Please visit the OmniShrine Wiki!
Rather than commenting on this blog, where hardly anyone will ever see what you said or asked, why not post your thoughts in a space that’s more suitable?
Try the OmniShrine Wiki!
I set it up so that fans of Omni can share information, and also be able to subscribe to comments or page changes, so that you can more easily keep up with the conversation!
The comment area on this post doesn’t act like a discussion list; there’s no way for anyone to be alerted of a question or an answer to one posted. That’s why the wiki is your best bet.
Thanks!
My original post is below. The omnimag.com link no longer takes you to the site I referenced back in 2003, but you can still see the glorious prehistoric black-background web experience via the magical “Wayback Machine” archive here via the Wayback Machine.
ORIGINAL POST:
Growing up, I was an avid reader of Omni Magazine.
I lost touch with it after high school, and I heard they’d tried doing their thing online, but then it had kind of died on the vine.
And I ran across the site today…how weird, that it’s still sitting there. A ghost town.
The design is so perfect for mid-to-late 90s ‘cool’ website design. Lots of 3D shapes floating in black space.
I wonder if anybody still tries entering the “Deconstructing the Titanic Sweepstakes” there?
Tags: Books, Net Culture, Pop Culture, Rumination, Science, Special, Technology
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Yeah, I don’t know what it means, but when I was reading this page, I started to cry. It’s just sad that something that meant so much to so many people just died out like it never existed. I never had the pleasure of reading Omni myself, me being only 14, but I got hooked on Orson Scott Card for a while, and got referred to it from there. I could not pass this site without also giving my respects to what must have been one of the greatest literary periodicals that ever felt the heat of the press. Rest In Peace, Omni, and know that you are loved.
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Okay everyone,
Why is Omni magazine now defunct? The answer –
Bob Guccione’s Penthouse circulation went into a tailspin in the mid nineties, no thanks to a variety of factors from explicit adult material now made available on cable tv, to bad management decisions etc. The result? It had to cut back on subsidiary ventures such as Omni.
It would be difficult to launch another magazine that could match the cutting edge copy and flair that made Omni succeed, as it took alot of gambling and heavy financial resources to keep it spinning in the first place.
P.S Bob Guccione went bankrupt.
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for those wanting to sample the joys of the now defunct Omni Website, try http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.omnimag.com/.
I’d just like to add my voice to those praising the Omni. Long may it rest.
Enjoy.
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I just wanna say I love the Omni magazines. I was looking in my closet the other day and I found about 10 in great shape. I thinking about putting them on Ebay, lol
bye -
I’ve been reminiscing as well. I’m getting The Complete New Yorker for Christmas and wish they’d come up with The Complete Omni. I started collecting them when I was 13, from issue #2 (with the scary Giger painting on the cover) until about 1984.
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I stumbled over this “Shrine” and had to smile. I wrote for OMNI for over 16 years and I miss it, too — not only because it was great fun to write for but I enjoyed reading it! I’m glad to see people haven’t forgotten it.. it was a great and different ‘zine..
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I was very disappointed when I saw that PENTHOUSE took over the domain name, as I was hoping one day that the Omni Mag Webmaster would set up an archived version of the magazine,which I had subscribed to for many years.
I would like to thank whitecurve for posting the archive link. It’s brought back all the time I spent back in my AOL days, online with Live Omni Magazine, and the first chatrooms I had ever visited. Guess that well and truly dates me.
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I painted a cover for OMNI once, well it was an AirBrush Painting. A robot siting on the beach holding a can of CocaCola. Grate page dude…
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Does anyone remember an issue with Skull 444 on the cover? It was one of the most amazing issues and i’ve been looking for it for about a decade with no success? Omni was, in my opinion, one if the only mags worth reading, and now that I’ve found this site i know I’m not alone in thinking that.
So, if anyone has any recollection or could pass along any clues as to where I might be able to find that particular issue I’d be extremely grateful.
~g -
omni comics feb 95. nasa, sagan lies about face on mars cartoon story published. note in last panel announces full expose’ of the face on mars scandal perpetrated by sagan et al which decieved and continues to decieve world public. publisher immediately drops omni. another publisher picked it up fall 95, omni comix repeats nasa sagan smear of face on mars story including promiise of expose’ in next issue. this issue failed to appear. call to omni revealed that omni comixhad been put on indefinite suspension and the promised expose’had been put off for the indefinite future.for confirmation call hugh hoyland 626 357 2132
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omni comics feb 95. nasa, sagan lies about face on mars cartoon story published. note in last panel announces full expose’ of the face on mars scandal perpetrated by sagan et al which decieved and continues to decieve world public. publisher immediately drops omni. another publisher picked it up fall 95, omni comix repeats nasa sagan smear of face on mars story including promiise of expose’ in next issue. this issue failed to appear. call to omni revealed that omni comixhad been put on indefinite suspension and the promised expose’had been put off for the indefinite future.for confirmation call hugh hoyland 626 357 2132 i have never contacted you before, just found your website tonight. maybe by snail mail long ago
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I have found the first issue of OMNI it was published by bob G as a supplement inside a penthouse.
It is for sale.
Because it is in penthouse it can not be to a minor.
great collectors item.
bartenderpete@hotmail.com -
My husband had the whole collection, all in perfect condition he was wondering if anyone would know how much the collection might be worth
October 1978 to January 1981
thank-you -
For David Wagner
The artist for the September 1985 cover of Omni was “Yugoslavian-born surrealist Rallé”. -
I’m yet another sci-fi geek who as a young man was enthalled by OMNI when it first hit the news stands.
The art, the stories (Orson Scott Cards “Sandkings” was great!) the speculation. I loved everything about the magazine.
I read the first issue cover to cover. There was a “Delphi Poll” that you could answer and send in, and RockWell has an Iron On insert of the Space Shuttle you could use.
I couldn’t violate it, so they both stayed in. Today it sits securely wrapped up in a closet in my bedroom. I think I will take it out tonight and show it to my kids.
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I have the first 5 years in mint condition, orginal owner, all in individual year-boxes. Email me at happy_harrier@yahoo.com if interested in this rare, near-mint condition set.
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HELP!!!!!
I am trying to find a story I had read in OMNI but I dont remember the name of the story or year of issue. It was about a group of people trying to find the descendants of the apostles and Jesus. I remember it was in an issue that delt with religion. If any one has or remembers something about theis story please post. Thank You….
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I have a collection of OMNI magazine…I have every issue from their first 9 years, most in mint condition. I am original owner, and they are encased in black yearly boxes with OMNI embossed in gold. Anyone know how much the collection is worth? Anyone want a pic of my collection?
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I am trying to locate an old audio tape that we purchased years ago. It was an Arthur C CLark tape, Omni Experience. It was about the sun going supernova, and all the “rocket ships” leaving the planet. The other side was all music. If anyone knows where I can get a copy of that, please let me know at harris426@msn.com .Thanks! Gretchen
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My grandfather subscribed to OMNI perhaps as early as 1980. He would throw away the magazines after a time but soon figured he would give them to his oldest grandson who was interested in science and technology. I read some of the articles and fiction, skipping the political and other articles that didn’t make much sense to a 10 year old, and then would cut many of the wonderful pictures out to decorate my room. This went on for years and when I got older it led to a gift subscription of OMNI that my grandfather would give to me each Christmas.
I was trying to find an OMNI pictorial of an artist that really blew my mind when I first saw the paintings/illustrations back in the late 80’s early 90’s. After OMNI went out of print he got me a subscription to Scientific American, and there is a slight chance I am confusing this artist’s work in OMNI when it was actually in SciAm, but SciAm issn’t really known for their pictorials…
Anyway, the two ‘future visionary’ pictures of this artist that stand out are:
1. A landscape of a forest or some natural setting, with the ocean on one side. Erosion of the ocean has revealed an ‘ancient’ city under the soil, but it is actually the framework of a sewer system and/or industrial pipes, etc, suggesting this could be 1000 years in the future where civilization has taken a step back and nature has taken over.
2. A natural setting with trees and small houses. A guitar type instrument is sitting next to a tree. What stands out is an old style 19th century round pocket watch, sitting next to another tree, that is nearly as large as the house, suggesting in the distant future humans or other animal evolve into ‘little people’ and the surreal watch relic-artifact puts things in perspective with regards to size.
I went through my entire collection of OMNI magazines that I still have but did not find the artist’s pictorial. Every 6 months or so I scour the ‘net looking for this artist. I am still looking but I came across a great site that has the contents of many omni magazines. http://www.btinternet.com/~the.convent/Selling/OMNI_magazine.html
Unfortunately, I’m thinking this artist’s pictorial was 1989, and only one from that year is listed here. Anyone know this artist? -
Does anyone know if copies of the first Omni are worth anything? I have three of them in nearly mint condition. My email is: stevanjr@lookoutpi.com.
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Pingback from strambinha strambloga » Ambigramas on April 21, 2006 at 6:27 pm
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Are there any public or campus libraries with a collection including the early years of the magazine, preferrably in the NYC area?
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I was a huge fan of OMNI magazine & I’m so glad to see I wasn’t the only one. With all the other crap they keep bringing back from the 80s it’s hard to believe that no one has resurrected this treasure. A one of a kind magazine. I’m still looking for a story about a piano player in a future world. He gets slowly chopped up as he breaks different laws about his art. He’s outlawed from listening to outside music but he listens to music from a cube someone gives to him. The story was accompanied by a painting of a piano with flowers growing out of it. If anyone knows what I’m talking about & knows the name of the story email me at itzdono@netzero.com . There were great articles about technology, fantastic artwork, slick publishing, & a plethora of great writers. RIP OMNI. Please revive it somebody!
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i wish all of those hords of sci-fi minions, waxing nostalgic for the happier times when their was an OMNI sun in the now dark firmamento, would allow their collective testicles to descend and just start a sister magazine in tribute to Omni…….
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I still have the first 12 or so editions of Omni.
The one short story that still sticks in my mind, is the one when there was a huge grid lock problem somewhere in the USA. The grid lock lasted so long that they had to lower food etc to the people that were stranded. Eventually helicopters arrived and poured concrete over the whole mess people, transport, pets and all. So the only solution was to concrete another highway on top of the old. Talk about mans inhumanity to man. But of course that was all supposed to be in the future. Hey! that means now!!!Noel Wood
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I loved the OMNI magazine, I had a subscription for a few years and still have all the issues. I’m going to dig them out this weekend and start reading through them again. My favorite ones were about the dreams and how to control them. Lucent dreams. Also like the little games they had on one of the last pages.
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Omni Magazine was great!
Actually, there was a story published probably sometime between ’91-’92 about the last human being on earth.
For some reason, I want to say the story appeared in the Fall of ’91 because if my memory serves me right, I was taking a study break at my university’s library when I went to the magazine stack and saw the story. I can’t remember the title, but the story line is still imprinted in my head after all these years, as if I just read it the other day.
Basically, it starts out with the narrator describing the uneventful final extinction of the human race as seen in the last moments of life of the only remaning person–a man–to be alive on earth. It mentions briefly how the terrible days of anarchy, calamity and famine–even cannibal gangs–have long since passed that brought humanity to this point.
What I found to be really interesting is that the story doesn’t stop here. It then goes on into the far future, offering a glimpse of what the world might be like after the human race is no longer here. For one thing, it shows how lifeforms such as rats prosper with humanity no longer around to keep them at bay. It even shows how humanity will not be the last sentient lifeform on earth as a highly intelligent race of octopus-like creatures will appear in the oceans.
If anyone knows the author and title of this story and where I can find it, I would be so grateful. Thanks.
Drew
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I always loved OMNI. Great articles and great comics.
Does anyone out there know who the artist was that did The manic depressive tour bus, or know where I can get a copy of it?
Another I’d like to see is The Mariguana. A smoking joint with legs and some very bloodshot eyes. -
Hi all,
My husband and I discovered Omni in its early days. We loved it, and continued reading it for many years. Unfortunately, we no longer have any copies, and I’m going nuts trying to find an early Endpiece that had to do with an infestation of Giant Flying Vampire Toads at the Valhalla Golf Club in Florida. I’d happily purchase the magazine, if I knew which issue that contained that particular article. Any information leading to the re-discovery of those Giant Flying Vampire Toads would make my day!!!! Thanks -
Marsha,
I have many of the early editions of OMNI. I was a 23 year old college student in October of 1978 when I bought the “Collector’s Edition”, the first ever issue of OMNI. It was spectacular. The articles and artwork were amazing. I remember Continuum one month had a brief article on large satelite dishes which might one day become commonplace in backyard all over America. They were called “earth stations” back then but soon came to be known as satelite dishes soon after. The cost was around 20K for one earth station but costs soon came down as soon as demand for the product kicked in. We paid 1200 bucks for ours in 1984 so it took just six years for the fantasy to be turned into reality.I remember an article on Jaques Vallee who I’d met that fall as the hysteria over ET’s was raging due to the popularity of Close Encounters of the Third Kind. I was amazed to be meeting Vallee as his dopplleganger, Claude Lacombe (played by Francois Truffaut) made him a household word.
Marsha, I remember the article on the Giant Flying Vampire Toads and as soon as I find the article I’ll let you know what issue it was in. Great idea for this shrine by the way!
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Marsha, I found the article on the Giant Flying Vampire Toad. It’s in the Last Word section of the June 1980 issue and was written by Norman Spinrad. Funny article.
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I was a little young when Omni first came out, but loved it. I remember a story about a man who has a bunch of beings in a glass case. They divide into opposing groups who wage war on each other. In the end the collector or observer realizes that they are waging a religious war against each other and his face is on the banner that each side carries into battle. (or something like that) I would like to get a copy for my English class to read. Does anyone know the story??Pam
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Perhaps someone should publish a book, The Best of OMNI.
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I have almost every edition. I found this site from a google search. I remember the old days of AOL and Omni chat. I used to look foward each month to getting my newest edition and then holeing up and reading every page. Yes Wired mag has somewhat quenched my thirst for a similar publication but nothing ever has nor will come close to Omni. The internet is my answer to Omni nowadays. Long live Omni and also this shrine!
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Hi, I am looking for a book. The cover of this book had a young girl holding up a cup to lucifer. The book was the story of a young witch.
The magazine featured this picture, i thought on one of its covers but looking at the archives it sems i am mistaken. Does anyone know which magazine edition this was in and what the books name was.
The magazine edition must have been from 1985 onwards
Thanks -
Hi, I am looking for a story that I think was published in the November 1979 edition of Omni Magazine. The Story is about 2 people who meet and fall in love and if they are touching time stands still. Does anyone have a copy of this edition of Omni to sell?
Thanks! -
I sent the above message…. actually I think it was November of 1978. Sorry. :)
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Eric Sahm, an east German artist did the cover of one of the issues of Omni.I would be interested in seeing mor of his art.
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Hi everyone;
I am looking to buy a complete set of the omni magazines in good condition. You can email me at: helenew9@hotmail.com.
Thanks!!!! -
Ah, I remember fondly going to the B. Dalton and Walden books at the mall and wanting this magazine (that and Heavy Metal). I finally saved up and got a copy back in ’84. I subscribed shortly there after and kept it up even thru the bad years when the size shrunk and all X-Files’ness infused the mag. This magaznine really changed me. I will miss this magazine sorely… (I’ll always have my back issues!) -James
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I was involved in a project circa 1986 and due to the scientific-spiritual nature of the project I received a call from one of its writers who requested a phone interview. I foolishly accepted that request and although I was not mis-quoted, I realized later that the whole object of the news coverage was to ridicule the spiritual aspects of the human experience … to believe we are not alone, that we are part of creation by a single superior entity and not the unplanned evolutionist process that says something came from nothing, we just happened freaks of a natural process. I still believe today as I belived back then that there is a God who loves and cares for us. Faced with that reality, how would you respond to such love and universal power? Too bad OMNI is not around to search the truth any longer. Maybe they found the truth and decided they could not report it in counter to their own bias…
Regards,
Mario -
GRID LOCK HELP ! Noel, are you still there? I’ve been on Google all night searching for the Omni article you mentioned. Yeah, the gridlock, traffic, helicopters, all of it made an amzing story. I can’t believe there’s someone else out there who remembers that article, especially now, in late 2006 at the same time I’m looking for it. Do you know the article, author or issue? Wow, I’m trying to find that issue for Christmas. Hope someone can help! Thanks!
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WOW…on a whim, I googled OMNI Magazine and found a link here after reading a bit about it at wikipedia. Oh, what memories I have of that magazine, especially the fiction! I was a wee kid when I saw (and acquired) my first issue of that magazine. I’ve become a science fiction writer (though not yet famous) in part becuase of it, and though it’s sleek and snazzy presence is no longer a part of my daily existence, I have fond memories of a time when the world seemed…well…smarter, or at least willing to BECOME smart, and OMNI (along with Carl Sagan) seemed to be such a huge part of that. I’m glad I was there to experience it and then pop up here to say something about it.
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Hey, I have a bunch of old issues of OMNI if anybody wants to buy them?
email me and lets talks
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Hi there Mike:
Can you post your email address up so we can email you? Thanks a bunch!!
Regards,
Helene -
I was inspired by OMNI in my youth, and have set up a quality science magazine in Australia that I consider to be its homage. It also carries science fiction every isuse, and has some of the same approach to lush design and illustration.
It’s called COSMOS, and I recommend you check it out.
See http://www.cosmosmagazine.com
Cheers
Wilson da Silva
Editor, COSMOS -
To Pam Brown, the short story you’re referring to was called “Sandkings”. I forget the author’s name, but it won awards. I remember it as one of my favorite stories from Omni too.
I used to read Omni in the mid to late 80’s, from late high school up through most of college. I hadn’t thought about it for a long time but I miss it. Things like laser eye surgery I first heard about in Omni months or years before it made the evening news. Definitely cutting edge. I remember reading an interview with Dr. Heimlich (of the Heimlich maneuver) and thinking “what a crackpot”. His Heimlich maneuver might have worked but the man was wacky.
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Wow!! I went back to my parents’ house and dug up my old collection!!
Sure enough, “Sand Kings” and the gridlock story!!
There was an article about longevity that mentioned caloric restriction…
27 years before all the recent hubbub about reserveratrol!!!
If you guys want to buy my collection, post here and I’ll get back to ya!!
(Does anybody remember a short story about a future Olympics with
genetically modified athletes?)
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