Writers of the Future (Book Review)

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Happy birthday to me! What better way to celebrate than with stories?!

The Writers of the Future competition has been going on for 30 years! Finalists are included in a volume of short Sci-Fi and fantasy stories, illustrated by a parallel competition, Illustrators of the Futures (25 years strong!)

An author that I really enjoy, Patrick Rothfuss (the one with the very impressive facial hair in the pamphlet), was the top winner in 2002! Seeing that, I was SUPER excited to read stories with his amount of potential... and ooh boy, was I not disappointed!

That's a LOT of stories- over 400 pages worth of other worlds and crazy imagination!

That's what I love about short stories- especially of the Sci-Fi/fantasy variety- you pop between worlds and meet characters that could have absolutely no relation to what happens on the next page! It's also perfect for finals because each story is the perfect length for a break AND a complete story in and of itself!  

Some of my favorite stories include: a girl who can take memories from mirrors, a world in which more than half of the inhabitants are dead-and-resurrected, and planets planets planets!

The top illustrations that were being deliberated upon for the highest honor are printed in full color in the back! Here's a quick preview- the one on the right is from one of my favorites, in the story the main character can change any and every thing about themselves by writing them in as a new character on a page! It's such a cool concept and the rest... whoa, you need a copy. The rest are in black and white within their chosen stories.

Sean was ever so kind as to take pictures of me while engrossed in another world...

... can you see the mythical creatures prancing about my head?

^this face says, "pleased as punch!"^

I was also sent a program to follow along during the awards ceremony...

...which next yea, will be held on April 12th (see^?)

Writers of the Future Volume 30 hasn't even hit shelves yet! It will be available for you to own and take home (and get lost in) on May 6th! You can support these up and coming authors by ordering your copy here or here! OR, you can enter my giveaway that they're letting me run! Best birthday present everrrr!

[update: enter the giveaway here!]

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.