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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.
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.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]
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FEATURED BOOK
~~~
Weekly Notes
Notes for 14-May-2025...
Thanks, everyone, for your thoughts on Critters' relevancy to writing today. It's clear it still has relevance for many, though there are obviously challenges. There were a few comments about the web site looking outdated, and being too complex, so I'll see what I can do there. (I don't think there is much functionality that can be -removed-, but I can think about reorganizing what's there. And the look of it is fairly easy to change, since I long ago separated the visual look from the underlying structure. I'm also planning to merge the non-SF/F/H workshops into the "main" SF/F/H one -- there are so few non SF/F/H manuscripts they shouldn't be a burden, and they'll get more visibility.)
If you know of sites you think look great and represent what you'd like to see Critters look like for overall visual layout, please do send me links.
I did get the reassuring sense from the replies that depth of critiques are important, and there's no great desire to let that slide toward quicky I-liked-it-thumbs-up critiques. That does imply that (most) Critter members will interact with the site using a real keyboard, and on a device like a laptop or desktop PC, rather than via phones and tablets. Kudos to those who can write novels on a phone, but you're in the small minority. So I can look into providing an app, but it really means the focus for most people's interactions is via a web browser on a larger format screen.
I did get lots of feedback on possible reasons why donations are down, i.e. specific to 2025 rather than, say, 2024, and I appreciate those thoughts. There were also good thoughts on why donations might be down this year compared to, say, 5-10-15 years ago, and generally aligned with my own thoughts. Unfortunately, those more "systemic" thoughts about the state of writing and publishing (and thus need for critiques and thus donations)... are not easily combated. It's possible there are simply fewer authors who are striving for that "pro" level of writing that Critters is geared toward. I.e., improving one's writing to the best level it can be, which is what Critters is about, vs. just getting one's writing out into the world, maybe after a few people have pointed out typos and such, but without the desire to put in the hard work to hone one's craft -- which is NOT what Critters is about.
I certainly realize it's nearly impossible to make a living as a freelance writer, but, honestly, that's nothing new. The bio of someone like Isaac Asimov is illustrative. Although he did ultimately earn a good living as a writer, it was decades before he could quit his "day job" (as a biochem professor) and turn just to writing. There have always been just a tiny handful of "pro" authors who earn a living (let alone a -good- living) from writing. That doesn't mean it isn't a worthy goal to try to get one's writing level up to that high standard. And -that'-s what Critters has always been about. It still is; and will continue to be.
I have zero interest in changing Critters to make it easier to get less in-depth critiques. There are plenty of other workshops out there, that doesn't need me to spend my time on it.
There were some repeated comments about wanting -more- depth from critiques in Critters, and those I will be looking at. Anything I can do to improve the quality of analysis in critiques is a good thing (without, of course, making it so difficult to do them that nobody does; we already have a baseline, so it's about nudging it upward). If you have followup thoughts on ways to encourage more depth in critiques, I'm all ears!
A number of people asked for an option to make smaller, monthly "subscription" type donations -- and I'm happy to report that is absolutely an option. As I've said, I don't want anyone to donate anything that is a hardship. But yes, we do have an option on the donation page for either one time or monthly. I'm equally appreciative of $60 once or $5/month.
Another spot-on comment was that Critters is harder to discover than it used to be. I don't pay to advertise, e.g. on Google (and never have), so it's clear Google isn't steering people here like it used to. (I'm sad to see everything moving to pay-to-play. I started Nyx as a free internet service provider back in the 80s precisely to show that free services could be every bit as good as paid for. And there are still echoes of that, like Gmail being free. But they found an end-run around it, by demoting places that don't advertise. Sigh.) I don't think I'm at the point where I could stomach paying to advertise Critters, but I'm also all ears for tips on cost-free ways to get noticed and who might give Critters a plug, etc. If you feel the urge to mention Critters in your social media voyages, that's always welcomed.
Thanks for all your thoughts!
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The Critters Fund Drive this week is supported by sales of...
MUSES & MUSINGS by Edward M. Lerner - $7.99
ReAnimus Press Store: www.ReAnimus.com/1752
Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B0F6VW523R/?tag=critters3a-20
(available in ebook + hardcover + paperback)
Muses & Musings offers seventeen never before collected stories at every length from flash to novella, chosen from four separate magazines and three original anthologies. And as a bonus, there's a guest intro from every-conceivable-award-winner Robert J. Sawyer
Best known for his SF novels--including the InterstellarNet series and (with Larry Niven) the epic Fleet of Worlds series--Edward M. Lerner is also a prolific author of short fiction. This collection showcases many of his finest stories, featuring works selected from over a decade's output.
Alternate history. Parallel worlds. Rogue artificial intelligences. Alien invasion. Biting satire as to where the Internet is leading us. A Sherlock Holmes for the next century. Deco punk. Deep thoughts about, well, deep thoughts. In this book, you'll find these--and more--together with Ed's reminiscences as to what led him to create these seventeen gems in the first place.
"Ahead, you'll find tales short and long of worlds near and far; you'll meet unforgettable characters and find the pages flipping by as the tension mounts."
-- Robert J. Sawyer, Hugo Award-winning author of FlashForward
"Sure to have something to appeal to almost every reader of science fiction."
-- Tangent Online
"He is science fiction down to the bone, but he very often takes the `serious' stuff not so seriously. Or he does, but he still squeezes a modicum of wit and whimsy into his subjects. He can catch a salient point in a couple of pages or explore a well-trodden road like AI with new insight."
-- Galaxy's Edge
[Disclaimer: Ye Olde Critter Captain also runs ReAnimus Press, sales from which help him keep Critters going as a free site.]
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Thanks for the donations, folks! We are 25.5% of the way to the fund drive goal with contributions from 60 donors, leaving about $5200 to go.
Thanks especially to
Garry Garrett
Adam Knight
Jay Gabriel
Vincent Bonasso
Larry Hodges
Matthew Britton
Janice Clark
kate parkinson
John Edlund
Paul Crawford
Sean Masters
Bryce Paradis
Dallas Nicholls
for their recent donations to help keep Critters going. Much appreciated!
[See https://www.critters.org/donate.php for more information.]
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Woohoo! Congratulations to...
- Holly Hefner, who sold her (Critter'd) short story, "Soul
Proprietorship" to Epic Echoes Magazine.
- Renan Bernardo, whose (Critter'd) book, "Disgraced Return of
the Kap's Needle" is now out in the current issue of Dark Matter
Ink. {My dark space opera novella was published in paperback and
ebook and can be bought wherever books are sold! It was heavily
crittered some years ago, so thank you all for this community
that helped bringing this story to life.}
Please report your Woohoo!s via the www.critters.org/telldaworld.ht web page.
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This week's Most Productive Critter award, for 3 critiques (at time of judging), averaging over 600 words each, goes to...
Brian Sellnow
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.)
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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
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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 14-May-2025 (Crits due 21-May-2025):
H Blackjack and Blood Chapter 1 Jim Keane [after-novel] [after-novel] -#31839
H Zombie Apocalypse at WonderMart Douglas Ryan -#31840
SF deadwife.exe Holly Hefner -#31841
F Elementals Ch 0-2 Abby Kargol -#31842
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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... KAMPUS by JAMES GUNN
Tomorrow's students invent the ultimate revolution
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1640
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Pieces up for critique in other workshops...
In the lit workshop - https://critique.org/lit :
L A Home on Neem Street Duaa -#31825
In the mystery workshop - https://critique.org/mystery :
M The Library Club chapters 1, 2 Don Oestreicher -#31726
In the nonfiction workshop - https://critique.org/nonfiction :
NP I *Experience*, Therefore I Am Robin niCathain -#30061
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 comics workshop - https://critique.org/comics :
CG Magna. logline/ synopsis Brent Claridge -#28885
In the western workshop - https://critique.org/western :
W Currently Untitled Aleksandr Vincente Hoang -#30472
In the romance workshop - https://critique.org/romance :
R Niv's Love TONYA WASHINGTON -#31832
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 Tea and Gossip Sandy Kulhavy -#30875
In the art workshop - https://critique.org/art :
AH Peppermint Girls Brian Sellnow -#31527
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 :
H Blackjack and Blood Chapter 1 Jim Keane [after-novel] [after-novel] -#31839
H Zombie Apocalypse at WonderMart Douglas Ryan -#31840
SF deadwife.exe Holly Hefner -#31841
F Elementals Ch 0-2 Abby Kargol -#31842
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You might also like... CROWN OF THE SERPENT by ALLEN L. WOLD
Rikard Braeth - think Indiana Jones in space
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1389
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... PROBE by EDWARD M. LERNER
What if First Contact doesn't come the way we expect it
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1667
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