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 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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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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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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Volume 4 was published in 1968.
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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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Volume 6 was published in 1970. [12]
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Volume 7 was first published in 1970. [13]
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Volume 8 was published in 1970 by G.P. Putnam's Sons. [14]
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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]
Volume 10 was published in 1972. [24]
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Volume 11 was published in 1972. [25]
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Volume 12 was published in 1973. [26]
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Volume 13 was published in 1974. [27]
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Volume 14 was published in 1974. [28]
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Volume 15 was published in 1974. [30]
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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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Volume 17 was first published in 1975. [33]
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Volume 18 was first published in 1976. [34]
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Volume 19 was first published in 1977. [35]
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Volume 20 was first published in 1978. [36]
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Volume 21 was first published in 1980. [37]
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The Best from Orbit was published in 1975 and reprinted stories from the first ten volumes. [38]
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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 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]
Table of contents:
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]
Table of contents:
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]
Table of contents:
Volume 4 was published in 1968.
Table of contents:
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]
Table of contents:
Volume 6 was published in 1970. [12]
Table of contents:
Volume 7 was first published in 1970. [13]
Table of contents:
Volume 8 was published in 1970 by G.P. Putnam's Sons. [14]
Table of contents:
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]
Volume 10 was published in 1972. [24]
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Volume 11 was published in 1972. [25]
Table of contents:
Volume 12 was published in 1973. [26]
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Volume 13 was published in 1974. [27]
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Volume 14 was published in 1974. [28]
Table of Contents: [29]
Volume 15 was published in 1974. [30]
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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]
Table of contents:
Volume 17 was first published in 1975. [33]
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Volume 18 was first published in 1976. [34]
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Volume 19 was first published in 1977. [35]
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Volume 20 was first published in 1978. [36]
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Volume 21 was first published in 1980. [37]
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The Best from Orbit was published in 1975 and reprinted stories from the first ten volumes. [38]
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