Writers of the Future

Volume 22 is my first Writers of the Future. Now I will make it my mission to find the other 21. Every story is an original work. As a soldier stationed in Iraq I don't get a lot of time to read. These short stories are a great way to keep my mind fresh before hitting the rack at night. I expect to see many of these new writers on best seller lists and movie credits very soon. I commend to the Writers or the Future staff for their selections for this book. I can't wait to read the other books in this collection.

Short stories make for a quick and entertaining read. I also liked the variation in styles and content of the stories, its refreshing. Good luck to the new authors! I do like supporting new talent!

I have been following the Writers of the Future anthology for years as I find the stories always packed with original thoughts and concepts. This year again, the book contains many imaginative tales. My favorite one is probably "On the Mount" which is about a "god-hunter". What a concept! Other stories that fascinated me likewise are "Evolution's End" about space exploration gone wrong and "The Balancer" where the past and the future is controlled by "Time Balancers". A great collection of short stories.

The newest Writers of the Future Anthology, Volume XXII is not only one of the best of that series, but it ranks among the most exciting collections of any kind this year. The competition must have been fierce and the decisions agonizing, because there's not a substandard story in the book. Highlights: A brilliant story about a research team discovering an organism that dominates a planet and possible a galaxy. Evolution's End by Lee Beavington. A beautiful story about a woman who rewinds history trying to perfect it, only to find that it's not that simple. Schroedinger's Hummingbird by Diana Rowland. A Time Cop story set in ancient Rome which involves the humanity of difficult choices and even harder assignments, populated with great characters. Balancer by Richard Kerslake. A journey through feelings and dreams and love by a girl who discovers magic in the shards of reality, but abandons it in the absence of mutual affection. The Bone Fisher's Apprentice by Sarah Totton. and my favorites: A game which controls death's choices, loser loses all. This one was as eerie as any horror, spooky and the victims are the most vulnerable. This story haunted me for days. Games on the Children's Ward by Michail Velichansky. In the wake of environmental catastrophe and increasing class division, people make due the best they can. Andy Griswold and Latisha figure out an innovative way of making coin on other people's frustrations. All well and good, but someone else is roaming the river and looking at something far more degenerative than money. Life on the Voodoo Driving Range by Brandon Sigrist. Not to slight any of the other authors, they're all more than worthy. My highlights are the stories that caused me to ponder them later, intellectual and emotional escapes from everyday life. - CV Rick