L. Ron Hubbard presents Writers of the Future, Volume 42, edited by Jody Lynn Nye

L. Ron Hubbard presents Writers of the Future, Volume 42, edited by Jody Lynn Nye, Galaxy Press, Trade Paperback ISBN 978-1-61986-900-4, $22.95.

As someone who has been around since the first volume of these annual collections and have read many a story or novel – and even a series of novels in some cases – it is a pleasure to say that the future continues to be in good hands and from this years crop of writers, I am proud to say there is still something new under the sun. Here in this collection is a look at the future in science fiction and art that we will enjoy from this day forward.

Not knowing who the winner will be at the time I’m writing this review, I am going to mention the stories that stood out to me. After you read them, you may disagree with my choices, but that’s a good thing because there is something here for everyone’s taste and I bid you good reading. So let’s dig in.

“Form 14B: Application for Certification of Consciousness Transfer (Post-Mortem)” by Thomas K. Slee starts the volume with the story of Cameron Mannagh, ho is currently a brain in a box and is in line to get his paperwork processed to get a new body. Imagine a DMV like the ones on TV. Cameron is a high net worth individual and things are about to get complicated

“Shell Game” by Zach Poulter is the story of Detective Flynn who is chasing a killer that can jump into other bodies and wears their “shells” to hide their identity and their true purpose. But Flynn must find out if he is being used as a shell as well.

“The Triceratops Effect” by S. J. Stevenson is a time-travel tale that spans 60 million years and answers the age-old question of what really caused the dinosaurs to go extinct. This is a very well-done story and is not your usual take on time travel.

“Skinny-Shins” by Orson Scott Card Inspired by Ciruelo Cabral’s The Fire Tribe – the cover painting for this volume - is the first of several tales with dragons as characters. This is one of the more humorous – at least to me – stories in the volume.

“Dragon Visits” by Nina Kiriki Hoffman tells us a story of grief and loss as thirteen-year-old Martin, who is mastering the violin and experiences the loss of his Mother and the discovery of dragons the next day when he plays the music that meant so much to her.

“In Living Color” by Michael T. Kuester describes a man who assists police by reading events from crime scene photos through touch. This case involves a serial killer, and the clues lead to an unusual suspect.

“As Long as You Both Shall Live” by Mike Strickland is a story about the transfer of consciousness into an VR environment and what happens when something dire happens and the mind cannot return to the body. Are they alive as an AI or as a person? This well-done story tells of one person going the lengths they will go to assure that the right decision is reached. You might add “A Love Story” as a subtitle.

“ A Girl and Her Dragon: A Life in Four Parts” by Joseph Sidari is my favorite dragon story in the volume and follows the growth of a young girl into adulthood and her relationship with a dragon in the zoo and her career as a newspaper reporter and her stories about their kinship.

Other stories are: “Saffron and Marigolds” by Kathleen Powell – another dragon story;  “Space Can” by L. Ron Hubbard – classic space opera;  “Canary” by Brenda Posey;  “A Ready-Made Bubble of Light” by Thomas R. Eggenberger;  "Ghost Dog” by Mark McWaters;  “Thickly” by Dorothy de Kok; and  “Bloom Decay” by Elina Kumra.

There is a lot of great writing and art in this volume and just as I finish this year's volume, and I’m already looking forward to next years.

 

JUSTIN HAYWARD April 19, 2026, Atlanta

Jim Brock and I were able to do our annual "Birthday Concert" again this year. This year it was Justin Hayward - the last surviving member of The Moody Blues.

This was THE STORY IN YOUR EYES Tour and feature mostly Moody Blues songs that he wrote. He covered their entire catalog as well as songs from his solo career. I would have liked to have heard a couple of BLUE JAYS songs, but I'm happy with it all.

This is a picture of the main group. His guitar tech would fill in on some songs to add a third guitar. Justin also did FOREVER AUTUMN from the Jeff Frane WAR OF THE WORLD'S rock adaptation. This has been a favorite of mine since its release.

I'm not sure if the flutist is doing the part from FOREVER AUTUMN, NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN or I KNOW YOU'RE OUT THERE SOMEWHERE, but she was terrific in her job and did backing vocals as well. Justin did a question and answer segment, and it added that extra personal touch that you don't usually see in except on the old MTV Unplugged shows.

 

 This is a shot of the whole band near the end of the show. It was a night for the ages.

Justin is now into his 80s, so I don't know if we will get to see him again. We had planned to see John Lodge again, but sadly he passed before the concert tour started.

It is sad to see your heroes and influencers pass, but you can be sure that Justin, John and the rest of the Moody Blues know of the joy and conversations their music created.

TRENDING UPCOMING & NEW RELEASES

 

The Rise of the Celestials by Kritika H. Rao In the enchanting and romantic conclusion to the Divine Dancers duology, internationally bestselling author Kritika H. Rao weaves a stunning tale of love, seduction, and betrayal. This sequel to The Legend of Meneka brings the celestial dancer’s saga to a thrilling conclusion, delving deeper into Hindu mythology as she faces an ancient threat and confronts truths buried in her own heart.

The Tainted Khan by Taran Matharu The next installment in New York Times bestselling author Taran Matharu’s Soulbound Saga—a thrilling cultivation and progression epic fantasy series—continuing the harrowing journey of Jai as he navigates returning to his own people, growing in his magic and as a warrior, fending off attacks both without and within...and, of course, bonding even more with his dragon!   Honor & Heresy by Max Francis Instagram sensation Max Francis makes his highly anticipated debut with this atmospheric, gothic, dark academic fantasy of two scholars racing each other to find answers to an invasion in a haunted library. Filled with all the yearning of a rivals-to-lovers romance, the intrigue and fear of a dark academia, and the wonder and discovery of an epic fantasy, Honor & Heresy is ultimately a story of self-discovery amidst the chaos of war and a long, cold winter. Perfect for fans of Katabasis and A Study in Drowning.   The Wandering Inn by pirateaba Enter the Innverse! The Wandering Inn is the first volume of pirateaba's epic fantasy series, filled with heart and fear, magic, dragons, monsters, adventurers, and chess players. Humans are pulled from our world into a wondrous and deadly land where they must survive. These new pieces on the board could decide who wins the game. Ebook available now, print edition coming in August.       The Witch and the Huntress by Luna McNamara Two of Greek mythology’s most complex and powerful women—Medea and Atalanta—join forces on Jason’s quest for the Golden Fleece in this suspenseful, sapphic reimagining from the acclaimed author of Psyche and Eros. Bursting with mythological references and cameos, Luna McNamara’s The Witch and the Huntress is a daring, enchanting story about two singular women in search of love, power, and redemption, set against a backdrop of epic quests and meddling gods.     SHOP WITH US AMAZON BARNES & NOBLE BOOKS-A-MILLION BOOKSHOP WALMART TARGET

Dan Simmons, 1948-2026

 

Daniel Joseph Simmons

April 4, 1948 – February 21, 2026

IN THE CARE OF

Ahlberg Funeral Chapel

Daniel Joseph Simmons passed away on February 21, 2026 in Longmont, Colorado at age 77. His beloved wife Karen and daughter Jane were at his side.

Dan was born in Peoria, Illinois on April 4, 1948 to his parents Robert A. Simmons and Kathryn H. (Catton) Simmons. His childhood was filled with happy memories of riding bikes with friends throughout cornfield-lined roads in the Midwest, first in Brimfield, Illinois and then in Pittsboro, Indiana.

He graduated with an English degree from Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana, and earned a graduate degree in education from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

Dan embarked on a career as an elementary school teacher in Missouri, later teaching in Buffalo, New York, and Longmont, Colorado, where he taught sixth grade. During his eighteen years in education, he co-created and taught a districtwide program for gifted students that was the first of its kind, and he was named a finalist for the Colorado Teacher of the Year.

Dan had a profound passion for teaching, and was beloved by many of his students for his innovative, energizing, and creative approach in the classroom. He brought science to life for his students with Carl Sagan’s Cosmos series, ran interactive simulations on topics like the Cuban Missile Crisis and the harmful effects of discrimination, and incorporated his love of topics like Greek mythology, film, and art into his lectures.

Every day after lunch, Dan told his students a daily installment of an epic tale that started on the first day of school. As they listened, the students would color illustrations that he’d drawn for them. When the story finally came to an end on the last day of school, many recall being reduced to tears. This story would go on to become Dan’s Hyperion cantos (1989), a critically acclaimed, four-part science fiction classic.

Over the course of his life, former students would tell Dan that they still had their notes from his Black history lectures, and that he had inspired their lifelong love of reading and writing. Long after he left the classroom, he continued to share what he loved with everyone around him, teaching his grandchildren all about the 1950s era monster movies that he loved, and giving endearingly professorial introductions to films that he and Karen shared with scores of friends when they hosted backyard summer movies.

In addition to teaching, reading and writing were the great loves of Dan’s life. As a child, he read everything he could find, spanning from comic books to literary classics and nonfiction. Throughout his life, he particularly loved learning about space, science, and history. Starting in early childhood, Dan had a remarkable gift for storytelling, which would become his life's work. His first published story came out on the day his daughter Jane was born, a day that confirmed to him that his true love was his family.

In 1987, Dan took a daring leap and left teaching to follow his dream to work full-time as an author. His debut novel, Song of Kali (1985), was inspired by three days that he spent in Kolkata, India, and won the 1986 World Fantasy Award.

He went on to write thirty-one novels and short story collections, many of which were honored with accolades ranging from Bram Stoker awards, Locus awards, the Shirley Jackson award, and the prestigious Hugo award. His most meaningful award was an honorary doctorate from Wabash College, a place that changed his life and set him on a path towards a life well lived. His titles have been published in 28 foreign countries and translated into at least 20 languages, and his many book tours, conferences, and workshops took him all over the world.

Like his early reading pursuits, Dan always wrote about what he loved. He defied literary norms by writing across genres, switching between major publishers, and defying pressure to conform to formulaic novels. His works span from historical fiction to horror, hard-boiled crime, and speculative fiction. They explore topics ranging from Ernest Hemingway’s WWII Cuban spy ring to mountain climbing in the Himalayas. In 2018, his novel The Terror (2007) was released as an AMC limited series. Dan was a profoundly curious learner who delighted in connecting with other curious minds, and the many stories he dreamed up helped him connect with others throughout his entire life.

Dan is predeceased by his parents and his brother Ted. He is survived by his loving wife and daughter, Karen and Jane Simmons; his beloved grandchildren, Milo and Lucia Glenn; and his brother, Wayne Simmons.

Dan's cremation has been entrusted to Ahlberg Funeral Chapel of Longmont, Colorado. His ashes will be scattered at a later date. Details for a Celebration of Life are pending.

Harper Voyager

 

City of Dragons by Robin Hobb The gripping third volume in Robin Hobb’s New York Times bestselling Rain Wilds series—reissued with beautiful cover art by renowned illustrator Jackie Morris. Once dragons ruled the Rain Wilds, tended by privileged human servants known as Elderlings. But now the magnificent creatures have been driven nearly to extinction—and the last of their kind, born weak and deformed, have one last hope of survival: to return to their ancient city of Kelsingra.   Blood of Dragons by Robin Hobb The thrilling climax of New York Times bestselling author Robin Hobb’s acclaimed Rain Wilds saga— reissued with beautiful cover art by renowned illustrator Jackie Morris. The legendary dragon city of Kelsingra has been discovered. But most of the dragons now lack the strength for the final hazardous river crossing, and the mythical silver wells they need to survive are nowhere to be found. In a desperate attempt to unlock the whereabouts of the wells, the keepers risk “memory walking”—immersing themselves in the drug-like memories of long-deceased Elderlings. The magic of the city and the final secret it conceals present their only chance of survival, not just for the queen dragon Tintaglia but for Malta and Reyn’s infant Elderling son as well.

New Books Out Now

 

Detour

by Jeff Rake and Rob Hart

A space shuttle flight crew discovers that the Earth they’ve returned to is not the home they left behind in the first book of this emotional, mind-bending thriller series from the creator of the hit Netflix show Manifest and the bestselling author of The Warehouse. $30 Hardcover

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Book of Blood and Roses

by Annie Summerlee

A vampire hunter goes undercover at a mysterious university — and finds herself falling in love with her roommate, an alluring vampire, in book one of a seductive sapphic paranormal fantasy.

$30 Hardcover 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Last James A. Moore novel

 Be on the lookout for this in April. But you can do like I did and pre-order it now on Amazon.