blog.worldswithoutend.comWorlds Without End Blog | Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Horror Books

Worlds Without End Blog | Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Horror BooksI found myself gripped by the heart and pulled along on a journey that was as human as it was strange, a cat that was the formless computer-generated rendering of a lost pet’s personality and so much more than that—Science fiction at its best, the kind that connects to what makes us human and inspires us to new heights of wonder. I held my breath, I cried, I made little sounds of dismay and worried I’d wake my sleeping teens upstairs and they’d find me with tears streaming down my face and a smile of awe on my lips. Volume 40 isn’t just the delightful diversion that we all need between work and more mindless play, it is a gift. Inspiration, adventure, comfort, depth, excitement, and wonder, crafted and pulled together by the best debut authors writing today under the mentorship of our old and oh-so-dear favorites. I said it last year and I say it again with renewed certainty, Volume 40 is the most inspiring Writers of the Future anthology to date. It features twelve stories by the winners of Writers of the Future 2023 plus four bonus stories by best-selling authors, all illustrated by winners of the Illustrators of the Future contest. Starcatcher (detail) by Dan dos Santos Now for the good news, Volume 40 is up for preorder now and there are preorder bonuses at this link: Preorder here. Preorder bonuses include early access to audio and ebook copies of a Volume 40 story, wallpaper for desktop and phone of the V40 cover art, and other ebook treats. The release date for Writers and Illustrators of the Future Volume 40 is May 7th so you’ve no time to lose and little time left to wait! Writers and Illustrators of the Future anthologies are an invaluable resource for readers as a means to finding stories, novels, and whole worlds in fresh new voices from around the globe. Each volume is diverse thanks to a blind judging process and the judges’ commitment to bringing us stories from multiple perspectives and styles of writing. While the stories in volume 40 have depth and complexity, they are suitable for sharing with middle-grade readers. Volume 40’s cover image is graced by a moonlit sorceress amid the tusks of mammoths. The artist sets a tone of mysticism that feels unbridled by time or genre. In an age of AI saturation, this masterful art is human-made as are the lush illustrations inside. For authors and Illustrators, volume 40 contains articles on story and illustration craft written by industry professionals and an even more useful tool, the stories themselves. I have learned more reading the winning stories of Volume 40 than any craft book and highly recommend reading Volume 40 cover to cover if you are looking to improve your skills, especially if you are looking to win Writers and Illustrators of the Future. If you want to springboard your writing or illustrating career, the Writers and Illustrators of the Future contest has more to offer aspiring authors and artists than any other contest, with zero entry fee, prize money, and a professional publication in your name. Each winner participates in a book signing, award ceremony and gala, and a week-long training and mentorship from industry professionals like Jody Lynn Nye, Kevin J. Anderson, Bob Eggleton, Echo Chernik, and so many more greats including two new judges (congratulations to them both) Mark Leslie Le Febvre, and Hugh Howey. The official website has an easy-entry submission portal with the contest rules and guidelines. On the website, there is a forum of over 10,000 writers and illustrators where you can find support for learning about, entering, and winning the contest. The website has a free online writers training course on the fundamentals of short story writing. The Writers and Illustrators of the Future Contest creates a unique training ground for authors and Illustrators with clear deadlines and goals—four quarters a year to enter and four opportunities to win. If you write or illustrate, don’t self-reject. Enter and see what happens. You’ll either win, get close, or learn what it takes to win and improve along the way. By CL Fors CL Fors lives and breathes stories in multiple mediums: the written word, illustration in watercolor, acrylic, digital, and ink, and the creation of custom jewelry and other artifacts of story. She is an artist with a myriad of interests and experiences that inform and flavor her writing and illustrating. A multipotentialite, mother, author, and adventurer, CL is a science and science-fiction enthusiast with a passion for research based sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and speculative fiction in general. CL’s debut novel, Cradle of Mars, is the first installment of the Primogenitor series and is releasing with a shiny new cover on April 20th (available for preorder now). The second, third, and final books in the series are all available on Amazon and will be getting new covers soon. CL just won Illustrators of the Future for Quarter one, Volume 41. If you’d like to see her non-fiction work, she also writes science articles and short stories and has articles published at Genetic Literacy Project and Midwifery today Magazine. To explore CL’s writings and illustrations check out her Website: https://CLForsauthor.com Or subscribe to her newsletter at Epitome Press Writers of the Future Quick links: Preorder Offer https://galaxypress.com/new-release/writers-of-the-future-volume-40/ Enter the Writing Contest https://www.writersofthefuture.com/enter-writer-contest/ Free Writing Workshop https://www.writersofthefuture.com/writing-workshop/ Writing Podcast: https://www.writersofthefuture.com/podcast/ Writers Forum: https://www.writersofthefuture.com/forum/ Writing Contest Rules https://www.writersofthefuture.com/contest-rules-writers/ Contest Judges: https://www.writersofthefuture.com/writer-judges/ Contest Blog: www.writersofthefuture.com/blog List of Writers of the Future & L. Ron Hubbard books https://galaxypress.com/l-ron-hubbard-books/ Social media links: https://twitter.com/WotFContest https://www.facebook.com/WotFContest https://www.instagram.com/wotfcontest/ https://www.pinterest.com/RealWotF/ https://www.youtube.com/user/WritersoftheFuture https://www.tiktok.com/@wotfcontest 1 Comment | Posted in Guest Post | Tags: Galaxy Press , L. Ron Hubbard , L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future: Volume 40 04 06 2024 2024 Philip K. Dick Award Winner Posted at 12:39 PM by Dave Post The winner of the 2024 Philip K. Dick Award for distinguished original science fiction paperback published for the first time during 2023 in the USA is: These Burning Stars by Bethany Jacobs (Orbit) Special Citation was awarded to The Museum of Human History by Rebekah Bergman (Tin House) The PKD Award was presented at Norwescon 46, March 28-31. Our congrats to the winners and all the nominees. Danged Black Thing by Eugen Bacon (Apex) Infinity Gate by M. R. Carey (Orbit) Wild Spaces by S. L. Coney (Tordotcom) Where Rivers Go to Die by Dilman Dila (Rosarium) No Comments | Posted in Awards , Philip K. Dick Award 04 04 2024 2023 BSFA Award Winner Posted at 8:00 AM by Dave Post The British Science Fiction Association has announced the winners of the BSFA Awards for works published in 2022. In the Best Novel category the winner is The Green Man’s Quarry by Juliet McKenna (Wizard Tower). Our congrats to Juliet McKenna and all the nominees: Descendant Machine by Gareth L. Powell (Titan) Airside by Christopher Priest (Gollancz) HIM by Geoff Ryman (Angry Robot) Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon by Wole Talabi (Gollancz) See the winners for all categories over on Locus . What do you think of this result? No Comments | Posted in Awards , British Science Fiction Association (BSFA) 03 30 2024 2024 Hugo Award Finalists Posted at 6:59 PM by Dave Post The 2024 Hugo Award finalists have been announced. The noms in the Best Novel category are: The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty (Harper Voyager; Harper Voyager...