Top Speculative Fiction Writers Pick Favorite Stories - Some Oldies and Some Surprises

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Feb. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- What short fiction stories or novels do some of today's most recognizable science fiction and fantasy writers recommend? Their answers may surprise you. They include tales from the 1940s to some of the newest names in fiction.

The X-Files and Dune prequels' co-author Kevin J. Anderson names 1985 Pulitzer novel, Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry: "That is my favorite book of all time! Everyone should read it."

K.D. Wentworth (Heyoka Blackeagle and House of Moons Chronicles) likes Arthur C. Clarke's classic short story, "The Nine Billion Names of God": "It is a very short story but paints a vivid picture that stays with you forever."

Tim Powers (The Anubis Gates and The Skies Discrowned) recommends Robert Heinlein's 1941 short story, "By His Bootstraps": "I couldn't have written 'The Anubis Gates' if I hadn't read this. Anyone who has written a time travel story in the past 50 years could say the same."

Jerry Pournelle (Escape from the Planet of the Apes and Mote in God's Eye) names newcomer, William Katz: "I recommend a short called 'The Plastic Soul of a Note' (Writers of the Future, Volume XX, Galaxy Press, 2004). It's a darn good story!"

Rebecca Moesta (Young Jedi Knights Series) chooses Isaac Asimov's 1951 short story, "The Fun They Had": "It was cautionary for me. I highly recommend it."

Anne McCaffrey (Pern Series) looks ahead to new author Andrea Kail's short story, 'The Sun God At Dawn, Rising from a Lotus Blossom" in the anthology L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future, Volume XIII: "The story is a fascinating glimpse of a reborn young King Tut and his emotional development as he comes to realize his plight as a political pawn."

"If you're just starting out as a writer or want to get serious about your writing, there's no better way than to read great, interesting sort stories like these," says Joni Labaqui, Director of the Writers of the Future Contest, a free, open-entry contest for new and aspiring writers in science fiction and fantasy.

For more information, visit http://www.writersofthefuture.com.