Critter Notices
[It's Freebie Friday in the Critters Store...]
Critters is 30!
Last November, Critters turned 30 years old! Wow! Thanks so much to all of you, who've made it such a resounding success!
FEATURED BOOK
Weekly Notes
Notes for 17-Jun-2026...
Sales of ReAnimus Press books benefit the Critters fund drive, such as...
CATALYST by Oscar L. Fellows - $5.99
ReAnimus Press Store: www.ReAnimus.com/1760
Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B0H4C179N5/?tag=critters3a-20
(available in ebook + hardcover + paperback)
It is said of legends and myths that they are founded upon a kernel of truth, and so it was with the ancient alchemists and their "Philosophers Stone", also known as "Red Mercury." Supposedly, it was a catalyst of great power that could transmute base metals into gold. In the late 1990's, rumors came out of Russia that Soviet scientists had quantities of this red mercury, and that it was to be the genesis of a new pantheon of super-weapons of unimaginable power. Russian and American intelligence people, and military scientists were interviewed on CBS 'Sixty Minutes' and other TV news magazines, with no conclusive findings.
Oscar L. Fellows latest novel is about an archaeologist from the University of New Mexico who stumbles across the find of the millennium. Where the foothills of the Andes Mountains meet the Amazon jungle, he discovers the ruins of a plantation house that burned to the ground during World War II. Inside the basement, he finds the work diaries of a Nazi engineer. The diaries lead to a mine in the mountains, and an ore with rare properties.
The ore contains a hydrogen catalyst. This 'Holy Grail' of hydrogen chemistry could destroy the fossil fuel industries and the economies of nations. It could, through human greed and lust for power, set the world on fire and bring about World War III. Understandably, the petroleum producing countries want to suppress the discovery, and rush to kill the archaeologist and his team before they can communicate their find to the world. On the other side of the issue, the energy dependent nations want the location of the mine, and some will use any means to get it.
The archaeologist has found the ancient genie of alchemy, and discovered that it comes with baggage. Along with his frustrating love-life, he now has a real problem. Survival.
This is a story of political intrigue, military action, interesting science and an uncommon romance. You won't want to put it down.
[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! We are 28.8% of the way to the fund drive goal with contributions from 70 donors, leaving about $5000 to go.
Thanks especially to
Edward Moore
Rachel Messinger
for their recent donations to help keep Critters going. Much appreciated!
Stats by month...
Jan: $749.29 received toward $583 monthly fund drive goal, exceeded by $166.29 for the month
Feb: $181.72 received toward $583 monthly fund drive goal, short by $401.28 for the month
Mar: $191.13 received toward $583 monthly fund drive goal, short by $391.87 for the month
Apr: $307.38 received toward $583 monthly fund drive goal, short by $275.62 for the month
May: $354.94 received toward $583 monthly fund drive goal, short by $228.06 for the month
Jun: $234.72 received toward $583 monthly fund drive goal, short by $348.28 for the month
=> short by $1478.82 of annual fund drive goal to date (and $2300 shortfall from last year)
[See https://www.critters.org/donate.php for more information.]
-+-
Woohoo! Congratulations to...
- Holly Hefner, whose (Critter'd) short story, "How to Cope with
the Revelation Your Wife is a Former Magical Girl" is now out
in the current issue of Bothered Stories.
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 1300 words each, goes to...
Edward Moore
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 17-Jun-2026 (Crits due 24-Jun-2026):
SF Hailey Phillips Flees the Terran Birdcage Chapter 1 John Francis Willems -#32239
SF Star Racer, chapter 3 Brian Sellnow -#32240
SF The Seventh Sense of Home Edward Moore -#32241
F The Cost of Empire Karen L. Kobylarz -#32242
F Pawprints, Chapters 10-12 Kate Hunley -#32243
H A Stupid Gross Ghost Story Jeff Dickman -#32244
SF Dog Days at the Sun Ranch Petar Brdar -#32245
SF Before You Speak Iskandar Rakhimov -#32246
F The Release Karen Ni -#32247
----------------------------------------------------------------------
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... SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR THE SUDDENLY SINGLE by BARBARA BERSON AND BEN BOVA
For the 2,000,000 suddenly-single men and women each year
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1573
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pieces up for critique in other workshops...
In the lit workshop - https://critique.org/lit :
L Trust Henry McFarland -#32148
In the mystery workshop - https://critique.org/mystery :
T The Legacy Program Chapets 1 & 2 M Paul Whelan -#32103
In the nonfiction workshop - https://critique.org/nonfiction :
NO Climate Risk: What Would Ben Franklin Do Brian Cady -#32172
In the script workshop - https://critique.org/script :
SC It Happened One Christmas Robert W. Ross -#31694
In the kids workshop - https://critique.org/kids :
YS The Adventures of Jack, The Rabbit Emmanuel Agyei-Boatey -#31578
In the western workshop - https://critique.org/western :
W Good Land for Dying Kristen Vanderhoof -#32003
In the romance workshop - https://critique.org/romance :
R Embermarked, Chapter 10-12 Natalie Kalinowski -#31927
In the photo workshop - https://critique.org/photo :
PH A Building By Kanda River Nattamon Montriwat -#32096
In the apps workshop - https://critique.org/apps :
GM Uptown Valkyries Arthur Sankey -#31757
In the website workshop - https://critique.org/website :
WW Lawrence Vernon's Website Lawrence Vernon -#32200
In the critters workshop - https://critique.org/critters :
SF Hailey Phillips Flees the Terran Birdcage Chapter 1 John Francis Willems -#32239
SF Star Racer, chapter 3 Brian Sellnow -#32240
SF The Seventh Sense of Home Edward Moore -#32241
F The Cost of Empire Karen L. Kobylarz -#32242
F Pawprints, Chapters 10-12 Kate Hunley -#32243
H A Stupid Gross Ghost Story Jeff Dickman -#32244
SF Dog Days at the Sun Ranch Petar Brdar -#32245
SF Before You Speak Iskandar Rakhimov -#32246
F The Release Karen Ni -#32247
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You might also like... THE EGG OF THE GLAK by HARVEY JACOBS
Some of Harvey's best, believably fantastical short stories
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1572
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 KINSMAN SAGA by BEN BOVA
One of Bova's most beloved characters and stories
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1140
--
You received this email message because you signed up for the Critters
Writers Workshop. If you want to stop getting these emails, please visit
https://www.critters.org/email.ht .