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Ahoy, Critterfolk!
New entry Dec 07
Critter Notices
Critters is 23!
Yes, 23 years ago Critters was born. 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)
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.
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
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Weekly Notes
Notes for 25-Mar-2020...
Thanks for the donations, folks! We are 92.0% of the way to the fund drive goal with contributions from 163 donors, leaving about $300 to go.
Thanks especially to
Jon Bodenshot
Philip Lindeman
for their recent donations to help keep Critters going. Much appreciated!
[See http://www.critters.org/donate.php for more information.]
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The Critters Fund Drive is supported this week by sales of the new release of a great hard SF book:
PROBE by Edward M. Lerner - $3.99
ReAnimus Press Store: www.ReAnimus.com/1667
Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B085PS6M7K/?tag=critters3a-20
(available in both ebook and paperback)
What if First Contact doesn't come the way we expect it--or with the sort of aliens we expect? When both sides have secrets within secrets to keep, how is anyone supposed to know the truth--or live long enough to tell it? Will it turn out to be the greatest discovery of all time... or the biggest hoax?
Bob Hanson, the chief scientist of a major aerospace corporation, has made an incredible discovery: a wrecked alien spacecraft adrift in the Asteroid Belt. The evidence is compelling--but turns into
much more than he had ever bargained for. Is the truth something really unimaginable?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Author of fifteen SF novels (five of them collaborations with Larry Niven) and dozens of shorter works, Edward M. Lerner won the inaugural Canopus Award for fiction "honoring excellence in interstellar writing." His stories have also been nominated for Locus, Prometheus, and Hugo awards.
"Edward M. Lerner is the quintessential Analog writer, combining well-researched scientific and technological speculation with compelling characters and thought-provoking plots."
--Analog Science Fiction and Fact
"Leave it to Edward M. Lerner to take a notion, run with it, squeeze every ramification out of it, and put it altogether in an irresistible page-turner."
--Robert J. Sawyer, Hugo Award-winning author of Red Planet Blues
"Edward M. Lerner ... is one of the best kept secrets in SF."
--Tangent Online
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Woohoo! Congratulations to...
- Richard Zwicker, whose (Critter'd) short story, "Repeat as
Necessary" is now out in the current issue of Hybrid Fiction.
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 7 critiques (at time
of judging), averaging almost 1000 words each, goes to...
Adam Pitts
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 http://www.critters.org/private/mss.php ]...
Title Author
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Week of 25-Mar-2020 (Crits due 1-Apr-2020):
SF Rosie's Friend Henry McFarland -#29032
F The Wizards of Llandwellyn: Part 2: Chapters 15-16 Eric Wilson -#29033
SF Premium Resurrection Pack - $99 Renan Bernardo -#29034
SF The Pleading Eyes of the Screaming Lettuce [@] Larry Hodges -#29035
H After the First Death Andrew Giffin -#29036
SF Further to Fall, Chapter 7 Garrett Menning -#29037
F The Sheenseeker: Chapter 1 - Vesper Heather Gaither -#29038
F Shift, Chapters 1-2 Julia Kell -#29039
H Commencement Amanda Niehaus-Hard -#29040
H The Beachcombers Rachel Meza -#29041
SF The Hostage Protocol Eli Cepeda -#29042
F The Nova Cycle Chris de Boer -#29043
H Drown Me, Obsidian, Chapter 1 Ryan Ring -#29044
SF Bots Don't Lie Todd Moody -#29045
SF The Reverse Time Capsule Ben Coppin -#29046
SF Cosmobourous JC Crochet -#29047
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Recommended books on writing:
THE CRAFT OF WRITING AND SELLING SCIENCE FICTION by Ben Bova
ReAnimus Press Store: http://ReAnimus.com/store?item=1144
Amazon: http://Amazon.com/dp/B006MAZPEI
HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR SPECULATIVE FICTION OPENINGS By (Critter member) Robert Qualkinbush
http://ReAnimus.com/store?item=1184 | http://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
http://ReAnimus.com/store?item=1179 | http://Amazon.com/dp/B007SIC4I8
EXPERIMENT PERILOUS: THE 'BUG JACK BARRON' PAPERS by Norman Spinrad
(A 99cent essay on SF and writing)
http://ReAnimus.com/store?item=1180 | http://Amazon.com/dp/B007MF3MS8
Because you might enjoy it... SECRET OF THE MARAUDER SATELLITE by TED WHITE
New space school grad Paul gets the dangerous jobs, but there's more up there than anyone knew...
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1587
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Pieces up for critique in other workshops...
In the lit workshop - http://critique.org/lit :
L Unlikely Helpers E.V. Zukowski -#28966
In the mystery workshop - http://critique.org/mystery :
M Southern Gems Chapters 1-5 Jim Steele -#29004
In the nonfiction workshop - http://critique.org/nonfiction :
NO Belief in Proportion to the Evidence, Cha. 7 Without any Loss or Dishonour Jim Parry -#28884
In the script workshop - http://critique.org/script :
SC Loose Lips Robert Qualkinbush -#28625
In the kids workshop - http://critique.org/kids :
YP Saul T. Unyon: The Short End of a Tall Tale Michelle Henrie -#28566
In the comics workshop - http://critique.org/comics :
CG Magna. logline/ synopsis Brent Claridge -#28885
In the western workshop - http://critique.org/western :
W A Message to Santa Fe, Chap 1-3 Frank Coombs -#25375
In the romance workshop - http://critique.org/romance :
R Pack Chapters 1-3 Anastasia Bromberg -#28384
In the video workshop - http://critique.org/video :
VS The Gallery of Henri Beauchamp Jay DeTalente -#21424
In the music workshop - http://critique.org/music :
MP The Shade Riders and Nocturnal Ned song Beth Zurkowski -#21675
In the photo workshop - http://critique.org/photo :
PH Dry Mud and Cinder Cone Bill Wight -#19627
In the art workshop - http://critique.org/art :
AH Art Man, a portrait Robert J Cleary -#27847
In the website workshop - http://critique.org/website :
WW Ax-yZ The Creative Projects Platform Charles Gull -#27088
In the critters workshop - http://critique.org/critters :
SF Rosie's Friend Henry McFarland -#29032
F The Wizards of Llandwellyn: Part 2: Chapters 15-16 Eric Wilson -#29033
SF Premium Resurrection Pack - $99 Renan Bernardo -#29034
SF The Pleading Eyes of the Screaming Lettuce [@] Larry Hodges -#29035
H After the First Death Andrew Giffin -#29036
SF Further to Fall, Chapter 7 Garrett Menning -#29037
F The Sheenseeker: Chapter 1 - Vesper Heather Gaither -#29038
F Shift, Chapters 1-2 Julia Kell -#29039
H Commencement Amanda Niehaus-Hard -#29040
H The Beachcombers Rachel Meza -#29041
SF The Hostage Protocol Eli Cepeda -#29042
F The Nova Cycle Chris de Boer -#29043
H Drown Me, Obsidian, Chapter 1 Ryan Ring -#29044
SF Bots Don't Lie Todd Moody -#29045
SF The Reverse Time Capsule Ben Coppin -#29046
SF Cosmobourous JC Crochet -#29047
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You might also like... HOT SKY AT MIDNIGHT by ROBERT SILVERBERG
Greed comes home to roost in a future Earth and her colonies, and the renegades look to take over.
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1617
Standard notes:
HELP:
If you need help with anything, see http://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
http://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 http://www.critters.org/antispam.ht .)
You may also send your critiques via http://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 http://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 http://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 http://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 http://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 http://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 http://www.critters.org/admin.ht .
DONATIONS:
Critters is funded by donations, so visit http://www.critters.org/donate.php
if you'd like to help out.
Because you might enjoy it... KAHEESH by JERRY SOHL
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1365
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