Beginning in the 1970s, with the popularity of J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings series, a variety of independent bookstores specializing in science fiction, fantasy, horror, and related genres (often mystery, comics, games, and/or collectibles), began opening. Among the first were Bakka-Phoenix Bookstore in Toronto and A Change of Hobbit in Southern California, both established in 1972. As independent bookstores suffered during the business shifts of the late 20th and early 21st century, many of these closed. During their heyday, however, they were a key part of science fiction fandom, facilitating not just publishing, distribution, and promotion of books, but public events, social events, and community-building.
This list is meant to include past and present "brick-and-mortar" bookstores. Bookstores that were once "brick-and-mortar", but have moved online, should be included. Bookstores that have only ever been solely online vendors should be listed separately.
A Change of Hobbit, 1972-1991, in Southern California
The Other Change of Hobbit, established 1974 in Berkeley, later in El Cerrito (now mail-order only)
Cobblestone Books, Sacramento, CA (by appointment only)
Dark Delicacies, Burbank, CA
Dark Carnival, Berkeley, California
The Future Fantasy Bookstore, Palo Alto, a pioneer in online sales (now closed).
Mysterious Galaxy, San Diego, CA (established 1993) and a second Redondo Beach location (opened in 2011)
Mystery and Imagination, Glendale (Los Angeles-area), CA
Barry Levin Science Fiction & Fantasy Literature, Santa Monica, California
Borderlands Books, San Francisco, California, established 1998 (one of the most recently established SF bookstores in the country); considering closing as of 2015
Future Dreams Books, Portland, Oregon
Escape While There's Still Time Books. Eugene, OR (closed)
The Book Station. Eugene, OR (closed)
Uncle Hugo's Science Fiction Bookstore, Minneapolis, Minnesota
DreamHaven Books, Minneapolis, Minnesota (est. 1977
20th Century Books, Madison, Wisconsin
The Stars Our Destination, Chicago (closed); eventually moved online as DreamHaven Books and Comics
Griffon Bookstore, South Bend, Indiana
Robots and Rogues, Lafayette, Indiana
Flights of Fantasy, Albany, NY
GenreInk, Keene, NH
Pandemonium Books and Games, Cambridge, MA (founded 1989)
Seek Books, West Roxbury (Boston), MA (2009-2014)
Eyes of the Owl, Wolfeboro, NH (established 1978; 1999 first online; 2015 seasonal and online)
Forbidden Planet, New York City (two locations at one point, downtown store still exists and is in its third location as of 2015)
Science Fiction, Mysteries and More, New York City (opened 1992, closed in 1998)
Singularity and Co., Brooklyn, New York (established 2012 as a Kickstarter-funded SF bookstore
The Science Fiction Shop, New York City, founded by Baird Searles in the 1970s (four locations thru 1990s, closed)
Dragon's Lair Comics & Fantasy, Austin, TX
Austin Books & Comics, Austin, TX
Bakka-Phoenix, Toronto, Ontario (established 1972)
Cold Drake Books, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Bookmarc Books, Victoria, British Columbia (open by appointment)
White Dwarf Books, Vancouver, British Columbia
Galaxy Bookshop, Sydney, Australia
White Dwarf Books, Perth, Australia
Minotaur, Melbourne, Australia
England
Another World SFF, Birmingham, England
Forbidden Planet, London
OtherLand Buchhandlung für Science Fiction und Fantasy in Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Scotland
Transreal Fiction, Edinburgh, Scotland (est. 1997)
Science Fiction Bokhandeln, Stockholm, Sweden; Göteborg; Malmö
