Critter Notices
Critters is 30!
Last November, Critters turned 30 years old! Wow! Thanks so much to all of you, who've made it such a resounding success!
FEATURED BOOK
Weekly Notes
Notes for 04-Nov-2026...
Benefitting the Critters Fund Drive this week from ReAnimus Press, we have...
THE HUGO, NEBULA, AND WORLD FANTASY AWARDS by Howard DeVore - $5.99
ReAnimus Press Store: www.ReAnimus.com/1529
Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B08Y56V16T/?tag=critters3a-20
(available in ebook + paperback)
[NOTE: The ebook edition is currently a digital replica edition -- a PDF of the scanned page images of the paperback -- and not an epub/mobi type of typical ebook file. We are working on a typical epub/mobi type of ebook edition, but this is a large, complex book to convert from paper, so this digital replica / PDF approach is our first step, to get it out there more rapidly. The underlying/invisible PDF text is searchable, but still contains many scanning errors. You can read the page images clearly, just as if you were looking at a physical copy of the book. We want to be clear that it's a PDF for the time being. You will be able to download an epub/mobi file when we have it ready. This is in addition to the existing paperback edition, which heretofore was the only format available.]
Science fiction fans have voted for the Hugo Awards for best science fiction almost every year since 1953. Members of the Science Fiction Writers of America have presented the Nebula Awards since 1965. In all this time, lists of winners have been widely available, but the losers have usually been ignored.
In 1970 long-time fan Howard DeVore started publishing a complete listing of Hugo and Nebula awards, including the stories that were nominated but did not win. The fact that stories were nominated implied that they had considerable merit. Mr. DeVore felt that a complete listing would let fans compare them. The International Fantasy Awards may have inspired the Hugos, so he added them. DeVore brought out new editions year by year, publishing and distributing them himself with the aid of a number of devoted science fiction fans. By 1998 the task had grown to the point where Mr. DeVore happily relinquished the job to Advent.
This edition includes introductory and historical essays by Donald Franson explaining how each award got started and how nominees and winners are chosen, plus commentary in the yearly listings.
Table of Contents
The International Fantasy Awards, 1951-1957
The Hugo Nominations, essay by Donald Franson
The Hugo Awards
The Nebula Awards by Howard DeVore
The World Fantasy Awards by Roger Silverstein
"Hugo" is a service mark of the World Science Fiction Association, Uninc.
[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 42.5% of the way to the fund drive goal with contributions from 111 donors, leaving about $4000 to go.
(No donations this past week, sad minion face.) :[
[See http://www.critters.org/donate.php for more information.]
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Woohoo! Congratulations to...
- Edward Moore, whose short story, "The Book of Ash and Vistula"
is now out in the current issue of Midnight Bites Anthology.
- Edward Moore, who sold his (Critter'd) short story, "She Chose
Fire" to Flame Forger Anthology. {I want to thank everyone who
provided feedback on both drafts. Your input was critical to
polishing this story for inclusion in this publication.}
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 2 critiques (at time of judging), averaging almost 2800 words each, goes to...
Kate Parkinson
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
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Week of 4-Nov-2026 (Crits due 11-Nov-2026):
F The Papyrus of Thoth Karen Kobylarz -#32412
SF Do you need a visa to enter hell - part 2 Tad Boniecki -#32413
SF Serpens Aquila Book 1: The Mothers Daughters, Chapters 1_4, 1_5 Erick Taft -#32414
F Joyful Malice, Chapters 4-6 Stevie Kroft -#32415
SF The New Witch of the Sky, Chapter 1 Michael Maier -#32416
SF The Price of Ambrosia Thivya Sivarajah -#32417
SF Helios, Chapters 1 - 2 Steven A. Hill -#32418
SF The Dragon Slayer Shaun Singh -#32419
F The Deer King Erina Gruner -#32420
SF The Glass Spires of Europa Daniel Morgan -#32421
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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... BUT WAIT.... THERE'S MORE! #1 by HARVEY JACOBS
A trio of stories from the genius of humorous, fantastical, surreal stories.
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1565
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Pieces up for critique in other workshops...
In the lit workshop - https://critique.org/lit :
L The Sovereign Variable, Chapter 1 Eric Hughes -#32317
In the mystery workshop - https://critique.org/mystery :
M The Stop Sign Sarah Rowin -#32341
In the nonfiction workshop - https://critique.org/nonfiction :
NH The Men Who Stole the Dead: How Body Snatchers Helped Build Modern Medicine Jamie Cares -#32307
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 You Were You - Chapter 1 Kayleigh Martin -#32399
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 Lawrence Vernon's Website Lawrence Vernon -#32200
In the critters workshop - https://critique.org/critters :
F The Papyrus of Thoth Karen Kobylarz -#32412
SF Do you need a visa to enter hell - part 2 Tad Boniecki -#32413
SF Serpens Aquila Book 1: The Mothers Daughters, Chapters 1_4, 1_5 Erick Taft -#32414
F Joyful Malice, Chapters 4-6 Stevie Kroft -#32415
SF The New Witch of the Sky, Chapter 1 Michael Maier -#32416
SF The Price of Ambrosia Thivya Sivarajah -#32417
SF Helios, Chapters 1 - 2 Steven A. Hill -#32418
SF The Dragon Slayer Shaun Singh -#32419
F The Deer King Erina Gruner -#32420
SF The Glass Spires of Europa Daniel Morgan -#32421
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You might also like... THE TRANSCENDENT MAN by JERRY SOHL
The Capellans live among us... and they have a plan! By the Twilight Zone master writer
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1177
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... STAYING ALIVE - A WRITER'S GUIDE by NORMAN SPINRAD
An Indispensable Survival Guide for Writers By a three-time SFWA President
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1179
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