Comments on: Memories of Omni magazine http://boingboing.net/2010/07/05/memories-of-omni-mag.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Tue, 21 May 2013 05:07:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: snakedart http://boingboing.net/2010/07/05/memories-of-omni-mag.html#comment-826112 snakedart Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-826112 Omni made science fiction look sexy and grown-up. For many a self-conscious nerd looking for ways to fit in with the guys reading Sports Illustrated and hot rod mags, it hit a sweet spot. It had some of the most clip-and-saveable art of its time. Omni made science fiction look sexy and grown-up. For many a self-conscious nerd looking for ways to fit in with the guys reading Sports Illustrated and hot rod mags, it hit a sweet spot. It had some of the most clip-and-saveable art of its time.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/07/05/memories-of-omni-mag.html#comment-826369 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-826369 I had a subscription to OMNI for years when I was a kid, and in the way these things go, I recently became obsessed with it again. I bought a sizeable collection of issues on eBay, and spent many pleasurable hours revisiting them. I was struck by two things; first, they demonstrated some amazing graphic design, and their strong aesthetic has percolated into the current pop landscape (one of the reasons I love the BOING shirt idea). Second, how no other publication since has really filled the various niches that OMNI did. It never occurred to me before that boingboing now explores some of the same territory that OMNI used to, but I certainly agree that it does. As wonderful as bb is, however, it can't really compete with flipping over a relatively normal glossy magazine page to discover a flat silver page with EYE-POPPING RED type all over it. That experience alone is one of the reasons why I will gnash my teeth at the long slow death of print media until the day I die... I had a subscription to OMNI for years when I was a kid, and in the way these things go, I recently became obsessed with it again. I bought a sizeable collection of issues on eBay, and spent many pleasurable hours revisiting them. I was struck by two things; first, they demonstrated some amazing graphic design, and their strong aesthetic has percolated into the current pop landscape (one of the reasons I love the BOING shirt idea). Second, how no other publication since has really filled the various niches that OMNI did.
It never occurred to me before that boingboing now explores some of the same territory that OMNI used to, but I certainly agree that it does. As wonderful as bb is, however, it can’t really compete with flipping over a relatively normal glossy magazine page to discover a flat silver page with EYE-POPPING RED type all over it. That experience alone is one of the reasons why I will gnash my teeth at the long slow death of print media until the day I die…

]]> By: Doom-Kitten http://boingboing.net/2010/07/05/memories-of-omni-mag.html#comment-827649 Doom-Kitten Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-827649 My favorite book when I was a child, not sure exactly how old, but I was living in Nova Scotia so not older than 7 or 8, was a science fiction novel with the word OMNI on the cover. I cant remember the title of the book or who it was by, just that logo. It had something to do with a race of aliens on a planet and the only way you could tell they were aliens was that they had a mark in the shape of a star on the palms of their hands. I wish I could remember more about the book. I've apparently always loved sci fi =^.^= My favorite book when I was a child, not sure exactly how old, but I was living in Nova Scotia so not older than 7 or 8, was a science fiction novel with the word OMNI on the cover. I cant remember the title of the book or who it was by, just that logo. It had something to do with a race of aliens on a planet and the only way you could tell they were aliens was that they had a mark in the shape of a star on the palms of their hands. I wish I could remember more about the book. I’ve apparently always loved sci fi =^.^=

]]> By: otherthings http://boingboing.net/2010/07/05/memories-of-omni-mag.html#comment-826626 otherthings Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-826626 Youngest in your town, maybe... My dad brought home the first issue of OMNI, and let me subscribe to it. I couldn't have been more than eight years old. (And Helnwein rocked my world even then!) Youngest in your town, maybe… My dad brought home the first issue of OMNI, and let me subscribe to it. I couldn’t have been more than eight years old. (And Helnwein rocked my world even then!)

]]> By: otherthings http://boingboing.net/2010/07/05/memories-of-omni-mag.html#comment-826628 otherthings Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-826628 Yes please! (I kinda prefer one BOING to two... but either way, I want that shirt!) Yes please! (I kinda prefer one BOING to two… but either way, I want that shirt!)

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/07/05/memories-of-omni-mag.html#comment-826124 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-826124 My Dad used to subscribe to OMNI when I was a kid. That magazine is probably one of the top 3 reasons I started writing SF/F/H, and also a very large part of my heart and brain.I have never been more honored than when I A.) sold a story to Ellen Datlow, and B.) saw the title of said story set in OMNI-ish typeface (actually had to grab a tissue during the latter.) ---Edward Morris; Portland, Oregon My Dad used to subscribe to OMNI when I was a kid. That magazine is probably one of the top 3 reasons I started writing SF/F/H, and also a very large part of my heart and brain.I have never been more honored than when I A.) sold a story to Ellen Datlow, and B.) saw the title of said story set in OMNI-ish typeface (actually had to grab a tissue during the latter.)
—Edward Morris; Portland, Oregon

]]> By: rebdav http://boingboing.net/2010/07/05/memories-of-omni-mag.html#comment-826639 rebdav Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-826639 Omni is a serious flash to when I was a nerdy kid. The 80's were great for geek kids, although I bet any decade since the enlightenment could say that. You had the top secret spooky competing science of the Soviet bloc, promises of monthly civilian shuttle launches, and hopes of star wars space defense to blunt any Russian nuclear horror. Omni was on the drugstore magazine rack, I would read it for hours on another aisle. I would never buy a monthly dead tree now, but back then the only alternative was the BBS's. Omni is a serious flash to when I was a nerdy kid.
The 80′s were great for geek kids, although I bet any decade since the enlightenment could say that. You had the top secret spooky competing science of the Soviet bloc, promises of monthly civilian shuttle launches, and hopes of star wars space defense to blunt any Russian nuclear horror.

Omni was on the drugstore magazine rack, I would read it for hours on another aisle. I would never buy a monthly dead tree now, but back then the only alternative was the BBS’s.

]]> By: ScavengerCat http://boingboing.net/2010/07/05/memories-of-omni-mag.html#comment-826385 ScavengerCat Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-826385 The fiction writing in so many issues of Omni absolutely warped my young and impressionable brain in the best possible way... I lived for those issues to show up in the mailbox. Between this and your recent shout-out to Mondo 2000, I've been taken back to a great time in my life, when magazines were my only window into a functional dreamworld that was happening far beyond the confines of my Oklahoma town. Right now I'm feeling a little twinge of that excitement again. Thank you to everyone ever involved in making Omni and Mondo. The fiction writing in so many issues of Omni absolutely warped my young and impressionable brain in the best possible way… I lived for those issues to show up in the mailbox. Between this and your recent shout-out to Mondo 2000, I’ve been taken back to a great time in my life, when magazines were my only window into a functional dreamworld that was happening far beyond the confines of my Oklahoma town. Right now I’m feeling a little twinge of that excitement again. Thank you to everyone ever involved in making Omni and Mondo.

]]> By: Ugly Canuck http://boingboing.net/2010/07/05/memories-of-omni-mag.html#comment-827682 Ugly Canuck Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-827682 Perhaps it was "Omnivore", by Piers Anthony: http://blog.mycology.cornell.edu/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/omnivore2.jpg http://www.amazon.com/Omnivore-Man-Manta-Piers-Anthony/dp/1594260648 It was first published in the 1960s, IIRC. But the plot does not have a "mark of the werewolf" thing to it. IIRC. Perhaps it was “Omnivore”, by Piers Anthony:

http://blog.mycology.cornell.edu/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/omnivore2.jpg

http://www.amazon.com/Omnivore-Man-Manta-Piers-Anthony/dp/1594260648

It was first published in the 1960s, IIRC.
But the plot does not have a “mark of the werewolf” thing to it. IIRC.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/07/05/memories-of-omni-mag.html#comment-1148201 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1148201 Hello. I know the posts about the out-of-print Omni magazine were posted about a year ago but I just wanted to post that I have some of the original magazines for sale. I used to sell books online and after I quit that business I still had inventory in storage. I am now starting to go through my books to sell them and I came across 8 of the original Omni magazines. Here are the dates: November and December of 1978; January and February of 1991; February and December of 1992; and June and July of 1993. I have never made a post like this before. I will check back here if anyone is interested. I don't know how to tell people to contact me. Sorry. Hello. I know the posts about the out-of-print Omni magazine were posted about a year ago but I just wanted to post that I have some of the original magazines for sale. I used to sell books online and after I quit that business I still had inventory in storage. I am now starting to go through my books to sell them and I came across 8 of the original Omni magazines.
Here are the dates: November and December of 1978; January and February of 1991; February and December of 1992; and June and July of 1993.

I have never made a post like this before. I will check back here if anyone is interested. I don’t know how to tell people to contact me. Sorry.

]]> By: ArcticWoman http://boingboing.net/2010/07/05/memories-of-omni-mag.html#comment-826668 ArcticWoman Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-826668 For a nerdy girl in the Arctic who loved science fiction, this was THE magazine. I LOVED it. For a nerdy girl in the Arctic who loved science fiction, this was THE magazine. I LOVED it.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/07/05/memories-of-omni-mag.html#comment-826413 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-826413 Friend of mine worked for Omni. Her stories of sexual harassment there are legendary. Friend of mine worked for Omni. Her stories of sexual harassment there are legendary.

]]> By: Manooshi http://boingboing.net/2010/07/05/memories-of-omni-mag.html#comment-826682 Manooshi Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-826682 Aww... I miss Omni! Thanks Jr. High library! Aww… I miss Omni! Thanks Jr. High library!

]]> By: virtualgeoff http://boingboing.net/2010/07/05/memories-of-omni-mag.html#comment-826701 virtualgeoff Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-826701 Ah, Omni magazine - the geek's Penthouse. Loved it - especially the surrealist cover art and the short stories. Discovered Orson Scott Card and William Gibson thought it. Ah, Omni magazine – the geek’s Penthouse. Loved it – especially the surrealist cover art and the short stories. Discovered Orson Scott Card and William Gibson thought it.

]]> By: ndollak http://boingboing.net/2010/07/05/memories-of-omni-mag.html#comment-826450 ndollak Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-826450 Maybe someone here can help me out! I have a nearly complete set, and I'm in the process of scanning it into a digital format. I'm missing the April and July 1994 issues, and I have none of the one or two "We're Back!" issues that were released after April 1995. I'm willing to pay a modest sum (such as cover price + shipping) for these issues. Better yet, I'm willing to mail them back to their original owner after I scan them - the owner may keep the money! I placed this request on the OMNIShrine Wiki, but I don't think the message board there works properly. When I've scanned the whole set, I plan to make a cross-index. The entire project will be available in DVD or flash-drive format for anyone who wants a copy. Of course, it would not be legal to charge for this, so I'd only request coverage of the shipping fee. If anyone wishes to contact me about this, my e-mail address is ndollak@juno.com. Be sure to mention OMNI or something in the subject line. Maybe someone here can help me out! I have a nearly complete set, and I’m in the process of scanning it into a digital format. I’m missing the April and July 1994 issues, and I have none of the one or two “We’re Back!” issues that were released after April 1995. I’m willing to pay a modest sum (such as cover price + shipping) for these issues. Better yet, I’m willing to mail them back to their original owner after I scan them – the owner may keep the money!

I placed this request on the OMNIShrine Wiki, but I don’t think the message board there works properly.

When I’ve scanned the whole set, I plan to make a cross-index. The entire project will be available in DVD or flash-drive format for anyone who wants a copy. Of course, it would not be legal to charge for this, so I’d only request coverage of the shipping fee.

If anyone wishes to contact me about this, my e-mail address is ndollak@juno.com. Be sure to mention OMNI or something in the subject line.

]]> By: sgnp http://boingboing.net/2010/07/05/memories-of-omni-mag.html#comment-826456 sgnp Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-826456 I'm being completely honest. Art, sci-fi, crazy-cool science, the combination is there. BoingBoing's not a copy of Omni, of course, but an extrapolation of the things that made me enjoy the former. I’m being completely honest. Art, sci-fi, crazy-cool science, the combination is there. BoingBoing’s not a copy of Omni, of course, but an extrapolation of the things that made me enjoy the former.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/07/05/memories-of-omni-mag.html#comment-826715 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-826715 I remember enjoying the mag very much, but noticing it progressively getting cheesier. I put it down for he last time when they ran an article with a series of paintings of dinosaurs getting it on. The painter had the saurians making ooh-ahh faces even though they hadn't the facial muscles for 't, LOL. I remember enjoying the mag very much, but noticing it progressively getting cheesier. I put it down for he last time when they ran an article with a series of paintings of dinosaurs getting it on. The painter had the saurians making ooh-ahh faces even though they hadn’t the facial muscles for ‘t, LOL.

]]> By: Doom-Kitten http://boingboing.net/2010/07/05/memories-of-omni-mag.html#comment-827740 Doom-Kitten Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-827740 I have read quite a few Piers Anthony novels, although I don't think that was one of them. It does sound interesting. The book I was talking about definitely had the OMNI logo on the cover. Looking into it more now, they published some collections of short stories, so perhaps it was one of those. It was an awfully long time ago =^.^= I have read quite a few Piers Anthony novels, although I don’t think that was one of them. It does sound interesting.

The book I was talking about definitely had the OMNI logo on the cover. Looking into it more now, they published some collections of short stories, so perhaps it was one of those. It was an awfully long time ago =^.^=

]]> By: David Pescovitz http://boingboing.net/2010/07/05/memories-of-omni-mag.html#comment-826986 David Pescovitz Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-826986 Very cool! Thanks for commenting on this, MD49PA! "Refusal to accept a fixed boundary between mainstream science and flakiness of purest ray serene." !!!!!!! Very cool! Thanks for commenting on this, MD49PA!

“Refusal to accept a fixed boundary between mainstream science and flakiness of purest ray serene.”

!!!!!!!

]]> By: workergnome http://boingboing.net/2010/07/05/memories-of-omni-mag.html#comment-826219 workergnome Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-826219 I'd prefer the Double Boing. Single Boing is two levels of abstraction, and takes it from "Boing Boing's doing a clever homage" to "multi-faceted in-joke that only people who already know about it will understand." I’d prefer the Double Boing. Single Boing is two levels of abstraction, and takes it from “Boing Boing’s doing a clever homage” to “multi-faceted in-joke that only people who already know about it will understand.”

]]> By: rushkoff http://boingboing.net/2010/07/05/memories-of-omni-mag.html#comment-825966 rushkoff Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-825966 Funny. Bob Guccione was talking about bringing it back (it was his dad's magazine) but then they kind of kicked him out of Discover Magazine and I don't think he's ventured back near magazines since then. I was totally looking forward to it, though, and ready to jump in as my main life's gig. It was such a central part of my life for a time. Funny. Bob Guccione was talking about bringing it back (it was his dad’s magazine) but then they kind of kicked him out of Discover Magazine and I don’t think he’s ventured back near magazines since then.

I was totally looking forward to it, though, and ready to jump in as my main life’s gig. It was such a central part of my life for a time.

]]> By: dhalgren http://boingboing.net/2010/07/05/memories-of-omni-mag.html#comment-825968 dhalgren Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-825968 I loved OMNI. It was such a secret pleasure of mine. I always looked forward to it. I definitely miss it. I loved OMNI. It was such a secret pleasure of mine. I always looked forward to it.

I definitely miss it.

]]> By: KidDork http://boingboing.net/2010/07/05/memories-of-omni-mag.html#comment-825969 KidDork Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-825969 As a 14 year old boy, it always felt somewhat dangerous to buy Omni here in Canada, since it was often placed alongside Playboy and Penthouse on the top shelf of magazine racks. There was always that sense of the store owner's eyes upon me as my hand ventured into the forbidden higher atmosphere of magazine placement. Thanks for bringing back memories of such an edgy youth. As a 14 year old boy, it always felt somewhat dangerous to buy Omni here in Canada, since it was often placed alongside Playboy and Penthouse on the top shelf of magazine racks. There was always that sense of the store owner’s eyes upon me as my hand ventured into the forbidden higher atmosphere of magazine placement.

Thanks for bringing back memories of such an edgy youth.

]]> By: David Pescovitz http://boingboing.net/2010/07/05/memories-of-omni-mag.html#comment-825970 David Pescovitz Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-825970 Indeed, <a href="http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlny/on/all_in_the_guccione_family_bob_and_son_to_move_to_florida_relaunch_omni_20629.asp">here's</a> a short bit about the planned relaunch that didn't happen. I think the original Omni was Bob Sr.'s wife's baby, but she passed away from breast cancer around the time the magazine went Web. Bummer. Indeed, here’s a short bit about the planned relaunch that didn’t happen. I think the original Omni was Bob Sr.’s wife’s baby, but she passed away from breast cancer around the time the magazine went Web. Bummer.

]]> By: sgnp http://boingboing.net/2010/07/05/memories-of-omni-mag.html#comment-825971 sgnp Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-825971 It's funny, but I was just saying to a friend the other day that BoingBoing actually fills the void that Omni left in my reading landscape. It’s funny, but I was just saying to a friend the other day that BoingBoing actually fills the void that Omni left in my reading landscape.

]]> By: kip w http://boingboing.net/2010/07/05/memories-of-omni-mag.html#comment-826229 kip w Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-826229 OMNI often had interesting notions and odd conceits that I liked, like their rumor contest. I wrote them on something in the first issue and they published my letter in the third (most of it), so that bought them years of my affection. OMNI often had interesting notions and odd conceits that I liked, like their rumor contest. I wrote them on something in the first issue and they published my letter in the third (most of it), so that bought them years of my affection.

]]> By: David Pescovitz http://boingboing.net/2010/07/05/memories-of-omni-mag.html#comment-825974 David Pescovitz Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-825974 Wow. You just made my year. Thank you so much, even if you're exaggerating. Wow. You just made my year. Thank you so much, even if you’re exaggerating.

]]> By: EH http://boingboing.net/2010/07/05/memories-of-omni-mag.html#comment-825975 EH Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-825975 I still have all of my OMNIs, they were totally formative for me. Sure, maybe some months my 14 year old brain was only interested in "Continuum" and the puzzles, but dang if I wasn't the county's youngest Gottfried Helnwein fan. I still have all of my OMNIs, they were totally formative for me. Sure, maybe some months my 14 year old brain was only interested in “Continuum” and the puzzles, but dang if I wasn’t the county’s youngest Gottfried Helnwein fan.

]]> By: David Pescovitz http://boingboing.net/2010/07/05/memories-of-omni-mag.html#comment-825977 David Pescovitz Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-825977 Maybe we should make a Boing Boing t-shirt with just <a href="http://www.boingboing.net/images/boingomni.jpg">this graphic</a> on the front. Maybe we should make a Boing Boing t-shirt with just this graphic on the front.

]]> By: Cochituate http://boingboing.net/2010/07/05/memories-of-omni-mag.html#comment-825979 Cochituate Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-825979 At the time, I thought it was crap, but in the years since, the magazine filed has collapsed, leaving us to dream of Ben Bova walking on water or something similar. At the time, I thought it was crap, but in the years since, the magazine filed has collapsed, leaving us to dream of Ben Bova walking on water or something similar.

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