Review: The Best from Orbit (Volumes 1-10) ed. by Damon Knight

Synopsis: Orbit was the brain-child of  Damon Knight (husband of Kate Wilhelm) and was intended to offer more literary examples of fantasy and science fiction. Up until then, most science-fiction was of the decided pulp variety, or maybe the Space Opera, with a few notable exceptions tossed in. Knight wanted to show the science fiction was a legitimate form of literature, one the could be as serious and complex as your average classic novel. This is the "best of" from the first 10 volumes of Orbit - published as anthologies, not magazines - and includes letter between him and the authors (if available) to illustrated how the stories came to be.

Review: As a rule, I do not enjoy more literary science fiction works. I have attempted them over my reading life and at best, find them adequate, and at worst find them confusion or pretentious. However, as another rule, I will not judge a story as “good” or “bad” – being that, as with most arts, “good” and “bad” are in the eye of the beholder – or in this case, the mind of the reader. A story can be objectively judged for its technical merit, it’s grammar and spelling, it’s adherence to a particular form – but as long as it meets the basics of these, to state it is “good” or “bad” is to make an objective call about a subjective opinion.

Therefore, I simply state that there was about 3-4 stories I liked, and few I thought were boring or pointless, and a few that seemed to barely qualify as science fiction. And a few that I just plan didn’t understand at all. I have highlighted a few below. But in the end, I can’t say whether you will enjoy this or not. If you are looking for more literary science fiction – this is the book for you. If you enjoy the more Space Opera or Pulp style, skip it.

Mother to the World by Richard Wilson: WTF – I mean, the ending of this was revolting. I didn’t like it but I had to give credit for an excellent story. It elicited a visceral reaction from me.

The End by Ursula K. Le Guinn: A gently chilling story, so like Le Guinn, where the horror only comes upon you slowly and you are left with the deep question of how the character faired once the story ended.

Rite of Spring by Avram Davidson: Just long enough to make me want to know about this world. Needed to be a few pages longer to really “get” the point. But overall, creepy AF.

Passengers by Robert Silverberg: Almost horror in its topic, one of possession and futility. Would make an excellent Twilight Zone episode.

Look, You Think You've Got Troubles by Carol Carr: Cute and funny, with a topic we are all familiar with but with an ending and setting that make it new and fresh.

The Big Flash by Norman Spinrad: I have no idea what really happened but def. creepy.

Horse of Air by Gardner R. Dozois: Confused me, and yet, I was scared at the end. Good story.

The rest were either disappointingly confusing (The Planners by Kate Wilhelm, which I specifically bought this collection to read) to the odd and off-putting. Read at your own risk.

Bookmarks: 3 of 5 (stories)  / 4 of 5 (Collection)

Awards: Several Won Nebula etc. Awards

ISBN: 425-03161-6
Year Published: Stories (1966-1975), Collection (1976)
Date Finished: 2-22-2019
Pages: 404