L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 34: The Best New Sci Fi and Fantasy Short Stories of the Year

Wow! Just got my copy a couple of days ago and I'm already hooked. I haven't read even half the stories yet and find myself picking it up every spare minute. There is something for everyone including humor, suspense, intrigue, romance, and inspiration. "All Light and Darkness" is beautifully written, poetic and inspiring. "The Howler on the Sales Floor" is a quick read full of humor and sarcasm. "Mara's Shadow" has the intrigue and technical writing required by an action/thriller audience. I am amazed by the mixture of cultures, time periods, and plot lines found in this excellent anthology. I highly recommend it!

All three of the stories in the Advance Preview provided to me (I am related to one of the authors) show a rich familiarity with the literature and tropes of science fiction, yet with the freshness of clear grounding and relevance to this century. "Turnabout" follows John Campbell’s prescription for a good science fiction story: Make one change in the conventionally accepted universe, then explore it, play with it. Here the accepted universe is the fantasy trope of Aladdin’s lamp, but for one change. When the lamp rubber refuses to make a wish, what can we expect to happen to the lamp rubber, or to the sensual trickster genie? Not what I thought was going to happen! "Mara’s Shadow" brings together the tropes of Hidden/Lost Valleys and ShangriLa and the Andromeda Strain with our 21st century awareness of pandemic potential, geopolitical research realities and the suspense of cutting-edge viral GMO research that . . . I was on the edge of my chair until the resolution at the very end of this science-solid, human-interest balanced How-Done-It. The last story in my preview humanizes, and alienizes, more intricacies than you might expect in sex with an alien. It’s been over six decades since Philip José Farmer broke the write-about-sex barrier in science fiction (and with aliens, no less). In "A Bitter Thing," the author explores more the “why” than the “how” of the sexual, social and emotional dynamics of an affair with an expat who happens to be quite . . . different. I’m looking forward to the nine unread stories in my newly arrived full copy! Invisibly cra

When I read a book of short stories I find myself reading them in a random order. So far I have enjoyed all of the ones I have read, some amazing talented writers were chosen for this writers of the future book ! I do want to comment on Miss Smokey. The main character shows herself to be a strong female with a job that made me wonder why she stayed until the end when the why she stays is revealed .Well written with a bit of everything in it and good character development that I do not always see in short stories . Now I want more !

This anthology has stories in which characters defy the norms, government systems, their own expectations of the future, and do their best to make a difference, to make a better world. The selection of stories was truly international and even out of this world.The only thing I didn't like was the choice of placing three novellas so close together in the first half of the book. The stories chosen for this volume were long, for the most part, and three novellas to start with was a bit much for me, since I prefer short stories. It's simply a matter of taste.

Every year I read Writers of the Future. Some years there are a lot of stories I like, and some years there are only a few. For this latest edition, #34, I liked most of them. My favorite was "The Howler on the Sales Floor," a humor piece about an out-of-its-element supernatural person in an office job. “The Minarets of An-Zabat” had some great imagery, and "Miss Smokey" made me laugh. I recommend this anthology highly, because there are enough stories here that you should like at least three or four of them.

Instead, Most of the stories are fantasy, magical, medieval things. It is hard to say if these stories embody the future, the past, or an alternate present. A few stories come across as post apocalyptic science fiction, but the majority seem to deal with magical things. Past editions of WOTF were very entertaining. I wonder what has changed.

Love all the amazing stories. I’m a huge science fiction fan and I enjoyed reading these short stories. Perfect quick read, definitely makes me want to follow these authors and see what other books they have. The illustrations were AWESOME!

A volume to revel in creative genius and originality! Each story is unique and entertaining; this edition is already being passed around my high school classroom as an after-work treat and inspiration for the budding writers and illustrators that share my day. "Miss Smokey" is a special favorite due to the mix of humor and pain of self-sacrifice, all in the name of giving hope and encouragement to disadvantaged youth.

I really enjoyed this book. So much imagination and creativity in those pages. Each story is completely different from the others, so you don't know what is coming next. Some are short, some are longer and some really long. The ones I liked best are The Howler on the Sales Floor, where an alien is called in for a meeting with HR for using his dark powers on customers and colleagues. Mara's Shadow, how someone's good intentions can cause trouble on a global scale, and Illusion. The illustrations to go with each story are amazing and beautiful. The one on the front cover is my favourite. Plus you also get some tips from top writers and illustrators. And right at the end is how you too can enter the story writing competition or the illustrators competition. I am already working on my story!

Some good stories, others not so good.A common feature is that they are rather shallow. Appear to be written with a 'gimmick' to catch the attention of the judges - not necessarily a bad thing but contributes to the superficiality.

Another amazing anthology, wonderful short stories by future bestselling authors!

Great

All three of the stories in the Advance Preview provided to me (I am related to one of the authors) show a rich familiarity with the literature and tropes of science fiction, yet with the freshness of clear grounding and relevance to this century. "Turnabout" follows John Campbell’s prescription for a good science fiction story: Make one change in the conventionally accepted universe, then explore it, play with it. Here the accepted universe is the fantasy trope of Aladdin’s lamp, but for one change. When the lamp rubber refuses to make a wish, what can we expect to happen to the lamp rubber, or to the sensual trickster genie? Not what I thought was going to happen! "Mara’s Shadow" brings together the tropes of Hidden/Lost Valleys and ShangriLa and the Andromeda Strain with our 21st century awareness of pandemic potential, geopolitical research realities and the suspense of cutting-edge viral GMO research that . . . I was on the edge of my chair until the resolution at the very end of this science-solid, human-interest balanced How-Done-It. The last story in my preview humanizes, and alienizes, more intricacies than you might expect in sex with an alien. It’s been over six decades since Philip José Farmer broke the write-about-sex barrier in science fiction (and with aliens, no less). In "A Bitter Thing," the author explores more the “why” than the “how” of the sexual, social and emotional dynamics of an affair with an expat who happens to be quite . . . different. I’m looking forward to the nine unread stories in my newly arrived full copy!