L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 42: Illustrated: Featuring the Next Generation of Science Fiction & Fantasy

L. Ron Hubbard · Orson Scott Card · Nina Kirki Hoffman · Brian C. Hailes · Larry Niven · Thomas R. Eggenberger · Dorothy de Kok · Michael T. Kuester · Elina Kumra · Mark McWaters · Brenda Posey · Zach Poulter · Kathleen Powell · Joseph Sidari · Thomas K. Slee · S.J. Stevenson · Mike Strickland

Apr 2026 · Writers of the Future Book 42 · Galaxy Press LLC

About this ebook

The Future Is Here.

“The series successfully showcases future voices representing the vast spectrum of the speculative fiction genre.” —Library Journal

“The L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest has quietly been shaping the next wave of genre storytellers—with a legacy that’s as cosmic as the stories themselves.” —SciFiNow.co.uk

“The gangbuster of science fiction short story collections. Outstanding.” —Midwest Book Review

Discover the next generation of science fiction and fantasy with twelve emerging authors and three powerhouse storytellers. These unforgettable short stories deliver everything readers love—time travel, first contact, magical realism, monsters, fairy-tale twists, and pulse-pounding science fiction and fantasy—crafted to surprise, thrill, and keep you turning pages.

Dive into a time-rescue gone wrong, a beauty treatment with a terrifying side effect, a detective battling a body-hopping killer, and a homesteader uncovering a truth that rewrites Earth itself. Explore whimsical, high-stakes fantasy as a baker braves the fairy underworld; confront supernatural horror in “Ghost Dog”; and experience the emotional and ethical tension of love trapped in virtual reality in “As Long as You Both Shall Live.” Whether you’re seeking the genre-bending innovation of “Bloom Decay,” the emotional epic of “A Girl and Her Dragon,” the humor and chaos of “The Triceratops Effect,” or the visionary mystery of “Skinny-Shins,” this volume delivers standout stories readers will recommend, review, and remember.

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

Perfect for fans of:
Orson Scott Card, Nina Kiriki 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
• 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.

Ratings and reviews

I have been reading these anthologies for years and I am surprised every year by how good a selection they present. This year's, I am really enjoying very much as well - especially the mix! A real pleasure to read and so many worlds to dive into! A great chance for the writers and illustrators, but great enterainment for the reader as well! Highly recommended!

About the author

With 19 New York Times bestsellers and more than 350 million copies of his works in circulation, L. Ron Hubbard is among the most enduring and widely read authors of our time. As a leading light of American Pulp Fiction through the 1930s and '40s, he is further among the most influential authors of the modern age. Indeed, from Ray Bradbury to Stephen King, there is scarcely a master of imaginative tales who has not paid tribute to L. Ron Hubbard. Then too, of course, there is all L. Ron Hubbard represents as the Founder of Dianetics and Scientology and thus the only major religion born in the 20th century.