24th Annual Critters Readers’ Poll Results

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The Critters Workshop, “for serious writers of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror,” has announced the outcome of their 24th annual Critters Writers Workshop Readers Poll honoring print and electronic publications published during 2021.

There are 41 categories – see the final tally for all of them at the link. Below are the sff works that finished on top.

HORROR NOVELS

  • Freak on a Moped, Chuck W. Chapman, Black Bed Sheet Books

SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY NOVELS

  • In the Name of the Otherworld, Hermione Lee, World Castle Publishing

STEAMPUNK NOVELS

  • The Brass Queen, Elizabeth Chatsworth, CamCat Publishing,

POSITIVE FUTURE NOVELS

  • Angel Brave, Vijaya Schartz, BWL Publishing

HORROR SHORT STORIES

  • “For The Gods”, Robert P. Ottone, Dark INK/AM Ink

(Tied for 6th – “The Best Damned Barbershop in Hell”, Bruce Arthurs, Third Flatiron)

SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY SHORT STORIES

  • “Pioneer House”, Jon Black, 18thWall Productions

STEAMPUNK SHORT STORIES

  • “The Widow’s Might”, Elizabeth Chatsworth, Galaxy Press

MAGICAL REALISM SHORT STORIES

  • “Sixers”, Barbara Lund, Galaxy Press

POSITIVE FUTURE SHORT STORIES

  • “Shaken, Not Stirred”, Wulf Moon, DreamForge Magazine

ANTHOLOGIES

  • Writers of the Future Vol. 37, Galaxy Press

NONFICTION ARTICLES

  • “Character Agency—I Need a Hero!”, Wulf Moon, DreamForge Magazine

ARTWORK

  • DreamForge Anvil Issues 2021, Jane Noel

BOOK/E-BOOK COVER ARTWORK

  • Writers of the Future Volume 37, Echo Chernik

MAGAZINE/E-ZINE COVER ARTWORK

  • The Guide (Star*Line Magazine Issue 44.3), Austin Arthur Hart, [link]

FICTION MAGAZINE/E-ZINES

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3 thoughts on “24th Annual Critters Readers’ Poll Results”

  1. Thanks for the mention, Mike. Considering it usually feels like I drop my short stories down a deep well without hearing even a splash, a 6th place finish is a noticeable improvement. (It probably helped that “The Best Damned Barbershop In Hell” was a lot of fun to write, and apparently fun for some people to read as well.)

  2. I wonder how large the voting pool is. Stats would be fascinating.

    Though given the large numbers of ties for 7th and 8th place in various categories, I’m guessing there’s a pretty small group that’s mostly voting for each other.

  3. Colin H: There’s a parallel best-ever poll which does show the number of votes received, and everything has less than 90.

    That said, ask yourself how many votes you think the Nebula Awards winners get.

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