Destinies Vol. 1, No. 1: Nov./Dec. 1978

Destinies

by Jim Baen (Editor), Susan Allison (Assistant Editor), Ellen Kushner (Assistant Editor)

Ace mass paperback, first edition, first printing Oct. 1978 (stated). ISBN: 0441142818, 308 pages, cover art by Don Brautigom, interior illustrations by Stephen Fabian; Alex Schomburg and Robert Adragna. 12mo (6.75" x 4.25") First issue of this magazine. Contains: Stand Pat, Ruby Stone, by Roger Zelazny; Old Woman By the Road, by Gregory Benford; New Beginnings: If Only We Could Start Over ... essay by Jerry Pournelle; Transition Team, by Charles Sheffield; Antinomy, by Spider Robinson; Spider vs. the Hax of Sol III, essay by Spider Robinson; Very Proper Charlies, by Dean Ing; Party Line, by Clifford D. Simak; Assimilating Our Culture, That's What They're Doing, by Larry Niven; Science Fiction and Science, Part One: Reality, Fiction, and Points Between, by Poul Anderson.

Genres: Science Fiction, Short Stories, Fiction

308 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Jim Baen was Editor-in-Chief and publisher of Baen Books, and renowned in the science fiction field for his taste and ability to select authors with strong storytelling ability and steer them to commercial success. Prior to founding of Baen Books, he was the editor of science fiction magazine Galaxy, science fiction editor of Ace Books, and an editor at Tor Books.

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first issue of Destinies, a science fiction magazine in mass-market paperback format that Baen established and edited for Ace Books until he left to direct his own eponymous science fiction/fantasy publishing company. The first four or five decades of the sf genre (from the first issue of Gernsback's Amazing Stories until around the time of Ellison's Dangerous Visions original anthology, give or take, more or less) were absolutely dominated by the magazines, first in pulp and then in digest-sized format. Destinies was an innovative concept that attempted to blend the best of both worlds, incorporating the less-ephemeral book format with the charm of original illustrations and columns that promoted a sense of community one found in the magazines. The authors were mostly from Baen's stable that he'd built at Ace (and his earlier stint as editor of Galaxy) and ran a little heavy with his odd mix of pro-science conservative libertarianism, but he published some very good stuff. The non-fiction in this premiere volume came from Spider Robinson, Jerry Pournelle, and Poul Anderson, and there was lovely art from Don Brautigan, Alex Schomburg, Stephen E. Fabian, and Robert Adragna. The book contained a novella by Dean Ing that was an okay thriller but lacked much of a science fiction flavor, short stories by Larry Niven, Gregory Benford, and Roger Zelazny, and three very enjoyable novelettes from Charles Sheffield, Clifford Simak, and Spider Robinson.

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strangely, the longest piece in this book is one that I would hesitate to identify as science fiction or fantasy, fitting into more of an espionage fiction mold, but that notwithstanding, the stories here are enjoyable even if none of them measure up to the finest works by any of the much-lauded authors involved. Somewhat forgettable, but a pleasant time.

[Darnoc Leadburger · Rating 3 out of 5]

I settled on 3 stars because, like any anthology, this has ups and downs. The ups are "Antinomy" and "Party Line". The 'speculative' nonfiction pieces are also worth your time. Quite a few of these are quite forgettable, but if you like sci-fi stumble across this I don't see why not to pick up it.

[Edward Brock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Working my way through this series will be a joy. Great stories all around.