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New entry Jun 06

Critter Notices

Books from Critters!

Check out Books by Critters for books by your fellow Critterfolk, as well as my list of recommended books for writers.

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)

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 who's 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

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]

~~~

MORE NEWS & NOTICES >>

CRITTERS STORE >>

 

FEATURED BOOK

~~~

CRITTERS STORE >>

Weekly Notes


Notes for 13-Mar-2024...

Helping keep Critters afloat, proceeds benefit the Critters Fund Drive from sales of...

	SIEGE OF STARS: BOOK ONE OF THE SIGIL TRILOGY by Henry Gee - $0.00

		ReAnimus Press Store: www.ReAnimus.com/1230
		Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B0093O81NM/?tag=critters3a-20
		 (available in ebook + paperback)

	



 From Nature Editor Henry Gee comes a story of breathtaking scope
and beloved characters.
Spanning millions of years and the breadth of the universe,
The Sigil Trilogy is an epic 
tale that explores the nature of humanity, belief, and love.
 The Universe is dying from within. No one knows how to save it, so the Elders give a young Drover a last ditch chance to stop the rot. If only she knew where to begin.
  Unaware of the threat to the universe, Ruxhana Fengen Kraa, Admiral of the 17th Rigel Fleet, is about to be cashiered for a stupendous tactical error. But Special Ops has
an important and most bizarre job for him.
 Eons away in time, Jack Corstophine is an archaeologist on Earth with an intuition about the land that he can't put into words--until the beautiful and brilliant Jadis Markham comes into his life. Together, they discover that the landscape of Europe is far from natural. The Earth bears the scars of an ancient civilization that goes back millions of years -- and has terrible implications for the future of mankind.
 

Ebook also available from:
 

 

 


for your Nook


 
The Sigil Trilogy traces the lives of compelling characters --  people... entities... and... species... -- through time and space. It's magnificent in background, beautifully written, and with the most memorable characters. The Sigil Trilogy is spellbinding, funny, thoughtful, and touching all at the same time. Complete with complex mysteries, massive battles, romance, hot aliens, steampunk cities, good scotch, armageddon, it's all here --  you won't be able to put it down.
 
Siege of Stars is the first volume of The Sigil Trilogy, Henry Gee's incredible opus.


 The second and third volumes,
SCOURGE OF STARS
and
RAGE OF STARS,
are all now available as individual volumes as well as in an
collected, omnibus edition,
all in both ebook and print -- see the sidebar for links.

 Praise for THE SIGIL TRILOGY:


 "Henry Gee stakes his claim to excellence with these startling,
beautifully written tales of cosmic adventure. Brisk, funny,
triumphant--and utterly compelling."
 --Greg Bear, award-winning author of Darwin's Radio

 "Great stuff.  Touches of Douglas Adams, Barrington Bayley, David Britton and Steve Aylett only emphasise the splendid originality of this book.  Henry Gee is thoughtful, funny, original.  And pretty thoroughly mind-expanding in the tradition of Wells, David Lindsay, Stapledon and Clarke.  In fact everything you yearn to find in a very good contemporary SF novel.  Really enjoyed it!"
--SFWA Grandmaster  Michael Moorcock

 "Coming to a science fiction novel by Henry Gee I was expecting a work knowledgeable about the world and all its ways, but who would have guessed it would also reveal Henry to be a visionary space voyager of the first order? The Sigil is in the grand tradition of Stapledonian space opera, and provides not only an explanation for why this universe is the way it is, but gives us the many vivid wild adventures on the part of some (very appealing) conscious characters acting to make it that way. Awesome stuff, and a true pleasure to read page by page."
 --Kim Stanley Robinson, award-winning author of Red Mars

 "Fast-moving, insanely inventive science fiction in the grand manner--seldom has the fate of the galaxy been handled on such a large scale.  Gee draws on archeology, geology, physics, and biology to create a rich tapestry with surprises woven into every thread."
 --Nancy Kress, award-winning author of Beggars in Spain


 "Siege is compelling, grandiose, and breathtaking in its spacetime and its characters are intriguing, personal, and complex....This book of Henry's is going to be high on the charts."
--Greg Laden,
scienceblogs.com
 [See the
full review here.]

 "Echoes of Olaf Stapledon and Arthur C. Clarke, with more interesting characters than either of them."
 --John Gribbin

 "Cosmically deep and sensually rich, here is a very warm, enthusiastic and human book about great issues of our own world and of the whole universe, beautifully written.  What can I say but: Gee Whiz! (unless somebody already has...)"
 --Ian Watson

 "One of the very best books I've ever read."
 --Andrew Burt, founder, Critters Writers' Workshop / Critique.org

 "Henry Gee serves up a tasty stew of sex, science and space opera. Or should that read romance, rationality and retro-SF? Either way, the book is great entertainment."
     --Vaughan Stanger, author of Alternate Apollos and The English Dead

 "A great very-wide-screen story, with many interesting characters I cared about...the writing--and the palaeontology--are beautifully executed"
     --Jack Cohen, author of Wheelers and Heaven


 "Reminiscent of Peter F. Hamilton's SF epics in its scope and ambition, "The Siege of Stars" is a wildly imaginative book set against the vivid locales scattered throughout time and space. Gee masterfully paints his protagonists in engaging, realistic and very human light. Their personalities and relationships drive the story forward as much as its grandiose scale, making "Siege" difficult to put down."
 --Alex Shvartsman

 "Henry Gee's crackling prose and fast-paced storytelling pull the reader right in, but it's the vividness of his characters that creates such a sense of intimacy in this large-scale cosmic tale.   It's an impressive fiction debut, a page-turner that delivers the goods!"
 --Mercurio D. Rivera, World Fantasy Award nominee

  "Gee's writing is simply dazzling. The Sigil is a debut novel by an already accomplished author. His characters feel like real people, his story premise is bold and yet founded on actual science, and his fictional universe dares to     encompass the issues of our day. Here's a writer to watch."
 --David Marusek

 "Henry Gee's Sigil Trilogy is everything that good science fiction  should be: ambitious, sweeping in scope, well-crafted, intelligently  plotted and, above all, thoroughly, thoroughly readable."
 --Ian Whates

 "Henry Gee paints a stunning, thriving universe in which readers will delight."
 --Shelly Li

 "Siege of Stars is terrific -- a highly original mash-up of wild archaeology and advanced aliens, with sympathetic characters, comedy and tragedy. Scientists (and Nature editors) can write science fiction."
 -- Ian Stewart

 "I was amazed and delighted by part one of The Sigil. Exploding galaxies;    million-year-old aliens with super powers; huge, ancient prehuman               civilisations. The best sensawunda sf I've come across for years."
 --Elizabeth     Counihan, Editor of Scheherazade Magazine

 "The Sigil Trilogy is magnificently panoramic in breadth -- a quirky, erudite and often hilarious tale of adventure mingling epic science fiction, archaeology, palaeontology and romance. Vividly entertaining!"
 --Cecilia Dart-Thornton, bestselling author of the Bitterbynde series

 "SIEGE OF STARS is a fascinating story from start to finish, with great ideas, neat set pieces, and interesting characters. Gee knows his stuff."
 -- Eric Brown, author of Engineman


 
"I got so engrossed in it that I could not put it down. Siege of Stars is a very good Sci-Fi novel, in the tradition of Arthur C. Clarke and Ray Bradbury. It spans space and time on a grand scale, but at the same time delves into the questions of what it means to be human. I recommend this book."
  --Lee Gimenez, bestselling author of The Nanotech Murders








 Dr. Henry Gee is senior editor at the renowned science journal Nature and editor of the award-winning Nature Futures science fiction short story series. He has written over a dozen books, including The Science of Middle Earth and A Field Guide to Dinosaurs.
He lists his recreations as playing blues organ, supporting Norwich City FC and falling asleep. His blog 'The End Of The Pier Show' continues to delight its three regular readers. He lives in Cromer, Norfolk, England, with his family and numerous pets. 




[Disclaimer: Ye Olde Critter Captain also runs ReAnimus Press, sales from which help him keep Critters going as a free site.]


                                   -+-

Thanks for the donations, folks!  Thanks especially to

	Vincent Bonasso
	Larry Hodges

for their recent donations to help keep Critters going. Much appreciated!

[See https://www.critters.org/donate.php for more information.]


                                   -+-

(No Woohoo!s this week, be sure to report your sales/publications/etc. via the www.critters.org/telldaworld.ht web page.)


                                   -+-

This week's Most Productive Critter award, for 2 critiques (at time
of judging), averaging over 900 words each, goes to...

	Patrick Tibbits

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 
https://ReAnimus.com/store?item=1144
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Critters Workshop
----------------------------------------------------------------------

This week we have... [get from https://www.critters.org/private/mss.php ]...
                                                 
     Title                      	Author
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Week of 13-Mar-2024 (Crits due 20-Mar-2024):
 H   That Old Familiar Feeling          Andrew Giffin -#31373
 SF  Break a Leg _and Fly_              Viterbo Guedez -#31374
 SF  One Last Kill                      R.J. Melby -#31375
 F   The Ballad of Fixy Biscuit, Chapters 1+2  Mike Naylor -#31376
 SF  Blood of My Blood, Chapters 1-2    Nicholas Alexander -#31377
 SF  Negotiation at Strix Landing       Adam Contini -#31378

----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 NEW SPRINGTIME by ROBERT SILVERBERG
Humans emerge to reclaim Earth after the Long Winter, but never anticipated what awaits...
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1616
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pieces up for critique in other workshops...

In the lit workshop - https://critique.org/lit :
 L   Jolie, Effy, & Amorette            Daniel. A. Dunnham -#31322

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  Cupidity                           Kathleen C -#31276

In the comics workshop - https://critique.org/comics :
 CG  Magna. logline/ synopsis           Brent Claridge -#28885

In the western workshop - https://critique.org/western :
 W   Currently Untitled                 Aleksandr Vincente Hoang -#30472

In the romance workshop - https://critique.org/romance :
 R   For Her Honor Chapters 1-5         Morgan Stevens -#31119

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  Tea and Gossip                     Sandy Kulhavy -#30875

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   That Old Familiar Feeling          Andrew Giffin -#31373
 SF  Break a Leg _and Fly_              Viterbo Guedez -#31374
 SF  One Last Kill                      R.J. Melby -#31375
 F   The Ballad of Fixy Biscuit, Chapters 1+2  Mike Naylor -#31376
 SF  Blood of My Blood, Chapters 1-2    Nicholas Alexander -#31377
 SF  Negotiation at Strix Landing       Adam Contini -#31378
----------------------------------------------------------------------

You might also like... THE STAR CONQUERORS by BEN BOVA
Bova's most sought-after book is now an ebook!
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1128

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... THE ODIOUS ONES by JERRY SOHL
Seven buddies meet... then begin to commit suicide in odd ways. Or is it murder? - By the Twilight Zone master writer
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1173

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