Writers of the Future Volume 39 is a collection of science fiction and fantasy stories selected from among thousands of entries submitted to the Writers of the Future contest.

L. Ron Hubbard started the Writers of the Future contest in the early 1980s. Thousands of participants submit their original stories under the science fiction and fantasy genre. The twelve best of the best stories are selected to be a part of the anthology each year. These stories are accompanied by beautiful art pieces created by the winners of the Illustrators of the Future contest.

Volume 39 is the latest edition and was published on May 16th, 2023. The volume consists of twelve stories plus three bonus stories, a total of fifteen.

How did it make me feel?

First of all, this was my first time hearing about the Writers of the Future contest. I immediately fell in love with this initiative and how it’s going strong for 39 years. This is such an amazing opportunity not only for up-and-coming fantasy writers but also illustrators. Together they’ve been creating and have created this year as well, a spectacular collection of stories that is sure to take you on a ride you don’t want to miss.

The best thing that I think about this book is that it has something for everyone. While all of the stories were pretty interesting and kept me wanting to know more, I certainly had my favorites. Here are some of the stories that stood out for me:

Death and the Taxman

Frank Totmann’s day is not going well so far, to say the least. He is having a heart attack in his office and Grim Reaper is already in front of him to whisk him away. However, Grim Reaper has his work cut out for this one. And not even in his wildest dreams has he imagined what’s coming.

Fire in the Hole

The story starts with a salamander crying his heart out in front of a zombie P.I and his ghost girlfriend in an office . What more would you want to keep you hooked? 🙂 I loved this story!

A Trickle in History

Rebecca is in hiding with a group of eight Jews. They’ve tried and teased the flow of time to prevent the Holocaust but with no success. Now with the machine deteriorating, they only have two trips left at most and a big decision to take. They decide that Rebecca should be the one to take the remaining trip. Will Rebecca be able to prevent the Holocaust? If yes, how? If not, what is to become of them?

The Withering Sky

A group of misfits are sent on a secret space mission. Their job seems fairly simple; to wait for the research team that is scheduled to arrive in two days, assist in any way as needed and then head back. When they arrive at the location, something seems off. But since they’re not doing anything specific, they decide to wait it out and let the researchers handle whatever that place has in store for them. But is everything as simple as it seems?

Would I recommend it?

For science fiction and fantasy lovers, definitely. These stories are fresh and captivating. The illustrations are mesmerizing. Plus it’s a good feeling to know that such talented authors and illustrators are getting a platform to showcase their talent and the tradition continues year after year. That’s awesome!

Get your own copy of Writers of the Future Volume 39 here. If you use my link to buy, I may get a small commission at NO additional cost to you! It will help me keep my blog running! 🙂 Thank you for your support!