Captain's Blog
Ahoy, Critterfolk!
New entry Dec 13
Critter Notices
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!
Free Web Sites
Free web sites for authors (and others) are available at www.nyx.net.
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)
A Guide to Barsoom
The ultimate, definitive
GUIDE TO BARSOOM from ReAnimus Press.
NOW IN PRINT EDITION TOO. The best guide to Edgar Rice Burroughs' Mars series.
Network speeding up
I'm switching the connection over to a new, shiny 10X faster network because of all the load. There might be bits of downtime as your boxes learn new addresses and things. Should be brief. Let me know of any prolonged outages you see.
Preditors & Editors Changeover
With the very sad passing of Dave Kuzminski, who ran P&E, I've taken over the P&E duties. Lots of what I hope are improvements; check it out at pred-ed.com.
Critters Server is Dying has been Replaced
See important details here in my blog. Let me know if you find anything that isn't working right. (Manuscripts are now available for this week, FYI.)
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 need help making ebooks from manuscripts or print copies—or finding great stuff to read—look no further! An ebook publisher started by your very own Critter Captain. (And with a 12% Affiliate program.) [More]
~~~
FEATURED BOOK
~~~
Weekly Notes
Notes for 25-Feb-2015...
Seems like a good day for a dose of humor! (All sales benefitting the Critters
Fund Drive, which has more or less stalled out.)
SIDE EFFECTS by Harvey Jacobs - $3.99
A great satire, a la Vonnegut meets Catch-22. In the last hours of his
hectic life, Simon Apple faces up to the hard truth that his very
survival represents a prescription for disaster on an epic scale.
From award-winning author Harvey Jacobs.
ReAnimus Press Store: www.ReAnimus.com/1087
Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B005F0VJI2/?tag=critters3a-20
UNDERHANDED CHESS by Jerry Sohl - $4.99
A hilarious handbook of devious diversions and stratagems for
winning at chess.
ReAnimus Press Store: www.ReAnimus.com/1244
Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B0098DZHLM/?tag=critters3a-20
UNDERHANDED BRIDGE by Jerry Sohl - $7.99
A hilarious handbook of devious diversions and stratagems for
winning at bridge.
ReAnimus Press Store: www.ReAnimus.com/1364
Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B00GZ6QGAQ/?tag=critters3a-20
STEEP, DEEP & DYSLEXIC by Biff America - $3.99
A wonderfully funny mix of Andy Rooney and Garrison Keillor.
ReAnimus Press Store: www.ReAnimus.com/1135
Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B006H9HU5Q/?tag=critters3a-20
EINAR AND THE CURSED CITY by (Critter member extraordinaire and SFWA pro author) Chet Gottfried - $3.99
Sixteen-year-old Einar enters Jorghaven for dueling and
desserts, but a curse has changed everyone except Barbara Bloodbath, who
needs his help to free the city!
ReAnimus Press Store: www.ReAnimus.com/1396
Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B00JYX9A9Q/?tag=critters3a-20
-+-
Woohoo! Congratulations to...
- Stacey Nilsen, whose (Critter'd) short story, "That Murderous
Thieving Bastard and His Wretched Beanstalk" is now out in the
current issue of Fringeworks Publishers, Grimm and Grimmer Vol 3.
Please report your Woohoo!s via the www.critters.org/telldaworld.ht web page.
-+-
This week's Most Productive Critter award, for 5 critiques (at time
of judging), averaging over 400 words each, goes to...
Joel Roosa
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.)
-+-
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 25-Feb-2015 (Crits due 4-Mar-2015):
F Calypso P.E. Zimmerman -#24581
SF Entanglement Neal Williams -#24582
F Covenant of the Sword, Chapter 1, opening Carol Wuenschell -#24583
F The Wind and the Way Home Eugenia Triantafyllou -#24584
F The Water Cure Alexander Leger-Small -#24585
SF The Rescue Mission _2nd draft_ Anna Salonen -#24586
SF Customer Service Justin C. Key -#24587
SF The Hob's Friend Lance Burri -#24588
SF The Last Stand Christoph Weber -#24589
H Pauly Jeffrey Abrams -#24590
F Rubbish and Raspberries - a retelling Aleksandra Pantic -#24591
SF Desire [@] David John Baker -#24592
F Pride and Joy Eric Landreneau -#24593
F Waste Places Chapter 1-2 Judith Pratt -#24594
SF The Baby Snatchers, Chapter 1 Vidal Cid -#24595
SF Fine Print D.J. Diehl -#24596
SF Paolo, Friend Paolo Kurt Hunt -#24597
SF Subdued, Chapter 1 [@] Mindy Peterman -#24598
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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... AMONG THE DEAD AND OTHER EVENTS LEADING TO THE APOCALYPSE by EDWARD BRYANT
Two-time Nebula Award winner
http://reanimus.com/store/?item=1267
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Pieces up for critique in other workshops...
In the lit workshop - http://critique.org/lit :
L The Phosphorus Nation Nessma A. Elsawy -#24396
In the mystery workshop - http://critique.org/mystery :
M Mirror Man - Chapter 9-10 Jay Sauls -#24372
In the nonfiction workshop - http://critique.org/nonfiction :
NP Holding Down the Fort Chapter 1 Briana -#20954
In the script workshop - http://critique.org/script :
SC Bounty Hunters Avant Hall -#23842
In the kids workshop - http://critique.org/kids :
YA Against All Odds Chapter 7,8 A Wisham -#24514
In the western workshop - http://critique.org/western :
W God's Children in the Western Frontier Mike Ackerman -#24475
In the romance workshop - http://critique.org/romance :
R Settle Down Now Leena Naidoo -#24580
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 :
AI Extinction by Proxy Cover Eric Vargas -#24267
In the website workshop - http://critique.org/website :
WW Powerscript Website Ronald Hurst -#22230
In the critters workshop - http://critique.org/critters :
F Calypso P.E. Zimmerman -#24581
SF Entanglement Neal Williams -#24582
F Covenant of the Sword, Chapter 1, opening Carol Wuenschell -#24583
F The Wind and the Way Home Eugenia Triantafyllou -#24584
F The Water Cure Alexander Leger-Small -#24585
SF The Rescue Mission _2nd draft_ Anna Salonen -#24586
SF Customer Service Justin C. Key -#24587
SF The Hob's Friend Lance Burri -#24588
SF The Last Stand Christoph Weber -#24589
H Pauly Jeffrey Abrams -#24590
F Rubbish and Raspberries - a retelling Aleksandra Pantic -#24591
SF Desire [@] David John Baker -#24592
F Pride and Joy Eric Landreneau -#24593
F Waste Places Chapter 1-2 Judith Pratt -#24594
SF The Baby Snatchers, Chapter 1 Vidal Cid -#24595
SF Fine Print D.J. Diehl -#24596
SF Paolo, Friend Paolo Kurt Hunt -#24597
SF Subdued, Chapter 1 [@] Mindy Peterman -#24598
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You might also like... The Life and Tails of Herman the Worm by Charlene Oliver
A delightful children's book from the Motown No.1 hit singer
http://reanimus.com/store/?item=1003
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 newsgroups, found on the news server news.sff.net.
(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
for your choices.
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... SPACE TRAVEL - A SCIENCE FICTION WRITER'S GUIDE by BEN BOVA
An indispensible guide for science fiction writers
http://reanimus.com/store/?item=1231