Captain's Blog
Ahoy, Critterfolk!
New entry Jun 21
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.
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)
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 16-Jul-2014...
Looking for beta-testers... We're developing a mobile site for
ReAnimus Press, and could use folks with different smartphones to take
a look. (Other than iPhone 4S and 5, which we have here.) Free ebook in
it for your time. :) Just drop me a note, and let me know what kind of
phone you have. Thanks!
-+-
A couple YA novels suitable for readers of all ages:
Fantasy-- EINAR AND THE CURSED CITY by SFWA pro and Critter member Chet Gottfried
ReAnimus Press store: http://ReAnimus.com/1396
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JYX9A9Q/?tag=reanimus-20
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...
SF-- XENOSTORM: RISING by (pro author) Brian Clegg
ReAnimus Press store: http://ReAnimus.com/1357
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GU3GXRK/?tag=reanimus-20
Fourteen-year-old Davy finds himself facing a powerful
underground group who have lived for hundreds of
years--and want to see him dead. The future of human
existence is in the balance...
If you know any young adults, I hope you'll pass this along. ReAnimus Press
books make great gifts, too. :) Paperbacks also available, and a portion
of sales help the Critters Fund Drive.
(Coming soon: The autobiography of astronaut Bill Pogue, long-time world
record holder for most days in space.)
-+-
I think I've finally got the bug found & fixed where the post-critique,
per-manuscript discussion forums weren't working in some cases. If you spot
any cases where the forums aren't working right, do let me know.
-+-
Woohoo! Congratulations to...
- Carole Ann Moleti, who sold his (Critter'd) short story,
"The Ultimate Test" to Mocha Memoirs Press. {Thanks to the
many critters who made this sale possible, especially Andrew
Richardson.
http://mochamemoirspress.com/toil-trouble-and-temptation-the-ultimate-test/}
- James Beamon, who sold his short story, "The Two Kingdoms Woman"
to Intergalactic Medicine Show. {My first foray into historical
specfic, which should be live in September. It wasn't crittered
but it wouldn't be published without you guys.}
Please report your Woohoo!s via the www.critters.org/telldaworld.ht web page.
-+-
This week's Most Productive Critter award, for 11 critiques (at time
of judging), averaging almost 900 words each, goes to...
Harlen Bayha
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
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This week we have... [get from http://www.critters.org/private/mss.php ]...
Title Author
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Week of 16-Jul-2014 (Crits due 23-Jul-2014):
SF The Farthest City [mpc] Daniel P. Swenson -#23891
SF The Pro, Chapter 1 [mpc] Richard Edwards -#23892
F Dwarves Don't Climb Trees Eric Juneau -#23893
SF Hidden Color [@] Gio Clairval -#23894
H The Not, Chapter 34 A. R. Braun -#23895
SF A Mother's Place Christina Usher -#23896
SF Approaching the Well of Still Time _tentative_ Stacy Elko -#23897
SF Robot Rights, chapter One tom Grayhorse -#23898
SF The Build-A-Dragon Company Dan Koboldt -#23899
SF Stubborn Moon Joseph Camera -#23900
H Soulweaver Chapters 6,7,8 Alex Maher -#23901
SF Repeaters Filip Wiltgren -#23902
SF The Errigannie - Prologue/Chapter 1 Jay Sauls -#23903
SF Worlds of Pyramis: Chapter 9 Will Barnes -#23904
F The Trouble With Dwarf Stones at Cattail Pond Victoria Kalb -#23905
SF Mountain Man Andrew Jacquier -#23906
F Spear, Chapters 1-3 Kristopher Horton -#23907
F Down the Spiral Jamie Simo -#23908
SF I've Found The Cure For Cancer Justin Key -#23909
SF Suspended Rebecca Shiles -#23910
SF Desire [@] David John Baker -#23911
F Stag Night Aleksandra Pantic -#23912
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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... BUG JACK BARRON by NORMAN SPINRAD
Bug Jack Barron was banned in the UK- Read a Banned Book today!
http://reanimus.com/store/?item=1002
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Pieces up for critique in other workshops...
In the lit workshop - http://critique.org/lit :
L Metaphors be with You Carlos Mano -#23888
L Gun Lust 6-3 Charlene Hansom -#23889
In the mystery workshop - http://critique.org/mystery :
M Ice Cream Man, Chapters 1-3 v1 Charles Puccia -#23867
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 :
YL Stubby Diane Weber -#23868
In the western workshop - http://critique.org/western :
W The Things a Puncher Does For Money Frank Coombs -#22499
In the romance workshop - http://critique.org/romance :
R First Kiss Laura Apple -#23890
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 :
AO Wild White Horse Fran Eisemann -#21370
In the website workshop - http://critique.org/website :
WW Powerscript Website Ronald Hurst -#22230
In the critters workshop - http://critique.org/critters :
SF The Farthest City [mpc] Daniel P. Swenson -#23891
SF The Pro, Chapter 1 [mpc] Richard Edwards -#23892
F Dwarves Don't Climb Trees Eric Juneau -#23893
SF Hidden Color [@] Gio Clairval -#23894
H The Not, Chapter 34 A. R. Braun -#23895
SF A Mother's Place Christina Usher -#23896
SF Approaching the Well of Still Time _tentative_ Stacy Elko -#23897
SF Robot Rights, chapter One tom Grayhorse -#23898
SF The Build-A-Dragon Company Dan Koboldt -#23899
SF Stubborn Moon Joseph Camera -#23900
H Soulweaver Chapters 6,7,8 Alex Maher -#23901
SF Repeaters Filip Wiltgren -#23902
SF The Errigannie - Prologue/Chapter 1 Jay Sauls -#23903
SF Worlds of Pyramis: Chapter 9 Will Barnes -#23904
F The Trouble With Dwarf Stones at Cattail Pond Victoria Kalb -#23905
SF Mountain Man Andrew Jacquier -#23906
F Spear, Chapters 1-3 Kristopher Horton -#23907
F Down the Spiral Jamie Simo -#23908
SF I've Found The Cure For Cancer Justin Key -#23909
SF Suspended Rebecca Shiles -#23910
SF Desire [@] David John Baker -#23911
F Stag Night Aleksandra Pantic -#23912
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You might also like... THE GILDED BASILISK by CHET GOTTFRIED
A basilisk, a dragon, weirdragons, and a theft gone bad...
http://reanimus.com/store/?item=1378
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... AGENT OF CHAOS by NORMAN SPINRAD
Too radical to be true...but it was...
http://reanimus.com/store/?item=1314