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Ahoy, Critterfolk!
New entry May 28
Critter Notices
Books from Critters!
Check out Books by Critters for books by your fellow Critterfolk, as well as my list of recommended books for writers.
How to Write SF
The Craft of Writing Science Fiction that Sells by Ben Bova, best-selling author and six-time Hugo Award winner for Best Editor. (This is one of the books your ol' Critter Captain learned from himself, and I highly recommend it.) (Also via Amazon)
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 30-Oct-2024... With less than a week to go to the election, I'm going to reiterate my endorsement for Harris. (If you're fuming that I'm endorsing Harris, I'll just note that I have run Critters for 29 years, free to all users, because I hope it's helpful, funding most of it out of my own pocket [no, donations don't cover expenses] and with my own time. So if I happen to make a case for voting against Trump, that's just something you're free to skip over, or use as a reason to not donate to the site, or do fewer critiques, or leave entirely if it upsets you to see an endorsement.) That said, I can't see why even a real Republican could vote for any candidate who credibly promises to be a dictator, has already tried to overthrow the government and generally trample on the Constitution, is a convicted felon, adjudicated rapist, adjudicated racist, self-admitted misogynist, fascist, Russian puppet, draft dodger who disrespects those who serve, mishandles classified documents, is a massive pathological liar, only out for himself, too old, can't string a coherent sentence together, bad for the economy (according to most economists), and all around horrible role model. That's a bridge waaaaaaaaaaaaay too far for me. I want to see a real choice, but he's no John McCain. Trump's values are the opposite of what I stand for, and to my mind vastly supersede any of the one-issue topics I see people say they're voting "for": "B-b-b-but Immigration!" -- no, the above are far more important, and besides, he tanked a solid, bi-partisan immigration bill that would have addressed the problem, his last immigration policy was a failed mess, and his promised one is simply fascist. "B-b-b-but The Economy!" -- well, the above are more important, and anyway economists say his proposals are bad for the economy; and historically the economy has done better under democratic presidents. "B-b-b-but He's pro-Racist! They're Eating the Cats and Dogs!" -- yeah, that kinda sums it up: He's pure horse dung, in the worst sense of the word. He's a Loser with a capital L. He's great for democracy-hating bigots, that's all. Even Dick Cheney thinks he's so bad he'll vote for Harris. When Darth Vader thinks a candidate is so bad he'll vote for a democrat, ouch, that's really saying something. Plus all the other hard core Republicans who've said Trump isn't fit. I've been a Harris fan since 2020, and think she'll make an excellent President. Her policies are sound and logical. I don't need to list her great qualities, because you already know all that. She's shown she can hold onto Trump by the nose, and kick him in the ass. She can do the same with other troublesome world leaders. There really is no comparison. I'm surprised she isn't up 90/10 in the polls. Anyway, I'm hoping for a landslide so we can move on. Thanks for listening. (Or not listening, it's still a free country.) -+- Helping the Fund Drive, as usual are sales of interesting books, such as this: CRISIS! by (SFWA Grandmaster) James Gunn - $3.99 ReAnimus Press Store: www.ReAnimus.com/1654 Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B08LQQDGNV/?tag=critters3a-20 (available in ebook + paperback) Johnson is plagued by his absence of memory and the strange dreams of horrific futures that he somehow knows will become reality if he does not act. He was born in a hopeless future and is doomed to travel in the past and repair humanity's problems before they can happen. Unfortunately every time he returns to the abyss outside of time he loses all memory of what just occurred. The only information Johnson has of his existence is a one-page letter written to himself, reminding him of his duties. Over and over, he must follow his nightmares and repair the damages done by those in the past. Time is in a perpetual state of turmoil for Johnson, but he lives in a future free of damage. His duty is to erase all possibility of the predicted Crisis! [Disclaimer: Ye Olde Critter Captain also runs ReAnimus Press, sales from which help him keep Critters going as a free site.] -+- Thanks for the donations, folks! Thanks especially to Melinda Morang Bryce Paradis Jay Gabriel for their recent donations to help keep Critters going. Much appreciated! [See https://www.critters.org/donate.php for more information.] -+- (No Woohoo!s this week, be sure to report your sales/publications/etc. via the www.critters.org/telldaworld.ht web page.) -+- This week's Most Productive Critter award, for 3 critiques (at time of judging), averaging over 700 words each, goes to... Patrick Tibbits 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.) -+- 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 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Critters Workshop ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This week we have... [get from https://www.critters.org/private/mss.php ]... Title Author --------------------------------------------------------------------- Week of 30-Oct-2024 (Crits due 6-Nov-2024): F The Enchantress and the Scholar, Ch 8 Lawrence A. Clough -#31624 H The Guest Stephen Shewmake -#31625 SF The Agentic Necklace F.B. Hughes -#31626 H Ranidaphobia Bryce Paradis -#31627 SF Imagine Dragon's Homesteads Vince Bly -#31628 SF Aleena part 4 ROBERT PHILBROOK -#31629 SF Antichrist Tiffany Ogunsua -#31630 F QUERY LETTER: Phoebe's Trail Isabel Ford -#31631 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 WORLD AND THORINN by DAMON KNIGHT Thorinn is thrown into a well by his father to appease the rumbling gods... and down he goes! https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1496 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Pieces up for critique in other workshops... In the lit workshop - https://critique.org/lit : L The Welcome at Eddie's Diner Henry McFarland -#31614 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 The Enchantress and the Scholar, Ch 8 Lawrence A. Clough -#31624 H The Guest Stephen Shewmake -#31625 SF The Agentic Necklace F.B. Hughes -#31626 H Ranidaphobia Bryce Paradis -#31627 SF Imagine Dragon's Homesteads Vince Bly -#31628 SF Aleena part 4 ROBERT PHILBROOK -#31629 SF Antichrist Tiffany Ogunsua -#31630 F QUERY LETTER: Phoebe's Trail Isabel Ford -#31631 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- You might also like... THE DUELING MACHINE by BEN BOVA Virtual reality made war obsolete... Or did it? https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1127 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... FOOTPRINTS ON SAND by L. SPRAGUE DE CAMP AND CATHERINE CROOK DE CAMP A superb collection of the de Camps' work. https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1528 -- You received this email message because you signed up for the Critters Writers Workshop. If you want to stop getting these emails, please visit https://www.critters.org/email.ht .