Blog
Ahoy, Critterfolk!
New entry Dec 07
Critter Notices
Critters is 23!
Yes, 23 years ago Critters was born. Wow! Thanks so much to all of you, who've made it such a resounding success!
Books from Critters!
Check out Books by Critters for books by your fellow
Critterfolk, as well as my list of recommended books for writers.
The Sigil Trilogy
If you're looking for an amazing, WOW! science fiction story, check out THE SIGIL TRILOGY. This is — literally — one of the best science fiction novels I've ever read.How to Write SF
The Craft of Writing Science Fiction that Sells by Ben Bova, best-selling author and six-time Hugo Award winner for Best Editor. (This is one of the books your ol' Critter Captain learned from himself, and I highly recommend it.)
(Also via Amazon)
Interviewed!
I was interviewed live on public radio for Critters' birthday, for those who want to listen.
Free Web Sites
Free web sites for authors (and others) are available at www.nyx.net.
ReAnimus Acquires Advent!
ReAnimus Press is pleased to announce the acquisition of the legendary Advent Publishers! Advent is now a subsidiary of ReAnimus Press, and we will continue to publish Advent's titles under the Advent name. Advent was founded in 1956 by Earl Kemp and others, and has published the likes of James Blish, Hal Clement, Robert Heinlein, Damon Knight, E.E. "Doc" Smith, and many others. Advent's high quality titles have won and been finalists for several Hugo Awards, such as The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and Fantasy and Heinlein's Children. Watch this space for ebook and print editions of all of Advent's current titles!
Book Recommendation
THE SIGIL TRILOGY:
The universe is dying from within...
"Great stuff... Really enjoyed it." — SFWA Grandmaster Michael Moorcock
Announcing ReAnimus Press
If you're looking for great stuff to read from bestselling and award-winning authors—look no further! ReAnimus Press was founded by your very own Critter Captain. (And with a 12% Affiliate program.) [More]
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FEATURED BOOK
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Weekly Notes
Notes for 01-Jul-2020...
Helping keep Critters going this week we have another ReAnimus Press release from SFWA Grandmaser James Gunn!
THIS FORTRESS WORLD by James Gunn
ReAnimus Press Store: www.ReAnimus.com/1636
Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B08C1JMH4R/?tag=critters3a-20
(available in both ebook and paperback)
SFWA Grand Master James Gunn's THIS FORTRESS WORLD takes place in the far future of our galaxy, when countless civilizations have risen and fallen, leaving only their marvelous scientific achievements as legacy to those worlds which have now fallen into a new Dark Age. On the planet Brancusi, William Dane, an acolyte monk in the all-powerful Church, comes into possession of a crystal pebble dropped in the offering plate, a stolen treasure believed to hold untold secrets of mankind's past. There are powerful men who will stop at nothing, including murder, to recover this ancient artifact. Ignorant of the outside world, who can Dane find to help, and who should be trusted with the pebble's secrets?
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Woohoo! Congratulations to...
- Janice Clark, whose (Critter'd) novel, "Dangerous Games" is
now out from Amazon. {This is the fourth book in the Healer's
Apprentice series, which was supposed to be a trilogy. The
characters had more to say.}
Please report your Woohoo!s via the www.critters.org/telldaworld.ht web page.
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This week's Most Productive Critter award, for 11 critiques (at time of judging), averaging almost 500 words each, goes to...
Julia Nolan
And Instant Winner(s) (for 10 MPC-eligible critiques):
Adam Pitts
To redeem an MPC, visit: www.critters.org/usempc.ht
Congratulations! To everyone else -- Crit early and often!
(For an explanation of the MPC award, see the www.critters.org/award.ht page.)
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Recommended Reading...
One of the best writing books - Secrets from the 6-time Best Editor
Hugo Award Master, Ben Bova: THE CRAFT OF WRITING SCIENCE FICTION THAT SELLS
http://ReAnimus.com/store?item=1144
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Critters Workshop
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This week we have... [get from http://www.critters.org/private/mss.php ]...
Title Author
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Week of 1-Jul-2020 (Crits due 8-Jul-2020):
H The Master of the Game [mpc] Adam Pitts [?] -#29258
SF Please Stand By Pete Koziar -#29259
F Christmas in the Galaxy [@] Larry Hodges -#29260
F A Tribute of Bulls, Prologue and Chapter 1 Kerry Cathers -#29261
F A Love Song for the Mockers _Prologue, Version 3_ Timothy M. Nall -#29262
SF The Escape Artists Vince Bonasso -#29263
F Soothsayer, Chapter 2 Rhys W Hall -#29264
H Some Pig Russ N. -#29265
SF Your Place Among the Stars Ben Wilinofsky -#29266
F Faces Painted, Faces Scarred Kelly Parrish -#29267
SF Blue Hairs, Chapters 1-3 Leslie Fulton -#29268
SF The Red Files Rachel Faith -#29269
F Part 1: Tiny Purple Monster. Chapter 1 Withdraw Angela Schorr -#29270
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Recommended books on writing:
THE CRAFT OF WRITING AND SELLING SCIENCE FICTION by Ben Bova
ReAnimus Press Store: http://ReAnimus.com/store?item=1144
Amazon: http://Amazon.com/dp/B006MAZPEI
HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR SPECULATIVE FICTION OPENINGS By (Critter member) Robert Qualkinbush
http://ReAnimus.com/store?item=1184 | http://Amazon.com/dp/B007O272ZI
STAYIN' ALIVE - A WRITER'S GUIDE by three-time SFWA President Norman Spinrad
How things really work in the art and commerce of publishing
http://ReAnimus.com/store?item=1179 | http://Amazon.com/dp/B007SIC4I8
EXPERIMENT PERILOUS: THE 'BUG JACK BARRON' PAPERS by Norman Spinrad
(A 99cent essay on SF and writing)
http://ReAnimus.com/store?item=1180 | http://Amazon.com/dp/B007MF3MS8
Because you might enjoy it... THE PUEBLO REVOLT by ROBERT SILVERBERG
The amazing story of the only time Native Americans overthrew colonialization
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1620
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Pieces up for critique in other workshops...
In the lit workshop - http://critique.org/lit :
L Bread to the Wise Cynthia Lewis -#29241
In the mystery workshop - http://critique.org/mystery :
M Poi Dog, Chapters 1-2 Darrel Condra -#29242
In the nonfiction workshop - http://critique.org/nonfiction :
NH That Woman Wanda Little Fenimore -#29130
In the script workshop - http://critique.org/script :
SC Perspective in Three Parts Sarah Joynt Borger -#29179
In the kids workshop - http://critique.org/kids :
BK Monarchs of Greenwood - Fly With Me, CH. 1-3 Emmanuel Agyei-Boatey -#29197
In the comics workshop - http://critique.org/comics :
CG Magna. logline/ synopsis Brent Claridge -#28885
In the western workshop - http://critique.org/western :
W A Message to Santa Fe, Chap 1-3 Frank Coombs -#25375
In the romance workshop - http://critique.org/romance :
R Pack Chapters 1-3 Anastasia Bromberg -#28384
In the video workshop - http://critique.org/video :
VS The Gallery of Henri Beauchamp Jay DeTalente -#21424
In the music workshop - http://critique.org/music :
MP The Shade Riders and Nocturnal Ned song Beth Zurkowski -#21675
In the photo workshop - http://critique.org/photo :
PH Dry Mud and Cinder Cone Bill Wight -#19627
In the art workshop - http://critique.org/art :
AH Art Man, a portrait Robert J Cleary -#27847
In the website workshop - http://critique.org/website :
WW Ax-yZ The Creative Projects Platform Charles Gull -#27088
In the critters workshop - http://critique.org/critters :
H The Master of the Game [mpc] Adam Pitts [?] -#29258
SF Please Stand By Pete Koziar -#29259
F Christmas in the Galaxy [@] Larry Hodges -#29260
F A Tribute of Bulls, Prologue and Chapter 1 Kerry Cathers -#29261
F A Love Song for the Mockers _Prologue, Version 3_ Timothy M. Nall -#29262
SF The Escape Artists Vince Bonasso -#29263
F Soothsayer, Chapter 2 Rhys W Hall -#29264
H Some Pig Russ N. -#29265
SF Your Place Among the Stars Ben Wilinofsky -#29266
F Faces Painted, Faces Scarred Kelly Parrish -#29267
SF Blue Hairs, Chapters 1-3 Leslie Fulton -#29268
SF The Red Files Rachel Faith -#29269
F Part 1: Tiny Purple Monster. Chapter 1 Withdraw Angela Schorr -#29270
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You might also like... THE ISSUE AT HAND by JAMES BLISH (AS WILLIAM ATHELING, JR.)
No subject is taboo for Atheling's shredding, making this a textbook for authors and a delight for readers.
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1500
Standard notes:
HELP:
If you need help with anything, see http://www.critters.org/help -- there
are FAQs and a form to ask questions.
HELPING CRITTERS:
Critters is donation funded & volunteer run, so if you'd like to
help out with our current fund drive or otherwise, please visit
http://www.critters.org/donate.php -- Thanks!!
HOW TO SEND CRITIQUES:
Remember to send the critiques directly to me, critters@critique.org, so
I can forward them to the authors _and_ give you credit for your effort.
Please send only one critique per mail message (makes it easier to
archive). Please make sure the "#" symbol and manuscript number are in
the email Subject: line, like Subject: #1234. (Conversely, if you want
ol' Aburt to personally read the message, i.e., it's _not_ a critique,
don't put a "#" in the subject or I won't see it. Also -- put my current
anti-spam code word in there: see http://www.critters.org/antispam.ht .)
You may also send your critiques via http://www.critters.org/webcrit.ht .
Note that all critiques will be available to everyone to read the next Saturday.
DIPLOMACY:
Remember, authors and critiquers, we're all friends here. Be polite. Be
considerate. Be tactful. You can say you thought a story was drivel in a
courteous way. Try to point out the good and the bad; offer alternatives
if you can. Never, ever, attack the author -- only the story. Authors:
Remember that some reviewers may lack tact. Try to be understanding,
but if you get any that you feel are just plain mean-spirited, too short
to be of any use, or too "feel good," let me know and I'll withhold the
reviewer's "credit" for that story and/or cajole them into something
more insightful. See http://www.critters.org/diplomacy.ht for more...
CRITIQUE LENGTH:
If you want to send a short critique that you know is too short for
credit (200 words or less of your own meaningful content) please put
"NC#" in the Subject (NC=No Credit, like Subject: NC#1234) -and- say
something like "not for credit" inside your critique. (Remember also that
for MPC purposes, a critique must be 300 words or more.)
CHATTING:
Comments -other- than critiques (such as discussion of the critiques,
or Woohoo! announcements, or chit chat) should be posted to one of the
official Critters discussion forums (See the http://www.critters.org/newsgroups.ht
web page for full info, guidelines, etc.) Don't post stories or critiques
(mail those to critters@critique.org).
QUOTING:
Please pare the ms. down if critiquing in-line (don't quote the whole ms.!).
Other format rules are at http://www.critters.org/format.ht .
EVERYTHING'S ON THE WEB:
Past reviews are on the web page. The current week's manuscripts are
also there, as are prior mss. and even some rewrites. There's a Master
Page Index (site map) with tons of links to common items.
AUTHORS:
Authors for this week -- if you aren't getting email'd critiques from
me (as they come in) within a couple days -- ask me and we can verify
I'm sending them to the correct address. (Send me a phone# in case I
can't get email to you.) Check the format of your story ASAP to make sure
it's all there and readable.
EMAIL ISSUES:
If you want to change your email address or preferences (# mss. emailed,
SF/F/H type, or whether you get the huge critique batches at week's end),
point your browser to http://www.critters.org/admin.ht . Please don't
ask me to do this by hand, it's quite a chore! (E.g., if you're going
on vacation and want to suspend mail from me -- do this before/after
your trip.)
BACKUP SITE:
If you're unable to reach www.critters.org to get manuscripts, I've set up
an emergency backup site at http://backup.critters.org where you can get the
week's manuscripts (but not much of anything else :-). Speaking of backups --
don't forget to back up your own manuscripts so you don't lose them!
QUITTING:
If you want to quit or go inactive, drop by http://www.critters.org/admin.ht .
DONATIONS:
Critters is funded by donations, so visit http://www.critters.org/donate.php
if you'd like to help out.
Because you might enjoy it... THE SORCERESS OF QAR by TED WHITE
A sequel to PHOENIX PRIME, a return to magical Qanar where danger lurks...
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1606
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