OMNI: What's Old Is New Again

by Paul Arnote (parnote)

Back in October, 1978, a new magazine was launched, delivering a mix of articles covering science fact and science fiction. It contained, among other things, writings from Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke, two of the all time great authors in the science fiction genre. By providing a healthy dose of science discussion and science fiction entertainment to tantalize our creative neurons, OMNI magazine quickly became a hit.

OMNI magazine was originally launched by Kathy Keeton, the long time companion and subsequent wife of Bob Guccione, the publisher of Penthouse magazine. Guccione also served as the editor and design consultant for OMNI. Keeton described the first issue as, “an original if not controversial mixture of science fact, fiction, fantasy and the paranormal.”

Sadly, OMNI’s print edition ended with the Winter 1995 issue. An online version of the magazine continued until 1998. During its run, OMNI also featured stories from such prominent writers as Stephen King, Orson Scott Card, William Gibson, and George R.R. Martin. OMNI targeted “educated but non-technical” readers, riding a wave of new science magazines.

Recently, the Internet Archive released all 205 items in the OMNI collection – including the “Best Of OMNI” collections of science fiction – for free download for all internet users. You can view the collection online, or you can download each issue as either a PDF, EPUB or Kindle MOBI files.

Once again, you can recapture the joy of reading the contents of OMNI, but now within the newer, digital realm of your computer or ebook reader. If you’ve never read OMNI, then you’re in for a treat as you discover this gem for the first time. Whatever the case, it’s there and available. All you have to do is download it.