Blog
Ahoy, Critterfolk!
New entry Dec 07
Critter Notices
Critters is 23!
Yes, 23 years ago Critters was born. 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.
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)
Space Travel for SF Writers

Hot off the presses from ReAnimus Press! Space Travel - A Science Fiction Writer's Guide— An indispensible tool for all SF writers that explains the science you need to help you make your fiction plausible. (Also via Amazon)
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
~~~
Weekly Notes
Notes for 04-Dec-2019... Thanks for the donations, folks! We are 74.9% of the way to the fund drive goal with contributions from 128 donors, leaving about $1000 to go. Thanks especially to Morgan Beard Bret Lynn for their recent donations to help keep Critters going. Much appreciated! [See http://www.critters.org/donate.php for more information.] -+- The Critters Fund Drive this week is supported by sales of the paperback edition of... TOWER OF GLASS by SFWA Grandmaster Robert Silverberg Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/1692346946/?tag=critters3a-20 From the Hugo and Nebula Award--winning author: "High adventure, considerable tension, and--most important--social consciousness" (Harlan Ellison). Simeon Krug is the king of the universe. A self-made man, he is the Bill Gates of the era, having built a megacommercial empire on the backs of his products: androids, genetically engineered human slaves. Having amassed incredible wealth, his next major goal is to communicate with aliens living in an uninhabitable world, sending a mysterious signal. This requires building a mile high tower in the arctic tundra. The androids want civil equality with humans, but are divided on the best means to the goal--political agitation or religious devotion to Krug, their creator. And Krug's son, Manuel, is reluctant to step into his role as heir to his father's empire. -+- (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 4 critiques (at time of judging), averaging almost 600 words each, goes to... Christopher Henderson 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 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Critters Workshop ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This week we have... [get from http://www.critters.org/private/mss.php ]... Title Author --------------------------------------------------------------------- Week of 4-Dec-2019 (Crits due 11-Dec-2019): SF Not with a Bang, but a Sigh [mpc] Christopher Henderson -#28839 SF The Scars We Bear Henry McFarland -#28840 F Cinderella's Kitchen Amy Hammack Turner -#28841 SF H2LiftShips, a tech manual for a future Bob Freeman -#28842 SF Untitled SF story Gabe Grimes -#28843 SF The Sight of Distant Shores V3 Andrew Giffin -#28844 SF Property of Aurelianus [@] Larry Hodges -#28845 F What I Know Haneen J Babbitt -#28846 F Curse of the Gargoyle Abbot Kevin Lane -#28847 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 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... DEAR AMERICA: LETTERS HOME FROM VIETNAM by Bernard Edelman (ed.) The bestselling book and basis for the Emmy award winning documentary now available in ebook edition! http://reanimus.com/1413 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Pieces up for critique in other workshops... In the lit workshop - http://critique.org/lit : L What We Talk About When We Talk About Enlightenment Michael Gruver -#28815 In the script workshop - http://critique.org/script : SC Loose Lips Robert Qualkinbush -#28625 In the kids workshop - http://critique.org/kids : YP Saul T. Unyon: The Short End of a Tall Tale Michelle Henrie -#28566 In the comics workshop - http://critique.org/comics : CG Metropolise, Chapter 1 Carina Mchardy -#26473 In the western workshop - http://critique.org/western : W A Message to Santa Fe, Chap 1-3 Frank Coombs -#25375 In the romance workshop - http://critique.org/romance : R Pack Chapters 1-3 Anastasia Bromberg -#28384 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 : AH Art Man, a portrait Robert J Cleary -#27847 In the website workshop - http://critique.org/website : WW Ax-yZ The Creative Projects Platform Charles Gull -#27088 In the critters workshop - http://critique.org/critters : SF Not with a Bang, but a Sigh [mpc] Christopher Henderson -#28839 SF The Scars We Bear Henry McFarland -#28840 F Cinderella's Kitchen Amy Hammack Turner -#28841 SF H2LiftShips, a tech manual for a future Bob Freeman -#28842 SF Untitled SF story Gabe Grimes -#28843 SF The Sight of Distant Shores V3 Andrew Giffin -#28844 SF Property of Aurelianus [@] Larry Hodges -#28845 F What I Know Haneen J Babbitt -#28846 F Curse of the Gargoyle Abbot Kevin Lane -#28847 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- You might also like... HAVING RELATIONSHIPS WITH CHARACTERS ON THE ROAD TO GREAT FICTION by ANDREW BURT (Shhh! A Secret of Great Writing) https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1422 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 discussion forums (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 . 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... YOU MUST REMEMBER THIS: AN ORAL HISTORY OF MANHATTAN FROM THE 1890S TO WORLD WAR II by JEFF KISSELOFF An oral history of Manhattan Amazing stories from those who were there https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1337 -- You received this email message because you signed up for the Critters Writers Workshop. If you want to stop getting these emails, please visit http://www.critters.org/email.ht .