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Guest Post: L. Ron Hubbard Presents: Writers of the Future, Volume 40
The month of April is half finished, and I suspect I’m not the only one wondering how a month could rush by so fast. Whether we are busy with work, family, or creative endeavors it seems there is little time for recreation, and the time we do have is easily sucked away by less intentional sinks, like the exhausted scroll of social media, so while I have been anxiously awaiting the latest Volume of Writers of the Future, I admit I was reticent and slow to start reading my ARC copy. I knew it would be good based on past volumes, but my fatigue and the demands of my ever-refilling list of projects held me back. Once I dug in and started reading, however, it became effortless, and more than that, I couldn’t stop, had no desire to stop, and instead let the stories flow over me like a tidal wave of wonder.
The first story I read, from somewhere in the middle, was a science-fiction offering, Ashes to Ashes, Blood to Carbon Fiber by James Davies, featuring a dystopian world both unique and painfully familiar. Another time, another planet where those that have are few, and those that have not are many. To get by and survive, dire sacrifices must be made. I connected with it so viscerally, that I wept reading it, and yet, I felt uplifted at the finish. My appetite for story now sharpened to a fine edge, I read the first story in the volume, The Edge of Where My Light is Cast by Sky McKinnon. I found myself gripped by the heart and pulled along on a journey that was as human as it was strange, a cat that was the formless computer-generated rendering of a lost pet’s personality and so much more than that—Science fiction at its best, the kind that connects to what makes us human and inspires us to new heights of wonder. I held my breath, I cried, I made little sounds of dismay and worried I’d wake my sleeping teens upstairs and they’d find me with tears streaming down my face and a smile of awe on my lips.
Volume 40 isn’t just the delightful diversion that we all need between work and more mindless play, it is a gift. Inspiration, adventure, comfort, depth, excitement, and wonder, crafted and pulled together by the best debut authors writing today under the mentorship of our old and oh-so-dear favorites. I said it last year and I say it again with renewed certainty, Volume 40 is the most inspiring Writers of the Future anthology to date. It features twelve stories by the winners of Writers of the Future 2023 plus four bonus stories by best-selling authors, all illustrated by winners of the Illustrators of the Future contest.
Starcatcher (detail) by Dan dos Santos
Now for the good news, Volume 40 is up for preorder now and there are preorder bonuses at this link: Preorder here. Preorder bonuses include early access to audio and ebook copies of a Volume 40 story, wallpaper for desktop and phone of the V40 cover art, and other ebook treats. The release date for Writers and Illustrators of the Future Volume 40 is May 7th so you’ve no time to lose and little time left to wait!
Writers and Illustrators of the Future anthologies are an invaluable resource for readers as a means to finding stories, novels, and whole worlds in fresh new voices from around the globe. Each volume is diverse thanks to a blind judging process and the judges’ commitment to bringing us stories from multiple perspectives and styles of writing. While the stories in volume 40 have depth and complexity, they are suitable for sharing with middle-grade readers. Volume 40’s cover image is graced by a moonlit sorceress amid the tusks of mammoths. The artist sets a tone of mysticism that feels unbridled by time or genre. In an age of AI saturation, this masterful art is human-made as are the lush illustrations inside.
For authors and Illustrators, volume 40 contains articles on story and illustration craft written by industry professionals and an even more useful tool, the stories themselves. I have learned more reading the winning stories of Volume 40 than any craft book and highly recommend reading Volume 40 cover to cover if you are looking to improve your skills, especially if you are looking to win Writers and Illustrators of the Future.
If you want to springboard your writing or illustrating career, the Writers and Illustrators of the Future contest has more to offer aspiring authors and artists than any other contest, with zero entry fee, prize money, and a professional publication in your name. Each winner participates in a book signing, award ceremony and gala, and a week-long training and mentorship from industry professionals like Jody Lynn Nye, Kevin J. Anderson, Bob Eggleton, Echo Chernik, and so many more greats including two new judges (congratulations to them both) Mark Leslie Le Febvre, and Hugh Howey. The official website has an easy-entry submission portal with the contest rules and guidelines. On the website, there is a forum of over 10,000 writers and illustrators where you can find support for learning about, entering, and winning the contest. The website has a free online writers training course on the fundamentals of short story writing.
The Writers and Illustrators of the Future Contest creates a unique training ground for authors and Illustrators with clear deadlines and goals—four quarters a year to enter and four opportunities to win. If you write or illustrate, don’t self-reject. Enter and see what happens. You’ll either win, get close, or learn what it takes to win and improve along the way.
By CL Fors
CL Fors lives and breathes stories in multiple mediums: the written word, illustration in watercolor, acrylic, digital, and ink, and the creation of custom jewelry and other artifacts of story. She is an artist with a myriad of interests and experiences that inform and flavor her writing and illustrating. A multipotentialite, mother, author, and adventurer, CL is a science and science-fiction enthusiast with a passion for research based sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and speculative fiction in general.
CL’s debut novel, Cradle of Mars, is the first installment of the Primogenitor series and is releasing with a shiny new cover on April 20th (available for preorder now). The second, third, and final books in the series are all available on Amazon and will be getting new covers soon.
CL just won Illustrators of the Future for Quarter one, Volume 41. If you’d like to see her non-fiction work, she also writes science articles and short stories and has articles published at Genetic Literacy Project and Midwifery today Magazine. To explore CL’s writings and illustrations check out her Website: https://CLForsauthor.com
Or subscribe to her newsletter at Epitome Press
Writers of the Future Quick links:
- Preorder Offer https://galaxypress.com/new-release/writers-of-the-future-volume-40/
- Enter the Writing Contest https://www.writersofthefuture.com/enter-writer-contest/
- Free Writing Workshop https://www.writersofthefuture.com/writing-workshop/
- Writing Podcast: https://www.writersofthefuture.com/podcast/
- Writers Forum: https://www.writersofthefuture.com/forum/
- Writing Contest Rules https://www.writersofthefuture.com/contest-rules-writers/
- Contest Judges: https://www.writersofthefuture.com/writer-judges/
- Contest Blog: www.writersofthefuture.com/blog
- List of Writers of the Future & L. Ron Hubbard books https://galaxypress.com/l-ron-hubbard-books/
Social media links:
2024 Philip K. Dick Award Winner
The winner of the 2024 Philip K. Dick Award for distinguished original science fiction paperback published for the first time during 2023 in the USA is:
These Burning Stars by Bethany Jacobs (Orbit)
Special Citation was awarded to The Museum of Human History by Rebekah Bergman (Tin House)
The PKD Award was presented at Norwescon 46, March 28-31. Our congrats to the winners and all the nominees.
- Danged Black Thing by Eugen Bacon (Apex)
- Infinity Gate by M. R. Carey (Orbit)
- Wild Spaces by S. L. Coney (Tordotcom)
- Where Rivers Go to Die by Dilman Dila (Rosarium)
2023 BSFA Award Winner
The British Science Fiction Association has announced the winners of the BSFA Awards for works published in 2022.
In the Best Novel category the winner is The Green Man’s Quarry by Juliet McKenna (Wizard Tower). Our congrats to Juliet McKenna and all the nominees:
- Descendant Machine by Gareth L. Powell (Titan)
- Airside by Christopher Priest (Gollancz)
- HIM by Geoff Ryman (Angry Robot)
- Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon by Wole Talabi (Gollancz)
See the winners for all categories over on Locus. What do you think of this result?
2024 Hugo Award Finalists
The 2024 Hugo Award finalists have been announced. The noms in the Best Novel category are:
- The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty (Harper Voyager; Harper Voyager UK)
- The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera (Tordotcom)
- Translation State by Ann Leckie (Orbit US; Orbit UK)
- Starter Villain by John Scalzi (Tor US; Tor UK)
- Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh (Tordotcom; Orbit UK)
- Witch King by Martha Wells (Tordotcom)
See the full list of noms in all categories on the Locus website.
Our congrats to all the finalists. What do you think of this crop of books? Any favorites in the list?
2024 Andre Norton Award Nominees
The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America have announced the nominees for the 2024 Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy:
- To Shape a Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose (Del Rey)
- The Inn at the Amethyst Lantern by J. Dianne Dotson (Android)
- Liberty’s Daughter by Naomi Kritzer (Fairwood)
- The Ghost Job by Greg van Eekhout (Harper)
Our congrats to all the nominees.
2023 Nebula Award Nominees
The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America have released the final ballot for the 2023 Nebula Award. The noms in the Novel category are:
- The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera (Tordotcom)
- The Water Outlaws by S. L. Huang (Tordotcom; Solaris UK)
- Translation State by Ann Leckie (Orbit US; Orbit UK)
- The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz (Tor; Orbit UK)
- Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon by Wole Talabi (DAW; Gollancz)
- Witch King by Martha Wells (Tordotcom)
Locus has the complete list of nominees in all categories. What looks good to you?
2023 BSFA Shortlist
The British Science Fiction Association has announced the shortlist for the 2023 BSFA Awards.
- The Green Man’s Quarry by Juliet McKenna (Wizard Tower)
- Descendant Machine by Gareth L. Powell (Titan)
- Airside by Christopher Priest (Gollancz)
- HIM by Geoff Ryman (Angry Robot)
- Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon by Wole Talabi (Gollancz)
See Locus for the complete shortlists in all categories. The winners will be announced at Levitation, this year’s Eastercon, which runs March 29 – April 1, 2024 at Telford International Centre and online.
2023 Bram Stoker Awards Final Ballot
The Horror Writers Association has announced the 2023 Bram Stoker Awards Final Ballot. The finalists for Superior Achievement in a Novel are:
- The Reformatory by Tananarive Due (Saga)
- How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix (Berkley)
- Don’t Fear the Reaper by Stephen Graham Jones (Saga)
- Lone Women by Victor LaValle (One World)
- Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle (Tor Nightfire/MacMillan/Titan)
- Black River Orchard by Chuck Wendig (Del Rey)
See Locus for the nominees in all categories. Our congrats to all the finalists.
Ex Libris WWEnd: Mal Goes to War by Edward Ashton
Mal Goes to War by Edward Ashton
St. Martin’s Press | April 9, 2024
From the creator of Mickey7, soon to be a major motion picture titled Mickey17 directed by Oscar award-winning Bong Joon Ho starring Robert Pattinson, Toni Collette, and Mark Ruffalo, comes Edward Ashton‘s newest standalone book, Mal Goes to War.
The humans are fighting again. Go figure.
As a free A.I., Mal finds the war between the modded and augmented Federals and the puritanical Humanists about as interesting as a battle between rival anthills. He’s not above scouting the battlefield for salvage, though, and when the Humanists abruptly cut off access to infospace he finds himself trapped in the body of a cyborg mercenary, and responsible for the safety of the modded girl she died protecting.
A dark comedy wrapped in a techno thriller’s skin, Mal Goes to War provides a satirical take on war, artificial intelligence, and what it really means to be human.
Read the first chapter for free at Worlds Without End.
Praise for Edward Ashton and the Mickey7 Series:
“A wildly entertaining mix of action and big ideas peppered with humor and a bizarre love story.” —NPR
“A brisk, spirited sci-fi romp…hugely enjoyable.” —Max Barry, author of Providence
“The fun [in reading Mickey7] is trying to keep up with Mr. Ashton’s twists and turns, and the extra fun is that you never do.” —The Wall Street Journal
“Ashton’s follow-up to his excellent Mickey7 (2022) is just as much fun as its predecessor.” —Booklist
“A nonstop SF adventure from beginning to end.” —Library Journal, starred
Edward Ashton lives with his adorably mopey dog, his inordinately patient wife, and a steadily diminishing number of daughters in Rochester, New York, where he studies new cancer therapies by day, and writes about the awful things his research may lead to by night.
He is the author of the novels Three Days in April and The End of Ordinary, as well as several dozen short stories which have appeared in venues ranging from the newsletter of an Italian sausage company to Louisiana Literature and Escape Pod.
2024 Philip K. Dick Award Nominees
The 2024 Philip K. Dick Award nominees have been announced:
- Danged Black Thing by Eugen Bacon (Apex)
- The Museum of Human History by Rebekah Bergman (Tin House)
- Infinity Gate by M. R. Carey (Orbit)
- Wild Spaces by S. L. Coney (Tordotcom)
- Where Rivers Go to Die by Dilman Dila (Rosarium)
- These Burning Stars by Bethany Jacobs (Orbit)
The award is presented annually to a distinguished work of science fiction originally published in paperback form in the United States from the previous calendar year. The winner will be announced at Norwescon 46, March 28-31, 2024 in Seattle, WA.
Have you read any of these? What looks good to you on the list?
