L. Ron Hubbard presents Writers of the Future Volume 39

 

 

L. Ron Hubbard presents Writers of the Future Volume 39, edited by Jody Lynn Nye and Dean Wesley Smith, Galaxy Press, $22.95, 978-1619867680.

It's one of my favorite times of the year. With spring, when hope and new growth appear, comes the latest volume of new writers, with new perspectives and fresh ideas arrives to prepare us for the future.

This year we welcome a new team of editors, fan favorite Jody Lynn Nye and Dean Wesley Smith, who in all clarity, wrote my first check for writing all those years ago. 

Before I get into the beautiful art and amazing stories. I want to especially thank Kristine Kathryn Rusch for her essay on writing. It is a very useful piece and making time and priorities for writing for each and every writer, not just those who experience mental and physical issues that make procrastination and anxiety a daily battle. 

"Kitsune" written by Devon Bohm is a marvelous tale of the return of foxes to the New Mexico of the future,  the increase in the number of missing women, and the effects of both on our narrator, a young shop keeper.

"Moonlight and Funk" written by Marianne Xenos tells us of Aveen, a beach combing vampire living in Key West. She keeps a low profile using her using the treasure she finds with her metal detector and creating trinkets of of the trash that she sells to a local tourist shop. All is well until the night she runs into a dragon and its companion Chihuahua. 

"Death and the Taxman" written by David Hankins may be the funniest story ever written about an IRS accountant. It seems Death was on his way to collect Frank Troutman at his office at the IRS Center, when he discovers that the old adage is true, or is it.

"Under My Cypresses" written by Jason Palmatier shows us a future of "pill or tech" to enhance our senses.

"White Elephant" written by David K. Henrickson is a first contact story unlike any other. If you think you can imagine what happens when the First Contactees want to buy the moon, you have to read this story.

"Piracy for Beginners" written by J. R. Johnson is a nicely written tale of Space Opera like we hardly see anymore.

"A Trickle in History" written by Elaine Midcoh is a thoughtful look at how to make time travel work.

Also included are a Dan Shambles story from Kevin J Anderson, an article and story from L Ron Hubbard and other stories by a new batch of writers that should turn into a well known group in the near future.

As always, thanks to Galaxy Press for putting out the best collection of new fiction of the year and I am already looking forward to Volume 40 and the talent that it will bring.

 

 

 

 

 

FROM THE INSPECTOR GENERAL:

 

FROM THE INSPECTOR GENERAL:

The Medical Disability Examination Office Needs to Better Monitor Mileage Requirements for Contract Exams

4/20/2023

12:00 PM EDT

The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) reviewed how the Medical Disability Examination Office (MDEO) is monitoring mileage requirements in the contract exam process because veterans reported on satisfaction surveys that they had to travel excessive distances to attend exams.

Contracts with providers require that veterans expressly consent to traveling farther for exams than the set limits: 50 miles for non-specialist exams and 100 miles for specialist exams. That express consent must be documented and included in the record available to Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) employees.

The OIG found MDEO is not monitoring whether vendors obtain and document veterans’ express consent to travel beyond contractual mileage limits for exams. The OIG also found MDEO is not sufficiently monitoring vendor portals to ensure all required details of mileage reimbursements are available to veterans. MDEO is not monitoring compliance because its leaders do not consider it a priority given the small percentage of veterans affected. However, MDEO is responsible for ensuring vendors comply with all contract requirements, including mileage requirements and reimbursements. Without monitoring, VBA cannot identify or implement improvements that will make a positive impact for veterans.

If vendors do not obtain and document express consent to exceed contractual mileage limitations, veterans may not be aware of their right to undergo an exam within a reasonable distance of their homes. This potentially burdens veterans who are elderly or have disabilities that make it difficult to travel long distances.

The OIG recommended the under secretary for benefits implement a process to monitor and demonstrate progress in assessing vendors’ compliance with contractual mileage and travel reimbursement requirements, collaborate with vendors to ensure portals include proper documentation of express consent, and collaborate with vendors to ensure mileage reimbursement information is available in vendor portals.

MARY QUANT, 1930 - 2023

 

Mary Quant, the British designer who revolutionized fashion and epitomized the style of the Swinging Sixties, died at 93.

Thursday, April 13, 2023 10:01 AM ET

She was known as the mother of the miniskirt.

First Fandom member Joseph Wrzos has passed

 

Joseph Wrzos (1929-2023)

Posted on April 9, 2023 by Mike Glyer

Joseph Wrzos in 1998 at I-Con 17 Long-Island, NY. Photograph by John L. Coker III

By John L. Coker III: U.S. teacher and editor Joseph [Henry] Wrzos of Saddle River, New Jersey (born in Newark, New Jersey on September 9, 1929) aka Joseph Ross, died on April 7, 2023. 

Yesterday afternoon I received an e-mail message from Ken Wrzos. He wrote: “Hello, John.  I’m sorry to inform you that my dad, Joseph Wrzos, passed away today, April 7, 2023.”

BACKGROUND. Joseph Wrzos received his B.A. (cum laude) in 1952 from Rutgers University, joined Phi Beta Kappa and was a graduate student at Columbia University.  During 1953-54 Joe was Assistant Editor at Gnome Press in New York.  For the next several years he was high school librarian in Roselle Park, NJ. During 1957-95, Joe was an English teacher at Millburn Senior High School, Millburn, NJ, and chairman of the English Department during 1969-72.  He was a member of the National Education Association and the New Jersey Education Association. 

FROM THE SCIENCE FICTION ENCYCLOPEDIA.

“He was the Managing Editor of Amazing Stories and Fantastic 1965-1967.  He edited The Best of Amazing (anth 1967), selecting only stories from before he became editor; and Hannes Bok: A Life in Illustration (graph coll 2012).  His influence on the field has not been well publicized. He helped Sam Moskowitz with his Robert Duncan Milne collection – Into the Sun and Other Stories: Science Fiction in Old San Francisco, Volume II (coll 1980) – and wrote an article about it in the Winter 1982 Fantasy Commentator.  He helped Peter Ruber with most of his projects at Arkham House but may only be formally co-credited on the Seabury Quinn collection Night Creatures (coll 2003).  He also compiled the August Derleth collection In Lovecraft’s Shadow: The Cthulhu Mythos Stories of August W Derleth (coll 1998) to which he contributed the introduction.  Derleth’s final sf anthology, New Horizons (anth 1998), was put into its final shape by Ross, who again provided the introduction.  He was a consulting editor on the newly revamped (from 2012) Amazing Stories.  In 2009, Joseph Wrzos received the Sam Moskowitz Archive Award from First Fandom and he was elected to the First Fandom Hall of Fame in 2016.”

BY JOHN L. COKER III. There are quite a few members of fandom who knew Joseph Wrzos for more than fifty years, a lot longer than me.  I met Joe Wrzos in 1998 at I-Con 17, Stony Brook University, Long Island, NY.  For the next 25 years, we maintained a written correspondence and worked together on several book projects.  I learned a lot about writing from Professor Wrzos.

I got to know Joe as someone who was cordial, smart, knowledgeable, intelligent and bright, caring, industrious, a person who sought the highest results.  He was a gentleman, a teacher, a mentor, and a friend to many.  He earned and maintained his excellent reputation. 

Joseph Wrzos enjoyed living the life he chose.  For decades, he was in academia, imparting wisdom in his teaching and in his writing.  He embraced the fields of science fiction and fantasy literature.  He was an avid reader and collector, someone who developed genuine expertise in many areas.  He set the highest standards for his personal work and established those same expectations with students and collaborators.  During his long career, he got to work with many big-name fans and pros of the highest caliber, producing a large body of meaningful material for the genre magazines and books.  He seemed happy, finding real love with Helen de la Ree, someone who shared his many interests, and a dear person who worked hard to achieve the very best for both of them.

Joseph Wrzos and Helen de la Ree (I-Con 17, Long Island, NY, 1998). Photograph by John L. Coker III.

FAMILY HISTORY AND FORMAL ARRANGEMENTS. The family obituary says:

He was predeceased by: his former wife Anita Wrzos; and his siblings, Mae Gaborski, Chester Wrzos and Dolly Wiley. He is survived by: his wife Helen; his sons, Michael Ross (Eiko) and Kenneth Wrzos (Michelle Llado-Wrzos); his grandchildren, Philip Ross (Jillian), Nina Ross, Rachel Ross, and Emily Wrzos; and his great grandchild Harlan Ross.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 12th 2023 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Dancy Memorial (9 Smull Avenue, Caldwell, NJ 07006).  A funeral mass will be held on Thursday, April 13th 2023 at 10:30 AM at the St. Aloysius Church (219 Bloomfield Ave, Caldwell, NJ 07006).  A burial will be held on Thursday, April 13th 2023 at the Prospect Hill Cemetery (326 Bloomfield Avenue, Caldwell, NJ 07006).”

In lieu of flowers, please donate in Joseph’s name to the American Heart Association.