L ron hubbard presents w.., p.1
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 38, page 1
Thirteen captivating tales from the best new writers of the year accompanied by three more from monumental authors you’ve read before.
In a world where monster killing and trapping is big business, one girl from a Hunter family decides she won’t kill monsters. As a matter of fact, her best friend is one. …
—“Agatha’s Monster” by Azure Arther
A “book wizard” wants to help a pair of young orphaned brothers repair their relationship. But a powerful new magic book with problematic spellwork stands in the way.
—“The Magic Book of Accidental City Destruction:
A Book Wizard’s Guide” by Z. T. Bright
The daughter of Neptune Station’s greatest hero is about to face her most daunting mission yet: elementary school on Earth.
—“The Squid Is My Brother” by Mike Jack Stoumbos
A bartender with a vendetta against the future must determine if his customer is a time-traveling tourist.
—“Gallows” by Desmond Astaire
Grant’s Tomb—missing! Pennsylvania Station—missing! The Empire State Building—missing! New York City is disappearing piece by piece. …
—“The Professor Was a Thief ” by L. Ron Hubbard
A disgraced Lark is forced to take the job nobody wants. His songs can sway minds, but there’s no margin for mistakes in the frozen north.
—“Lilt of a Lark” by Michael Panter
When a lieutenant with a mysterious past discovers an exotic creature held captive by a traveling farrago, they must decide how far they will go to save what matters most. …
—“The Mystical Farrago” by N. V. Haskell
Alone but for her grandchild and a fox spirit, Emily braves Russia’s winter and Napoleon’s army to keep her family alive and together.
—“Tsuu, Tsuu, Kasva Suuremasse” by Rebecca E. Treasure
An abused boy finds an alien artifact that gives him the strength to reshape his life and stand up to his violent step-father.
—“The Daddy Box” by Frank Herbert
A son must decide whether to follow his father’s footsteps and accept a responsibility he doesn’t understand.
—“The Island on the Lake” by John Coming
When a desperate bid to recover stolen memories goes wrong, Alice must decide how far she’s willing to go to protect her best friend.
—“The Phantom Carnival” by M. Elizabeth Ticknor
A botanist must cure a dying planet before an evacuation when she will be forced to leave her young daughter behind.
—“The Last Dying Season” by Brittany Rainsdon
When Fava, a Neanderthal shaman, discovers the men of metal driving away her mammoths, she must find magic powerful enough to save the herd.
—“A Word of Power” by David Farland
Technology suppresses crime on the generation ship Eudoxus until a body is discovered, threatening the years of peace.
—“The Greater Good” by Em Dupre
A genetically engineered assassin, concubine, and bodyguard has to unravel the entirety of her being to save her son. …
—“For the Federation” by J. A. Becker
Tyson doesn’t need to be psychic to know the invitation is a trap, but he can’t refuse a poker tournament with the highest stakes imaginable.
—“Psychic Poker” by Lazarus Black
L. Ron Hubbard PRESENTS
Writers of the Future
* * *
“It really does help the best rise to the top.”
—Brandon Sanderson
Writers of the Future Contest judge
“Writers of the Future is the gold standard of emerging talent into the field of science fiction fantasy that has contributed more to the genre than any other source.”
—Midwest Book Review
“Writers of the Future, as a contest and as a book, remains the flagship of short fiction.”
—Orson Scott Card
Writers of the Future Contest judge
“Writers of the Future is always one of the best original anthologies of the year.”—Tangent
“It’s a five-course meal that is a nice flow of different types of stories going all the way through.”
—Kevin J. Anderson
Writers of the Future Contest judge
“Where can an aspiring sci-fi artist go to get discovered?…Fortunately, there’s one opportunity—the Illustrators of the Future Contest—that offers up-and-coming artists an honest-to-goodness shot at science fiction stardom.”
—Sci-Fi magazine
“The Contests are amazing competitions. I wish I had something like this when I was getting started—very positive and cool.”
—Bob Eggleton
Illustrators of the Future Contest judge
“I really can’t say enough good things about Writers of the Future. … It’s fair to say that without Writers of the Future, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
—Patrick Rothfuss
Writers of the Future Contest winner 2002
“This is an opportunity of a lifetime.”
—Larry Elmore
Illustrators of the Future Contest judge
“The Illustrators of the Future is an amazing compass for what the art industry holds in store for all of us.”
—Dan dos Santos
Illustrators of the Future Contest judge
“A terrific book and a terrific launch to the careers of the latest batch of the very best new writers in the field.”
—Robert J. Sawyer
Writers of the Future Contest judge
“The Illustrators of the Future Contest is one of the best opportunities a young artist will ever get. You have nothing to lose and a lot to win.”
—Frank Frazetta
Illustrators of the Future Contest judge
“I consider this to be the best short fiction contest anywhere. L. Ron Hubbard’s vision of promoting and nurturing young writers has given thousands of talented people a forum in which their work can be seen and appreciated.”
—Jody Lynn Nye
Writers of the Future Contest judge
DEDICATION
To David Farland (1957 – 2022)
Thank you for all the years of great books and stories and all your help to new writers. You will never be forgotten.
L. Ron Hubbard PRESENTS
Writers of the Future
VOLUME 38
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The year’s thirteen best tales from the Writers of the Future international writers’ program
Illustrated by winners in the Illustrators of the Future international illustrators’ program
Three short stories by David Farland / Frank Herbert / L. Ron Hubbard
With essays on writing and illustration by Diane Dillon / Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson / Frank Herbert / L. Ron Hubbard
* * *
Edited by David Farland
Illustrations art directed by Echo Chernik
GALAXY PRESS, INC.
Thank you for purchasing L. Ron Hubbard Library Presents Writers of the Future Volume 38
To receive special offers, bonus content and info on new fiction releases by L. Ron Hubbard, sign up for the Galaxy Press newsletter.
Visit us online at GalaxyPress.com
* * *
© 2022 Galaxy Press, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Any unauthorized copying, translation, duplication, importation or distribution, in whole or in part, by any means, including electronic copying, storage or transmission, is a violation of applicable laws.
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
For information, contact Galaxy Press, Inc. at 7051 Hollywood Boulevard, Suite 200, Los Angeles, California 90028.
“Agatha’s Monster” © 2022 Azure Arther
“The Magic Book of Accidental City Destruction: A Book Wizard’s Guide” © 2022 Zachary Bright
“The Squid Is My Brother” © 2022 Mike Stoumbos
“Gallows” © 2022 Lealan Buehrer
“Boos and Taboos” © 1992 L. Ron Hubbard Library
“The Professor Was a Thief ” © 2008 L. Ron Hubbard Library
“Lilt of a Lark” © 2022 Michael Panter
“The Mystical Farrago” © 2022 Nicole Doss-Haskell
“Tsuu, Tsuu, Kasva Suuremasse” © 2022 Rebecca Schibler
“The Single Most Important Piece of Advice” © 1986 Herbert Properties LLC
“The Daddy Box” © 2014 Herbert Properties LLC
“Teamwork: Getting the Best out of Two Writers” © 2022 Dreamstar, Inc. and WordFire, Inc.
“The Island on the Lake” © 2022 John Coming
“The Phantom Carnival” © 2022 Margaret Elizabeth Ticknor
“The Last Dying Season” © 2022 Brittany Rainsdon
“The Third Artist” © 2022 Diane Dillon
“A Word of Power” © 2022 David Wolverton
“The Greater Good” © 2022 C. M. Morrow
“For the Federation” © 2022 Jo
“Psychic Poker” © 2022 Lazarus Chernik
Illustration for “Agatha’s Monster” © 2022 Zaine Lodhi; Illustration for “The Magic Book of Accidental City Destruction: A Book Wizard’s Guide” © 2022 Ari Zaritsky; Illustration for “The Squid Is My Brother” and “Tsuu, Tsuu, Kasva Suuremasse” © 2022 Natalia Salvador; Illustration for “Gallows” © 2022 Nick Jizba; Illustration for “The Professor was a Thief” © 2022 Michael Talbot; Illustration for “Lilt of a Lark” © 2022 Brett Stump; Illustration for “The Mystical Farrago” © 2022 Annalee Wu; Illustration for “The Daddy Box” © 2022 André Mata; Illustration for “The Island on the Lake” © 2022 Majid Saberinejad; Illustration for “The Phantom Carnival” © 2022 Xiaomeng Zhang; Illustration for “The Last Dying Season” © 2022 Jerome Tieh; Illustration for “The Greater Good” © 2022 Jim Zaccaria, Illustration for “For the Federation” © 2022 Arthur M. Doweyko; and Illustration for “Psychic Poker” © 2022 Tenzin Rangdol.
Cover artwork: The Mammoth Leaders and “A Word of Power” © 2022 Bob Eggleton
This anthology contains works of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the authors’ imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Opinions expressed by nonfiction essayists are their own.
Print ISBN: 978-1-61986-763-5
eBook ISBN: 978-1-61986-762-8
EPUB ISBN: 978-1-61986-760-4
Kindle ISBN: 978-1-61986-761-1
Writers of the Future and Illustrators of the Future are trademarks owned by the L. Ron Hubbard Library and are used with permission.
CONTENTS
* * *
Introduction by David Farland
The Illustrators of the Future Contest and the Importance of Art Direction by Echo Chernik
List of Illustrations
Agatha’s Monster by Azure Arther
Illustrated by Zaine Lodhi
The Magic Book of Accidental City Destruction: A Book Wizard’s Guide by Z. T. Bright
Illustrated by Ari Zaritsky
The Squid Is My Brother by Mike Jack Stoumbos
Illustrated by Natalia Salvador
Gallows by Desmond Astaire
Illustrated by Nick Jizba
Boos and Taboos by L. Ron Hubbard
The Professor Was a Thief by L. Ron Hubbard
Illustrated by Michael Talbot
Lilt of a Lark by Michael Panter
Illustrated by Brett Stump
The Mystical Farrago by N. V. Haskell
Illustrated by Annalee Wu
Tsuu, Tsuu, Kasva Suuremasse by Rebecca E. Treasure
Illustrated by Natalia Salvador
The Single Most Important Piece of Advice by Frank Herbert
The Daddy Box by Frank Herbert
Illustrated by André Mata
Teamwork: Getting the Best out of Two Writers by Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson
The Island on the Lake by John Coming
Illustrated by Majid Saberinejad
The Phantom Carnival by M. Elizabeth Ticknor
Illustrated by Xiaomeng Zhang
The Last Dying Season by Brittany Rainsdon
Illustrated by Jerome Tieh
The Third Artist by Diane Dillon
A Word of Power by David Farland
Inspired by Bob Eggleton’s The Mammoth Leaders
The Greater Good by Em Dupre
Illustrated by Jim Zaccaria
For the Federation by J. A. Becker
Illustrated by Arthur M. Doweyko
Psychic Poker by Lazarus Black
Illustrated by Tenzin Rangdol
The Year in the Contests
Writers’ Contest Rules
Illustrators’ Contest Rules
Get Exclusive Content
Become the Next Writer of the Future
Introduction
BY DAVID FARLAND (1957 – 2022)
* * *
David Farland was a New York Times bestselling author with more than fifty novels and anthologies to his credit. He won numerous awards across several genres, including the L. Ron Hubbard Gold Award in 1987, the Philip K. Dick Memorial Special Award, the Whitney Award for Best Novel of the Year, and the International Book Award for Best Young Adult Novel of the year.
In 1991, Dave broke the Guinness Record for the world’s largest book signing.
In addition to writing novels and short stories, Dave worked in video games as a designer and scripter, and worked as a green-lighting analyst for movies in Hollywood.
He helped mentor hundreds of new writers, including such #1 bestselling authors as Brandon Sanderson (The Way of Kings), Stephenie Meyer (Twilight), Brandon Mull (Fablehaven), James Dashner (The Maze Runner), and others. While writing Star Wars novels in 1998, he was asked to help choose a book to push big for Scholastic. He selected Harry Potter, then developed a strategy to promote it to become the bestselling book of all time in English.
Dave ran a huge international writing workshop where twice each week he interviewed successful writers, editors, agents, and movie producers, and offered access to his writing courses.
Dave also helped mentor writers through the Writers of the Future program, where for more than fifteen years he acted as Coordinating Judge, editor of the anthology, and taught workshops to winning authors.
Dave passed away just after he finished the final details on this volume. To say that he will be missed by all is a massive understatement.
For more information go to: davidfarland.com.
Introduction
Welcome to L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 38. Over thirty-eight years ago, L. Ron Hubbard founded this Contest to promote the writing of speculative fiction short stories—in science fiction, fantasy, and horror. The idea was to inspire, train, and promote young writers who very often have a hard time getting noticed by professional publishers.
Shortly after its inception, the Contest was expanded to provide the same services for illustrators.
The stories you read in this anthology come from budding writers. Some stories are the authors’ first publication.
All new authors are invited to send stories from anywhere in the world. There is no charge for entering this Contest, and we show no favoritism. When we receive a story, as judges, we have no way of knowing the author’s age, gender, nationality, race, or political affiliation.
In past years I’ve talked about how stories are selected and what I’m searching for. If you want to read about that, look at the introductions to the volumes I’ve edited over the last many years.
Today I’d like to talk about something else that is important to both me and this Contest: nurturing talent.
When L. Ron Hubbard founded the Contest, he created it to run every three months to help motivate new writers to compose on a regular basis. As a young writer some thirty-seven years ago, I did just that—until I got serious and wrote a story that won the grand prize. So inspiring authors was important to him.
More than just giving authors a goal to reach for, giving validation was just as important. In fact, teaching writers to believe in themselves may be the greatest motivator. So, we grant awards and certificates to those who win Honorable Mention, Silver Honorable Mention, Semifinalist, and Finalist places, as well as to our First-, Second-, and Third-place winners.
Authors who are struggling to break into the field need both encouragement and training. You’ll find a free online writing course taught by me, Hugo and Nebula Award–winner Orson Scott Card, and World Fantasy Award–winner Tim Powers at our website WritersoftheFuture.com.
Training and inspiring writers aren’t things I do only with the Contest. For the past fifteen years I’ve offered free writing tips (and free writing books).
I wish I could convey just how deeply I really want to help, but with thousands of writers who enter this Contest every quarter, I don’t have time to do everything I’d like. I feel like Bilbo Baggins, who told Gandalf, “I feel thin, sort of stretched, like butter scraped over too much bread.”
