Borderlands Books: A Stellar Bookstore in San Francisco's Union Square

Far from the bustling streets of Union Square in San Francisco, Borderlands Books has a home on Valencia Street. Their mission location specializes in science fiction, fantasy and horror books. You can find new books, imports, used books, out of print books, and other hard to find editions here.

The store isn't very big, but the selection is amazing. You can find just about anything you are looking for in the sci-fa/fantasy/horror genre. If you do not live in San Francisco, you can even order from their website, and they will ship you the book. Borderlands also carries non-book items like prints by Alan Clark and jewelry. Be sure to check out the both of those dispels. You can find some beautiful artwork and silver jewelry for a decent price.

What if they do not have the book you are looking for? Let the staff know, and they will help you try and locate it elsewhere. That is another great thing about this store, the staff is very knowledgeable. They are great with helping you find the perfect book as a gift (or for yourself if you are not sure of what you are looking for). If you are buying a book online, and you have a question you can e-mail or call the store and they will answer your question in a timely manner.

If the store was not unique enough, the store cat makes it even more unique. Ripley is a Sphynx. Basically, she is just about hairless. Despite her strange appearance, she is part of the overall store experience. Whether she is greeting customers as the check out (sitting on the counter or the computer monitor) or trying to jump into your lap when you kneel down to get a book (and not wanting to leave so you can stand up), she is sweet and adorable.

Borderlands opened at its original location back in 1997, and it has been a great resource for sci-fi/fantasy/horror fans in San Francisco ever since. The store moved to its current location in 2001, and it has been a Mission favorite ever since. If you live in San Francisco, or you are just visiting, give the little book store at 866 Valencia Street a try! The store is open every day from 12:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Be sure to check the website for special events. You never know when they will be having a book signing or other event on site.