: Digital Science Fiction Volume 4.
"Gruff Riders" in The Gruff Variations: Writing for Charity Anthology, Vol. 1
His writing has also won the following awards:
Writers of the Future, Quarter 1, 2011: Finalist, "The Mother Anthony"
Writers of the Future, Quarter 2, 2011: Honorable Mention, "Father-Daughter Outing"
Writers of the Future, Quarter 3, 2011: Honorable Mention, "Scramble"
Writers of the Future, Quarter 4, 2011: Semi-Finalist, "A Most Auspicious Star"
The 2012 Jim Baen Memorial Writing Contest: Second Place, "Scramble"
Writers of the Future, Quarter 1, 2012: Finalist, "One Last Chore for Grandpa"
Writers of the Future, Quarter 2, 2012: Honorable Mention, "Incoming"
Writers of the Future, Quarter 3, 2012: Honorable Mention, "Fog Traffic"
Writers of the Future, Quarter 4, 2012: Honorable Mention, "Mama's Little Angel"
Writers of the Future, Quarter 1, 2013: Honorable Mention, "The Books of Cheswick"
Writers of the Future, Quarter 2, 2013: Honorable Mention, "Killing Buddy"
Writers of the Future, Quarter 3, 2013: Honorable Mention, "In Its Shadow"
Writers of the Future, Quarter 1, 2014: THIRD PLACE, "Unrefined"
In addition, he has self-published seven stories and a collection, and has more in the works.
SOFTWARE ARCHITECTURE ANALYST
Martin is a software developer with 29 years experience in the industry. He has worked in the fields of color science, on-line shopping, databases, material handling, medical imaging, and customer relations management.
His most popular presentations are his UML courses, which he wrote and presents. As a side effort in his UML work, Martin has written two books on UML:
UML Applied: A .NET Perspective from Apress.
Ulterior Motive Lounge: UML, 80s Flicks, and Bunny Slippers, the world's first UML comic strip. Originally published online in 2009, this successful comic strip let Martin use humor and simple examples to teach UML to a wide audience. It is now collected in a version for Kindle.
Kary English grew up in the snowy Midwest where she avoided siblings and frostbite by reading book after book in a warm corner behind a recliner chair. She blames her one and only high school detention on Douglas Adams, whose Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy caused her to laugh out loud while reading it behind her geometry textbook.
Today, Kary still spends most of her time with her head in the clouds and her nose in a book. To the great relief of her parents, she seems to be making a living at it. Her fiction includes several short stories, and a forthcoming fantasy saga about a little girl and an orange kitten.
Kary is a Writers of the Future winner whose fiction has appeared in Grantville Gazette's Universe Annex, Galaxy's Edge, Writers of the Future, Vol. 31, Undercurrents, and Daily Science Fiction. Her stories have been nominated for the Hugo and Campbell awards, and long-listed for the Bram Stoker Award.
Visit Kary on the web at www.KaryEnglish.com.
Scott R. Parkin is a literary omnivore who writes science fiction, fantasy, supernatural, lit-fic, slice-of-life, criticism, commentary, and essays. With more than thirty short story sales to date, Scott has sold to L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future vol. 31, the Fiction River anthology series, Marion Zimmer Bradley's FANTASY Magazine, Galaxy Magazine, and others. He recently finished a YA fantasy novel and is working on a two-part sf novel set in his Planetary Assessment Corporation story universe.
A winner in the L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest, Scott draws on a twenty-year career in technology along with extensive worldwide travel where he has come in contact with a wide variety of people with different hopes, dreams, and assumptions. His fiction spans from the realistic to the fantastic, and the absurd to scientific, technological, or philosophical speculation.
He currently lives in central Utah with his wife and six children.
Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read book recommendations and more.
STEVE PANTAZIS is an award-winning author of fantasy and science fiction. He won the prestigious Writers of the Future award and has published short stories in leading anthologies and magazines, including Nature, Galaxy’s Edge, and IGMS. He is the author of The Light of Darkness epic fantasy series. When not writing (a rare occasion!), Steve creates extraordinary cuisine, exercises with vigor, and shares marvelous adventures with the love of his life. Originally from the Big Apple, he now calls Southern California home. You can learn more about him at www.StevePantazis.com.
Peter J. Wacks, born as Jedidiah Jason Zarathustra Janney Shults, was quickly reminted to a sane name yet never really recovered a sense of normalcy in his life.
Peter (or Zarth, whatever, it’s cool) has travelled to 37 countries, hitchhiked across the United States (very funny, no, he didn’t hitchhike to Hawaii), and backpacked across Europe. He loves fast cars, running 5Ks, space travel, and armchair physics.
In the past, Peter has been an actor and game designer, but he loves writing most and has done a ton of it, which can be found by looking him up online (even if it seems a little cyber-stalkery, don’t worry, go for it!)
Since he doesn’t think anyone reads these things anyway, he will mention Strawberry Daiquiris, Laphroaig, great IPAs, and really clever puns are the best way to start conversations with him.
Are you still there?
The Bio is over.
Go Read.
Rebecca Moesta (pronounced MESS-tuh) wanted to be an author since her early teens, but it wasn't until 1991 that she began writing in earnest. Her solo novels include Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Little Things (2002) and three novels in the Junior Jedi Knights series. With her husband, Kevin J. Anderson, she wrote the Crystal Doors trilogy, the movie novelization of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen under the pseudonym "K.J. Anderson" (2003); a movie novelization of Supernova (2000); a novelization of the popular StarCraft computer game StarCraft: Shadow of the Xel'Naga, under the pseudonym "Gabriel Mesta" (2001); and a Star Trek graphic novel, The Gorn Crisis (2001). The team, currently working on Star Challengers, a Young Adult science fiction series, has also written two young adult Titan A.E. novels (2000), two high-tech Star Wars Pop-up Books, and the 14-book Young Jedi Knights series of Star Wars novels.
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Amit Dutta discovered the creative urge as a wee entity growing up in the African nation of Malawi. Science fiction and fantasy literature were the first to capture his imagination. Since nobody he asked seemed to think that art could actually be a career he trotted off to university in Canada focused on Astrophysics. It was very sci-fi after all.
A series of events, otherwise known as Life, saw Amit entangled in what might loosely be called a career in IT wondering where he had misplaced the last 12 years. They weren't in the fridge and he dared not look under the bed. He moved to New Zealand where the slumbering creative phoenix finally erupted into the bleary-eyed, caffeine-fueled, solitary auto-didactic artist he has become. Over three years he obsessively developed his skills and successfully destroyed his social life.
He quit his daily grazing at the cubicle farm in early 2015 to dedicate more time to his art. The automated mortgage payment glares at him in outright suspicion, and the bank manager is rubbing its slimy hands in foreclosure anticipation glee.
Amit currently hermits himself in a remote bush valley north of Wellington. He feeds cat food to the family of eels living under the ford across the river. The cat isn't impressed.
Megen Nelson, better known online as AsaHane or Arapersonica, and eventually M.D. Nelson, is an emerging writer and an artist with a passion for having impossible dreams. She enjoys frolicking beneath the stinging rays of the Florida sun with her pet Shih Tzu's and walking her ferret Naomi.
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T. R. Napper is a multi-award-winning science fiction author. His short stories have appeared in Asimov’s, Interzone, the Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, and numerous others, and been translated into Hebrew, German, French, and Vietnamese. He received a creative writing doctorate for his thesis: Noir, Cyberpunk, and Asian Modernity.
Before turning to writing, T. R. Napper was a diplomat and aid worker, delivering humanitarian programs in Southeast Asia for a decade. During this period, he received a commendation from the Government of Laos for his work with the poor.
Napper was a resident of the Old Quarter in Ha Noi for several years, the setting for his debut novel, 36 Streets. These days he has returned to his home country of Australia, where he works as a Dungeon Master, running campaigns for young people with autism for a local charity
His twitter account is: @TheEscherMan, website is: www.nappertime.com, and Facebook is here: https://www.facebook.com/trnapper
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Amy M. Hughes is an international award winning author. She writes stories that feature emotionally powerful, atmospherically palpable worlds.
Amy was born in Provo, Utah, the first American child of a Canadian family. She was raised in Alberta, Canada, surrounded by prairie while dreaming of mountains and trees. Too many forested fantasy novels may have had something to do with that.
She learned to read early and moved from The Hardy Boys in first grade to Tolkien by the forth. She developed a deep love of reading that has sporadically spilled into a need to write, on and off for many years. In 2008, at the insistence of her husband, Amy attended Orson Scott Card's Literary Boot Camp. She learned more in one week about how to tell a good story than she had in the first 2 years of her English degree.
Amy has been a factory line worker, a veterinary technician, a missionary, an herbalist, a landscape designer, and a stay-at-home mom. She has also eaten fire, jumped off a third story balcony, and crashed in a hot air balloon.
Tragically born with a miscalibrated sense of humor, Krystal Claxton lived in nine US states before the age of thirteen. The combination of the two has left her with an oscillating accent and a habit of laughing at things that aren't funny. She currently lives in Georgia with her long-suffering spouse, a dog who thinks she's a cat, and a number of children that is subject to change.
She enjoys breaking Heinlein's Rules, getting distracted by Dragon Con, and feverishly researching whichever random topic has just piqued her interest. Keep up with her at krystalclaxton.com and on twitter @krystalclaxton
Award-winning author Sharon Joss writes science fiction, fantasy and horror. The author of eight novels (including the Hand of Fate series) and dozens of short stories, she has worked as a waitress, bartender, real-time operating systems software developer for the space shuttle Columbia, and a technical program manager in the high tech industry. Besides writing and reading, she enjoys jazz, training dogs, and falconry. A Writers of the Future Golden Pen Award winner and finalist for the Canopus award, she lives in Oregon.
Want to be notified about new releases? Sign up for her new release mailing list and get a free ebook and other occasional goodies at: http://bit.ly/1MhS3lb
Your address will never be shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Hand of Fate Series in Suggested Reading Order:
Destiny Blues
Legacy Soul
Chaos Karma
Mystic Jive
Cosmic Groove
On the day Auston Habershaw was born, Skylab fell from the heavens. This foretold two possible fates: supervillain or scifi/fantasy author. Fortunately he chose the latter, and spends his time imagining the could-be and the never-was rather than disintegrating the moon with his volcano laser. He lives and works in Boston, MA. He has a blog at http://aahabershaw.com/.
Customer reviews
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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- Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2015Every 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!
- Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2015Writers 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.
Top reviews from other countries
- LeeReviewed in Canada on September 26, 2017
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best sci-fi anthologies I've had the pleasure of reading
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!
- NewRReviewed in the United Kingdom on December 11, 2015
5.0 out of 5 stars Emerging talent
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 GuptaReviewed in India on November 3, 2015
5.0 out of 5 stars Great collection - bodes well for the future of Sci-fi
Great collection, sure some of the stories were of variable quality, but as a collection, thoroughly enjoyable.
- Norbert R.Reviewed in Australia on June 8, 2015
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
These are one of the bst stories I have read recently.
- whiskeyjReviewed in Canada on November 24, 2015
4.0 out of 5 stars It's hard to pick a favorite when I tend to like different stories for different ...
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.