If it wasn’t bad enough the first time…
This was THE market I wanted to break into. Seriously. The closing of this wonderful magazine is like when Indy was sealed into that tomb of snakes with Marion in Raiders. I understand it’s pretty much the economy, but still. How much darker and deeper we have to go? *sigh*
DAWN BONANNO 
Aww. It’s always sad to see a fiction magazine die.
As much as that stinks, it may not be the depressing economy, but rather the “new” economy: the “E”-conomy. I understand F&SF, Analog, and Asimov’s all have dwindling shares of the readership. And, why not? Free stuff online, and it’s all just as good.
Hope that doesn’t sound too cynical… I never read Realms, but I am a huge fan of some other print ‘zines. Still, I think it’s pretty clear why they’re hurting; even Baen’s World had to close because no one wants to pay for fiction. I suspect Intergalactic Medicine Show will go the same route, and sooner or later the prints will probably belly-up also as long as Clarkesworld, Strange Horizons, and all the others keep going strong.
(Ironically, those magazines are sustained by donations.)
-bn