Orbit (anthology series) explained

Orbit was a series of anthologies of new science fiction edited by Damon Knight, often featuring work by such writers as Gene Wolfe, Joanna Russ, R. A. Lafferty, and Kate Wilhelm. The anthologies tended toward the avant-garde edge of science fiction, but by no means exclusively; occasionally the volumes featured nonfiction critical writing or humorous anecdotes by Knight. Inspired by Frederik Pohl's Star Science Fiction series, and in its turn an influence on other original speculative fiction anthologies, it ran for over a decade and twenty-one volumes, not including a 1975 "Best of" collection selected from the first ten volumes.

Orbit 1

Orbit 1 was published in October 1966 by Berkley Medallion. Algis Budrys praised Knight's skills as editor and critic but said that the compilation "represents science fiction well but not to any extraordinary extent", with no story "clearly and obviously the 'best' of anything". He advised readers to buy the paperback version.[1]

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Orbit 2

Volume 2 was published in 1967. Budrys said "It is more a sign that Damon's heart is in the right place than it is a really satisfactory book."[2]

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Orbit 3

Volume 3 was published in 1968. Algis Budrys found the volume "happens to contain some remarkable work," although he faulted the jacket copy as overpromotional.[5]

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Orbit 4

Volume 4 was published in 1968.

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Orbit 5

Volume 5 was published September 1969 by G.P. Putnam's Sons. It was reprinted in October 1969 by Putnam, December 1969 by Berkley Medallion, and November 1970 in the UK by Rapp & Whiting. Barry N. Malzberg wrote that the anthology "doesn't, somehow, seem to be at the same high level of ambition or accomplishment as the earlier volumes," but singled out "The Big Flash" for praise, declaring "The last pages of this story may be one of the strongest experiences available in modern American fiction."[6]

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Orbit 6

Volume 6 was published in 1970.[12]

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Orbit 7

Volume 7 was first published in 1970.[13]

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Orbit 8

Volume 8 was published in 1970 by G.P. Putnam's Sons.[14]

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Orbit 9

Volume 9 published by Putnam Books in 1971.[22] Theodore Sturgeon found the anthology "fascinating," saying "I profoundly admire what Knight is doing here."[23]

Orbit 10

Volume 10 was published in 1972.[24]

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Orbit 11

Volume 11 was published in 1972.[25]

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Orbit 12

Volume 12 was published in 1973.[26]

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Orbit 13

Volume 13 was published in 1974.[27]

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Orbit 14

Volume 14 was published in 1974.[28]

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Orbit 15

Volume 15 was published in 1974.[30]

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Orbit 16

Volume 16 was published in 1975.[31] Spider Robinson dismissed the anthology as minor and disappointing, noting that most of the stories were "manifestly by newcomers, first sales or nearly so."[32]

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Orbit 17

Volume 17 was first published in 1975.[33]

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Orbit 18

Volume 18 was first published in 1976.[34]

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Orbit 19

Volume 19 was first published in 1977.[35]

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Orbit 20

Volume 20 was first published in 1978.[36]

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Orbit 21

Volume 21 was first published in 1980.[37]

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The Best from Orbit

The Best from Orbit was published in 1975 and reprinted stories from the first ten volumes.[38]

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External links

Notes and References

  1. Budrys . Algis . October 1966 . Galaxy Bookshelf . Galaxy Science Fiction . 152–161 .
  2. Budrys . Algis . December 1967 . Galaxy Bookshelf . Galaxy Science Fiction . 187–194 .
  3. https://web.archive.org/web/20070202170222/http://bestsf.net/reviews/wollheimcarr1968.html World's Best Science Fiction : 1968. Donald Wollheim/Terry Carr (eds), 1968.
  4. Book: Creatures from Beyond: Nine Stories of Science Fiction and Fantasy: Terry Carr: 9780840764591: Amazon.com: Books. 0840764596. Carr. Terry. 1975.
  5. "Galaxy Bookshelf", Galaxy Science Fiction, February 1969, pp.184-86
  6. "Books", F&SF, May 1970, p.27-8
  7. Web site: The Roads, the Roads, the Beautiful Roads. wizards.pro.
  8. Web site: Kit Reed. fantasticfiction.co.uk.
  9. Web site: Teosed. ttu.ee.
  10. Web site: Winston. wizards.pro.
  11. Book: American Science Fiction and the Cold War. 9781579581954. Seed. David. 1999.
  12. Web site: Orbit 6 . ISFDB . 30 October 2021.
  13. Web site: Orbit 7 . ISFDB . 30 October 2021.
  14. Web site: Orbit 8 . ISFDB . 30 October 2021.
  15. Web site: Stories, Listed by Author. philsp.com.
  16. Web site: Stories, Listed by Author. philsp.com.
  17. Web site: Stories, Listed by Author. locusmag.com.
  18. http://www.lib.utulsa.edu/Speccoll/collections/lafferty/index5.htm R. A. Lafferty papers - Indexes; Collected Works
  19. Web site: Lafferty Collections. mulle-kybernetik.com.
  20. Web site: Uchronia: Interurban Queen. uchronia.net.
  21. https://web.archive.org/web/20080514005427/http://blogs.salon.com/0001811/2004/08/16.html Garlic fries and Ichirolls
  22. Web site: Orbit 9 . ISFDB . 30 October 2021.
  23. "Galaxy Bookshelf", Galaxy Science Fiction, March 1972, pp.87
  24. Web site: Damon Knight's Orbit 10 (Open Library). openlibrary.org.
  25. Web site: Orbit 11 . ISFDB . 30 October 2021.
  26. Web site: Orbit 12 . ISFDB . 30 October 2021.
  27. Web site: Orbit 13 . ISFDB . 30 October 2021.
  28. Web site: Orbit 14 . ISFDB . 30 October 2021.
  29. Web site: Publication: Orbit 14 . www.isfdb.org . en-us . 2018-07-10.
  30. Web site: Orbit 15 . ISFDB . 30 October 2021.
  31. Web site: Orbit 16 . ISFD . 30 October 2021.
  32. "Galaxy Bookshelf", Galaxy Science Fiction, October 1975, pp.145-46
  33. Web site: ISFDB . Orbit 17 . 30 October 2021.
  34. Web site: Orbit 18 . ISFDB . 30 October 2021.
  35. Web site: Orbit 19 . ISFDB . 30 October 2021.
  36. Web site: Orbit 20 . ISFDB . 30 October 2021.
  37. Web site: Orbit 21 . ISFDB . 30 October 2021.
  38. Web site: The Best from Orbit . ISFDB . 30 October 2021.

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