Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Short Stories
Date Published: May 7, 2024
Spine-tingling
Breathtaking
Mind-blowing
Experience these powerful new voices—vivid, visceral, and visionary—as they explore uncharted worlds and reveal unlimited possibilities.
Open the Writers of the Future and be carried away by stories—and illustrations—that will make you think, make you laugh, and make you see the world in ways you never imagined.
Twelve captivating tales from the best new writers of the year as selected by Writers of the Future Contest judges accompanied by three more from L. Ron Hubbard, Nancy Kress, S.M. Stirling. Each is accompanied by a full-color illustration.
Plus Bonus Art and Writing Tips from Gregory Benford, Bob Eggleton, L. Ron Hubbard, Dean Wesley Smith
“When her owner goes missing, a digital housecat must become more than simulation to find her dearest companion through the virtual world.—“The Edge of Where My Light Is Cast” by Sky McKinnon, art by Carina Zhang
No one came to his brother’s funeral. Not even the spirits. Étienne knew it was his fault.—“Son, Spirit, Snake” by Jack Nash, art by Pedro N.
Man overboard is a nightmare scenario for any sailor, but Lieutenant Susan Guidry is also running out of air—and the nearest help is light years away.—“Nonzero” by Tom Vandermolen, art by Jennifer Mellen
Mac wanted to invent a cocktail to burn itself upon the pages of history—but this one had some unexpected side effects.—“The Last Drop” by L. Ron Hubbard and L. Sprague de Camp, art by Chris Arias
Dementia has landed Dan Kennedy in Graydon Manor, and what’s left of his life ahead seems dismal, but a pair of impossible visitors bring unexpected hope.—“The Imagalisk” by Galen Westlake, art by Arthur Haywood
When a teenage swamp witch fears her mama will be killed, she utilizes her wits and the magic of the bayou—no matter the cost to her own soul.—“Life and Death and Love in the Bayou” by Stephannie Tallent, art by Ashley Cassaday
Our exodus family awoke on the new world—a paradise inexplicably teeming with Earth life, the Promise fulfilled. But 154 of us are missing.…—“Five Days Until Sunset” by Lance Robinson, art by Steve Bentley
Spirits were supposed to lurk beneath the Lake of Death, hungry and patient and hostile to all life.—“Shaman Dreams” by S.M. Stirling, art by Dan dos Santos
A new app lets users see through the eyes of any human in history, but it’s not long before the secrets of the past catch up with the present.—“The Wall Isn’t a Circle” by Rosalyn Robilliard, art by Guelly Rivera
In the shadows of Teddy Roosevelt’s wendigo hunt, a Native American boy resolves to turn the tables on his captors, setting his sights on the ultimate prey—America’s Great Chief.—“Da-ko-ta” by Amir Agoora, art by Connor Chamberlain
When squids from outer space take over, a punk-rock P.I. must crawl out of her own miserable existence to find her client’s daughter—and maybe a way out.—“Squiddy” by John Eric Schleicher, art by Tyler Vail
Another outbreak? This time it’s a virus with an eighty percent infection rate that affects personality changes … permanently.—“Halo” by Nancy Kress, art by Lucas Durham
Planet K2-18b is almost dead, humanity is enslaved, and it’s Rickard’s fault. Now in his twilight years, he’d give an arm and a leg for redemption. Literally.—“Ashes to Ashes, Blood to Carbonfiber” by James Davies, art by May Zheng
What if magic could undo the unthinkable, and undo Death itself? Would you use it no matter the cost? What would you sacrifice for love?—“Summer of Thirty Years” by Lisa Silverthorne, art by Gigi Hooper
Joe is a prospector tasked with exploring the cosmos on behalf of an all-powerful government. Breadna is a toaster. There have been weirder love stories, but that’s unlikely.—“Butter Side Down” by Kal M, art by Selena Meraki
Introduction
Once again, I am proud to present to you twelve brand-new
stories that will delight you, expose you to new ideas, drag you through
harrowing trials, make you think, cry, and laugh. The variety of stories, from
time travel to dystopia to the memory of a child’s imagination, is like a
library between two covers. You have a treat waiting for you.
Every year that I have been involved in the Writers of the
Future Contest, I have been impressed by the talent of up-and-coming writers.
They have a vision, they explore it through the eyes of well drawn characters
in a world made vivid by their words, and they bring the plot to a conclusion
that satisfies the reader’s desire for adventure. It’s hard to choose the
finalists because there are always more than the eight per quarter that I am
allowed to select from the myriad we receive, and just as hard to pick the
three winners from that group. These are the best of the best.
Another important facet is their perseverance. In some
cases, the success of these twelve writers is the result of years of submitting
to the Contest. When one story didn’t make the cut, they tried a fresh idea. In
this year, each of them succeeded. I enjoyed each of these stories, and I am
proud to have been a part of bringing the world’s attention to these new
writers.
I know there are many hopeful writers who want to join the
ranks of Contest winners, and I encourage you to keep trying. One thing that I
have noticed over the last couple of years is that some writers keep sending me
the same stories over and over again. Once in a very great while, a story will
move up in rank, achieving notice as an honorable mention, to silver honorable
mention, to semifinalist, or even finalist. If a story that you send me has
received the same ranking for three or more quarters, it is unlikely ever to be
considered for a higher prize. I beseech you to put that story aside, sell it
elsewhere, and send me something else. The Writers of the Future Contest wants
to help you achieve a writing career, and a career is not made on a single story.
It’s like trying keys in a lock. If one key doesn’t work, try others until one
of them opens the door.
What am I looking for? I want a story with a beginning,
middle, and end. I want your protagonist to grow in some fashion, whether or
not s/he succeeds at the goal. Speculative fiction is about extrapolating on
things that already exist. Show me new ideas. Don’t retread ground that has
been trampled by thousands of others. Let me hear your voice. Tickle my
imagination. Introduce me to new people, new cultures. I want excellent
storytelling with great characters and imaginative world-building. You can enter
once a quarter, with no entrance fee, with a story that can range in length
from flash fiction (yes! we accept flash fiction) up to seventeen thousand
words, in any subgenre of science fiction or fantasy, even light horror. Please
read the guidelines carefully, and send me your stories!
The rewards for becoming a winner of the Contest are
worthwhile. The twelve writer winners are flown into Hollywood, California,
from wherever they are in the world, for a grand black-tie, red-carpet gala,
given beautiful trophies and checks for winning. Winners from each quarter
receive US$500 for third place, US$750 for second place, and US$1,000 for
first. Each of their stories has also been handed off to the winners of the
Illustrators of the Future Contest to create a unique and original piece of art
to accompany it in the anthology. Thousands of longtime professional writers
have never had a published story of theirs illustrated in full color, so this
is a great honor and a pleasure. The anthologies themselves often become
national bestsellers, a terrific thing to have on your bibliography.
The next year’s Contest is already under way. Join us, and
let us see your vision.
About the Author:
L. Ron Hubbard, Nancy Kress, S. M. Stirling, Gregory Benford, Bob Eggleton, Dean Amir Agoora, James Davies, Kal M, Sky McKinnon, Jack Nash, Rosalyn Robilliard, Lance Robinson, John Eric Schleicher, Lisa Silverthorne, Stephannie Tallent, Tom Vandermolen, and Galen Westlake.
Illustrators: Dan dos Santos, Ashley Cassaday, Gigi Hooper, Jennifer Mellen, Pedro Nascimento, Steve Bentley, Connor Chamberlain, Selena Meraki, Guelly Rivera, Tyler Vail, Carina Zhang, May Zheng, Lucas Durham, and Chris Arias.
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