Publisher's Weekly
The newest installment in the venerable annual contest/anthology series started by the late Hubbard features stories by 17 previously unpublished writers and 17 winning illustrations from new artists. Like most anthologies, this volume is uneven: the majority of the material is passable, with a few outright duds. However, this edition also contains two bona fide masterpieces: Ray Roberts's "The Haunted Seed" tells the story of a deserted space ship whose computer is in love with a dead crewmember, while Ari Goelman's outstanding "Lost on the Road" is a lovingly constructed fairy tale in which a young faery slave eventually finds his family and freedom. A few brief pieces by the pros enhance the collection: Andre Norton offers advice to new writers ("Above all, a writer must be a reader"); H.R. Van Dongen gives tips on illustration ("Develop a composition designed to lead the eye into the picture"); and Hubbard, in a rambling previously published essay, urges writers to set challenges for themselves. There are better (and worse) anthologies on the shelf, but the Hubbard imprimatur will undoubtedly move copies. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.