***NOTE: The system crashed on 8/13, and the weekly batch failed to get sent out. I'm replacing the whole server... so a lot of stuff isn't working right. Keepcopies of anything you send in, like critiques or manuscripts, in case they don't work right. Fingers crossed. Let me know of anything else that isn't working right. I'm hoping to get this week's batch sent out soon. :) ***


Blog

Ahoy, Critterfolk!
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Critter Notices

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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MORE NEWS & NOTICES >>

CRITTERS STORE >>

 

FEATURED BOOK

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CRITTERS STORE >>

News

[It's Freebie Friday in the Critters Store...]

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.

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 COLLAPSIUM

Free Ad for a Fellow Workshop Member:

The Critters Queue

Manuscripts themselves are here.

Queue of manuscripts out or to be sent (dates are estimated,
depending on number of mss. sent out, which depends on number of
members; probabalistically, the end of the queue is usually about
a month away):


     Title                      	Author
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Week of 6-Aug-2025 (Crits due 13-Aug-2025):
 SF  The Path to Tomorrow chapters 1 and 2  Brian Sellnow -#31920
 SF  Bringer of Sorrow, Part 13, Chapt 34  Sean Masters -#31921
 H   Not a Job, But a Nightmare         Loren Davidson -#31922
 SF  A Roll of the Dice                 R.Foster -#31923
 SF  A Quantum Basilisk: Chap 1-2       Nick Codignotto -#31924
 F   The Duke of Tooth, Chapter 4       John Rhea -#31925
 F   Ghost Warrior part 2               Joel Stanley -#31926

Week of 13-Aug-2025 (Crits due 20-Aug-2025):
 H   Pep Talk                           Holly Hefner
 F   Silver Fire and the Dead           Karen L. Kobylarz
 SF  Beyond the Threshold, Chapter 1    jaron seijffers
 SF  Backward Blitz                     Bryce Paradis
 SF  Speakeasy of the Saucer Men        Douglas Kolacki
 F   The Spider's Voice                 Kate Wooderson
 H   The Onion Tree, Chapters 1-2       David Hershhorn

Week of 20-Aug-2025 (Crits due 27-Aug-2025):
 SF  Science Unleashed Chapters 22-26   Dallas Nicholls
 F   Gems of the Forgotten prologue     Erin Tunney
 SF  Look For Me in Paradise            F.B. Hughes
 F   Gangsters in Wonderland, Chapters 1-3  David Vijandre
 SF  Red Dust                           Garrett Menning
 F   Genie In Vegas                     Jeff Middaugh
 SF  America!                           Matt Britton
 H   Nightfall at Camp Echo Lake, Chapter One  Lawrence Vernon
 F   The Road to Arkana                 Ryan Twombly
 SF  Petroleum Star, Chapters 9-12      Buff Straw
 F   Destiny, Chapters 2-3              Boris Layupan
 F   The Red Dragon Lord Book I         Chris Lambert
 SF  Heat of the Explosion Before       Nathaniel Fisher
======================================================================
      (Note, if the last week above looks abnormally large, it probably
      needs me to add a new week, a task I do manually when I get around
      to it.  Future critique dates are approximate and subject to change.)

Symbols:

[@] - Pro [SFWA/HWA] author
[*] - Extra week(s) for holidays/aburt-out-of-town.
[mpc] - Most Product Critter Award winner
[!] - Special non-Wednesday dates because Critter Captain will be out of town
[ERROR!] - This means there is a problem and your manuscript will NOT be
     sent out - Contact the Critter Captain ASAP if you see this by your name.

Waiting to enter Queue (Will enter at end of queue on "[date]"):
 SF  Bringer of Sorrow, Part 14, Chapt 35 - 36  Sean Masters [13-Aug-2025]
 SF  Bringer of Sorrow, Part 15, Chapt 37 - 38  Sean Masters [?]
 SF  Bringer of Sorrow, Part 16, Chapt 39 - 40  Sean Masters [?]
 H   Blackjack and Blood Chapter 3      Jim Keane [after-novel]
 H   Blackjack and Blood Chapter 4      Jim Keane [?]
 H   Blackjack and Blood Chapters 5,6,7 and 8  Jim Keane [?]
 F   Feareater part 3                   Erin Tunney [27-Aug-2025]
 SF  Science Unleashed Chapters 27-33   Dallas Nicholls [27-Aug-2025]
 F   The Duke of Tooth, Chapters 5-7    John Rhea [13-Aug-2025]
 F   Singer of the Vale                 Ryan Twombly [27-Aug-2025]
 SF  Science Unleashed Chapters 34-41   Dallas Nicholls [?]
 F   The Duke of Tooth, Chapters 8-11   John Rhea [?]
 F   The Duke of Tooth, Chapters 12-15  John Rhea [?]
 F   The Duke of Tooth, Chapters 16-19  John Rhea [?]
 F   Duke of Tooth, Chapters 20-25      John Rhea [?]
 F   The Duke of Tooth, Chapters 26-31  John Rhea [?]
 F   The Duke of Tooth, Chapters 32-35  John Rhea [?]
 F   Feareater part 4                   Erin Tunney [?]
 F   Gems of the Forgotten Chapter 4    Erin Tunney [?]
 F   The Duke of Tooth, Chapter 36 and Epilogue  John Rhea [?]
 F   Gems of the Forgotten Chapter 5    Erin Tunney [?]
 SF  Riaka                              Brian Sellnow [13-Aug-2025]
 SF  The Path to Tomorrow, chapters 3 and 4  Brian Sellnow [?]
 SF  Science Unleashed, Chapters 42-48  Dallas Nicholls [?]
 SF  Science Unleashed, Chapters 49-54  Dallas Nicholls [?]
				-+-

Held until participation ratio improves (then out that week):
 F   Of the Blood, Chapter 2            Shaunna [14-May-2025]
 SF  Chetana                            Salama Udaipurwala [04-Jun-2025]
 H   The Five Towers                    Danny O'Mahony [02-Jul-2025]
 SF  Home                               John David Day [09-Jul-2025]
 F   Red Skuye at Night                 Charlotte Watkins [06-Aug-2025]
                                :::


>> Note 1:  Held manuscripts are removed after four weeks on hold and
>> must be resubmitted.

>> Note 2:  It is the *author's* responsibility to notify Aburt when
>> they have brought up their critique count and want their ms. sent out.




[Click here to see the queue including archival data from 1995.]