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A review by empressofbookingham
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 40: The Best New SF & Fantasy of the Year by L. Ron Hubbard, L. Ron Hubbard
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
“That's what I think is the real beauty of this Contest -that it nurtures hope, inspires creativity, and supports the next generation of Dreamers and Creators, in a world which discourages thinking beyond the demands of our own everyday lives.”
Jody Lynn Nye
~
It feels so powerful seeing others dreams fulfilled on paper. It's infectious even. This anthology sparks hope, ignites if not reignites faith and hope in dreams and the wonders in between...
Every year, since I knew of it's existence, picking up a copy of Writers of The Future, getting lost in the myriad of worlds and ideas leaves me hungry for more and yet in a state of satiety. And every time I think I've tasted all the ways stories can be packed, delivered and had the picked pieces for the anthology test my literary buds leaving me with a new, full and a brimming appreciative heart. The stories keep raising the bar and the illustrations, uh la la, the illustrations tell stories of their own.
The audiobook was an awesome treat that I felt I was watching movies.
When one story drops you in an airship ready to crash and burn and only hope and can save, another story drops you right in the consciousness of an AI cat frantically searching for it's beloved creator cum owner. Another author's writing style will succinctly wrap around your mind in vividness and make stir your emotions the other will have you slow down and think long strings of 'what if's...'. A little taste of everything makes this anthology wholesome and worth anyone's time.
For sure there will be stories that will walk with me for their mark was to deep to erase. Stories such as "The Edge of Where My Light Is Cast" by Sky McKinnon where a digital housecat goes looking for her missing owner becoming more than simulation to find her dearest companion through the virtual world. Sky's narration was so immersive and beautiful I kept wishing the story was longer. Could AI ever reach this level of power she left me wondering.
Stories that touched on grief, loss, redemption, breaking traditions, forgiveness and the power of a community case and point “Son, Spirit, Snake" by Jack Nash, will leave you reevaluating the traditions you have that hold you back and the kind of community you keep around.
"The Imagalisk" by Galen Westlake was like an ode to imagination, it's power and a reminder to never stop dreaming no matter what. It also spoke of old age and the loss growing older brings along. It was intense and yet fun. This will forever have my heart.
When a teenage swamp witch fears her mama will be killed, she utilizes her wits and the magic of the bayou, no matter the cost to her own soul. Stephannie Tallent put me in trance by the way she wield her magic and brought to themes so heavy and things so intangible that every word made me hold my breath. Her story "Life and Death and Love in the Bayou" had a heart of it's own.
What of "The Wall Isn't a Circle" by Rosalyn Robilliard, art by Guelly Rivera where a new app lets users see through the eyes of any human in history ? How much can the ones, zeros and the in between connect is further? What of the dangers the internet would bring?
"Ashes to Ashes, Blood to Carbonfiber" by James Davies spoke of death and yet hope resuscitating life into the remaining humans on planet K2-18b where humanity is enslaved. Because of one man, Rickard. Now in his twilight years, he'd give an arm and a leg for redemption. Literally.
The first story made me thirst for more but the last story made me every hungrier: What if magic could undo the unthinkable, and undo Death itself? Would you use it no matter the cost? What would you sacrifice for love? "Summer of Thirty Years" by Lisa Silverthorne touches on love and the sacrifices we'd make to have it and keep it. Lisa delves deeper on the consequences of our actions through the life of characters that felt like friends.
Sigh! Honestly every story had something amazing to give making me love this volume more than the last one. It's keeps on getting better and better.
Read it!
Jody Lynn Nye
~
It feels so powerful seeing others dreams fulfilled on paper. It's infectious even. This anthology sparks hope, ignites if not reignites faith and hope in dreams and the wonders in between...
Every year, since I knew of it's existence, picking up a copy of Writers of The Future, getting lost in the myriad of worlds and ideas leaves me hungry for more and yet in a state of satiety. And every time I think I've tasted all the ways stories can be packed, delivered and had the picked pieces for the anthology test my literary buds leaving me with a new, full and a brimming appreciative heart. The stories keep raising the bar and the illustrations, uh la la, the illustrations tell stories of their own.
The audiobook was an awesome treat that I felt I was watching movies.
When one story drops you in an airship ready to crash and burn and only hope and can save, another story drops you right in the consciousness of an AI cat frantically searching for it's beloved creator cum owner. Another author's writing style will succinctly wrap around your mind in vividness and make stir your emotions the other will have you slow down and think long strings of 'what if's...'. A little taste of everything makes this anthology wholesome and worth anyone's time.
For sure there will be stories that will walk with me for their mark was to deep to erase. Stories such as "The Edge of Where My Light Is Cast" by Sky McKinnon where a digital housecat goes looking for her missing owner becoming more than simulation to find her dearest companion through the virtual world. Sky's narration was so immersive and beautiful I kept wishing the story was longer. Could AI ever reach this level of power she left me wondering.
Stories that touched on grief, loss, redemption, breaking traditions, forgiveness and the power of a community case and point “Son, Spirit, Snake" by Jack Nash, will leave you reevaluating the traditions you have that hold you back and the kind of community you keep around.
"The Imagalisk" by Galen Westlake was like an ode to imagination, it's power and a reminder to never stop dreaming no matter what. It also spoke of old age and the loss growing older brings along. It was intense and yet fun. This will forever have my heart.
When a teenage swamp witch fears her mama will be killed, she utilizes her wits and the magic of the bayou, no matter the cost to her own soul. Stephannie Tallent put me in trance by the way she wield her magic and brought to themes so heavy and things so intangible that every word made me hold my breath. Her story "Life and Death and Love in the Bayou" had a heart of it's own.
What of "The Wall Isn't a Circle" by Rosalyn Robilliard, art by Guelly Rivera where a new app lets users see through the eyes of any human in history ? How much can the ones, zeros and the in between connect is further? What of the dangers the internet would bring?
"Ashes to Ashes, Blood to Carbonfiber" by James Davies spoke of death and yet hope resuscitating life into the remaining humans on planet K2-18b where humanity is enslaved. Because of one man, Rickard. Now in his twilight years, he'd give an arm and a leg for redemption. Literally.
The first story made me thirst for more but the last story made me every hungrier: What if magic could undo the unthinkable, and undo Death itself? Would you use it no matter the cost? What would you sacrifice for love? "Summer of Thirty Years" by Lisa Silverthorne touches on love and the sacrifices we'd make to have it and keep it. Lisa delves deeper on the consequences of our actions through the life of characters that felt like friends.
Sigh! Honestly every story had something amazing to give making me love this volume more than the last one. It's keeps on getting better and better.
Read it!