THE BEST OF OMNI SCIENCE FICTION NO.2

The Best Of Omni Science Fiction No. 2, 1981. Cover painting by Fred-Jurgen Rogner.

This is a re-post of an Omni mag I originally scanned in May 2011. I was skimming through a few issues a few days ago and noticed I'd apparently missed at least half a dozen pieces of artwork from this particular magazine. This issue also featured pictorials on Chris Foss' book 21st Century Foss and John Schoenherr's Dune illustrations (from The Illustrated Dune) but you can find the real thing(s) here and here, respectively.

"This very worthy successor to a much-acclaimed first volume is intended for science-fiction devotees and neophytes alike. It has an introduction by Robert Sheckley and 16 memorable stories by such masters of the genre as Theodore Sturgeon, George R. R. Martin, and Orson Scott Card. In a special sf appearance TV personality Hugh Downs describes a reincarnation deep in the future and Robert Silverberg contributes a never-before-published novella about a distant moon in a distant time. Arthur C. Clarke annotates an illustrated presentation of cosmic spaceships. Five other breathtakingly colourful pictorials include works of John Schoenherr, Christopher Foss, and David Jackson."

Painting by Bob Layzell, from the pictorial Spaceships.

Painting by Bob Layzell, from the pictorial Spaceships.

Painting by Peter Knifton, from the pictorial Spaceships.

Painting by Peter Knifton, from the pictorial Spaceships.

Painting by Alan Daniels, from the pictorial Spaceships.

Painting by Bob Layzell, from the pictorial Spaceships.

Painting by Colin Hay, from the pictorial Spaceships.

Painting by Alan Daniels, from the pictorial Spaceships.

Painting by Paul Lehr, from the pictorial Star Seekers.

Painting by John Schoenherr, from the pictorial Star Seekers.

Taken Hostage, painting by Michael Whelan, from the pictorial Star Seekers.

The One Who Stayed Behind, painting by Darrell Sweet, from the
pictorial Star Seekers.

Painting by Angus McKie, from the pictorial 7 Wonders Of The Universe.

"The doors of Launch stand four kilometers from the ground. The hangar itself measures 4,600 square kilometers and was built when subatomic fuel was still cheap and muon-guzzling space limousines were gigantic."

Painting by John Harris, from the pictorial Time Travellers.

THE BEST OF OMNI SCIENCE FICTION NO. 4

The Best Of Omni Science Fiction No. 4, 1982. Cover painting by Michael R. Whelan.

"Three never-before-published stories and two science fiction classics are included among the contents of this, the fourth in a very popular and widely-selling series. The volume is organized into five sections and is illustrated throughout with artwork that has earned for Omni magazine a reputation for superlative graphics. Two of the sections consist of outstanding stories and pictorials originally published in Omni and believed by the editors of this anthology to possess an extraordinary and still-unfolding talent. The section of sf originals is highlighted by Spider Robinson's story "Rubber Soul" - a new kind of science fiction in which the return of a martyred rock superstar puts right certain celebrated relationships. The science fiction classics section is comprised of a renowned story by Alfred Bester and one by Brian W. Aldiss. Each a giant of the genre."

Contains Our Lady Of The Sauropods by Robert Silverberg, Dreamtime, a pictorial of paintings by various artists, Marchianna by Kevin O'Donnel, Jr., Dark Sanctuary by Gregory Benford, Sigmund In Space by Barry N. Malzberg, Light Voyager, a pictorial of paintings by John Berkey, Valley Of The Kilns by James B. Hall, Fat Farm, Quietus, St. Amy's Tale and Deep-Breathing Exercises as part of an Orson Scott Card celebration, Noble Savage, a pictorial of paintings by Boris Vallejo, Rubber Soul by Spider Robinson, I Am Large, I Contain Multitudes by Melisa Michaels, Love Calls by Oxford Williams, Fondly Fahrenheit by Alfred Bester, My Lady Of The Psychiatric Sorrows by Brian W. Aldiss, Out Of Luck by Walter Trevis, Return From The Stars by Stanislaw Lem, Transformations, a pictorial of artwork by Bob Venosa and Marshall Arisman, The President's Image by Stephen Robinett, Future Books by Cynthia Darnell, Soul Search by Spider Robinson, Save The Toad! by Norman Spinrad, Giant On The Beach by John Keefauver, Strike! by Isaac Asimov, The Last Jerry Fagin Show by John Morressy and Eastern Exposures, a pictorial of paintings by various artists.

Painting by Don Dixon.

Painting by Morris Scott Dollens that accompanied Barry N. Malzberg's
Sigmund In Space.

Painting by John Berkey, from his pictorial Light Voyager.

Painting by John Berkey, from his pictorial Light Voyager.

Painting by John Berkey, from his pictorial Light Voyager.

Painting by John Berkey, from his pictorial Light Voyager.

Painting by Bob Venosa, accompanying Valley Of The Kilns by
James B. Hall.

Painting by Marshall Arisman, from Robert Sheckley's
Transformations pictorial.

"Transformation - its prediction, its control, its meaning - has always been the province of the priest, the shaman, and the artist. Magic itself, the precursor of science, is essentially the study and control of changes. Alchemy, the study of magical transformations, metamorphoses into chemistry, the study of transformations in substances. Scientists look to artists for insights into the nature of the world. Art delineates the processes of the imagination, creating syntheses of fantastic and factual elements too complex to be explained in words."

Painting by Marshall Arisman, from Robert Sheckley's Transformations
pictorial.

"We shuffle things and arrange them, not as they are, but as we want them to be."

THE BEST OF OMNI SCIENCE FICTION NO. 3

The Best Of Omni Science Fiction No. 3, 1982. Painting by R. Bertrand.

Contains How Pro Writers Really Write - Or Try To by Robert Sheckley, Rent Control by Walter Tevis, Space Witness, pictorial of paintings by Bob T. McCall, Clap Hands And Sing by Orson Scott Card, The Future Lost by Robert Sheckley, The Test by Stanislaw Lem, Tour Of The Universe, pictorial of paintings by Robert Holdstock and Malcolm Edwards, A Hiss Of Dragon by Gregory Benford and Marc Laidlaw, Message From Earth by Ian Stewart, Newton's Gift by Paul J. Nahin, Celestial Visitations, a pictorial of paintings by Gilbert Williams, God Bless Them by Gordon R. Dickson, Adventure Of The Metal Murderer by Fred Saberhagen, The Rocks That Moved by John Keefauver, The Vacuum-Packed Picnic by Rick Gauger, The Man Who Was Married To Space And Time by Fritz Leiber, Stellar Technician, a pictorial of paintings by Vincent Di Fate, Graveside Watch by Edward H. Gandy, The Empath And The Savages by John Morressy, The Thousand Cuts by Ian Watson, Hell Creatures Of The Third Planet by Stephen Robinett, The Madagascar Event by Robert Haisty, The Eyes On Butterflies' Wings by Patrice Duvic, Oil Is Not Gold by Sam Nicholson, The Cure by Lewis Padgett and Orders Of Magnitude, a pictorial of paintings by John Harris.

Painting by Don Maitz that accompanied The Test by Stanislaw Lem.

Painting by Vincent Di Fate, from the pictorial Stellar Technician.

Painting by Vincent Di Fate, from the pictorial Stellar Technician.

Painting by John Harris, from Orders Of Magnitude - A Survey Of Megastructures In The Universe GG233,
central penitentiary cell block.

Painting by John Harris, from Orders Of Magnitude - A Survey Of Megastructures In The Universe GG233,
artificial meat factory of Carnivoron
(detail showing the immense salt and pepper mills).

Painting by John Harris, from Orders Of Magnitude - A Survey Of Megastructures In The Universe GG233,
The Albertus Magnus sets off fireworks.

Painting by John Harris, from Orders Of Magnitude - A Survey Of Megastructures In The Universe GG233,
View of the central memory banks of the big computer near Alcindor II.

Painting by John Harris, from Orders Of Magnitude - A Survey Of Megastructures In The Universe GG233,
big computer and XX3 information hunting module.

Painting by John Harris, from Orders Of Magnitude - A Survey Of Megastructures In The Universe GG233,
big computer showing data stacks in "open" mode, with XX3 module below.

THE BEST OF OMNI SCIENCE FICTION NO.6, 1983

The Best Of Omni Science Fiction No. 6, 1983. Painting by Michael Parkes.

"With six volumes now published in this very successful series, we are committed to the above title, even though it consists not only of reprints but of never-before-published stories as well. This has been straightforwardly stated on the covers of volumes two through five. Nevertheless, we still occasionally come upon a surprised, albeit pleased, reader who exclaims, "Original stories? Really!" Yes. Absolutely. Here, along with ten reprints from Omni and two classic stories, are five originals, all so good that they, too, can be categorized among the best - although some science fiction purists will no doubt that one or two of these originals strain the boundaries of the genre. Perhaps. But science fiction has long been in a state of flux; stirring it up some more can only be for the good. And another thing, just what is science fiction? Harlan Ellison, for example, vehemently contends that he's not a science-fiction writer, yet he enthusiastically contributed one of the original stories in this book and two of the reprints are his. All this seems just and proper: a title that is indefinite, some stories that may be considered as more fantasy than science fiction, an author of science fiction who says he isn't. Ambiguity is a common condition in the world of imaginative literature. Happily, it is so - for our reading pleasure."

Contains A Sepulcher Of Songs by Orson Scott Card, Johnny Mnemonic by William Gibson, a pictorial on the artist Paul Wunderlich, a Harlan Ellison celebration, including Chained To The Fast Lane In The Red Queen's Race, When Auld's Acquaintance Is Forgot, On The Slab, an appreciation by Robert Silverberg, A Blossom In Ares by Jack Massa, a pictorial of Rowena Morrill's paintings, A Brief Dance To The Music Of The Spheres by Michael Kurland, The Holy Father by Michael Cassutt, Intermezzo by Melisa Michaels, Kyrie by Poul Anderson, The Hero As Werwolf by Gene Wolfe, Angel At The Gate by Russell M. Griffin, Standing Woman by Tsutsui Tasutaka, A Cage For Death by Ian Watson, The Macrobiotic Revolution by Ian Stewart, Last Waltz by Warren Brown, Spider Robinson's God Is An Iron and a pictorial on photographer Pete Turner.

Painting by Paul Wunderlich, from a pictorial of the artist's work.

Painting by Michel Henricot that accompanied Michael Kurland's
A Brief Dance To The Music Of The Spheres.

Painting by Marshall Arisman that accompanied A Cage For Death by Ian Watson.

THE BEST OF OMNI SCIENCE FICTION NO.5, 1983

The Best Of Omni Science Fiction No. 5, 1983. Painting by James Christensen.

"This colorfully illustrated volume - a book in magazine format - includes reprints from Omni magazine, reprints of sf classics, and never-before-published stories. In these pages, there is plenty of riveting suspense, occasional straight humor, some satire, and much food for thought. Included in the latter are timely speculations about the environment and about the consequences of a big war. Science fiction may not be everything to everybody, but this volume stands witness to the fact that if you like a good yarn told in a lively style and if you are generally curious and concerned, you can be certain that you have spent your money wisely and well. Its predecessors, the four earlier volumes in this series, were bought by about one million people."

Contains Rautavaara's Case by Philip K. Dick, a tribute to Philip K. Dick by Michael Kurland, Only You Fanzy by Sherwood Springer, Lesson One by James Randi, a Pictorial on the artist Rudolf Hausner, The Hunting Of Hewlish by Sam Nicholson, New Is Beautiful by Tony Holkham, a Robert Silverberg celebration including Basileus, The Soul Painter And The Shapeshifter, The Palace At Midnight and an appreciation written by Harlan Ellison, Helen O'loy by Lester Del Rey, a pictorial of Chesley Bonestell's paintings, Down There by Damon Knight, The Touch by Gregory Benford, The Lost Secret by Laurence M. Janifer, There Were People On Bikini There Were People On Attu by William Tenn, Village Of The Chosen by Alan Dean Foster, Malthus's Day by Jayge Carr, a pictorial on Gervasio Gallardo, Body Ball by John Keefauver, Prime Time by Norman Spinrad, In The Hereafter Hilton by Bob Shaw, Whether Pigs Have Wings by Nancy Kress and a pictorial on Ernst Fuchs.

Painting by Herbert Kretschmar that accompanied Rautavaara's Case
by Philip K. Dick.

Painting by Rudolf Hausner, from a pictorial of his work.

Painting by Robert Giusti that accompanied Alan Dean Foster's Village Of The Chosen.

Painting by Gervaisio Gallardo, from a pictorial of his work.

THE BEST OF OMNI SCIENCE FICTION No.1, 1980

The Best Of Omni Science Fiction, No. 1, 1980. Painting by Pierre Lacombe.

"A nonpareil anthology of stories and pictorials. Ten fantastic fiction features by such old pros as Harlan Ellison and Robert Sheckley as well as such newer stars as George R. R. Martin and Orson Scott Card. Great artists contributing to the mind-expanding pictorials include H. R. Giger, Samuel Bak, and Ernst Fuchs. There is also an interview with world-renowned science-fiction author Arthur C. Clarke."

Contains Found! by Isaac Asimov, Robots, a pictorial by Harry Harrison featuring text and images excerpted from his book Mechanismo, Count The Clock That Tells The Time by Harlan Ellison, Body Game by Robert Sheckley, Orson Scott Card's Unaccompanied Sonata, Iceback Invasion by Hayford Pierce, No Future In It by Joe Haldeman, Galatea Galante by Alfred Bester, Alien Landscapes, a pictorial featuring text and artwork from the book by Robert Holdstock and Malcolm Edwards, Kinsman by Ben Bova, Space Cities, a pictorial by Harry Harrison featuring more excerpts from the book Mechanismo, Roger Zelazny's Halfjack, Sandkings by George R. R. Martin and Planet Story, a pictorial of paintings from the book by Jim Burns and Harry Harrison.

The Dynometer by Russell Mills, from Harry Harrison's Robots pictorial.

Womandroid by Jennifer Eachus, from Harry Harrison's Robots pictorial.

Painting by Jim Burns, from Harry Harrison's Robots pictorial.

Painting by Jim Burns, from Harry Harrison's Robots pictorial.

Spice Factory by Terry Oakes, from a pictorial showcasing the book Alien Landscapes by
Robert Holdstock and Malcolm Edwards.

Arrakeen by Terry Oakes, from a pictorial showcasing the book Alien Landscapes by
Robert Holdstock and Malcolm Edwards.

Painting by John Schoenherr that accompanied Ben Bova's Kinsman.

Painting by Alan Daniels, from Harry Harrison's Space Cities pictorial.

Painting by Jim Burns, from an excerpt of the book Planet Story by Jim Burns and
Harry Harrison.