What is Illuminations of the Fantastic and what kinds of stories does it publish?

Illuminations of the Fantastic (IF) Magazine is an online literary magazine that mainly publishes speculative fiction — what is sometimes called “genre fiction”, including science fiction, fantasy, horror, and mystery short stories. We also focus on film reviews, book reviews, and poetry, especially sonnets and epic and narrative poems.

Who started Illuminations of the Fantastic?

Our magazine was founded by Philip J. Palacios and Samuel J. Stephens in 2020, two writers living in the Nashville area.

What is the publishing philosophy of Illuminations of the Fantastic?

We publish the kinds of stories that we like to read! We take inspiration from the vast panoply of great literature—everything from ancient verse epics to Ray Bradbury and beyond. Our philosophy in regards to our website layout is that it should be pleasant to the eye and aid the reading experience.