Review - L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future: Volume 31

*This is a sponsored review. All opinions are 100% mine.

In the early 1980s, the late author L. Ron Hubbard founded the Writers of the Future contest along with the Illustrators of the Future contest. Only the best amateur science-fiction and fantasy writers & illustrators win the contest and are featured in the annual : L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future anthology.

Today, May 4, 2015 (also considered the official Star Wars Day), is the release of the Volume 31 of the anthology, featuring 13 exciting new science fiction & fantasy tales along with an intriguing illustration to go with each story. As an added bonus the anthology also contains stories/essays by Orson Scott Card, Kevin J. Anderson, Rebecca Moseta, Larry Niven, Bob Eggleton and L. Ron Hubbard as well as an introduction by David Farland.

The stories, authors & illustrators are:

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by Steven Pantazis 

Illustrated by Daniel Tyka

The God Whisperer

by Daniel J. Davis

Illustrated by Alex Brock

Stars That Make Dark Heaven Light

by Sharen Joss

Illustrated by Choong Yoon

A Revolutionary's Guide To Practial Conjuration

by Auston Habershaw

Illustrated by Shuangjian Liu

Twelve Minutes To Vinh Quang

by Tim Napper

Illustrated by Quinlan Septer

Planar Ghosts

by Kyrstal Claxton

Illustrated by Amit Dutta

Between Screens

by Zach Chapman

Illustrated by Trevor Smith

Unrefined

by Martin L. Shoemaker

Illustrated by Tung Chi Lee

Half Past

by Samantha Murray

Illustrated by Megan Kelchner

Purposes Made For Lien Minds

by Scott R. Parkin

Illustrated by Emily Siu

The Graver

by Amy M. Hughes

Illustrated by Taylor Payton

Wisteria Melancholy

by Michael T. Banker

Illustrated by Michelle Lockamy

Poseidon's Eyes

by Kary English

Illustrated by Megan Nelson

I have to admit that I'm not the biggest fan of pure science fiction & fantasy tales (though I do like the Twilight Zone). However, I do like anthologies, so for the last few years I have reviewed the annual L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writer of the Future. This years anthology has a wide variety of stories, such as a Cyberpunk world, an alien invasion, an alternate history and post-apocalyptic worlds. In past volumes, only a few authors really stood out for me, but this time I enjoyed reading all thirteen stories. All the illustrations are nicely done and fit perfectly with the plot each story. Overall, L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future: Volume 31 is a great anthology and I recommend it to others.