Blog
Ahoy, Critterfolk!
New entry May 28
Critter Notices
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
~~~
News
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 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
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.
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The Critters Queue
Manuscripts themselves are here.
Queue of manuscripts out or to be sent (dates are estimated,
depending on number of mss. sent out, which depends on number of
members; probabalistically, the end of the queue is usually about
a month away):
Title Author
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Week of 18-Feb-2026 (Crits due 25-Feb-2026):
F Carpetjack [@] Larry Hodges -#32097
SF The Odd Child Chapter 5 Erina Gruner -#32098
SF Science Unleashed, Chapters 69-76 Dallas Nicholls -#32099
SF I Like It Hot Eli Cepeda -#32100
SF _Branwen's Ballad_Chapters 1 and 2 Deb Carpenter-Nolting -#32101
SF The Bony Man Jeffrey Ronay -#32102
Week of 25-Feb-2026 (Crits due 4-Mar-2026):
F Another Visit From Saint Nick [@] Larry Hodges
H THE SHERIFF WHO WOULD NOT SLEEP Edward Moore
SF The Path to Tomorrow, chapters 13 and 14 Brian Sellnow
SF The Ember Path Chapter 5 D.G. Appeldoorn
F Masterpiece of the Beyond Douglas Kolacki
F Far from Every Strand Kate Wooderson
SF The Footman's Story Craig Borri
Week of 4-Mar-2026 (Crits due 11-Mar-2026):
SF Silent Partner Stephen Shewmake
SF Destiny, Chapter 6 Boris Layupan
F The Sheathed Blade chapter 1 Babu
SF Rippling Ground, Chapters 1-4 Jeff Richardson
SF Rendlesham Lights Ryan Twombly
SF Amphibians of Neptune Two Jerry Sutton
F The Duke of Tooth, Chapter 36 and Epilogue John Rhea
SF Children of the Blue, Chapter 2: Luke Peter Allen
======================================================================
(Note, if the last week above looks abnormally large, it probably
needs me to add a new week, a task I do manually when I get around
to it. Future critique dates are approximate and subject to change.)
Symbols:
[@] - Pro [SFWA/HWA] author
[*] - Extra week(s) for holidays/aburt-out-of-town.
[mpc] - Most Product Critter Award winner
[!] - Special non-Wednesday dates because Critter Captain will be out of town
[ERROR!] - This means there is a problem and your manuscript will NOT be
sent out - Contact the Critter Captain ASAP if you see this by your name.
Waiting to enter Queue (Will enter at end of queue on "[date]"):
H Blackjack and Blood Chapter 3 Jim Keane [after-novel]
H Blackjack and Blood Chapter 4 Jim Keane [?]
H Blackjack and Blood Chapters 5,6,7 and 8 Jim Keane [?]
SF Science Unleashed, Chapters 77-84 Dallas Nicholls [25-Feb-2026]
SF The Odd Child Chapter 6 Erina Gruner [25-Feb-2026]
SF The Odd Child Chapter 7 Erina Gruner [?]
SF The Odd Child Chapter 8-9 Erina Gruner [?]
SF Science Unleashed, Chapters 85-91 & Epilogue Dallas Nicholls [?]
F A Wedding of Fire and Shadow Edward Moore [4-Mar-2026]
F The Word I Lost Edward Moore [?]
SF The Path to Tomorrow, Chapter 15 Brian Sellnow [4-Mar-2026]
SF The Path To Tomorrow, Chapter 16 Brian Sellnow [?]
SF One Last Thing Done With Care Edward Moore [?]
SF The Path to Tomorrow, Chapter 17 Brian Sellnow [?]
F First Contact Wyoming Style Edward Moore [?]
F The Song of the Trees Craig Borri [4-Mar-2026]
F The Vigil of the Silver Circle Edward Moore [?]
-+-
Held until participation ratio improves (then out that week):
F The Blessed & The Basic, Chapter 1 Landen Gonzalez [03-Dec-2025]
H Astaire Jacob T. Gray [28-Jan-2026]
SF Maternal Variables Surya Ramkumar [04-Feb-2026]
F Born of Light; Cursed by Darkness, Prologue and Chapter 1 Cassandra Habig [11-Feb-2026]
:::
>> Note 1: Held manuscripts are removed after four weeks on hold and
>> must be resubmitted.
>> Note 2: It is the *author's* responsibility to notify Aburt when
>> they have brought up their critique count and want their ms. sent out.
[Click here to see the queue including archival data from 1995.]