Five years of Illuminations of the Fantastic!

Check out the new covers for Issues 1 - 7 (as well as a few more).

Issue #1. Illuminations of the Fantastic Magazine. www.illuminationsfantastic.com — **Issue No.1—** ***published April 2nd, 2020*** | *edited by Samuel J. Stephens, Nathan Gilmore, & Philip J. Palacios*

***Stories—***
*Bloody Stars |* by Philip J. Palacios
*The Man Who Was A Paradox |* by Terry K. Jones
*The Confessional |* by Philip J. Palacios
*Marksman’s Musings |* by Scott Hamilton
*Ardent’s Orders |* by Jason Sledge
*The Design of ‘Halo’ |* by Scott Hamilton
*Why Anglo-Saxon Poetry? |* by Samuel J. Stephens
*Musurdvitha Part I* | by Samuel J. Stephens
***Artwork Design by Sam Stephens***

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Issue #2. Illuminations of the Fantastic Magazine. www.illuminationsfantastic.com — **Issue No.2** —***published May 2, 2020*** | *edited by Samuel J. Stephens, Nathan Gilmore, Philip J. Palacios, & Diana Massengale*

***Stories—***
*Founding Readers* | by Nathan Gilmore
*The Moon Bears* | by Samuel J. Stephens
*Nature’s Body* | by Rachel Scott
*Spring Carousel* | by Philip J. Palacios
*What’s ‘Warhammer 40K’?* | by Scott Hamilton
*Serial Breakthrough* | by Jason Sledge
*Soul Focus* | by Philip J. Palacios
*Musurdvitha Part II* | by Samuel J. Stephens
***Artwork Design by Sam Stephens***

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Issue #3. Illuminations of the Fantastic Magazine. www.illuminationsfantastic.com — Issue No.3—*published June 2, 2020* | *edited by Samuel J. Stephens, Nathan Gilmore, Philip J. Palacios, & Diana Massengale*

***Stories—***
*Dungeons & Cryptos* | by Scott Hamilton
*Warning!* | by Terry K. Jones
*The Path of Vanha* | by Zach Green
*The Clocks of God* | by Nathan Gilmore
*An Elephant in the Bush* | by Benjamin Wolaver
*The Road to En-dor Part I* | by Samuel J. Stephens
*The Fall of Elania* | by Jason Sledge
*Musurdvitha Part III* | by Samuel J. Stephens
***Artwork Design by Sam Stephens***

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Issue #4. Illuminations of the Fantastic Magazine. www.illuminationsfantastic.com — **Issue No.4—** ***published August 2, 2020*** | *edited by Samuel J. Stephens, Nathan Gilmore, Philip J. Palacios, & Diana Massengale*

***Stories—***
*The Firework Heart* | by Stephanie Stahlman
*Graham vs. Graham* | by Terry K. Jones
*A Dream of the Elements* | by Scott Hamilton
*Melié* | by Zach Green
*All the Burning Bullets* | by Philip J. Palacios
*One Too Many Undead* | by Scott Hamilton
*Summer Butterfly* | by Philip J. Palacios
*The Road to En-dor Part II* | by Samuel J. Stephens
***Artwork Design by Sam Stephens***

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Issue #5. Illuminations of the Fantastic Magazine. www.illuminationsfantastic.com — **Issue No.5 “Sci-Fi Vol.I”—** ***published September 5, 2020*** | *edited by Samuel J. Stephens, Nathan Gilmore, Philip J. Palacios, & Diana Massengale*

***Stories—***
*Men Without Chests |* by Crystal Hurd
*Karel Čapek’s ‘R.U.R.’ |* by Philip J. Palacios & Sam Stephens
*Drone Skies |* by Samuel J. Stephens
*Synthetic Suicide |* by Terry K. Jones
*Meter’s Running, Mr. Bot |* by Philip J. Palacios
*Programmed For Decay |* by Stephanie Stahlman
*Lost Daughter |* by Philip J. Palacios
*Fritz Lang’s ‘Metropolis’|* by Nathan Gilmore
***Artwork by*** ***Tina Ritchie***

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Issue #6. Illuminations of the Fantastic Magazine. www.illuminationsfantastic.com — **Issue No.6 “Horror”—** ***published October 5, 2020*** | *edited by Samuel J. Stephens, Nathan Gilmore, Philip J. Palacios, & Diana Massengale*

***Stories—***
*Terrarium |* by Diana Massengale
*Piercing Shadows |* by William Riggs
*The Games of Madness |* by Scott Hamilton
*Fritz Lang’s ‘Mabuse’ |* by Samuel J. Stephens & Nathan Gilmore
*Old October |* by Rachel Scott
*Werewolf Mutiny |* by Philip J. Palacios
*A Fate Worse Than Death |* by Zach Green
*Date of the Living Dead |* by Philip J. Palacios
***Artwork by Kenni Gruen***

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Issue #9. Illuminations of the Fantastic Magazine. www.illuminationsfantastic.com — *The Seasons Quartet* by Philip J. Palacios: Published November 25th, 2020 | edited *by Samuel J. Stephens, Nathan Gilmore, Philip J. Palacios, & Diana Massengale*

***Stories—***
*Spring Carousel |* from Issue No.1
*Summer Butterfly |* from Issue No.2
*The Autumn Tree |* from The Seasons Quartet
*Winter’s Melody |* from Issue No.7
***Artwork by Kenni Gruen***

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Issue #7. Illuminations of the Fantastic Magazine. www.illuminationsfantastic.com — **Issue No.7 “Christmas”—** ***published December 10th, 2020*** | *edited by Samuel J. Stephens, Nathan Gilmore, Philip J. Palacios, & Diana Massengale*

***Stories—***
*A Demon’s Christmas |* by Nathan Gilmore
*The Gods of the Isles |* by Alex J. Taylor
*Margot’s Objective |* by Camille DaSilva
*An Inkling’s Christmas |* by Crystal Hurd
*The Legend of Kristoff |* by Terry K. Jones & William Riggs
*A Very Murray Christmas |* by Scott Hamilton
*My Winter Church |* by Stephanie Stahlman
*Winter’s Melody |* by Philip J. Palacios
***Artwork by Ashley Carr***

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Issue #8. Illuminations of the Fantastic Magazine. www.illuminationsfantastic.com — **Issue No.8 “Epic Poetry Vol.I”—** ***published February 15, 2021*** | *edited by Samuel J. Stephens, Nathan Gilmore, Philip J. Palacios, & Diana Massengale*

***Stories—***
*Tolkien’s ‘Sigurd’ Sources |* by Eleanor Parker
*The Song of Yoshitsune |* by Alex J. Taylor
*Aelfwynn, Lady of Mercia |* by M. Cynthia Cheung
*The Epic Book of Samuel |* by Nathan Gilmore
*The Camillad |* by Timothy E . G. Bartel
*The Swan Queen’s Love |* by Zach Green
*The Epic Acts of the Apostles |* by Alicia Joy Taylor
*Heavensfield |* by Samuel J. Stephens
***Artwork by Evangelina Stephens***

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Issue #10. Science Fiction Stories. Illuminations of the Fantastic Magazine. www.illuminationsfantastic.com — **Issue No.10 “Sci-Fi Vol.II”—** ***published June 2, 2021*** | *edited by Samuel J. Stephens, Nathan Gilmore, Philip J. Palacios, & Diana Massengale*

***Stories—***
*The Silence of Trees |* by Kenni Gruen
*Night of the Monolith |* by Samuel J. Stephens
*Silent Kill |* by Philip J. Palacios
*Divine Advent |* by Zach Green
*Proserpine’s Mutiny |* by Diana Massengale
***Art Design by Sam Stephens***

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Issue #11. Illuminations of the Fantastic Magazine. www.illuminationsfantastic.com — **Issue No.11 “Detectives & Fairy Tales”—** ***published July 2, 2021*** | *edited by Samuel J. Stephens, Nathan Gilmore, Philip J. Palacios, & Diana Massengale*

***Stories—***
*The Special Seed |* by Daniella Rushton
*In the Faun’s Library |* by Crystal Hurd
*Starchild Ur-Carath |* by Zach Green
*The Patriot and the Imposter |* by Nathan Gilmore
*Diner Dames Don’t Cry |* by Philip J. Palacios
*The Adventure of the Bronze Emblem |* by Samuel J. Stephens
***Artwork by Ashley Carr***

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*Bones and Badger* Series by Scott Hamilton— ***published Summer of 2021*** | *edited by Samuel J. Stephens, Nathan Gilmore, Philip J. Palacios, & Diana Massengale*

***Stories—***
*One Too Many Undead |* from Issue No.4
*The Gamed of Madness |* from Issue No.6
*A Very Murray Christmas |* from Issue No.7
*Sanguine Shenanigans |* from Bones and Badger Series
***Artwork by Kenni Gruen***

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Issue #12. Illuminations of the Fantastic Magazine. www.illuminationsfantastic.com — **Issue No.12—** ***published January 16, 2022*** | *edited by Samuel J. Stephens, Nathan Gilmore, Philip J. Palacios, & Diana Massengale*

***Stories—***
*Ithidroth* | by Zach Green
*Bresson’s ‘Balthazar’* | by Nathan Gilmore
*The Last Night* | by Benjamin Wolaver
***Art Design by Sam Stephens***

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The Shadow of the Wood: A Serialized Novel. Illuminations of the Fantastic Magazine. www.illuminationsfantastic.com — ***The Shadow of the Wood***—**A Serialized Novel by Samuel J. Stephens & Benjamin Wolaver**

***Published Chapters—***
Chapter One: ‘The Summons’
Chapter Two: ‘The Road to St. Albans’
Chapter Three: ‘Whispers and Rumours’
***Summary—*** *The monk Ellias is summoned to the secluded village of St. Alban’s, where he must unravel not one mysterious death, but two, as the village’s tensions mount ever higher.*

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Issue #13. Illuminations of the Fantastic Magazine. www.illuminationsfantastic.com — **Issue No.13 “Gothic” & “Christmas”—** ***published Nov. & Dec., 2022*** | *edited by Samuel J. Stephens and Nathan Gilmore*

***Stories—***
*Val Lewton at R.K.O. |* by Christopher Witty
*The Veiled |* by Camille DaSilva
*Bright Star: 12 Christmas Sonnets |* by Samuel J. Stephens & Nathan Gilmore
***Artwork Design by Sam Stephens***

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Issue #14. Illuminations of the Fantastic Magazine. www.illuminationsfantastic.com — Issue No.14 “Epic Poetry Vol.II”*— published June 7, 2023 |* *edited by Samuel J. Stephens & Nathan Gilmore*

Illuminations of the Fantastic is proud to present Epic Poetry Vol.II. With its rich language of simile, high diction, and subjects of heroic gravity and adventurous romance, the epic mode remains an exciting canvas for poets. Here are six more installments of epic verse, and an essay, diverse in voice and metre—
*The Waelsings’ Revenge|* Jordan M. Poss
*The Lay of St. Boniface |* Alex J. Taylor
*The Epic Acts of the Apostles Parts II* *& III* | Alicia Joy Taylor
*The Epic Book of Samuel Part II* | Nathan Gilmore
*The Loss of the West |* William G. Carpenter
*Opera Angelorum* | Samuel J. Stephens
*Considering the Epic* | Samuel J. Stephens
***Artwork by Sam Stephens***

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Short Poem Corner - www.illuminationsfantastic.com — Short Poem Corner *— published May 2023 & February, 2024 |* *edited by Samuel J. Stephens and Nathan Gilmore*

*Edition #1 |* May 16 2023
**Featured Poets:** David Mattson, Elisabeth Joireman, Stefanie Kate M. Watchorna, Timothy E.G. Bartel, Nathan Gilmore, and Sam Stephens.
*Edition #2 |* February 15 2024
**Featured Poets:** David Mattson, Camille DaSilva, Timothy E.G. Bartel, Nathan Gilmore, and Sam Stephens.

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Issue #15. Illuminations of the Fantastic Magazine. www.illuminationsfantastic.com — Issue No.15 “Mystery & Thriller” *— published February 15, 2024 |* *edited by Samuel J. Stephens, Nathan Gilmore, and Philip J. Palacios*

***Stories—***
*Force of Nature |* by Christopher Witty
*Belly of the Beast* | by Nathan Gilmore
*The Case of the Respectable Tutor* | by Samuel J. Stephens
*Epitaph for a Gumshoe* | by Philip J. Palacios
*The Films of Nigel Kneale* | by Christopher Witty
***Feature—****Short Poem Corner Edition #2*
***Feature—****Film Filings: ‘The Boy and the Heron’ Reviews*
***Original Artwork by Ashley Carr | Design by Sam Stephens***

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“I’m sorry sir, we haven’t any Dunsany. Can I interest you in some cookbooks?”

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Illuminations of the Fantastic (or “IF: Illuminations of the Fantastic”) is protected by U.S. Copyright Law. All materials published online here or in the printed version, are claimed by us (IlluminationsFantastic.com). We reserve the right to pursue legal action against those who publish or re-publish the works claimed by Illuminations of the Fantastic without our express permission or the original author(s) of said work.

Illuminations of the Fantastic has been named 'One of the Best Literary Magazines of 2023' by the influential writer's resource website ReedsyBlog.

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Issue #1 · Issue #2 · Issue #3 · Issue #4 · Issue #5 · Issue #6 · Issue #7 · Issue #8 · Issue #9 · Issue #10 · Issue #11 · Issue #12 · Bones & Badger · Seasons Quartet · Shadow of the Wood · Issue #13 · Issue #14 · Issue #15 · Issue #16 · Issue #17

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Content Rating: All stories published by IF can be assumed to have a content rating between PG-13 and a soft R.

Illuminations of the Fantastic Magazine is a current and free online magazine that publishes new short stories, poetry, and essays. www.illuminationsfantastic.com

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