L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 41

The Best New SF & Fantasy Short Stories of the Year

De: L. Ron Hubbard

Narrado por: Kirby Heyborne, Jim Meskimen, Tamra Meskimen, Taylor Meskimen

Immerse Yourself in Stories of Wonder with the Audiobook of L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 41!

Step into the world of tomorrow and beyond, brought vividly to life by the exceptional voices of Jim Meskimen, Tamra Meskimen, Taylor Meskimen, and Kirby Heyborne. This dynamic cast transforms each story into a rich audio experience, making every twist, triumph, and revelation unforgettable.

A Thrilling Journey Through Science Fiction and Fantasy

Travel to alien worlds, brave dystopian futures, and unravel the mysteries of time itself. Whether it’s sentient robots, powerful witches, or daring explorers, these stories—written by the next generation of speculative fiction stars—come alive through immersive narration.

Character-Driven Drama and Heart

From courageous heroes to morally complex villains, the narrators bring depth and personality to every character. Jim Meskimen’s versatility, Tamra Meskimen’s emotional depth, Taylor Meskimen’s fresh energy, and Kirby Heyborne’s charm make this an audiobook experience that’s impossible to pause.

Masterful Essays from Storytelling Legends

Listen as insights from L. Ron Hubbard, Robert J. Sawyer, and Tom Wood are delivered with the same passion that defines their legendary works. Their reflections on creativity, inspiration, and the craft of writing make this audiobook as thought-provoking as it is entertaining.

A Gateway to New Voices and Boundless Imagination

Discover the rising stars of speculative fiction and the timeless truths of human resilience, courage, and creativity. With Volume 41, you’ll hear the future of storytelling unfold.

Your Next Audiobook Adventure Awaits

Perfect for fans of science fiction and fantasy— or anyone seeking stories that challenge, inspire, and captivate—L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 41 delivers an unforgettable listening experience.

Get your copy today and let these narrators guide you into realms beyond imagination!

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2025 Galaxy Press (P)2025 Galaxy Audio

Amazing creative stories, art, pro tips

I am very excited to glimpse into those who may become the greater names of future sci-fi and fantasy titles.
This book is not just a collection of short stories, with sci-fi, fantasy, and horror elements. It also includes many tips and advice from the author and judges that are very inspiring, useful, and relevant.
From Jody's intro explaining how this free contest works (it happens 4 times a year, each creator can send three entries, and it's free) to a quick explanation of what is expected from a winning creator: enthusiasm, passion, and creativity. The short interludes from the author and judges explain well what the creators should be focusing on with great advice.
Each short story is then paired with an illustration and artist (and there is a promise that this contest will never have a place for AI artwork). Participants end in a total of twelve winners.
Each short story starts with a quick intro about the author and illustrator.
Here are some keywords and highlights of the themes in this volume.
Storm Damage - Sci-fi, military thriller, time traveling. One person can go back in time and fix a major screw-up. Would you go? What would you chance? There are sacrifices for this opportunity.
Blackbird Stone - pshycomechanics, a society addicted to time, people can have sentient lizards with telepathic abilities (these are their smartphones), surreal elements, focus on mental health.
Kill Switch - This was one of my favorites. Of course, it has a robot as a main character. Thriller elements, he is hired for a job, but there is an awakening.
The message from the author is a simple but very easy-to-understand message of how to include your audience in your creative process and how to view art. This is followed by a short story by the same author with a great plot twist, si-fi military training, and new generation arrogance vs. old generation's experience.
Karma Birds - a dystopia light horror story of three siblings on the run, religion, and creepy giant black birds as persecutors makes it awesome with creepy tension
The Boy from Elsewhen is about not living connected to the online world.
Of course, these highlights are very quick redacted examples for each story, but the stories have more layers and depth, and we can feel through the writing style the hard world that went into crafting each.
Code L1 is a first contact, predator vibes kind of story about discovering a planet but then realizing that there is more there than meets the eye.
One of the judges brings forward an essay on the importance of having a theme and not just an entertaining storyline.
There are more good ones; I will leave it for you to discover. ASCII, A World of Repetions, The Rune With, My Name Was Tom, Slip Stone (a kid makes an awesome choice when allowed to time travel), The Stench of Freedom, 30 Minutes or It's a Paradox, and An Artist's Path by Tom Wood.
Many of the judges, over the years, have been giants of the art and industry, such as Frank Frazetta, Anne McCaffrey, Larry Elmore, Dan dos Santos, Shan Taun, Brandon Sanderson, and so many more. Some of the previous winners have done so well after they, too, have become judges.
One of the winners of 2002 was Patrick Rothfuss. The next may be you.

Exciting new Sci Fi Stories

This is a collection of Sci Fi stories from brand new writers, who are published as winners of the contest. Additionally, there are a few stories from well known writers. The stories chosen this year were very current to our times, and a number of them dealt with AI. My favorite stories in the audio were ASCII and Kill Switch. ASCII is the story of a fully AI taxi, in the future where all vehicles are AI driven. The story is written from ASCII's viewpoint and tells the life of an AI in those times the writer envisioned. It is a humorous story but also carries a message. I also really enjoyed the reading of Kill Switch and felt transported right into the story by the narrator.

The contest is a great route for anyone who wishes to become a published author, and many of the authors have gone on to become best selling writers. It as well produces a yearly collection interesting new stories. This year's collection does not disappoint, and I would recommend the audiobook to anyone. I found I could listen to it while driving back and forth to appointments at a distance.

Anthology- Sci-fi & fantasy Short Stories

This book’s an anthology packed with award-winning and up-and-coming authors, featuring twelve sci-fi, dystopian, and fantasy stories. Each one’s a quick read — under two hours — and will drop you into other worlds. You’ll find yourself on moons, inside spaceships, slipping through time with a magic stone, or dealing with creepy creatures and ghosts made of water. I had a few favorites:Code L1 by Andrew Jackson is about a crew of space explorers landing on a new planet, looking for resources and potential homesites on planets. But then they find piles of hollow bones… and what happens next is wild! Will they make it out alive? Slip Stone by Sandra Skaldki and The Rune Witch by Jefferson Snow were awesome too — both with their own unique storyline and otherworldly twists.

Great fiction by new writers

Writers of the Future never disappoints. This is an amazing contest that identifies amazing writers. Consequently, the anthology is also always amazing.

A diverse collection of Writers in Sci-fi and Fantasy

L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 41 offers a diverse collection of writers in science fiction and fantasy. This anthology is part of a long-standing series dedicated to discovering and promoting emerging writers who have a love for futuristic and mystical realms.

What stands out in Volume 41 is the variety of styles and themes. I really enjoyed the balance of more classical tropes mixed with new innovative and far-reaching ideas. I think this showcases the evolution of both genres. In addition, you can tell that each story was carefully curated. Even with the more traditional reads, there were aspects that were novel and that kept me as the reader engaged.

Moreover, I think this volume has an educational aspect. By publishing a wide range of writers, it gives an insight into the craft of writing speculative fiction, but it also inspires you to take hold of your own pen and allow your imagination to run wild. Furthermore, the volume offers writing tips from Tim Powers, Robert J. Sawyer, Sean Williams, and Tom Wood.

I have always admired authors who are able to write short stories that feel complete. There were 3 stories in this volume that unearthed me. After each of them I was left thinking, that was incredible or, how did they manage to do that to me or, why do I feel challenged to broaden my view? That is the real strength of this anthology, it challenged and inspired me.

some of the best Sci-fi stories out there

The team has done it again! They have found the crème de la crème of the sci-fi writers once again!

I absolutely loved how, once again, has included various subgenres within speculative fiction/fantasy. The narrators are absolutely top notch and did the stories justice

And this volumes included 3 bonus short stories written by non other than L Ron Hubbard, Tom Wood and Robert J Sawyer!! This volume drop on April 22nd and it's an absolute treat for all scifi lovers!

Fantastic science fiction really imaginative

This has a great collection of stories matched perfectly with narrators who bring each story to life and is plain all around good

The Stench of Artistic Freedom & Power

‎“The human heart is like a spider, spinning webs around everyone it meets - little strands of memories, emotions, meaning.”
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‎The Rune Witch, Jefferson Snow
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‎If the stories don't take you breath away enough the illustrations will definitely will. Writers of The Future is an anthology that showcases emerging talents from the science fiction, speculative fiction and fantasy genres. It features twelve stories from winners of the contest side by side with twelve illustrations from winners of the illustrators of the future.
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‎Both winning writers and illustrators make this anthology delectable, spellbinding for their diverse stories offer fresh perspectives. The stories also explore and push boundaries to our imagination. One could even conclude their political and social commentary is a call to action.
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‎You will laugh as one Keeper mistakes a mating call for a call for help, be sadden by the earthers who feel superior and abuse other sparkies bestow on others, be enchanted by a story entwining love, time and redemption...
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‎Relationships between humans and AI, freedom in future oppressive societies, inequality, surveillance, identity, power structures, love, loss, effects of technology, redemption, climate change are some of the themes explored in this volume.
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‎While Blackbird Stone, Code L1, The Stench of Freedom, Birds, Slipstone, Thirty Minutes or It's a Paradox, Karma Birds were among the stories that had me riveted, awed, ... it's Storm Damage, Ascii, My Name Was Tom, The Boy From Elsenwhere have me ruminating deeply: haunting my psyche to act more, think deeper. What does it say of humans and how we lead, interact even use each other? Do we care enough for the environment, our future?
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‎What does it say of a book that both feds and draws inspiration from you, that entertains and teaches too? That's this volume for you.
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‎“...artists are not born - they are made, products of their environment, ambition, creativity, and patience.” Tom Wood.
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‎I'm so glad to be once more to be part of another set of writers web: interacting with their characters, view themes in an exciting, elicit way, having them spark questions and insights through their narrative. Always a delight. Looking forward to volume 42.