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Ahoy, Critterfolk!
New entry May 28
Critter Notices
[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.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
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Weekly Notes
Notes for 20-Nov-2024...
Woohoo! Critters is 29 years old this week!
1995 seems a long time ago now, I gotta say. The web was just barely a thing, hardly anybody used it, and most of Critters was done by email. For that matter, the whole Internet was barely a thing. I had first helped ordinary people get onto the Internet in the late 80s with the first public ISP (Nyx.net), so there still weren't that many people on the net; and the web was so new nobody knew much what to do with it. Web pages were super primitive. They didn't even have the ability to do simple things like center text. I announced the existence of Critters on Usenet, aka Netnews, and invited folks to email me to join. I didn't know if there'd even be much interest. (One of many times I've been quite wrong about things!) I started identifying manuscripts with the letters A, B, C... before realizing manuscripts would need unique identifiers after 'Z' to keep track of older manuscripts people might want to refer to, like, for credit. :) I kicked it off with a story of mine, "True Colors," which did eventually go on to get sold and published (twice). The next week had two stories, "Saddam Hussein & the Lost Space Hippies" (when Saddam was still a scary dude), and "Cortech" -- something about brain implants, I think?
I still have a few files on the server dated 11/21/95 -- articles about how to critique!
What a ride.
I hope you've all found Critters useful, and off we go toward 30 years old!
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The Critters Fund Drive is brought to you this week by the announcement of...
TIMESHARE by Joshua Dann - $3.99
ReAnimus Press Store: www.ReAnimus.com/1512
Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B01FNJ5AIY/?tag=critters3a-20
(available in ebook + paperback)
Have you ever wished you could go back to the good old days?
At Timeshare Unlimited, you can.
It's a very special travel agency where--if you make it through a careful screening process--you can arrange an extended voyage to the past, no passport required. You can go the tourist route and see the sights--or you can settle in and live like the natives. In a time when the traffic moved a little more slowly, the neighbors greeted you with a smile, and the air was full of hope and promise instead of smog.
It's not so surprising that some of Timeshare's clients don't want to return. It's John Surrey's job to bring them back. He's a pro, an ex-LAPD cop who does what needs to be done, without getting involved.
Until, at a Hollywood party in 1940, he meets a woman named Althea. And now, for John Surrey, the past, the present, and the future will never be the same...
(Followed by fun sequels TIMESHARE: SECOND TIME AROUND and TIMESHARE: A TIME FOR WAR.)
PRAISE FOR TIMESHARE...
"A lot of fun." --Locus
"Engaging from the first page" --Mysterious Galaxy
"A clever concept...well crafted...highly enjoyable" --Starlog
[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! Thanks especially to
Rachel Messinger
Sean Masters
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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(No Woohoo!s this week, be sure to report your sales/publications/etc. via the www.critters.org/telldaworld.ht web page.)
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This week's Most Productive Critter award, for 4 critiques (at time
of judging), averaging almost 1100 words each, goes to...
Tim Nall
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 20-Nov-2024 (Crits due 27-Nov-2024):
F A Love Song for the Mockers, ch. 2 [mpc] Tim Nall -#31647
F Evangeline, Chapters 2 and 3 Brian Sellnow -#31648
SF Dragonfly, Chapter 1 Mike Bristol -#31649
F The Moonvoice Chronicles chapter 4 Erin Tunney -#31650
SF Red Eyes Samuel Johnston -#31651
SF Imagination for the Modern Teen Matt Britton -#31652
H The Doorkeeper Jeffrey A. Bishop -#31653
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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... MAXWELL'S DEMONS by BEN BOVA
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1331
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Pieces up for critique in other workshops...
In the lit workshop - https://critique.org/lit :
L The Great Divide Ethan Cunningham -#31654
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 Cupidity Kathleen C -#31276
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 Haven Tonya Washington -#31596
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 website workshop - https://critique.org/website :
WW Franklin's Palindromedary Ray N. Franklin -#29498
In the critters workshop - https://critique.org/critters :
F A Love Song for the Mockers, ch. 2 [mpc] Tim Nall -#31647
F Evangeline, Chapters 2 and 3 Brian Sellnow -#31648
SF Dragonfly, Chapter 1 Mike Bristol -#31649
F The Moonvoice Chronicles chapter 4 Erin Tunney -#31650
SF Red Eyes Samuel Johnston -#31651
SF Imagination for the Modern Teen Matt Britton -#31652
H The Doorkeeper Jeffrey A. Bishop -#31653
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You might also like... THE ALTERED EGO by JERRY SOHL
Why would anyone murder a man marked for full body and brain restoration?
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1360
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... THE BUG JACK BARRON PAPERS by NORMAN SPINRAD
A must read for all Readers and Writers of Science Fiction
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1180
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