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Ahoy, Critterfolk!
New entry May 06
Critter Notices
Critters is 25!
This November, Critters is 25 years old! 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 COLLAPSIUM
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.
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 19-Jan-2022...
The Critters Fund Drive presents another new release...
ENTER A SOLDIER. LATER: ANOTHER by (SFWA Grandmaster) Robert Silverberg
ReAnimus Press Store: www.ReAnimus.com/1613
Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/1097345645/?tag=critters3a-20
(available in paperback)
Hugo Award Winner, from an iconic writer!
Conquering warrior Francisco Pizarro found himself... somewhere. Somewhere strange. He didn't know where, but he was sure it wasn't where he should be. After some time, another warrior appeared...
About this story Robert Silverberg writes:
I wrote this one in October, 1987 for an anthology I was editing myself, the basic idea of which involved using computer-generated simulacra of actual historical figures set in conflict against one another. The ones I chose were Socrates and Francisco Pizarro, and the story very quickly became an exciting thing to write as these two powerful personalities began to clash. I think it's one of the major achievements of my career.
It was published in ASIMOV'S SCIENCE FICTION and then in TIME GATE, my anthology, and it was picked for Gardner Dozois' 1989 YEAR'S BEST SCIENCE FICTION anthology. And at the World Science Fiction Convention in Holland in August, 1990, it brought me the Hugo award for Best Novelet.
Robert Silverberg is a SFWA Grandmaster and winner of multiple Hugo and Nebula awards.
[Disclaimer: Ye Olde Critter Captain also runs ReAnimus Press, sales from which help him keep Critters going as a free site.]
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Thanks for the donations, folks! Thanks especially to
Jon Bodenshot
Roderick Macdonald
Bill Leonard
John Goodwin
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...
- David Lee Zweifler, whose (Critter'd) short story, "The
Inevitablist" is now out in the current issue of Little Blue
Marble. {Thanks for all the valuable feedback on this story,
my first pro sale.}
- Larry Hodges, who sold his (Critter'd) short story, "Soul
Testing in Major League Baseball" to Daily Science Fiction.
- Larry Hodges, who sold his (Critter'd) short story, "Global
Warming is a Hoax Said the Alien in the Spare Bedroom " to
Galaxy's Edge.
- Larry Hodges, who sold his (Critter'd) short story, "Prototype
Solar System with Strings Attached" to Galaxy's Edge.
- Larry Hodges, who sold his (Critter'd) short story, "Madam
Hitler" to New Myths.
- Larry Hodges, whose (Critter'd) short story, "99 Sextillion
Souls in a Ball" is now out in the current issue of Dark Matter.
- Michael Stevens, whose (Critter'd) short story, "When
Love Goes Down the Drain" is now out in the current issue of
HyphenPunk. {Thanks to everyone on Critters who helped make this
story come to life. }
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 6 critiques (at time
of judging), averaging over 1700 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 https://www.critters.org/private/mss.php ]...
Title Author
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Week of 19-Jan-2022 (Crits due 26-Jan-2022):
H Death Mask Douglas Kolacki -#30360
SF The Time and Place of the Invasion Larry Hodges -#30361
H Deal at the Crossroads Galen T. Pickett -#30362
SF The Desert Meditator's Last Stand - part 2 of 7 Dan Jolie -#30363
SF Twisting The Knife N. M. Dudack -#30364
SF Who Rules the Dreary Coast Will Milner -#30365
F Wisteria, Protect the Spring Zen Sugino -#30366
F The Troll and the Mage Nell Norrell -#30367
H Skin of the Beast Monica Rubio -#30368
F Mirrored, Chapter 3 & 4 Rachel Messinger -#30369
F Soldier Michael Oduah -#30370
SF Pseudoscience, Chapters 3-4 Eddie Beeby -#30371
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Recommended books on writing:
THE CRAFT OF WRITING AND SELLING SCIENCE FICTION by Ben Bova
ReAnimus Press Store: https://ReAnimus.com/store?item=1144
Amazon: https://Amazon.com/dp/B006MAZPEI
HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR SPECULATIVE FICTION OPENINGS By (Critter member) Robert Qualkinbush
https://ReAnimus.com/store?item=1184 | https://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
https://ReAnimus.com/store?item=1179 | https://Amazon.com/dp/B007SIC4I8
EXPERIMENT PERILOUS: THE 'BUG JACK BARRON' PAPERS by Norman Spinrad
(A 99cent essay on SF and writing)
https://ReAnimus.com/store?item=1180 | https://Amazon.com/dp/B007MF3MS8
Because you might enjoy it... THE MAGICIANS by JAMES GUNN
Can a band of social rejects save humanity from the Black Magician?
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1639
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Pieces up for critique in other workshops...
In the lit workshop - https://critique.org/lit :
L The Scepter and the Distaff Julia Nolan -#30372
In the mystery workshop - https://critique.org/mystery :
T The Godfather of Madagascar chps 5-6 @George Guthridge -#30300
In the nonfiction workshop - https://critique.org/nonfiction :
NP I *Experience*, Therefore I Am Robin niCathain -#30061
In the script workshop - https://critique.org/script :
SC Emergency Joe Latessa -#29381
In the kids workshop - https://critique.org/kids :
YS Easter Escapees pilot Allison Davis -#30373
In the comics workshop - https://critique.org/comics :
CG Magna. logline/ synopsis Brent Claridge -#28885
In the western workshop - https://critique.org/western :
W Black Dust Trails, Chapters 0-2 Michael ANDRE -#29724
In the romance workshop - https://critique.org/romance :
R Faith Love and Obsession 1st 3 chapters Angie Mitchell -#30359
In the video workshop - https://critique.org/video :
VS The Gallery of Henri Beauchamp Jay DeTalente -#21424
In the music workshop - https://critique.org/music :
MP The Shade Riders and Nocturnal Ned song Beth Zurkowski -#21675
In the photo workshop - https://critique.org/photo :
PH Tree Reflection Jen Forte -#30097
In the art workshop - https://critique.org/art :
AH Art Man, a portrait Robert J Cleary -#27847
In the website workshop - https://critique.org/website :
WW Franklin's Palindromedary Ray N. Franklin -#29498
In the critters workshop - https://critique.org/critters :
H Death Mask Douglas Kolacki -#30360
SF The Time and Place of the Invasion Larry Hodges -#30361
H Deal at the Crossroads Galen T. Pickett -#30362
SF The Desert Meditator's Last Stand - part 2 of 7 Dan Jolie -#30363
SF Twisting The Knife N. M. Dudack -#30364
SF Who Rules the Dreary Coast Will Milner -#30365
F Wisteria, Protect the Spring Zen Sugino -#30366
F The Troll and the Mage Nell Norrell -#30367
H Skin of the Beast Monica Rubio -#30368
F Mirrored, Chapter 3 & 4 Rachel Messinger -#30369
F Soldier Michael Oduah -#30370
SF Pseudoscience, Chapters 3-4 Eddie Beeby -#30371
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You might also like... FITZROY by JOHN AND MARY GRIBBIN
The Remarkable Story of Darwin's Captain and the Invention of the Weather Forecast
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1502
Standard notes:
HELP:
If you need help with anything, see https://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
https://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 https://www.critters.org/antispam.ht .)
You may also send your critiques via https://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 https://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 https://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 https://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 https://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 https://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 https://www.critters.org/admin.ht .
DONATIONS:
Critters is funded by donations, so visit https://www.critters.org/donate.php
if you'd like to help out.
Because you might enjoy it... VENGEANCE OF ORION by BEN BOVA
Orion must change history, or lose the only woman he has ever loved.
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1416
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