Excerpt
3 Bonus Short Stories by
Kristine Kathryn Rusch • L. Ron Hubbard • Jody Lynn Nye
"Museum of Modern Warfare" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch: When an ambassador is asked to inspect the controversial Museum of Modern Warfare, she discovers life-changing secrets. .
"The Dangerous Dimension" by L. Ron Hubbard: Meek Dr. Henry Mudge has a dramatic personality change after discovering a mathematical equation that transports him to any place in the universe he can think of.
"The Phoenixes' War" by Jody Lynn Nye: When a lover's gift to her king turns out to be a perilous trap, the Phoenixes and their priestess face a test that will decide the fate of two realms.
Art and Writing Tips by
L. Ron Hubbard • Orson Scott Card • Craig Elliott
"Magic Out of a Hat" by L. Ron Hubbard: From a challenge to write a story inspired by a completely uninspiring wastebasket, Ron provides timeless insight on generating a solid story idea and also reveals a bit of the effusive spirit that he brought to the magic of writing.
"On Magic Out of a Hat" by Orson Scott Card: Card discusses and expands upon Hubbard's article breaking down the techniques Ron used to create a story from a simple object. Card also explores the history of memorable speculative fiction and what makes it great.
"The Rewards of Imagination" by Craig Elliott: In addition to his fine-art work, Craig has had a hand in designing many of today's most popular animated films. Here Craig expounds on the value and need for creative artists and their impact on our society.
14 Award-winning stories from the winners of the 2021 contest selected by the blue-ribbon panel of judges including Dean Wesley Smith, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Jody Lynn Nye, Brandon Sanderson, David Farland, Orson Scott Card, Kevin J. Anderson, and several other masters of the genre.
"The Tiger and the Waif" by John M. Campbell: After a devastating earthquake, a toy kitten crawls out of the rubble, free at last. Deep in its programming, an urge demands to be fulfilled.…
"Sixers" by Barbara Lund: When war comes home, a mysterious sixth-senser must use her talents and the help of three orphans on a journey across a devastated city to find her son.…
"The Enfield Report" by Christopher Bowthorpe: A scientist must choose between ambition and compassion while forced to participate in a secret and sadistic government project.…
"The Widow's Might" by Elizabeth Chatsworth: A Victorian tea shop owner hopes to serve justice to wicked gangsters—with the help of a mysterious new friend.…
"How to Steal the Plot Armor" by Luke Wildman: In a magical kingdom overrun by "chosen ones," a wizard grows weary of always being the mentor and decides to do something about it.…
"The Redemption of Brother Adalum" by K. D. Julicher: There can be no redemption for a man who has lost control of his warrior-bear spirit—only penance. Or so Adalum believes.…
"The Argentum" by Anj Dockrey: The starship that brought mankind to its first colony among the stars was powered by a godlike being, who now wants to know what it is to be human.…
"Soul Paper" by Trent Walters: Her grandfather taught her how to create music from the soul, but does it come at too high a price…?
"The Skin of My Mother" by Erik Lynd: A woman who once escaped her destiny returns home to find it won't be so easy the second time.…
"Death of a Time Traveler" by Sara Fox: Time runs in a circle, beginning where it ends—but father has always been out of sync.…
"The Battle of Donasi" by Elaine Midcoh: A guilt-ridden war hero finds herself in an unexpected extraterrestrial battle, confronting the prospect of having to kill again.…
"A Demon Hunter's Guide to Passover Seder" by Ryan Cole: Noam only hopes to have a normal Seder, but he'll have to battle his brother's new girlfriend and the demons that follow her.…
"Hemingway" by Emma Washburn: A young girl in a plastic boat finds herself at the doorstep of a mysterious old man living in a house built in the middle of the ocean.…
"Half-Breed" by Brittany Rainsdon: When tensions between humans and dryads boil over, a teen must bridge the gap between the old world and new, before everything she loves turns to ash.…