Blog
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.
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)
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.
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]
~~~
FEATURED BOOK
~~~
Weekly Notes
Notes for 18-Sep-2024...
Since mail-in voting has already commenced in some places, I'm going to make my endorsement for Harris.
(If you're already 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.
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 ever, are sales of ReAnimus Press books... Such as...
ENERGIZED by Edward M. Lerner - $7.99
ReAnimus Press Store: www.ReAnimus.com/1741
Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B0DFQ6PBRG/?tag=critters3a-20
(available in ebook + hardcover + paperback)
No one expected the oil to last forever. How right they were....
One geopolitical miscalculation sufficed to taint major oil fields with radioactivity and plunge the Middle East into chaos. What little oil remains usable is more prized than ever. No one can build solar farms, wind farms, and electric cars quickly enough to cope. The few countries still able to export oil and natural gas--Russia chief among them--have a stranglehold on the world economy.
And then, from the darkness of the outer solar system, Phoebe appeared. Rather than divert the onrushing asteroid, America captured it into Earth orbit. Phoebe was a game changer.
Solar power satellites--cheaply mass-produced in orbit with resources mined from the new moon, to beam vast amounts of power to the ground--offer America its last best hope of avoiding servitude and economic ruin. As though building miles-across structures in space isn't challenging enough, special interests, everyone from technophobes to eco-extremists to radio astronomers, want to stop the project. And the remaining petro powers will do anything to protect their dominance of world affairs.
NASA engineer Marcus Judson is determined to make the powersat demonstration project a success. And he will--
Even though nothing in his job description mentions combating an international cabal, or going into space to do it.
"Ed Lerner's Energized makes two points absolutely clear: first, we must utilize the resources of outer space to bring peace and prosperity to all of humankind; and second, we must be willing and able to protect those resources from fanatics and tyrants."
--Ben Bova, Author of Powersat
"ENERGIZED is excellent hard science fiction and a gripping adventure story. I came out of it still twitching, and sure that I'd been taught something too.
--Larry Niven, Author of Ringworld
"A magnificently fun romp, complete with espionage, international cabals, sabotage, and lots of amusing political commentary."
--Analog Science Fiction and Fact
[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!
(No donations this past week.)
[See http://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 10 critiques (at time of judging), averaging over 400 words each, goes to...
Larry Clough
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 18-Sep-2024 (Crits due 25-Sep-2024):
F Evangeline, Chapter 1 [mpc] Brian Sellnow [?] -#31569
SF The Aztec Gods - A Snapshot Novella - Part 3 [mpc] Dsle Cozort -#31570
SF The Lovelace Test Henry McFarland -#31571
F The Enchantress and the Scholar, Ch 4 Lawrence A. Clough -#31572
SF Carbon Matthew D Ross -#31573
F Everything Goes Dark: 1865 Rachel Jackson -#31574
SF machin dyab Vince Bonasso -#31575
SF Action at a Distance, Chapter 1 Nicholas Marshall -#31576
----------------------------------------------------------------------
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... WHEELERS by IAN STEWART AND JACK COHEN
Alien artifacts found on Callisto...
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1560
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pieces up for critique in other workshops...
In the lit workshop - https://critique.org/lit :
L Animal Eyes, Chapter 1 Aleksandr Stevens -#31577
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 Mask of Honor Chapters 1-5 Kristen Reznich -#31568
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 Evangeline, Chapter 1 [mpc] Brian Sellnow [?] -#31569
SF The Aztec Gods - A Snapshot Novella - Part 3 [mpc] Dsle Cozort -#31570
SF The Lovelace Test Henry McFarland -#31571
F The Enchantress and the Scholar, Ch 4 Lawrence A. Clough -#31572
SF Carbon Matthew D Ross -#31573
F Everything Goes Dark: 1865 Rachel Jackson -#31574
SF machin dyab Vince Bonasso -#31575
SF Action at a Distance, Chapter 1 Nicholas Marshall -#31576
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You might also like... BLOWDRY by JERRY SOHL
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1368
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... PARTICLE THEORY by EDWARD BRYANT
Two-time Nebula Award winner
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1270
--
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 .