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 21-Oct-2026...
New from ReAnimus Press, helping the Critters Fund Drive -- a really cool book!--
THE WATCHMAN OF ETERNITY by Paul Witcover - $5.99
ReAnimus Press Store: www.ReAnimus.com/1754
Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B0HLQ6TMC6/?tag=critters3a-20
(available in ebook + hardcover + paperback)
Book 2 of The Productions of Time
The mysteries of Daniel Quare's origins and his destiny are laid bare in this second installment of The Productions of Time.
In the seventh year of its war against France, England faces threats from abroad and at home, from above--and below. Buoyed by a series of military victories on land and at sea, French forces are gathering for their final push across the Channel. In Scotland, Jacobites loyal to Bonnie Prince Charlie plot to restore the Stuart dynasty to the throne. Beneath the bustling streets of London, a subterranean race prepares to rise. And in the realm known as the Otherwhere--home to dragons, demons and gods--civil war has erupted, causing a great and powerful weapon to be cast into the world. That weapon is a clock--a watch, to be precise, of a size to fit comfortably in a man's hand...a watch with a taste for blood--a mechanism that contains the doom of all that lives.
Daniel Quare, of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers, was sent by his masters to find that deadly time- piece. But he was not alone in his pursuit: both the mysterious thief Grimalkin and the ruthless French spy and assassin Thomas Aylesford were on its trail. But with the help of Lord Wichcote--an aristocrat of many talents and more disguises--Quare succeeded in seizing the watch. But not for long: Aylesford took it from him--and with it, Quare's hand. And now the French spy is on his way back to his masters, Lord Wichcote lies gravely wounded and Daniel Quare has vanished... which would seem to mean that all hope for the world is lost...
[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 42.0% of the way to the fund drive goal with contributions from 109 donors, leaving about $4100 to go.
Thanks especially to
Rachel Messinger
Mae Carmel Walters
for their recent donations to help keep Critters going. Much appreciated!
Stats by month...
Jan: $749.29 received toward $583 monthly fund drive goal, exceeded by $166.29 for the month
Feb: $181.72 received toward $583 monthly fund drive goal, short by $401.28 for the month
Mar: $191.13 received toward $583 monthly fund drive goal, short by $391.87 for the month
Apr: $307.38 received toward $583 monthly fund drive goal, short by $275.62 for the month
May: $354.94 received toward $583 monthly fund drive goal, short by $228.06 for the month
Jun: $248.79 received toward $583 monthly fund drive goal, short by $334.21 for the month
Jul: $252.10 received toward $583 monthly fund drive goal, short by $330.9 for the month
Aug: $133.96 received toward $583 monthly fund drive goal, short by $449.04 for the month
Sep: $334.90 received toward $583 monthly fund drive goal, short by $248.1 for the month
Oct: $234.03 received toward $583 monthly fund drive goal, short by $348.97 for the month
=> short by $2841.76 of annual fund drive goal to date (and $2300 shortfall from last year)
[See https://www.critters.org/donate.php for more information.]
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Woohoo! Congratulations to...
- Holly Hefner, whose (Critter'd) short story, "The Wishing Angel
of Suffolk County" is now out in the current issue of Pseudopod.
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 1900 words each, goes to...
Edward Moore
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 21-Oct-2026 (Crits due 28-Oct-2026):
SF Lark, Ascending-Part 1 [mpc] Tim Nall -#32388
F Let Fate Chase Us Chapter 4 [mpc] Stevie Xiang -#32389
SF Star Racer, Chapter 8 Brian Sellnow -#32390
SF The Ember Path Chapter 7 Doug Appeldoorn -#32391
H Sentry, prologue & chapter 1 Kate Hunley -#32392
SF The Many: The Protocol David Alkire -#32393
SF Split Testing Oscar P. Lima -#32394
F The Windsong Chronicles Bk 1 Chapter 2 Pam Hamilton -#32395
SF Splynter Protocol-Chapter 1 Donna Barker -#32396
SF Fortuna: The First Crossing, Chapters 1-2 Jay Crossler -#32397
SF Euerai Steven Mueller -#32398
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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... THE NEW SPRINGTIME by ROBERT SILVERBERG
Humans emerge to reclaim Earth after the Long Winter, but never anticipated what awaits...
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1616
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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 Reach for The Moon - Chapter 5 Kate Ferraro -#32291
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 :
SF Lark, Ascending-Part 1 [mpc] Tim Nall -#32388
F Let Fate Chase Us Chapter 4 [mpc] Stevie Xiang -#32389
SF Star Racer, Chapter 8 Brian Sellnow -#32390
SF The Ember Path Chapter 7 Doug Appeldoorn -#32391
H Sentry, prologue & chapter 1 Kate Hunley -#32392
SF The Many: The Protocol David Alkire -#32393
SF Split Testing Oscar P. Lima -#32394
F The Windsong Chronicles Bk 1 Chapter 2 Pam Hamilton -#32395
SF Splynter Protocol-Chapter 1 Donna Barker -#32396
SF Fortuna: The First Crossing, Chapters 1-2 Jay Crossler -#32397
SF Euerai Steven Mueller -#32398
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You might also like... THE SWEET TASTE OF REGRET by KAREN HABER
A collection of Karen Haber's best short fiction
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1395
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... PAINT YOUR FACE ON A DROWNING IN THE RIVER by CRAIG STRETE
Tall Horse and Joseph Little Eagle are rivals for Nila, and torn by pressures of reservation life.
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1597
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