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.