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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.
New Book from a Critter Member
**NOW IN
PRINT EDITION
TOO!** Awesome new book,
HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR SPECULATIVE FICTION OPENINGS,
from a Critter member whose unearthed a shard of The Secret
to becoming a pro writer. Really good piece of work.
"...if you're at all concerned about story openings, you'd be nuts not to read what Qualkinbush has to say." —Wil McCarthy, author of BLOOM and THE COLLAPSIUMHow 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]
~~~
FEATURED BOOK
~~~
Weekly Notes
Notes for 18-Sep-2019...
Free promo from ReAnimus Press! Grab a free copy of the ebook while they're hot!
KAFKA'S UNCLE AND OTHER STRANGE TALES by "Mr. Magical Realism" Bruce Taylor
Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B01GW717I8/?tag=critters3a-20
ReAnimus Press Store: www.ReAnimus.com/1513
(also available in paperback)
An alternate universe? A different dimension? The "id" of America? Meet Anslenot and his tormentor/confident, a giant tarantula, as they wander through a blasted, desecrated landscape of broken ideals and shattered hopes. In this place, nothing is right. The Militant Lambs fight with the Opposition and no one knows whose side who is on. Add to that Martians... Venusians... Elvis.... To top it off, Anslenot is hounded by his dysfunctional family and upbringing...and legendary surrealist Franz Kafka makes Anslenot his honorary uncle. Nightmarish, strange, bizarre--the way things are to be? Or the way things--really are?
Also included in this collection is the novella The Humphrey Bogart Blues, a sympathetic look at Marilyn Monroe, who had she just been able to hook up with the Martians...
...and twenty-eight additional stories, previously published as well as some unpublished, testify to the breadth and scope of writing of, as one editor has stated, one of the top writers of Magic Realism.
And of course there's also KAFKA'S UNCLE: THE UNFORTUNATE SEQUEL, KAFKA'S UNCLE: THE GHASTLY PREQUEL, and TALES FROM THE GOOD SHIP KAFKABURY for your enjoyment.
Praise for KAFKA'S UNCLE
"It's important to realize that Bruce's stories are not strange; the world is, and he's separated himself from it in order to show us new realities, with remarkable clarity and insight. I am one of his admirers, and I am not alone.
--"DUNE" author BRIAN HERBERT
"Bruce Taylor has earned the title of "Mr. Magic Realism" by dint of producing works that are fascinating, insightful, and downright fun to read. His fiction will make you think...and smile."
--BEN BOVA
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Thanks for the donations, folks! We are 70.2% of the way to the fund drive goal with contributions from 113 donors, leaving about $1200 to go.
Thanks especially to
Deborah Ross
Bill Leonard
for their recent donations to help keep Critters going. Much appreciated!
[See http://www.critters.org/donate.php for more information.]
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Woohoo! Congratulations to...
- Russell Dorn, whose (Critter'd) short story, "Long Stretches"
is now out in the current issue of Third Flatiron. {My short
story "Long Stretches," crittered under the title "Reruns,"
is to be published in Third Flatiron's Infinite Lives: Short
Tales of Longevity anthology.
Available for pre-order:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XVN23X6}
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 8 critiques (at time
of judging), averaging over 1300 words each, goes to...
Russell Adams
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 18-Sep-2019 (Crits due 25-Sep-2019):
F The Wizards of Llandwellyn: Part 2: Chapter 3 Eric Wilson -#28695
SF Alien Alliance, part 3 Chris Turner -#28696
SF Titan Insurgents, Prologue and Chap 1 Kathy London -#28697
F The Island at the Bottom of the World Matthew Duerst -#28698
F What the Mountain Keeps JF Gabriel -#28699
F Reptilian Barbarian and the Templum Solarium Andrew Giffin -#28700
SF Life is a carousel in 6 Acts + Finis Bob Freeman -#28701
H New Teacher Kevin Stadt -#28702
F Infection in Everything Chris Hepler -#28703
SF Goddess of No Surrender William Broom -#28704
SF Further to Fall, Chapter 1 Garrett Menning -#28705
F The Two, Chapters 0-2 Catherine Ford -#28706
F Evetia Chapters 1-5 Sean Angelo -#28707
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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... IN SEARCH OF WONDER by DAMON KNIGHT
The premier book of SF insight for all SF readers and writers.
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1412
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Pieces up for critique in other workshops...
In the lit workshop - http://critique.org/lit :
L The Circle of Souls Tom Knemeyer -#28681
L Development Abigail Rowe -#28682
In the mystery workshop - http://critique.org/mystery :
AC Lost in the Desert of Ziph Courtney Webb -#28433
In the nonfiction workshop - http://critique.org/nonfiction :
NO Chapter 1. A Great man Falls Jim Parry -#28486
In the script workshop - http://critique.org/script :
SC Loose Lips Robert Qualkinbush -#28625
In the kids workshop - http://critique.org/kids :
YP Saul T. Unyon: The Short End of a Tall Tale Michelle Henrie -#28566
In the comics workshop - http://critique.org/comics :
CG Metropolise, Chapter 1 Carina Mchardy -#26473
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 :
F The Wizards of Llandwellyn: Part 2: Chapter 3 Eric Wilson -#28695
SF Alien Alliance, part 3 Chris Turner -#28696
SF Titan Insurgents, Prologue and Chap 1 Kathy London -#28697
F The Island at the Bottom of the World Matthew Duerst -#28698
F What the Mountain Keeps JF Gabriel -#28699
F Reptilian Barbarian and the Templum Solarium Andrew Giffin -#28700
SF Life is a carousel in 6 Acts + Finis Bob Freeman -#28701
H New Teacher Kevin Stadt -#28702
F Infection in Everything Chris Hepler -#28703
SF Goddess of No Surrender William Broom -#28704
SF Further to Fall, Chapter 1 Garrett Menning -#28705
F The Two, Chapters 0-2 Catherine Ford -#28706
F Evetia Chapters 1-5 Sean Angelo -#28707
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You might also like... OFF ON A DREAM AND OTHER MAGICAL REALITIES by BRUCE TAYLOR
Magical Realism from the master thereof
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1601
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... PAST THE SLEEPING SONS OF GOD by ALFRED COPPEL
Flor Ortega - CIA agent's daughter, poet, lover - and passionate revolutionary - has been kidnapped.
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1599
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