L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future, Volume 42

The Best New SF & Fantasy of the Year

De: L. Ron Hubbard

Narrado por: Stefan Rudnicki, Orson Scott Card, Gabrielle De Cuir, Janina Edwards, Susan Hanfield, Kirby Heyborne, John Lee, Jim Meskimen, Scott Peterson

Immerse Yourself in the Writers of the Future!

“This annual series offers 12 dazzling stories that push speculative fiction and fantasy into inventive and invigorating territories.”—Library Journal Audio

“The range is extraordinary: hard science fiction bristles with urgency, fantasy shimmers with mythic depth, and quieter, character-driven tales linger long after the final page. These are not tentative first steps but confident strides from writers poised to shape the genre's future.”—The International Review of Books

“Exceeded my expectations. Amazing.”―OnLineBookClub.com

Discover the next generation of science fiction and fantasy with twelve emerging authors and three powerhouse storytellers with unforgettable voices and world-class storytelling—narrated by Stefan Rudnicki, Orson Scott Card, Gabrielle De Cuir, Janina Edwards, Susan Hanfield, Kirby Heyborne, John Lee, Jim Meskimen, and Scott Peterson.

If 42 is the answer, these stories ask the questions worth thinking about.

What if a perfect rescue went catastrophically wrong?

What if the “better you” doesn’t want to share your life?

What if love could survive inside a virtual reality?

Inside, you’ll encounter a flawless time-rescue gone wrong, a beauty treatment with terrifying consequences, a detective hunted by a body-hopping killer, and a homesteader uncovering a truth that rewrites Earth itself. You’ll also find dragons that defy myth, fairy-tale chaos, supernatural horror, and high-concept science fiction that blends heart, humor, and imagination.

From time travel and first contact to magical realism, monsters, and folklore-inspired fantasy, every story is paired with an original illustration—bringing these worlds vividly to life.

Featuring original stories by Orson Scott Card and Nina Kiriki Hoffman, alongside twelve rising stars shaping the future of speculative fiction, Writers of the Future Volume 42 is your gateway to bold ideas, fresh voices, and stories readers love to discover—and recommend.

Featuring original stories by Orson Scott Card and Nina Kirki Hoffman.

Perfect for fans of:

Orson Scott Card, Nina Kirki Hoffman, Blake Crouch, Brandon Sanderson, V. E. Schwab, Naomi Novik, Michael Crichton, Ted Chiang, Ken Liu, and Black Mirror.

Includes:

• 12 illustrated stories from emerging stars of speculative fiction in an accompanying PDF.

• 3 bonus stories by bestselling authors.

• 3 articles on the craft and business of writing and illustrating from top creators

Selected from thousands of entries worldwide, Writers of the Future Volume 42 brings together a new generation of emerging authors and illustrators—your launchpad into the future of science fiction and fantasy.

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

©2026 Galaxy Press (P)2026 Galaxy Audio

Take A Journey to Another World

I love the illustrations that accompany this anthology, featuring contest-winning stories and art by emerging writers and artists. These stories are all unique, imaginative, and written in various sub-genres of fantasy and sci-fi, which is neat for a reader like me who enjoys variety. The multi-cast narration of the audiobook was also a lot of fun and included details about each author.

Collection of awesome insanity 🌟🫶

Writers of the Future Volume 42 is a collection of fifteen sci-fi and fantasy short stories that jump across completely different ideas.. from strange technologies and time shifts to alien encounters and classic fantasy elements like dragons. What I liked is how unpredictable it feels. Every story resets the tone, so you never really settle into one vibe. Some stood out more than others, but there’s always something interesting right after, which keeps the whole thing engaging.

Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read and feature this title.

🚀 Sci-fi and fantasy anthology
🌌 Wide range of speculative concepts
🧠 Idea-driven storytelling
👽 Alien encounters and strange worlds
🐉 Classic and modern fantasy elements
📚 Showcase of emerging writers

Delightful

“Food could do that. Flavors could summon a memory so strong the waking world fell away. It was the closest thing to magic a human could do.”
— Saffron and Marigolds

And perhaps that sums up another volume of Writers of the Future: wholesome food that leaves you sated, yet thirsting for more.

Writers of the Future Volume 42 is a vibrant showcase of emerging science fiction and fantasy voices, gathering twelve winning stories alongside works by established authors including Orson Scott Card, Nina Kiriki Hoffman, and L. Ron Hubbard. Paired with original artwork from Illustrators of the Future winners, it becomes as much a visual feast as a literary one.

What struck me most is the range - speculative science fiction, emotionally resonant fantasy, quiet horror, satire, myth. Yet despite their variety, many of these stories seem to be in conversation with one another.

They ask:

What makes a self? What survives loss?What futures are worth building? Can wonder coexist with critique? What does it mean to protect what is fragile?

Stories that stood out for me:

Form 14B: Application for Certification of Consciousness Transfer (Post-Mortem) by Thomas K. Slee was one of the most inventive in the collection. It's witty, sharp, and surprisingly moving. Slee asks profound questions about consciousness, identity, and what lingers after death.

Saffron and Marigolds by Kathleen Powell was pure delight. One of the anthology’s warmest stories, it blends folklore, food, memory, and everyday courage into something playful yet quietly profound. It reminded me how fantasy can be intimate as much as epic.

Bloom Decay by Elina Kumra carried shades of Orwellian unease, but felt wholly its own. A powerful dystopian meditation on surveillance, resistance, and the small rebellions that preserve personhood. This could be a whole book.

Shell Game by Zach Poulter was one of the most gripping pieces in the volume; a speculative detective story full of suspense, layered identity, and noir energy. It had me reading faster and slower at once.

Dragon Visits by Nina Kiriki Hoffman was tender and quietly haunting, using dragons not as spectacle but as vessels for grief, comfort, and memory.

And then there is A Girl and Her Dragon: A Life in Four Parts by Joseph Sidari, the emotional heart of the collection.This isn’t a story about slaying dragons or riding dragons. It is about growing old beside wonder, and refusing to abandon what the world calls impossible.

Structured across the arc of a life, it feels like a meditation on friendship, stewardship, mortality, and hope. It left me thinking about how some stories don’t end when you close the book, they keep breathing.

Another joy of Writers of the Future is that it is also an anthology about making art. Essays and advice are included by pros in the industry offering mentorship alongside imagination, making the volume feel like both a collection and a creative companion.

This anthology delivers imaginative storytelling, striking artwork, and practical inspiration for writers and artists. It is a must-read for fans of science fiction and fantasy, as well as anyone interested in the future of genre literature. The book's blend of creativity, mentorship, and global talent makes it a valuable addition to any bookshelf.

I loved the variety!

I'm a huge sucker when it comes to a collection of short stories. I love being able to finish a story in one sitting, especially when I'm pressed for time. I switched between the ebook and audiobook and both formats were good. I appreciated how much variation this book had in terms of the length of the stories but also in the plots/characters. Overall, I would recommend this one and I think it might be my favorite vol so far!

A Brilliant Collection of Sci-Fi & Fantasy Stories

I recently read Writers of the Future Volume 42, and experiencing this through both the e-book and the audiobook was a total new experience for me. This book features a collection of award-winning science fiction and fantasy stories from the 2026 international contest and the illustrations included in the book make the experience even better

Reading the e-book allowed me to fully appreciate the stunning illustrations. They add so much atmosphere and depth, especially in the more "visual" stories like "In Living Color" and "A Girl and Her Dragon.”

However, listening to the audiobook felt like watching a movie for my ears. With a legendary cast including Stefan Rudnicki, John Lee, and Jim Meskimen, every story felt like a standalone production.

Standout Stories:

• "Form 14B: Application for Certification of Consciousness Transfer (Post-Mortem)" by Thomas K. Slee:this story features a man who manages his lawyer from a tube after death follows a A bureaucratic satire.

• "Saffron and Marigolds" by Kathleen Powell:
Here a pacifist baker falls in love with his fairy kindnapper its a fantasy story.

• "Shell Game" by Zach Poulter: A noir thriller involving "shells" human hosts controlled by aliens.

This is the genre combination that don’t usually read, but I absolutely loved it, the high-quality writing and the immersive multicast narration completely won me over. Whether you’re read through the e book pages to see the art or listen to the audio book, this is a must-read for 2026.