THE BEST OF OMNI SCIENCE FICTION (PART 1)

THE BEST OF OMNI SCIENCE FICTION
1980
Omni Publications International, Ltd.
Editor: Bob Guccione
Associate Editor: Kathy Keeton
Cover: Pierre Lacombe
Pages: 148
Cover price: $3.50

The first issue of this truly original science fiction magazine was published in October 1978. OMNI was the brainchild of Kathy Keeton, who worked with PENTHOUSE publisher Bob Guccione and would be his future wife (third of four). The concept was to create a magazine "that explored all realms of science and the paranormal, that delved into all corners of the unknown and projected some of those discoveries into fiction."

This "Best of" edition, published in 1980 and introduced by Ben Bova, collects stories and art from the first two years. The contents reads like a who's who of science fiction: Isaac Asmiov, Harry Harrison, Robert Sheckley, Bova and Roger Zelazny to name only a few. Known as a "genre classic", George R.R. Martin's "Sandkings" is also included here. Contributing artists include H.R. Giger, Les Edwards and Jim Burns. On page 83 is a Gahan Wilson rip-off by a cartoonist I can't identify. Also included is an interview with Arthur C. Clarke. This was an exceptional science fiction magazine!