SciFiNow
British speculative-fiction media brand covering science fiction, fantasy and horror through magazine, website and subscription-platform content.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
SciFiNow is a British media brand focused on science fiction, fantasy and horror. It began as a print magazine in April 2007 and was published on a four-weekly schedule in the United Kingdom. Its editorial scope encompassed genre film and television, books, comics and related popular culture, positioning the title as a broad entertainment magazine rather than a publication limited to literary science fiction. The brand developed within the specialist magazine market and changed ownership during a period of consolidation in UK publishing. Imagine Publishing was the title's owner before Future plc acquired Imagine in 2016. That transaction placed SciFiNow alongside Future's existing genre title SFX. Future subsequently chose to divest SciFiNow, and Kelsey Media acquired the magazine in 2017. Kelsey Media continued the print edition through issue 171. SciFiNow received industry recognition in 2010 when it won the Best Magazine award at the Fantasy Horror Award ceremony in Orvieto, Italy. The award reflected the title's position within the international fantasy, horror and science-fiction publishing community, although the available reference material does not provide detailed information about the judging criteria or competing publications. The print edition ceased publication in May 2020. Rather than ending the brand entirely, the publisher shifted SciFiNow toward an online editorial model. The digital presence publishes news, interviews, reviews and competitions relating to films, television programmes, books and comics in the science-fiction, fantasy and horror fields. This transition changed the brand from a periodic print magazine into an online media property with more frequent publishing and a wider potential international audience. Long-form features and selected archival material from earlier issues are also made available under the SciFiNow+ name through The Companion, a subscription-based website and app. SciFiNow+ extends the brand's magazine heritage into a paid digital archive and features service. The brand is now operated under Harper Editorial following a management buyout led by editor Richard Harper. Available sources do not establish a separate corporate registration, current audience size, revenue figure, circulation figure or definitive standalone website URL.
History
SciFiNow launched in April 2007 as a British print magazine devoted to science fiction, fantasy and horror. It was issued every four weeks and covered a wide range of genre entertainment, including films, television, books and comics. The editorial proposition combined news and criticism with interviews and feature material, allowing the magazine to address both established genre enthusiasts and readers following popular speculative-fiction releases. The magazine operated within a competitive specialist-publishing environment. Before 2016, SciFiNow was associated with Imagine Publishing. Future plc acquired Imagine Publishing in 2016, and the acquisition placed SciFiNow within a larger magazine group that already owned SFX, another prominent UK publication serving science-fiction and related audiences. Future later decided to divest SciFiNow, and Kelsey Media acquired the title in 2017. Kelsey Media retained the magazine as a print property and published it through issue 171. SciFiNow gained recognition outside the United Kingdom in 2010, when it won the Best Magazine award at the Fantasy Horror Award ceremony in Orvieto, Italy. The available account records the award but does not provide further details about the nomination process, the judging panel or the other nominees. The print edition ended in May 2020. The closure marked a major change in format, but not the disappearance of the brand. SciFiNow moved to an online-only editorial presence, publishing daily updates as well as interviews, reviews and competitions. Its subject coverage continued to span films, television, books and comics across the science-fiction, horror and fantasy genres. The digital model enabled more frequent publication than the former four-weekly magazine and allowed the title to continue operating without a regular print issue. The brand's magazine heritage also continues through SciFiNow+, a name used for longer features and archival material from earlier issues on The Companion, a subscription website and app. This arrangement gives selected back-catalogue content a digital distribution channel and places SciFiNow within a broader subscription-media environment. SciFiNow is currently described as operating under Harper Editorial after a management buyout by editor Richard Harper. The supplied reference material does not establish the exact date of that transaction, the legal structure of Harper Editorial, current staff beyond Harper, audience metrics, circulation, financial results or a confirmed official website address. The brand is therefore best understood as an active online genre-media property with a discontinued print edition.
- 2020
Print publication ends
[1]The magazine ceases print publication in May after issue 171.
- 2020
Digital transition
[1]SciFiNow continues online with daily news, interviews, reviews and competitions.
- 2017
Kelsey Media becomes publisher
[1]Future divests SciFiNow and Kelsey Media takes over the title.
- 2016
Imagine Publishing joins Future plc
[1]Future plc acquires Imagine Publishing, the then-owner of SciFiNow.
- 2010
Best Magazine award
[1]SciFiNow wins the Best Magazine award at the Fantasy Horror Award ceremony in Orvieto, Italy.
- 2007
SciFiNow launches
[1]The British magazine begins publication in April, covering science fiction, fantasy and horror across film, television, books and comics.
Products and positioning
A specialist genre-media brand serving audiences interested in science fiction, fantasy and horror across screen entertainment, publishing and comics. Its current positioning combines timely online coverage with magazine-style features and archival content.
Print magazine · 2007
SciFiNow magazine
The original four-weekly British magazine covered science fiction, fantasy and horror, with editorial material on films, television, books and comics. It ended as a print publication in May 2020 after Kelsey Media published issue 171.
Digital media · 2020
SciFiNow online
The post-print digital incarnation publishes frequent genre news, interviews, reviews and competitions. Its coverage remains focused on science-fiction, fantasy and horror across screen and publishing media.
Subscription content
SciFiNow+
SciFiNow+ is the brand name used for longer features and selected archival pieces from previous issues that are distributed through The Companion subscription website and app.
Brand decisions
2020
Transition from print to online publishingStrategyBackground
The four-weekly print magazine ceased publication in May 2020.
Action taken
SciFiNow shifted to an online-only model publishing daily news, interviews, reviews and competitions.
Aftermath
The brand continued digitally and also extended selected archival and long-form material through SciFiNow+ on The Companion.
2017
Divestiture to Kelsey MediaM&ABackground
Future plc decided to sell SciFiNow about a year after acquiring its previous owner, Imagine Publishing.
Action taken
Kelsey Media acquired the title and continued publishing it through issue 171.
Aftermath
SciFiNow remained a print magazine until its 2020 closure.
2016
Future plc acquires Imagine PublishingM&ABackground
Imagine Publishing owned SciFiNow before its acquisition by Future plc, which also owned the competing genre title SFX.
Action taken
Future plc completed the acquisition of Imagine Publishing and incorporated SciFiNow into its portfolio.
Aftermath
Future later chose to divest SciFiNow, leading to Kelsey Media becoming its publisher in 2017.
Recent events
SciFiNow partners with SCI-FI-LONDON Film Festival[2]
Reported:
SciFiNow announced that it was partnering with the SCI-FI-LONDON Film Festival to bring festival-related science-fiction coverage to its audience.
Sources2 sources
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