Critters^TM Workshop

Weekly Notes

Notes for 05-May-2021...

New release from ReAnimus Press! (Supporting the Critters Fund Drive)

	ONE SIDE LAUGHING: STORIES UNLIKE OTHER STORIES by Damon Knight - $3.99

		ReAnimus Press Store: www.ReAnimus.com/1692
		Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B08TVW1SZW/?tag=critters3a-20
		 (available in both ebook and paperback)

	One of science fiction's preeminent writers for more than forty years, Damon Knight has always been considered a master of the short story. Deemed "a brilliant craftsman who can handle any story form with crisp finesse" by Alfred Bester, and considered "one of the very finest short-story writers ever to work in the genre" by Gardner Dozois, Damon Knight has authored classics such as "To Serve Man," "Four in One," "Stranger Station," and "The Big Pat Boom."
 In these seventeen tales, ranging from visions of the infinite to perceptions of the pedestrian, Damon Knight remains relentlessly at the top of his form. His vorpal wit glitters in "The Time Exchange," while "La Ronde" glows with polished beauty; the utopian insight of "I See You" is as sharp as the jagged pain of "Each Prisoner Pent." "The Very Objectionable Mr. Clegg" turns things on their heads, while "Strangers on Paradise" depicts a world set right--perhaps too right. Throughout these stories runs a deep commitment best called art.
 Frequently reprehensible, consistently unclassifiable, elegantly beautiful, and entirely enjoyable, One Side Laughing is a collection of vintage Damon Knight. As powerful as they are pleasurable, these tales are treasures to be read, and read, and read again. Forever. 
 
Praise for Damon Knight
 "[Damon Knight] has not only a scintillating imagination but also the mastery of words necessary to describe his visions beautifully."
--James Michener

 "Damon Knight's own writing has always been a showcase for the best of New Wave ideals. He knows English; he thinks through implications; but his characters live and breathe, and any of the stories in this book may shake your notion of what shape a story may have."
--Larry Niven

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Thanks for the donations, folks!  Thanks especially to

	Judy Matulich
	Jeff Naylor
	Bret Lynn

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

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


                                   -+-
Woohoo!  Congratulations to...

	- Richard Zwicker, whose (Critter'd) short story, "Scovell's
	Final Painting" is now out in the current issue of Cosmic
	Horror Monthly.

	- Andrew Giffin, whose (Critter'd) short story, "A Guide to
	Vanishing " is now out in the current issue of Cosmic Horror
	Monthly . {This story was also selected for Cosmic Horror
	Monthly's `best of the year' compilation. Thanks to everyone
	who gave feedback!}

	- Dwayne Minton, who sold his short story, "Mementoes from My
	Lives (Un)Lived" to Nature: Futures.


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 almost 1400 words each, goes to...

	Steve Patschke

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
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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 5-May-2021 (Crits due 12-May-2021):
 SF  Memories Retail                    [mpc] Victor Jimenez -#29903
 SF  Grit and Culling on Triton         Robert Harpold -#29904
 F   New Cessations                     Richard Zwicker -#29905
 SF  All This Way                       Ray N. Franklin -#29906
 H   Skeletons Under the Bed            Leanna Zimmerman -#29907
 F   The Book of Visions--Chapter 1     W. Lance Hunt -#29908
 SF  Shadows, Chapter 1-5               Kyle A Walker -#29909
 SF  Intuition                          Matthew J Olson -#29910
 SF  The Qwulne                         scottt godfrey -#29911
 F   The Halfway Revenant Chapter 1     Stephanie S. Bittner -#29912
 SF  Dangerous Passage Chapters 1-3     Keith Lammers -#29913
 SF  You Blossoms of Their Seeds        Renan Bernardo -#29914

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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... MASTERS OF EVOLUTION by DAMON KNIGHT
Showdown with monsters! 
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1673
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Pieces up for critique in other workshops...

In the lit workshop - https://critique.org/lit :
 L   They Sang of Green Pastures Chapters 1-3  Stephen Secor -#29841

In the mystery workshop - https://critique.org/mystery :
 T   The Unforgivables Chapters 1-6     Laura Hynes -#29891

In the nonfiction workshop - https://critique.org/nonfiction :
 NP  A Big Problem With The Big Bang    Glenn Turner -#29794

In the script workshop - https://critique.org/script :
 SC  Emergency                          Joe Latessa -#29381

In the kids workshop - https://critique.org/kids :
 YL  Baxter Baumgardner and The Circles of Dantore, Chapters 1-3  Alan Vitberg -#29827

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   Romance-WIP                        Roxanne (Roxi) Rowan -#29876

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  Hawk                               Sandy Kulhavy -#29426

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 :
 SF  Memories Retail                    [mpc] Victor Jimenez -#29903
 SF  Grit and Culling on Triton         Robert Harpold -#29904
 F   New Cessations                     Richard Zwicker -#29905
 SF  All This Way                       Ray N. Franklin -#29906
 H   Skeletons Under the Bed            Leanna Zimmerman -#29907
 F   The Book of Visions--Chapter 1     W. Lance Hunt -#29908
 SF  Shadows, Chapter 1-5               Kyle A Walker -#29909
 SF  Intuition                          Matthew J Olson -#29910
 SF  The Qwulne                         scottt godfrey -#29911
 F   The Halfway Revenant Chapter 1     Stephanie S. Bittner -#29912
 SF  Dangerous Passage Chapters 1-3     Keith Lammers -#29913
 SF  You Blossoms of Their Seeds        Renan Bernardo -#29914
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You might also like... THE ISSUE AT HAND by JAMES BLISH (AS WILLIAM ATHELING, JR.)
No subject is taboo for Atheling's shredding, making this a textbook for authors and a delight for readers.
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1500

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... IN SEARCH OF THE BIG BANG by JOHN GRIBBIN
`A remarkably readable guide to the mysteries of cosmic creation' -  Nature 
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1454

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