Realms of Fantasy (RoF) is a bi-monthly colour magazine first dedicated to publishing the best in fantasy fiction, nonfiction, and artwork. Launched in 1994 by its first publisher, Sovereign Media, the magazine quickly established itself as one of the most important short fiction venues in speculative literature and over the years has garnered a number of major awards and nominations. It has also developed a reputation for the balance it achieves in publishing prominent authors and artists while also fostering new and emerging talents.
In 2009, Sovereign Media unexpectedly ceased publication of the magazine following its April issue. RoF was soon afterwards acquired by Warren Lapine and his newly founded Tir Na Nog Press. One of Lapine's first acts as publisher was to reunite the magazine's original and longtime editor, Shawna McCarthy, with some of its former editorial crew. Re-launched with the August 2009 issue, the magazine still retained much of its original look and concept.
The new publishing deal was short-lived, however, with Lapine announcing in October 2010 that Realms of Fantasy would cease publication with the December 2010 issue being planned as a free PDF version available from the RoF magazine. Within a month the magazine was acquired by Kim and William Gilchrist, co-publishers of Damnation Press, who also retained the same editorial crew. The deal led to the December 2010 issue going to press under the Tir Na Nog Press banner, with the February 2011 issue published by Damnation Books.
Realms of Fantasy ceased publication in October 2011.
