Recommend best Sci fi bookshops in Dublin?

ashbash · Joined: 10 Jan 2006 Posts: 24 Location: Dublin

Obviously there's Hodges Figgis, Waterstones, Forbidden Planet etc.

Just wondering if anyone knows any off-the-beaten track shops where you might find a more eclectic mix of sci fi books. Anthology in Meeting House Squre in Temple Bar is one. All Dublin Books shops are useless.

Just wondering if there's any gems out there I don't know about?

ais.

Shelly · Joined: 09 Nov 2005 Posts: 48 Location: Cork

Why do i get to the urge to say , Amazon.co.uk ?
Or Play.com?

But i'm not from Dublin so what would i know!

ashbash · Joined: 10 Jan 2006 Posts: 24 Location: Dublin

Yeah yeah. I know. It's just sometimes nothing beats good old bricks and mortar.

ais.

underdog · Posted: Thu 12-Jan-2006 11:16 am Post subject:

That's true. I love digging through actual books...

You should have a look at the Secret Book and Record Shop - if you walk away from Sub-city towards grafton street, before tower records you should see a sign for it above a doorway. Head on down there. I like that shop.

Shelly · Joined: 09 Nov 2005 Posts: 48 Location: Cork

Hummm yes, nothings better than the smell of a big pile of damp, and slightly used books.
What WAS that glob on page 200? And ewww theres more on page 350!

(I really do like going through second hand books, you can nearly always find a gem, or that book that you've 'always-been-meaning-to-read-but-well-its-been-out-of-print-and-well-you-forgot-its-name- then- the author-and-can't-quite-remember-why-you-wanted-to-read-it-in-the-first-place.')

underdog · Posted: Thu 12-Jan-2006 5:45 pm Post subject:

Shelly · Joined: 09 Nov 2005 Posts: 48 Location: Cork

Oh and Duh, Slovo Books has a very good selection. And they will be at P-con in March, as they are running it!

ashbash · Joined: 10 Jan 2006 Posts: 24 Location: Dublin

Oh they sound good - thanks guys.

I'm always rooting in 2nd hand places. I find that actual book shops are the best for finding new authors or stuff to try, you know?

ais.

lostcarpark · Posted: Sun 05-Mar-2006 10:14 am Post subject:

A decade ago, I would have started my answer, "well if you want second-hand books, go here or if you want new ones go there."

Unfortunately, all of the good places have gone, and everywhere is rubbish now. I don't know of anywhere with a decent SF section any more, new or second hand. Sure you do pick up gems in Secret Book & Record Store or even Chapters from time to time, their selections tend to be small and limited. Some of the main bookstores do have reasonably large selections, they have a tendency to be limited to what's percieved as selling well (which I suppose makes business sense).

It's not all bad, though. There are some fantastic online places to buy books. I know it's not the same as picking up the paper ones and leafing through, but the "customers who liked this also liked..." sort of links can be surprisingly accurate, so it's not all bad. Reviews are also a good way to find out what's good.

If you know what you're looking for, sites like Abebooks, which is a network of thousands of second-hand sellers, can be great for filling in the gaps in your collection, or just finding a bargain. And, of course, there's always eBay.

ashbash · Joined: 10 Jan 2006 Posts: 24 Location: Dublin

That there is. It all leads me to wonder though - is there a market for online specialist book retailers?? I myself would love an online sci fi book store - with a recommendation engine that didn't just throw every one of Iain M Banks' books at me....sorted by specific genre, with a forum to get recommendations - complete nerdville, but oh..I'd be in heaven.

What do you think?

a.

Frank J Darcy · Joined: 22 Apr 2004 Posts: 96 Location: Crumlin, Dublin

well i dont run a book store, but there are severall hundred book and movie revioews on my site www.shadowcat.name - mainly sci fi / fantasy / horror

Havent gotten around to sorting by genre - yet

ashbash · Joined: 10 Jan 2006 Posts: 24 Location: Dublin

Thanks! I'll check it out.

ais.