Writers of the Future Volume 42 lands in the UK with Liverpool winner

By AI, Created 7:01 PM UTC, May 26, 2026, /AGP/ – L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 42 releases in the UK on May 26, featuring Liverpool writer Shaun Stevenson among winners from eight countries. The anthology also extends a long run of UK success in the contest, with 29 winners to date across writing and illustration.

Why it matters: - Volume 42 spotlights another UK winner in a contest that has helped launch speculative fiction and fantasy careers for more than four decades. - Shaun Stevenson’s selection adds to a long UK track record and gives Liverpool another visible entry in the anthology’s history. - The release reaches readers in ebook, paperback and digital audiobook formats, with paperback sales beginning in UK stores on May 26.

What happened: - L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 42 is releasing in the UK on May 26. - Shaun Stevenson of Liverpool, writing as S.J. Stevenson, is the UK winner featured in the anthology. - The Volume 42 eBook, paperback and digital audiobook are available via Amazon.co.uk and can be ordered in stores throughout the UK as a paperback on May 26. - The anthology was selected from thousands of entrants across 180 countries. - Volume 42 includes winners from Australia, Canada, China, Japan, Slovakia, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the USA. - Stevenson’s winning story is titled “The Triceratops Effect.”

The details: - Joni Labaqui, the contests’ director, said Volume 42 adds another UK winner and brings the UK total to 29. - The UK’s roster of winners spans writers and illustrators across the contest’s four-decade history. - Past UK winners listed in the release include Stephen Baxter, Elizabeth Wein, J.L. George, Dan Watson, James Davies and others. - The story “The Triceratops Effect” follows a frazzled time agent who must fake the asteroid strike that killed the dinosaurs while trying to save the last Triceratops. - Laurence O’Bryan, editor of International Review of Books, described Volume 42 as “a triumphant showcase of speculative fiction at its most daring, imaginative, and emotionally resonant.” - Library Journal said the collection offers “a representative and thought-provoking sampling of terrific new voices in speculative fiction,” including the risks of changing the past. - Elizabeth Wein said Writers of the Future introduced her to a community of writers and provided an initial lifeline to fans, other writers and the internet.

Between the lines: - The contest is using the UK release to underline both its international reach and the country’s recurring role in producing winners. - The mix of writers and illustrators from multiple countries suggests the anthology is positioned as a global snapshot of emerging speculative fiction talent. - Third-party reviews and alumni praise are being used to reinforce the series’ credibility and discovery value.

What’s next: - UK readers can buy the paperback in stores beginning May 26. - Readers can also access the anthology through Amazon.co.uk in ebook, paperback and digital audiobook formats. - Writers and illustrators interested in the contest can find more information at Writers of the Future.

The bottom line: - Volume 42 gives the UK another winner in a long-running contest that continues to surface new speculative fiction talent worldwide.