British Fantasy Society
A UK voluntary association that promotes fantasy, science fiction, and horror literature and culture.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
The British Fantasy Society (BFS) is a UK voluntary association devoted to the promotion and discussion of fantasy, science fiction, and horror. It was established in 1971 under the name British Weird Fantasy Society as an offshoot of the British Science Fiction Association. The organization developed as a community for readers, writers, artists, critics, editors, and other enthusiasts, combining member communications, publishing, awards, competitions, and convention activity. A central part of the society's public identity is its support for speculative-fiction culture beyond any single medium or subgenre. Although the word “fantasy” is prominent in its name, the BFS has historically covered a broad field that includes literary fantasy, dark fantasy, supernatural fiction, horror, science fiction, poetry, criticism, illustration, and related scholarship. Its activities provide both professional recognition and community infrastructure for creators and audiences in these fields. The society's annual awards are known as the British Fantasy Awards. They were created in 1971 following a suggestion from the society's then-president, Ramsey Campbell, and have become one of the organization's most visible contributions to the genre community. The BFS also established Fantasycon, a long-running speculative-fiction convention first held in 1975. Fantasycon has served as a meeting point for authors, publishers, editors, artists, fans, and academics, with programming spanning talks, panels, readings, social events, and industry discussion. The 2025 Fantasycon was merged with the World Fantasy Convention in Brighton, connecting the society's established UK convention with a major international event. Publishing is another major area of activity. The society publishes BFS Horizons, a fiction-oriented magazine, and the BFS Journal, a non-fiction and academic publication. Each is issued twice a year, with the two publications following alternating schedules, and both are available in print and electronic forms. The journal covers criticism, scholarship, reviews, interviews, and other writing on fantasy, horror, and science fiction. The society also distributes a members-only monthly email containing news, reviews, and usually an exclusive short story. The BFS has maintained a broader publishing history that includes Dark Horizons, Prism, New Horizons, Shelflings, and other magazines or electronic review publications. Dark Horizons was the society's journal from 1971 until 2010, when it was combined with the British Fantasy Society Journal. Across its publishing history, the BFS has supported fiction, non-fiction, poetry, artwork, reviews, and genre commentary. It has also issued numbered chapbooks and other books, including works associated with authors such as William Hope Hodgson, Michael Moorcock, Ramsey Campbell, Peter Berresford Ellis, August Derleth, and M. R. James. Additional publications have included studies of H. P. Lovecraft's relationship with Britain and books connected with contemporary horror writers. Recognition from outside the society has also formed part of its history. In 2000, the BFS received the Special Award: Non-Professional at the World Fantasy Awards. This acknowledged the contribution of a volunteer-led organization to fantasy culture and publishing. The BFS has no direct connection with an earlier science-fiction group that used the same name between 1942 and 1946; the modern organization was founded in 1971 as the British Weird Fantasy Society and subsequently became the British Fantasy Society. The organization remains active as a membership-based cultural body. Its current work combines awards administration, magazines, online communication, competitions, archival activity, convention participation, and outreach. Rather than operating as a commercial entertainment company, the BFS functions as a community and publishing institution whose value lies in sustaining the UK speculative-fiction ecosystem and connecting it with international genre culture.
History
The British Fantasy Society was founded in 1971 as the British Weird Fantasy Society, an offshoot of the British Science Fiction Association. Its creation placed the organization within the expanding network of genre societies that supported speculative-fiction readers, writers, editors, artists, and critics in the United Kingdom. Although its original title emphasized weird fantasy, the society's remit developed into a broad promotion of fantasy, science fiction, and horror. The society introduced the British Fantasy Awards in 1971 after a proposal associated with its then-president, Ramsey Campbell. These awards became an important mechanism for recognizing achievement in British and international fantasy and horror publishing. The BFS also launched Fantasycon, holding the first convention in 1975. Over time, Fantasycon became a recurring event that brought together creators, publishers, academics, fans, and other participants in speculative-fiction culture. Publishing has remained a major part of the society's work. Dark Horizons began in 1971 as the BFS journal and ran until 2010. Its contents changed according to editorial direction and the wider publishing program, but it generally included genre fiction, criticism, articles, poetry, artwork, reviews, and related material. A succession of editors shaped the publication, including Rosemary Pardoe, Adrian Cole, David A. Sutton, Stephen Jones, Mike Chinn, John Merritt, David J. Howe, Peter Coleborn, Debbie Bennett, Marie O'Regan, Jenny Barber, Jan Edwards, and Stephen Theaker. In 2010, Dark Horizons was merged with the British Fantasy Society Journal. The current publication program includes BFS Horizons, a fiction magazine, and the BFS Journal, which focuses on non-fiction, criticism, scholarship, reviews, interviews, and academic writing concerning fantasy, horror, and science fiction. Both are issued twice each year, on alternating schedules, and are made available in print and electronic formats. The society also sends a monthly members-only email containing organizational news, reviews, and generally an exclusive short story. The BFS has published or supported a number of other periodicals and books. Earlier periodicals include Prism, New Horizons, Shelflings, Winter Chills, Chills, and Mystique: Tales of Wonder. Some were independent but associated with the society, while Mystique was eventually absorbed into Dark Horizons. The society has also issued numbered chapbooks featuring works by writers including William Hope Hodgson, Michael Moorcock, Ramsey Campbell, Peter Berresford Ellis, August Derleth, and M. R. James. Its book publications have included studies and literary works connected with Clive Barker, Simon Clark, Stephen Laws, H. P. Lovecraft, Stephen Jones, and Les Edwards. In 2000, the British Fantasy Society received the Special Award: Non-Professional at the World Fantasy Awards. This recognized the contribution of a voluntary organization to the genre community. The society's convention and publishing activities continued into the twenty-first century, with Fantasycon remaining a visible component of its program. In 2025, Fantasycon was merged with the World Fantasy Convention in Brighton. The modern BFS should not be confused with an earlier science-fiction group that used the name British Fantasy Society between 1942 and 1946. The present organization originated in 1971 under a different name and subsequently became the British Fantasy Society. It continues to operate as a membership-based cultural and publishing association rather than as a commercial company.
- 2025
Fantasycon and World Fantasy Convention combined in Brighton
[1]The 2025 Fantasycon was merged with the World Fantasy Convention in Brighton.
- 2010
Dark Horizons merged into the BFS Journal
[1]After nearly four decades of publication, Dark Horizons was combined with the British Fantasy Society Journal.
- 2007
H. P. Lovecraft in Britain published
[1]The society published H. P. Lovecraft in Britain: A Monograph by Stephen Jones, with illustrations by Les Edwards.
- 2000
World Fantasy Award recognition
[1]The BFS won the World Fantasy Awards' Special Award: Non-Professional.
- 1975
First Fantasycon held
[1]The society held the first Fantasycon, establishing a recurring convention for the UK speculative-fiction community.
- 1971
Founded as the British Weird Fantasy Society
[1]The organization was established as an offshoot of the British Science Fiction Association to promote fantasy and related speculative genres.
- 1971
British Fantasy Awards established
[1]The society created its annual awards after a suggestion from its then-president, Ramsey Campbell.
- 1971
Dark Horizons begins publication
[1]Dark Horizons began as the society's journal, publishing a mixture of speculative fiction, criticism, poetry, artwork, reviews, and articles.
Products and positioning
A volunteer-led UK institution for the promotion, publication, recognition, and discussion of fantasy, science fiction, and horror.
Fiction magazine
BFS Horizons
A current British Fantasy Society fiction publication featuring work connected with fantasy and related speculative genres. It is issued twice a year and is available in print and electronic formats.
Non-fiction and academic journal
BFS Journal
The society's non-fiction publication, issued twice annually on an alternating schedule with BFS Horizons. It includes academic and critical writing, book and film reviews, author interviews, and broader discussion of fantasy, horror, and science fiction.
Genre journal · 1971
Dark Horizons
The BFS journal published from 1971 to 2010. Its changing editorial program covered speculative fiction, non-fiction, poetry, artwork, reviews, and genre commentary before it was merged with the BFS Journal.
Literary and artistic awards · 1971
British Fantasy Awards
The society's annual awards recognize achievements in fantasy and related speculative fiction and culture. They were established in 1971 following a suggestion from Ramsey Campbell.
Speculative-fiction convention · 1975
Fantasycon
A recurring convention organized by the society since its first edition in 1975. It provides programming and networking for writers, artists, publishers, critics, academics, and fans of fantasy, horror, and science fiction.
Member communication
Members-only monthly email
A monthly members' communication that rounds up society news and reviews and generally includes an exclusive short story.
Brand decisions
2025
Combine Fantasycon with the World Fantasy ConventionStrategyBackground
Fantasycon had operated as the society's long-running speculative-fiction convention since 1975.
Action taken
The 2025 Fantasycon was merged with the World Fantasy Convention in Brighton.
Aftermath
The event connected the BFS's established convention program with a major international fantasy gathering.
2010
Merge Dark Horizons with the BFS JournalStrategyBackground
Dark Horizons had served as the society's journal since 1971, while the BFS maintained a wider periodical program.
Action taken
The society discontinued Dark Horizons as a separate journal and combined it with the British Fantasy Society Journal.
Aftermath
The merger consolidated the society's journal publishing under the BFS Journal, while the organization continued separate fiction publishing through BFS Horizons.
Recent events
- 2025
Fantasycon merges with World Fantasy Convention in Brighton[1]
Other
The 2025 edition of Fantasycon was merged with the World Fantasy Convention in Brighton, linking the BFS event with an international genre convention.
- 2000
British Fantasy Society receives World Fantasy Award recognition[1]
Other
The society won the Special Award: Non-Professional at the World Fantasy Awards, recognizing its contribution to fantasy culture as a volunteer-led organization.
- 1975
Fantasycon begins as the society's recurring convention[1]
Other
The British Fantasy Society held the first edition of Fantasycon, which became a long-running UK convention for speculative-fiction communities.
Sources2 sources
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