Blog
Ahoy, Critterfolk!
New entry May 28
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.
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 COLLAPSIUMSpace 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-Mar-2026...
Great reading from ReAnimus Press - All benefiting the Critters Fund Drive
AMERICAN GOLIATH by Harvey Jacobs - $3.99
ReAnimus Press Store: www.ReAnimus.com/1107
Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B0060PZ5TA/?tag=critters3a-20
(available in ebook + paperback)
World Fantasy Award Finalist for Best Novel!
A fantastical novel based on the story of America's greatest hoax, "the Cardiff Giant"--shows up even the legendary P.T.Barnum! All with a great twist from award-winning and regular F&SF author Harvey Jacobs, called "one of the country's most accomplished authors" by Kirkus Reviews.
Gaze upon the ancient giant turned to stone! Hear him speak!
In 1868, George Hull heard a sermon proclaiming America to be the
land of Genesis, home to the "Giants in the earth." Scion of a wealthy New
York family of cigar makers, Hull set out to prove that sermon right.
And thus was born the Cardiff Giant. "Found" on Stubby Newell's farm in
Cardiff, New York, in 1869, Goliath soon created more of a stir than any of P.T.Barnum's great exhibits -- which, of course, piqued the interest of the
Great Showman himself, who was never to be outdone when it came to separating suckers from their riches...
The tale of Goliath and his creator is a witty, raucous, and bawdy tale of American life at its finest.
Step right up and see!
PRAISE FOR AMERICAN GOLIATH
An inspired novel.
--TIME Magazine
A masterpiece...arguably this year's best novel.
--Kirkus Reviews.
A wonderfully engrossing read. It is an enlightenting and life-enhancing read.
It is the best novel of a very fine writer and I recommend it to
everyone who has given up of ever again being entertained at
such a high level of aspiration.
--SFWA Grandmaster Michael Moorcock
If Mark Twain and Isaac Bashevis Singer went on a bender
and collaborated on a novel, it would be American Goliath!
Harvey Jacobs's masterpiece is a bawdy, joyous romp. It's a wonderful book.
--Jack Dann
Bells clanging, lights aflash, the plot's ball bangs and
rebounds. . . . A wonderful and wonderfully funny book.
--James Sallis
LA Times
His characters are haunting. . . . I have rarely enjoyed finding
a writer as much as I have enjoyed my own discovery of Jacobs.
--Robert Cromie
Chicago Tribune
He manages to satirize our all-too-human foibles and failures
without becoming too blackly unforgiving.
--Thomas M. Disch
Washington Post
Quietly amused, wry approach that gives distinction to Mr.
Jacobs' work . . . his dry humor would be hard to improve on.
--Elizabeth Easton
The Saturday Review
Step right up, ladies and gentlemen! Here in our wonderful American past
you will find wonders rarely glimpsed before. Behold the greatest
showman in the history of the ages! Gaze upon the ancient giant turned to stone!
Marvel at our hero, as entertaining in his own way as Little Egypt!
Look upon the amazing world of Harvey Jacobs! Come one,
come all, for an experience never to be forgotten!
--Fred Chappell
Like Doctorow's Ragtime and George R. R. Martin's Fevre Dream, it's one of those totally realized, hallucinated pasts. It's swell.
--Howard Waldrop
A great book should aspire (and succeed) in making you
laugh, making you cry and just maybe, making you
think. . . . Harvey's novels will do all that.
--John Pelan
About Harvey Jacobs
Harvey Jacobs is the award-winning author of "American Goliath" ("An inspired novel"--TIME Magazine). His short fiction has appeared in a wide spectrum of magazines in the USA and abroad including Esquire, The Paris Review, Playboy, Fantasy & Science Fiction, New Worlds, and many anthologies.
In addition to the novels and short stories, he has written widely for television, the Earplay Project for radio drama, and helped create and name the Obie Awards for the Village Voice. He was publisher of the counterculture newspaper, East.
He received a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, a New York Arts Council CAPS award for drama, a Playboy Fiction Award, and a Writers Guild of America script award.
[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 13.3% of the way to the fund drive goal with contributions from 25 donors, leaving about $6100 to go.
Thanks especially to
Curt Larock
Jeffrey Ronay
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
=> short by $234.99 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...
- M E Wilczek, who sold her short story, "Everything Must Go"
to Night Shades.
- F.B. Hughes, who sold his (Critter'd) short story, "The Green
Handbook for Refugees from Earth" to Sci Phi Journal.
Please report your Woohoo!s via the www.critters.org/telldaworld.ht web page.
-+-
This week's Most Productive Critter award, for 3 critiques (at time of judging), averaging over 1100 words each, goes to...
Victoria Stanham
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 4-Mar-2026 (Crits due 11-Mar-2026):
F First Contact Wyoming Style [mpc] Edward Moore [?] -#32112
SF Silent Partner Stephen Shewmake -#32113
SF Rendlesham Lights Ryan Twombly -#32114
SF Amphibians of Neptune Two Jerry Sutton -#32115
F The Duke of Tooth, Chapter 36 and Epilogue John Rhea -#32116
SF Destiny, Chapter 6 Boris Layupan -#32117
SF Children of the Blue, Chapter 2: Luke Peter Allen -#32118
SF Rippling Ground, Chapters 1-4 Jeff Richardson -#32119
F The Sheathed Blade chapter 1 Babu -#32120
----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 CRAFT OF WRITING SCIENCE FICTION THAT SELLS by BEN BOVA
Secrets from the 6-time BEST EDITOR Hugo Award Master!
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1144
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pieces up for critique in other workshops...
In the lit workshop - https://critique.org/lit :
L The Schoolhouse Duaa -#31887
In the mystery workshop - https://critique.org/mystery :
T The Legacy Program Chapets 1 & 2 M Paul Whelan -#32103
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 Charles Gull creative projects blog and website Charles Gull -#31783
In the critters workshop - https://critique.org/critters :
F First Contact Wyoming Style [mpc] Edward Moore [?] -#32112
SF Silent Partner Stephen Shewmake -#32113
SF Rendlesham Lights Ryan Twombly -#32114
SF Amphibians of Neptune Two Jerry Sutton -#32115
F The Duke of Tooth, Chapter 36 and Epilogue John Rhea -#32116
SF Destiny, Chapter 6 Boris Layupan -#32117
SF Children of the Blue, Chapter 2: Luke Peter Allen -#32118
SF Rippling Ground, Chapters 1-4 Jeff Richardson -#32119
F The Sheathed Blade chapter 1 Babu -#32120
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You might also like... IN SEARCH OF WONDER by DAMON KNIGHT
The premier book of SF insight for all SF readers and writers.
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1412
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... SENSE OF WONDER by GARDNER DOZOIS
Gardner Dozois' collected reviews from Locus Magazine, amazing insights for any writer or SF fan
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1589
--
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 .