***NOTE: I think things are now working normally..... The system crashed on 8/13, I've replaced the whole server... so some stuff may not be working right. Keep copies of anything you send in, like critiques or manuscripts, just in case. Let me know of anything else that isn't working right.***


Blog

Ahoy, Critterfolk!
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Critter Notices

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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MORE NEWS & NOTICES >>

CRITTERS STORE >>

 

FEATURED BOOK

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CRITTERS STORE >>

News

[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.

New Book from a Critter Member

**NOW IN PRINT EDITION TOO!** Awesome new book, HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR SPECULATIVE FICTION OPENINGS, from a Critter member who's unearthed a shard of The Secret to becoming a pro writer. Really good piece of work. "...if you're at all concerned about story openings, you'd be nuts not to read what Qualkinbush has to say." —Wil McCarthy, author of BLOOM and THE COLLAPSIUM

Free Ad for a Fellow Workshop Member:
Let Aburt help you make for ebooks

The Critters Queue

Manuscripts themselves are here.

Queue of manuscripts out or to be sent (dates are estimated,
depending on number of mss. sent out, which depends on number of
members; probabalistically, the end of the queue is usually about
a month away):


     Title                      	Author
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Week of 10-Sep-2025 (Crits due [*] 24-Sep-2025):
 F   The Road to Arkana                 Ryan Twombly -#31950
 H   Nightfall at Camp Echo Lake, Chapter One  Lawrence Vernon -#31951
 F   Destiny, Chapters 2-3              Boris Layupan -#31952
 SF  Red Dust                           Garrett Menning -#31953
 SF  America!                           Matt Britton -#31954
 SF  Bringer of Sorrow, Part 14, Chapt 35 - 36  Sean Masters -#31955
 F   The Red Dragon Lord Book I         Chris Lambert -#31956

Week of 24-Sep-2025 (Crits due 1-Oct-2025):
 SF  Heat of the Explosion Before       Nathaniel Fisher
 H   The Messiah of Lake County-Chapter 2-Rewrite  Dawson M Hollingsworth
 F   The Duke of Tooth, Chapters 5-7    John Rhea
 SF  The Path to Tomorrow, chapters 3 and 4  Brian Sellnow
 F   Feareater part 3                   Erin Tunney
 SF  Science Unleashed Chapters 27-33   Dallas Nicholls
 SF  The Way History Remembers It       Robert Harpold
 SF  The Hearth                         Isabel Ford
 F   The First Status: Clash of Titans  Enrique

Week of 1-Oct-2025 (Crits due 8-Oct-2025):
 H   Panoply, the Last Expedition of Aldeen Stahmp  Winnona Skye Reisner
 SF  Kids These Days                    Pauline Spiegel
 SF  The Blackwood Thresholds           William Christopher Couie
 SF  This Thing of Darkness             Chris Hepler
 F   Return to Eden                     Bryce Paradis
 SF  Meddle                             Douglas Kolacki

Week of 8-Oct-2025 (Crits due 15-Oct-2025):
 SF  The Graduates of Formost 891c      F.B. Hughes
 F   Singer of the Vale                 Ryan Twombly
 H   Graves & gardens                   James Detalente
 SF  Smyrna's Renegade                  Jason Novsam
======================================================================
      (Note, if the last week above looks abnormally large, it probably
      needs me to add a new week, a task I do manually when I get around
      to it.  Future critique dates are approximate and subject to change.)

Symbols:

[@] - Pro [SFWA/HWA] author
[*] - Extra week(s) for holidays/aburt-out-of-town.
[mpc] - Most Product Critter Award winner
[!] - Special non-Wednesday dates because Critter Captain will be out of town
[ERROR!] - This means there is a problem and your manuscript will NOT be
     sent out - Contact the Critter Captain ASAP if you see this by your name.

Waiting to enter Queue (Will enter at end of queue on "[date]"):
 SF  Bringer of Sorrow, Part 15, Chapt 37 - 38  Sean Masters [24-Sep-2025]
 SF  Bringer of Sorrow, Part 16, Chapt 39 - 40  Sean Masters [?]
 H   Blackjack and Blood Chapter 3      Jim Keane [after-novel]
 H   Blackjack and Blood Chapter 4      Jim Keane [?]
 H   Blackjack and Blood Chapters 5,6,7 and 8  Jim Keane [?]
 SF  Science Unleashed Chapters 34-41   Dallas Nicholls [1-Oct-2025]
 F   The Duke of Tooth, Chapters 8-11   John Rhea [1-Oct-2025]
 F   The Duke of Tooth, Chapters 12-15  John Rhea [?]
 F   The Duke of Tooth, Chapters 16-19  John Rhea [?]
 F   Duke of Tooth, Chapters 20-25      John Rhea [?]
 F   The Duke of Tooth, Chapters 26-31  John Rhea [?]
 F   The Duke of Tooth, Chapters 32-35  John Rhea [?]
 F   Feareater part 4                   Erin Tunney [1-Oct-2025]
 F   Gems of the Forgotten Chapter 4    Erin Tunney [?]
 F   The Duke of Tooth, Chapter 36 and Epilogue  John Rhea [?]
 F   Gems of the Forgotten Chapter 5    Erin Tunney [?]
 SF  Science Unleashed, Chapters 42-48  Dallas Nicholls [?]
 SF  Science Unleashed, Chapters 49-54  Dallas Nicholls [?]
 SF  The Path To Tomorrow, chapters 5 & 6  Brian Sellnow [1-Oct-2025]
 SF  The Path to Tomorrow, Chapter 7    Brian Sellnow [?]
 SF  What the New Neighbor was Hiding   Douglas Kolacki [15-Oct-2025]
				-+-

Held until participation ratio improves (then out that week):
 SF  Beyond the Threshold, Chapter 1    jaron seijffers [17-Aug-2025]
 SF  Petroleum Star, Chapters 9-12      Buff Straw [20-Aug-2025]
                                :::


>> Note 1:  Held manuscripts are removed after four weeks on hold and
>> must be resubmitted.

>> Note 2:  It is the *author's* responsibility to notify Aburt when
>> they have brought up their critique count and want their ms. sent out.




[Click here to see the queue including archival data from 1995.]