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Ahoy, Critterfolk!
New entry May 06
Critter Notices
Critters is 25!
Last November, Critters turned 25 years old! 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.
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)
Stayin' Alive
If you want to make a career of SF writing, STAYING ALIVE - A WRITER'S GUIDE by three-time SFWA President Norman Spinrad, published by your Critter Captain's ReAnimus Press, is an indispensable guide to the inside workings of the SF publishing industry by an expert.
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 05-Oct-2022...
Helping out the ol' Critters Fund Drive To Keep The Lights On this week
INDIAN ON PURPOSE by Craig Strete - $4.99
ReAnimus Press Store: www.ReAnimus.com/1710
Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/_A/?tag=critters3a-20
(available in ebook + hardcover + paperback)
Amos Brokeshoulder was an old man as Indians reckoned it.
He was proud of getting old because he knew winters and summers and fall. He most likely would have lived a long time but now he was mostly waiting to die. His old wife Betta died five years ago in the spring so he figured to join her.
She had cancer. One day she was fine and the next she fell down and couldn't get up.
Doctor said she had pancreas cancer. Maybe different than other kinds of cancer but Amos didn't care. She died anyway. Doctor said she didn't suffer but Amos didn't believe him.
It had been five lonely years without Betta but Amos figured he was about done with living. There was no fooling around now. He even bought himself a new shirt just to die in. He used to drink and maybe he thought about diving into a bottle again but he had promised Betta he wouldn't drink no more and he didn't.
He figured he'd die in the spring when the weather got better. Amos Brokeshoulder was partial to April.
He figured that was a good time to die.
And he would have died too but things got changed round and he had to give up the dying business altogether.
There was a knock on the door and the old man got up slow and went to see who it was. People so rarely knocked that he found it strange.
"I come back," said the girl named Solace and she looked plenty sick when she said it. She had a tiny baby cradled in her arm.
She was dressed in blue jeans and a shirt that must have belonged to some guy as it don't fit and it got the name Bobo stitched on the pocket. She had a running cold sore on her lip and she looked like she been run over.
"I see that," he said, looking shocked.
"I am home now," she said...
Craig Kee Strete is a Native American science fiction writer, noted for his use of American Indian themes. (Though this book is not science fiction.)
Beginning in the early 1970s, while working in the Film and Television industry, Strete began writing emotional Native American themed, and science fiction short stories and novellas. He is a three-time Nebula Award finalist. His play Paint Your Face On A Drowning In The River was the 1984 Dramatists Guild/CBS New Plays Program first place winner.
His autobiographical novel about the his oh-wow-heavy friendship with Jim Morrison of The Doors has been optioned for a major motion picture (Burn Down the Night).
[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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Woohoo! Congratulations to...
- Larry Hodges, who sold his (Critter'd) short story, "Global
Warming is a Hoax Said the Alien in the Spare Bedroom" to
Galaxy's Edge.
- Larry Hodges, who sold his (Critter'd) short story, "The
Vampire on the Tesseract Wall " to Dark Matter Magazine.
- Larry Hodges, who sold his (Critter'd) short story, "Small Step
" to Abyss & Apex.
- Larry Hodges, who sold his (Critter'd) short story, "War Around
the Clock" to Bullet Points Magazine.
- Larry Hodges, whose (Critter'd) short story, "Prototype Solar
System with Strings Attached" is now out in the current issue
of Galaxy's Edge.
- Larry Hodges, whose (Critter'd) short story, "Madam Hitler"
is now out in the current issue of New Myths.
- Larry Hodges, whose (Critter'd) short story, "Soul Testing in
Major League Baseball" is now out in the current issue of Daily
Science Fiction.
- Larry Hodges, whose (Critter'd) short story, "Journey to
Perfection" is now out in the current issue of Unidentified
Funny Objects 9.
- Larry Hodges, whose (Critter'd) short story, "99 Sextillion
Souls in a Ball" is now out in the current issue of Dark Matter
Magazine.
- Larry Hodges, whose (Critter'd) short story, "Nanogod" is now
out in the current issue of Dark Matter Magazine.
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 1500 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
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-Oct-2022 (Crits due 12-Oct-2022):
SF SpaceKitty #1: Space Kitty at Last! Marc Fleury -#30750
SF Lissa, Last of Her Kind Sandra Keisling -#30751
F Bullet Time [@] Larry Hodges -#30752
F Breath of the Black Dragon King part 3 a rewrite James Brian Ross -#30753
SF DAO x NOD, chapter 1 Matt Sahr -#30754
SF Expedition to Verdantia Jordan Barr -#30755
F Flower of Chaos Chapter 2 Curtis W. Berry -#30756
H Teeth and Nails Emmanuel Cardenas -#30757
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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... CHALLENGE FOR A THRONE by ROBERT SILVERBERG
The real life Game of Thrones & basis George R.R. Martin used for the GoT series.
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1615
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Pieces up for critique in other workshops...
In the lit workshop - https://critique.org/lit :
L Little Bird, Chapter 1: Rain Marissa Zurba -#30729
In the mystery workshop - https://critique.org/mystery :
M Place Holder No Man
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 Should I Stay Ellis Clay -#30600
In the kids workshop - https://critique.org/kids :
YP Trying A Sport From A to Z Delano Brown -#30507
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 Faith, Love, and Obsession Chapters 8-9 Angie Mitchell -#30730
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 Tree Reflection Jen Forte -#30097
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 SpaceKitty #1: Space Kitty at Last! Marc Fleury -#30750
SF Lissa, Last of Her Kind Sandra Keisling -#30751
F Bullet Time [@] Larry Hodges -#30752
F Breath of the Black Dragon King part 3 a rewrite James Brian Ross -#30753
SF DAO x NOD, chapter 1 Matt Sahr -#30754
SF Expedition to Verdantia Jordan Barr -#30755
F Flower of Chaos Chapter 2 Curtis W. Berry -#30756
H Teeth and Nails Emmanuel Cardenas -#30757
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You might also like... THE WITCHING HOUR by JAMES GUNN
Science and science fiction meet magic...
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1650
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... CHALLENGE FOR A THRONE by ROBERT SILVERBERG
The real life Game of Thrones & basis George R.R. Martin used for the GoT series.
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1615
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