In light of Amazonfail a lot of people are mentioning some bookstore alternatives. Elsewhere I mentioned IndieBound, which allows you to search and shop local independent bookstores. My favorite bookstores in NYC include The Strand, McNally Jackson (used to be McNally Robinson), Housing Works, and Bluestockings. What are yours?
Absolutely adore http://www.borderlands-books.com/ in San Francisco. They specialize in Fantasy, Sci-Fi, and Horror.
On line, I like Al Libris, which searches many indie bookstores/sellers:
http://www.alibris.com/?cm_sp=header-_-logo-_-na
In person, I like Tattered Cover (new) and Rosemary’s Baby (used), in Denver area.
While I realize that the intention is to promote indie booksellers, self-interest (in the form of a desire for continued paychecks, which would be made possible by the company I work for remaining in business) leads me to suggest Borders.com.
(I like my paychecks. True, I wish they were bigger, but nowadays the fact that I get them at all makes me happy.)
I sometimes use University Bookstore out of Seattle. I like the idea that some of my money will find its way into scholarships and free textbooks for students, etc.
http://www.bookstore.washington.edu/trade.taf?dept=attribute&category=trade&par=trade&ttl=trade
I Love Love Love http://birchbarkbooks.com/
so cozy, such a fabulous selection of books.
I recently discovered Word, in Brooklyn (www.wordbrooklyn.com), and it’s completely fabulous. Tiny little story, but packed full of awesome books, and they do great community events.
Since many of my favorite indies are now closed (including the one I used to work for), my list is short but mighty:
Pegasus and Pendragon Books. Pegasus is in Berkeley, Pendragon is in Oakland.
Diesel, A Bookstore
De Lauer’s Super Newsstand (on Broadway) in Oakland. Open 24 hours a day. Not as robust as in years past and it’s a little more scruffy but periodically when I’m just coming off of BART and I absolutely need something to read, chances are I can at least get a magazine. It’s also my favorite place to pick up military fiction.
If people are looking for an online bookstore that’s got an easily searchable inventory that will ship books within the US (Don’t know about int’l), there’s always Powells in Portland, Oregon. powells.com will ship any order over $50 for free, and I’ve always had very good luck with their used book section. (I picked up a copy of Amy Lowell’s collected poems there when I couldn’t find it anywhere else.)