If – The Classic Science Fiction Magazine That Fueled Imaginations!

First launched in 1952, If magazine became one of the most beloved science fiction periodicals of the mid-20th century, offering a mix of thought-provoking speculative fiction, hard sci-fi adventures, and visionary storytelling. While initially overshadowed by giants like Analog and Galaxy Science Fiction, If carved out its own niche with accessible, exciting, and often daringly experimental stories from some of the greatest minds in the genre.

During its most celebrated period in the 1960s, under the editorship of Frederik Pohl, If won three consecutive Hugo Awards for Best Professional Magazine (1966–1968), showcasing works from Robert A. Heinlein, Harlan Ellison, Larry Niven, and many other sci-fi greats. Whether it was exploring space-faring civilizations, dystopian futures, or mind-bending alternate realities, If was a magazine that challenged readers to think beyond the limits of their world.

Though it ceased publication in 1974, If remains a treasured part of science fiction history, a magazine that embodied the genre’s golden age while embracing new and bold ideas. For those who dream of tomorrow, If was the magazine that made the impossible feel just within reach.