DP Tool Club 15/CD_ASCQ_15_070894.iso/vrac/bkseur06.zip/BKSEUR06.TXT

Text File | 1994-06-07 | 81KB | 1,518 lines

Archive-name: books/stores/european

Last change:
Tue Apr 26 10:43:53 EDT 1994

Copies of this article may be obtained by anonymous ftp to rtfm.mit.edu
under /pub/usenet/news.answers/books/stores/european.Z.  Or, send email to
[e-mail] with "send
usenet/news.answers/books/stores/european" in the body of the message.

This FAQ is in digest format.

============================================================================
Cities include (listed basically west to east, north to south by country,
alphabetically within country, but associated areas and language groups are
listed together; if anyone has a better ordering, let me know):
Dublin, Ireland
Edinburgh, UK
Glasgow, UK
Iona, UK
Cambridge, UK
London, UK
Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
Norwich, UK
Oxford, UK
Lisbon, Portugal
Barcelona, Spain
Madrid, Spain
Grenoble, France
Marseille, France
Paris, France
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Groningen, the Netherlands
The Hague, The Netherlands
Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Antwerpen/Antwerp, Belgium
Brussel/Bruxelles/Brussels, Belgium
Copenhagen, Denmark
Bergen, Norway
Oslo, Norway
Stockholm, Sweden
Helsinki, Finland
Berlin, Germany
Cologne, Germany
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Hamburg, Germany
Hannover, Germany
Munich, Germany
Zurich, Switzerland
Vienna, Austria
Istanbul, Turkey

[Note 1: I collected these comments from a variety of people.  I personally
have no knowledge of many of these places and take no responsibility if you
buy a book you don't enjoy. :-)   Phone numbers and precise addresses can be
gotten by calling directory assistance for the appropriate city.  Call ahead
for precise hours, as even when I list them they are subject to change.]

[Note 2: If you can add information for any of these, in particular
addresses when they are missing, please send it to me.]

[Note 3: I am cross-posting this to rec.arts.sf.written, but the bookstores
listed include *all* types of bookstores, so please don't tell me that a
particular store has a limited SF section unless I have specifically claimed
otherwise.  All references to science fiction are abbreviated SF for ease in
electronic searching.]

[Note 4: I know they're bookshops in Britain, not bookstores.  In the text
I try to follow this; the introductory material is used world-wide and
uses "bookstores" instead.]

[Note 5: Someone sent this for a particular store, but it applies
everywhere: "Don't complain about high prices; the people in the shop don't
make them, we only try to get a wide range of books and help customers as
well as we can.  Books might look a bit than dearer in your home country but
the costs, the costs!  We are not, I repeat not, a tourist office--it can be
very annoying to try to do your job and being interupted a hundred times a
day for the way to the Rijks-, Van Gogh or any other museum.  (We are
willing to sell you a map of Amsterdam and then point you in the right
direction.)"]

============================================================================
------------------------------

Subject: Dublin, Ireland

APCK (St. Anne's Church, Dawson St).  Small religious bookshop concentrating
 on Anglican material and academic works.
Books Upstairs (Dame St opposite the Bank of Ireland and the front entrance
 to Trinity College).  Leftish.
Cathedral Books (Sackville Pl.). Religious bookshop, good spirituality
 section.  Large number of American publications.
Chapter's (Middle Abbey St & Henry St).  Mostly second-hand.
Connolly Bookshop (Essex St).  Socialist, wide range of material.
Chapters (Middle Abbey St).  The second branch of this second-hand outlet in
 Abbey St.  Large.
Duffy's (Lincoln Place?).  Second-hand.
Eason's (O'Connell St; the ILAC centre (Henry St); the Irish Life Mall
 (Talbot St); the Square, Tallaght).  The big one for new books.
Forbidden Planet (Dawson St).  SF, fantasy, role-playing games.
Fred Hanna's (Nassau St).  University bookshop with books of general
 interest.
Geo. Webb's (Aston Quay).  Mostly second-hand and antiquarian.
Greene's (Clare St).  New and second-hand.
Hodges Figgis (Dawson St, directly across from Waterstone's).  Also big,
 with an eclectic selection.  Good Irish-interest section.
Provisional Sinn Fein's Shop (Parnell Square)
Rathmines Bookshop (Lower Rathmines Rd).  Second-hand.
Veritas (Lower Abbey St).  Large religious bookshop, mainly Catholic
 material.  Expensive.
Walton's (just off Parnell Square).  The best sheet music shop.
Waterstone's (Dawson St).  Big, with an eclectic selection
The Winding Stair (Lower Ormond Quay near the north end of the Halfpenny
 Bridge).  The biggest used bookshop, with a cafe as well.

============================================================================
------------------------------

Subject: Edinburgh, UK

Aria Records (Dundas Street).  "The biggest range of second-hand classical
 recordings I've seen anywhere, as well as second-hand books on
 music."
Bargain Books (Princes Street).  Very limited selection, but a good place
 for picking up, say, the complete Shakespeare/Conan Doyle/Brothers
 Grimm practically free.  Part of a chain; if you've been in
 one, you've been in them all.
Bauermeisters (on George IV Bridge).  Also has a good classical CD section
 with a separate entrance).
Campbell and Stilwell (South Bridge, across the street from Thins).  "A
 remainder shop unconnected with the Bargain Books empire and
 accordingly with quite different stock.  Their stocks fluctuate
 wildly but they sometimes have some of the best bargains you'll find
 anywhere."
Castle Books (Canongate).  Used.
Dead Head Comics (44 Victoria St).  Wide range of US/UK mainstream and
 independent comics and graphic novels.  Probably superior range to
 Forbidden Planet, definitely better atmosphere.
Eddie Fenwick (Thirlestane Lane).  Mainly a mail-order business in
 mathematics and mountaineering books from his home, but you can
 drop in to see the stuff for yourself; phone him.
Donald Ferrier (Teviot Place).  Medical, new and used.
Forbidden Planet (Teviot Place).  SF.
Macnaughtons (Haddington Place, Leith Walk).  The biggest second-hand
 bookshop in town and the least friendly.
The One World Shop (in the Cornerstone under St John's Church in Lothian
 Road) is a Christian-pacifist shop with a small but good selection
 of Third World, environmental and feminist stuff; also Traidfare
 goods and world music.
Rae MacIntosh (West End).  For sheet music and classical CDs.
Second Edition (Canonmills).  Used.  Has the highest prices, but is subject
 to haggling.
Sheena McNeil (Bruntsfield Links).  Sheet music.
James Thins (53-59 South Bridge, 031-556-6743, FAX [phone]).  The
 biggest bookshop in Scotland and (after John Smiths in Glasgow, the
 second oldest.  Some people think it's great; others think it's the
 worst they've dealt with.  One sums up both sides, I think, with:
 "They have half a dozen branches in Edinburgh, a vast academic
 section, and maintain close contacts with the Universities.
 However, they do tend to be rather complacent and unhelpful at
 times, and tend to act as if they were a monopoly supplier, with a
 'like it or lump it' attitude."  For those who follow such things,
 another reader says, "They are also a bunch of hypocrites, handing
 out propaganda in favour of retaining the Net Book Agreement, while
 marking up the prices of Non-Net Books higher than Waterstone's and
 Co."  Will ship world-wide (or at least to Europe).
Tills (Buccleuch Street).  Used.
Waterstone's (128 Princes Street, 13/14 Princes Street, and 83 Georges
 Street).  Large chain.  128 Princes Street is their new flagship
 branch.  "Sandwiched between HMV and Virgin so you are in peril of
 CD purchasing fever (or would be if both weren't so bad - except the
 jazz and classical section at Virgin) but I digress.  This was
 opened in November 92 and I must admit I am impressed.  It is on
 four floors, and is second only to the main Thins branch for volumes
 carried.  There are excellent fiction, biography, foreign
 literature, foreign language, history, Scottish, legal, cooking,
 gardening, pretty good SF, and the usual range of academic subjects.
 It is a very good bookshop."  The 83 George Street shop has a large
 ground floor and smaller basement.  This branch has a bias in favour
 of fiction and biography.  The SF section is not so good.  It has
 quite a good section of art books: both textual and coffee table.
 Academic areas are rather weak.  Scottish authors have their own
 section as does Scottish history, etc.  These sections are not bad.
Wesley Owen (George Street).  (Used to be Church of Scotland Bookshop.)
 Stocks a wide range of Christian books.
West and Wilde (25a Dundas Street).  Gay/lesbian/bisexual books.
West Port Books (West Port near Lothian Rd.).  Used.  An amazing range of
 Indian stuff, following the owner's holiday-cum-book-buying-trip to
 India in 1992; also good for used sheet music, but not for the
 claustrophobic.
? (Spittal Street around the corner from Old Grindle's).  Used.  Has
 second-hand football programmes.  May have moved (in which case
 this listing is really useless!).
(a couple of used book shops in Broughton Street and at the top
of Leith Walk and several used and antiquarian book shops in the
 Grassmarket).

You can pick up a leaflet with a full list of used book shops from any one
of them.  The Assembly Rooms in George St. often holds book fairs on
Saturdays where many of the second-hand booksellers exhibit.

Waterstones and John Menzies are huge UK-wide chains that sell magazines
and airport bestsellers.  "A comment on Waterstones, everywhere: their
scientific/technical sections are an insulting joke.  They all have less on
all real science put together than on New Age fads.  This alone is enough
to put me off ever using them."

A second opinion on Waterstone's:  "It is easily the best book chain in the
UK.  The ones in Chester and (especially) Manchester (which are on Bridge
Street Row and Deansgate respectively if you want to include them) have very
good scientific and technical sections.  The one in Manchester even stocks a
fair range of US scientific, computer and SF books (and maybe others, but
those are the areas I know about).  Waterstone's is owned by WH Smiths, by
the way, which also sells books in its own right and owns the large Sherratt
& Hughes chain.  They sell a *lot* of books.  One reason for the variable
quality of Waterstone's is that those that have always been Waterstone's are
better than those that were relabelled after Smiths bought the Waterstone's
chain."

A third says: "I don't know what their Scottish shops are like and their
airport shops are about what you expect but their Cambridge and Norwich
shops both have reasonable scientific/ technical sections."

"One of the major remainder dealers in Edinburgh (used to be in Hamilton
Place, Stockbridge) has recently [3/94] gone bust.  This is likely to mean
that a vast amount of remainder stock appears on the market again somewhere
else.  They had an idiosyncratic selection of academic social sciences and
theology books including what seemed to be the entire backlist of Scottish
Academic Press."

============================================================================
------------------------------

Subject: Glasgow, UK

Bargain Books (chain of small shops).  Limited stock but excellent bargain
 prices.  If you've been in one of the chain, you've been in them
 all.
Caledonia Books (Great Western Road).  Used.  Strong in modern literature
 and art.
The Christian Book Centre (Great Western Road, very close to Caledonia
 Books, Voltaire and Rousseau, Word of Mouth and Gilmorehill
 Books).  New and second-hand Christian material and the best
 selection of second-hand classical records and books on
 classical music in town.
Centerpeace (Stockwell Street).  Pacifist/feminist/Third World/
 environmental/liberation theology material (run by radical
 Christians).
Clyde Books (Parnie Street).  Radical/socialist/feminist/green.
Dillons (the Argyle Street/Union Street corner).  A very large branch.
 More modern than Smiths and a great place to pick up book
 bargains.  Close to Smiths and Waterstones.
Dowanhill Books (in a lane off Byres Road opposite Hillhead tube station).
 Used.
Forbidden Planet (Buchanan Street).  SF and comics.
Futureshock (31 Byres Road).  American imports and OLD paperbacks as well as
 imports.  They also stock some comics, though not many.  The nearest
 Underground stations are Partick and Hillhead.
Gilmorehill Books (Bank Street).  Used.
The Little Bookworm (a booth in Decourcy's Arcade).  For the under-five-
 year-old market with new books in bright colours.  Not so much
 choice, but they will order for you with quick delivery.
Obelisk (Virginia Galleries, Virginia Street).  Used SF and mysteries.
 "That nice man in Obelisk sold me seven Andre Norton books on Friday
 last.  When I had picked out three from the shelves and went over to
 pay for them, he said that if I was interested he had got in some
 Ace doubles and among them I found four more Andre Norton in what
 looked to me like perfect condition.  With Andre Norton I find that
 the older the story, often the better.  He had them in his locked
 glass bookcase, so if you have some special interest it is a good
 idea to talk to him as well as just browse the shelves."
Pitcairn Books (a booth in Decourcy's Arcade).  "Has a chatty owner who
 seems to want to specialize in books with illustrated covers (those
 gilt bindings and pictures actually on the book, not dust covers).
 He has a fair amount of modern fiction in stock, while most of his
 paperback books are relegated to the corridor outside the booth
 selling off inexpensively.  I've bought a few Scottish books there.
 I think he keeps a lot of books at home, he is overflowing his shop.
 No new books."
John Smith and Sons (St. Vincent Street).  Quite close to George Square.
 This is the main branch and is famous enough for you to be able to
 ask directions to it.  It has 5 floors and keeps books on just about
 any subject you can think of.  Main public transport terminals
 nearby (i.e., walking distance) include Central Station (trains),
 Queen Street Station (trains), Buchanan Street Station (buses) and
 Buchanan Street Underground Station.  Close to Dillons and
 Waterstones.
John Smith and Sons (University Bookshop, University Avenue, Hillhead) (west
 of the city centre).  A strictly academic bookshop, they specialise
 in stocking books on the recommended reading lists for students
 supplied by Glasgow University (who keep close links with the shop).
 There's a student charity bookshop above it which sells used
 textbooks with the profits going to help South African blacks study
 at Glasgow: good for medical books and is open 11AM-3PM in termtime.
 Most university courses are in evidence in the shop - medical books
 particularly so.  Main public transport terminal nearby is Hillhead
 Underground Station.  They even have an email address:
 [e-mail], and will ship worldwide.  You can't
 telnet the catalog, and please note: this is has typical academic
 bookshop stock; they don't have an antiquarian department and those
 sorts of request are a waste of time.
John Smith and Sons (Byres Road Branch, Byres Road, Hillhead).  A mainstream
 three-storey bookshop.  Simply a scaled-down version of the main
 shop.  This shop is located next door to the Hillhead Underground
 Station.  The university shop is five minutes away on foot.  A nice
 area in general, well worth a look: there are several famous
 cafes/coffee shops around here too (e.g., The Ubiquitous Chip, The
 Underground Gallery).
Voltaire and Rousseau (Otago Street Lane).  Used.  Good for cheap grubby
 bargains.
Waterstones (Union Street very close to Dillons).  Large branch.
 More modern than Smiths.  Close to Smiths.
Wesley Owen (Buchanan Street near the Underground Station).  Near Forbidden
 Planet.  Christian bookshop.  (Used to be Church of Scotland
 Bookshop.)
Word of Mouth (?).  Food and cookery; this place is amazing.  They had to
 move from their Bank Street building because it was falling down;
 they are now in temporary premises on a mezzanine floor inside
 "Moon" clothing shop, which in turn is up a short alley off Great
 Western Road, a block above Caledonia Books.  The stock is much
 smaller than it used to be.
charity shops in Byres Rd, all of which sell books, starting with Cancer
 Research, Oxfam, Dr Barnado's, Save the Children, as well as the
 back alley secondhand books (next to Oxfam) and occasionally
 DeCourcy's arcade)

For books and audiocassettes in Hindi and Urdu there are two shops in
Allison Street, Govanhill.  There is a Chinese bookshop in the Garnethill
area (Glasgow's Chinatown).

Regarding Smiths, one reader says:
"There are other branches of Smiths, but these three should cover all
your needs wherever you are in Glasgow.  All Smiths shops are tied by a
computer network allowing the facility for quick look up of stocks
elsewhere in the city and quick transfer between branches in the case
where a particular book is not in stock at a certain branch.  They can
also order ANY book in print as long as they can locate the ISBN, and
send it to any address you please.  They have British and Overseas Books
in Print on Microfiche for this purpose."

See Edinburgh, UK, for further details on Smiths, Waterstone's and
John Menzies.

============================================================================
------------------------------

Subject: Iona, UK

"There is a small second-hand bookshop (must be one of the most remote
in the world) on the road between the village and the abbey.
Reasonable general stock, not as touristy or religious as the location
might lead you to expect."

============================================================================
------------------------------

Subject: Cambridge, UK

Cambridge University Press Bookshop (Market Hill).  Has been a bookshop
 since before the America was founded!  Mostly CUP only.
Children's Bookshop (30 Trinity).
Deighton, Bell and Co. (13 Trinity).  Used.
Dillons (Sidney Street).  Large shop.
Forbidden Planet (behind the Grafton Center).  Specialist SF book shop.
Galloway and Porter (Sidney Street).  Used to be good; now mostly
 remaindered text books and such.  Still a very good place to pick up
 cheap books on subjects that don't change too much, like anatomy,
 European history, or botany.  Of course, computer books aren't so
 hot.
Heffers Booksellers (20 Trinity Street, Cambridge CB2 3NG, Telephone (0223)
 358351; FAX [phone]).  Cambridge's answer to Blackwells.  They
 also own Deighton, Bell and Co. and the Children's Bookshop.
 Heffers issues catalogues in a variety of fields, and they are
 really outstanding about mail order.  They accept Visa and
 Mastercard; they will also open accounts for customers and accept
 payment in dollars.
Heffers Paperback Bookshop (St. Andrews Street).
Heffers (the Grafton Centre).
Waterstones (near the Round Church).  A very large shop.  Good SF selectiona
 compared to Heffers or Dillions.
WH Smiths (Lion Yard).  Mostly magazines and stationary but books upstairs.

There are a lot of second-hand book shops in Cambridge, mostly tucked away
down alleys.

============================================================================
------------------------------

Subject: London, UK

In general when people ask about bookshops in London, the only answer they
get is to take the Underground to Charing Cross and walk down the street.
Charing Cross Road runs N/S from the junction of Tottenham Court Rd to
Trafalgar Square.  Tube statios to go to are Tottenham Court Rd (Northern
Line/Central Line) or Leicester Square (Northern/Picadilly/? Line).
However, the following may be of more specific help.

? (Oxford St, heading from Oxford Circus to Tottenham Ct, right side of
 street).  An independent; interesting travel section, respectable
 trade paperback good fiction section.
? (all the way up the Archway Rd, near Archway tube stop).  Dusty used
 place.  Owned by wife of poet Adrian Mitchell.
? (across from Kentish Town branch library, Kentish Town road).
 Near the tube stop of same name, head south on the road, right side
 of st.  Good and interesting collection, especially British history.
 The library's not bad either.
? (on the first [second to Americans] floor in a major cross-street near the
 north end of Charing Cross Road--Shaftesbury Avenue, though the
 poster thinks he may have meant Long Acre instead.  He also thinks
 it's the same street as either Tower Records or the Virgin
 Megastore).  They have a LARGE stock of comics.
At The Sign Of The Dragon (131, Sheen Lane, SW14, 081-876-3855; Mortlake BR
 station and walk south).  Run by Richard and Marion van der Voort,
 is a small shop with a good selection of titles.  They rival (often
 beat) Forbidden Planet in early stocking of titles, and are happy to
 reserve and special order books.  "A lot more friendly than FP!"
 Will ship worldwide.
Books Etc (Charing Cross Road opposite Foyle's, Tottenham Court Road tube).
 Good general stock, with emphasis on fiction and modern literature.
 SF section is also surprisingly good for a non-specialist shop,
 including some US imports.  Lots of other stuff, including a
 reasonable technical section.  Staff helpful, often beyond the call
 of duty.  Takes credit cards, will order books from the US.
 Sometimes open Sunday PM.  Branches include: 30 Broadgate Circle,
 London EC2M 2QS, tel. [phone]; 120 Charing Cross Road, London
 WC2H 0JR, tel. [phone]; 60 Fenchurch Street, London EC3M 4AQ,
 tel. [phone]; 176 Fleet Street, London EC4A 2AB,
 tel. [phone]; 263 High Holborn, London WC1V 7EE,
 tel. [phone]; 26 James Street, COvent Garden, London WC2E 8PA,
 tel. [phone]; 54 London Wall, London EC2M 5TR,
 tel. [phone]; 163 Oxford Street, London W1R 1TA,
 tel. [phone]; 66 Victoria Street, London SW1 5LB,
 tel. [phone]; 19 Whiteleys of Bayswater, London W2 4YQ,
 tel. [phone]).
Compendium (Camden High St between Camden Town and Chalk Farm tube stations
 almost by the bridge over the canal).  A very intellectual and
 political bookshop--quite large and well-organized.  Been around
 since the Sixties.  Go on a Saturday to visit Camden Lock, one of
 the biggest markets in London.  (This had previously been listed as
 Portobello Road; I suspect it was the market that confused someone.)
Dillon's (82 Gower St, Goodge Street tube).  Beautiful, general, moderately
 helpful staff.  Smaller than Foyle's but it more than makes up for
 it in efficiency.  Excellent science and medicine depts, and
 generally strong on textbooks and "recommended reading" in all
 subjects--this is an academic's bookshop.  (It caters for
 University College that is a block away, and the student population
 of London at large.)  One of the three main technical bookshops in
 London, and easier to find your way round than Foyles.  Also has a
 reasonable SF section (all UK, though), and lots of other stuff.
 There is a bargain department on the ground floor.  Very
 knowledgeable staff.  Strategic reduction in prices in order to
 challenge the NBA [the Net Book Agreement prevents bookshops from
 selling books at less than the recommended retail price; Dillons are
 leading a campaign against this by deliberately cutting prices].
 Accepts credit cards.  "While you're there, visitors should go and
 look at the outside of Senate House (one of the models for Orwell's
 ministries) and on Russell Square, which is where T. S. Elliot
 worked for Faber's."  (Other branches at 150-152 Kings Road, SW3;
 48-52 Kensington High Street, W8; 8 Long Acre, WC2; 213 Picadilly,
 W1; St Dunstans Road, W6; St Mary's Road, W5; Exhibition Road, SW7;
 Lambeth Palace Road, SE1; 37 Upper Berkeley Street, W1; Trafalgar
 Square, WC1.  Most of these are associated with a college, so are
 likely to be small and have a specialist selection.  For example,
 the St Dunstan one is at the Westminster Medical School, the St
 Mary one at the Polytechnic of West London, the Lambeth one at St
 Thomas' Hospital, and the Exhibition Road one at the Science
 Museum.  The Dillon's near Covent Garden has a large selection of
 art books.)
Dress Circle (57 Monmouth).  They have the largest selection of material
 related to musical on this side of the galaxy.  This includes
 scores, recordings, books, etc.
The Economist's Bookshop (Houghton St., Holborn tube).  Very good history,
 economy, related subjects.
Forbidden Planet (New Oxford Street, east of Charing Cross Road; Tottenham
 Court Road tube).  Comics, T-shirts and pins at street level; SF,
 posters and videos in the basement.  They have some reduced
 hardbacks, marked-down paperbacks and sell more-than-2-year-old
 copies of Asimov's, F&SF, etc. at a reasonable price. "The SF stock
 has gone downhill in recent years IMHO, as they seem to have
 concentrated more on marketing the big releases--if you are looking
 for something specific you are much better off going to Murder One
 (see below) at least in my experience."  [Editorial note: this seems
 to be a world-wide policy, as their New York City stores have the
 same problem.]  "Good for US paperbacks, but I've had more luck
 finding new US hardbacks at Murder One".  Some really good
 SF/fantasy art books.  They also have author signings.  Takes
 credit cards.
Foyle's (Charing Cross Road, just after Sutton Row, Tottenham Court Road
 tube).  "Well, this is where all the guide books are going to send
 you--I have yet to find someone that doesn't hate the place.
 Chaotic--they claim to have every book in print, but they never seem
 able to find them....  Utterly ridiculous system of classifying by
 *publisher*--it makes browsing a tiresome experience.  Staff are
 sometimes willing, but often unable to help; more often than not
 they tell you to try Dillon's.  Good Penguin section, though."  A
 wierd pay system: you have to leave your books at the service desk,
 wander off in search of a cash desk to pay and get your bill
 stamped, then back for your books.  One poster writes, "Foyle's,
 while indeed awful, has finally given up and since mid-92 accepts
 credit cards.  All the rest is, unfortunately, as you describe."
Freedom (Whitechapel; Aldgate East tube).  Anarchist books.  "After their
 recent (5/93) attack by neo-Nazis they could do with your support."
French's Theatre Bookshop (52 Fitzroy Street, London W1P 6JR, Warren St or
 Great Portland St tube, tel: [phone]).  They have a very large
 selection of plays, recordings and related material.  If you are
 looking for an obscure play, they have it or can get it.  "I
 believe that they will do mail order as well.  Credit cards
 accepted."
Hatchards (2 Brook Street, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey KT1 2HA, about 12
 miles South West of central London, [phone];
 [e-mail] or [e-mail]).  An academic
 bookshop serving Kingston University and other institutions in the
 Surrey and South West London area.  Part of the Dillons, Pentos
 group (hence the dual email address).  Will post books worldwide and
 accepts credit cards (Visa, Master Card and Amex).
Institute of Contemporary Arts (Pall Mall).  Has a bookshop (as well as a
 cinema, a theatre, and a gallery.
Mega City One Comics (Inverness St).  Near Compendium and Stage Door.
 Better than Forbidden Planet.
Military History Bookshop (2 The Broadway, Friern Barnet Road, London
 N11 3DU, 081-368-8568 (call ahead before stopping by)).
 Outstanding selection of military history.  Easy to get to by bus or
 Underground, but call ahead to make sure they're there first.  They
 have a quarterly catalog.  (The contributor adds, "It is spelled
 'Friern' even though that looks wrong; I checked twice. :-)).
Motor Books (33 St. Martin's Court, just off Charing Cross Road, near
 Foyle's and Trafalgar Square, 071-836-5376, FAX [phone]).
 "They have the most incredible selection of books relating to
 transportation.  As a train buff, I feel that their railroad (yes,
  I know they'd call it railway :-)) section is the best in the
 world.  Their military, aviation and auto sections are top notch as
 well."
Murder One (Charing Cross Road, just below Shaftesbury Avenue, Leicester
 Square tube).  Mystery and romance at street level, SF in the
 basement.  No SF merchandise--just books.  They also seem to have
 one or maybe two copies of many titles rather than dozens of a few.
 A lot of them are imports so prices are higher than average--but
 well worth it if you are after that one elusive volume.  Probably
 the best source for new US SF hardbacks.  Staff is very helpful too.
 They have a bookcase of second-hand books that are of *very* high
  quality.  Takes credit cards, will do mailorder (I think).
Museum of the Moving Image (MOMI) (Waterloo Road, Southbank).  It has a gift
 and bookshop, but you must pay to see the museum to get into the
 bookshop.  It's next to the National Film Theatre (NFT).  Open
 daily 10 AM - 6 PM daily including Bank Holidays (closed Christmas
 Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day).
National Film Theatre (NFT) (next to MOMI, Waterloo Road, Southbank).  It
 has a bookshop.  You don't need to be a member to get into the
 bookshop.
Oxford University Press Bookshop (72 Charring Cross Road).  Not as big as
 the flagship shop at Oxford, but certain to carry almost every OUP
 book in print.  The OUP publishes (among other things!) some very
 good philosophy of science books and its reference series is
 unparalleled.  Penguin Shops (Covent Garden and across from Camden
 Town tube stop).  Not bad in a pinch.  Harried staff.
The Riverside Studios (by the River Thames in Hammersmith, just down from
 the flyover). They have a bookshop as well as a cinema, a theatre
 and a gallery.
Skoob Books and Skoob Two (Sicilian Avenue near Holborn tube station).  The
 one really exceptional second-hand bookshop.  They have an *amazing*
 range of technical stuff, including computer science: they obviously
 understand what they're selling here, unlike almost every other
 second-hand dealer in the UK.  They publish a directory of
 second-hand bookshops in the British Isles.  (The other guide to
 these is "driff's", which is rather hard to get but absolutely
 hilarious).
Stage Door (Chalk Farm Rd).  One of London's best theatre bookshops.
 Near Compendium and Mega One.
Turkish Language Books (81 Shacklewell Lane).  Well-stocked and friendly.
Unsworth, Rice & Coe (12 Bloomsbury Street, 071-436-9836, FAX [phone]).
 A pleasant bookstore featuring "secondhand and out-of-print books on
 history & humanities," although they occasionally get large
 shipments of math and science books as well.  Among other things
 they feature classics for a pound (about US$1.50, depending), and a
 wide selection of drama, poetry, film books, etc.  Open Mon-Fri
 10-8, Sat 10-7, Sun 12-7.  "And there's a great, inexpensive
 Japanese restaurant across the street."
Waterstone's (Charing Cross Road, just before Sutton Row).  "Haven't been
 there too often--it is a very attractive shop and seems to have a
 good, all-round stock with an emphasis on literature and history."
F. E. Whitehart.  The best dealer in second-hand mathematics books in
 London.  He runs the business from home and you have to phone for an
 appointment (warning: he's deaf, and you go through either a
 switchboard or a voice recognizer).

There are quite a few other bookshops along Charing Cross Road, including
some bargain book ones.  There are also a few bookshops in Oxford Street,
near Tottenham Court Road tube station.  And don't forget the museum
bookshops.  For oriental/historical books, try opposite the British Museum
(a reasonably short walk from Tottenham Court road tube).  The British
Museum sells historical and art books.  Also opposite the BM is Gosh Comics.
(You can have a pleasant day out looking round the bookshops and/or the
British museum.  There are quite a few restaurants and fast food outlets
around.)

For clip art and other Dover books, try the Dover Bookshop.  Going south
down Charing Cross road, take the small road that's probably second left,
counting round anticlockwise from the southern part of Charing Cross at the
Cambridge Circus junction in the middle of Charing Cross Road.  If you're
on the correct road, you should go past a shop called Orc's Nest more or
less immediately.  The Dover Bookshop stock most Dover books, and similar
titles.  The owner is very helpful and takes credit cards.  (For the
forseeable future, Cambridge Circus is where "Les Miserables" is on.
According to one poster, just to the right of the theatre is a dead good
Italian restaurant.)

There are Chinese bookshops in Chinatown and Soho (don't know this stuff at
all) and some good black bookshops in Brixton (haven't been there for a
while and don't have current addresses).  For ethnic categories in general
see the references in the "Guide to Ethnic London".

See Edinburgh, UK, for further details on Smiths, Waterstone's and
John Menzies.

Finally, you might want to look for DRIFFS GUIDE TO THE BOOKSHOPS OF
ENGLAND.  Driff is an expert on bookshops and spends his time traveling
the country looking for bargains so he knows his bookshops.

People interested in books published in Britain may also want to know
about the following:  THE GOOD BOOK GUIDE MAGAZINE (a bi-monthly review
magazine) which offers an ordering service, available to subscribers
only.  Books published in Britain and in stock with the publisher can
be ordered for a research fee plus shipping and handling (plus the cost
of the book, of course).  Further details can be gotten by contacting
them at THE GOOD BOOK GUIDE, 24 Seward Street, London EC1V 3GB;
Telephone Order Line [phone]; Telephone Customer Service +44 71
490 9900; FAX [phone].  [Thanks to Christopher P Salter,
[e-mail] for this information.]

============================================================================
------------------------------

Subject: Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK

Bookhouse (Ridley Place).  "Small, with quite a good selection of women's
 books in addition to postcards, posters, calendars, some ethnic arty
 things and a cafe in the basement which I've never tried but the
 coffee always smells good."  Nice to browse in.
Dillons (Blackett St; Monument Metro).  Usual wide selection for this chain
 bookshop on four floors.
Thornes (Barras Bridge/Haymarket; Haymarket Metro). Not as good as Dillons
 or Waterstones.  Usually good selection of text books since the
 University and Schools seem to order through it.  They always
 hand-write receipts.
Waterstones (Grey St; Monument Metro).  Usual wide selection for this chain
 bookshop on three floors.

[This part contributed primarily by Caroline Shield
([e-mail]).]

============================================================================
------------------------------

Subject: Norwich, UK

Jarrolds (on the market square).  The biggest bookshop for general new
 stock.
Scientific Anglian.  The place for used books--really big and with a huge
 range.  You need a good head for heights to get at the stuff on the
 upper shelves and had better not be allergic to dust.
Waterstones (not far from the Market Square).

============================================================================
------------------------------

Subject: Oxford, UK

Blackwell's (Broad Street, [phone], FAX [phone]).  "Everyone I
 have ever spoken to who has been to Blackwell's views it as the
 single best technical bookshop they have ever been to.  It is
 particularly strong in computer science and mathematics.  It also
 seems to be strong in philosophy." Another replies, "And not
 surprisingly it has large and strong departments for all the other
 academic specialities.  The main shop for a while was the largest in
 the world; the Norrington Room is the largest single room for
 selling books in the world.  Blackwells apparently also has most of
 the world's library trade."  Also has various second-hand sections,
 and the following spcial stores, also on Broad Street: Children's
 Bookshop Art and Poster Bookshop (postcards of art too), Paperback
 Bookshop (and role-playing games and books on casette), and Map and
 Travel bookshop (stocks maps of all of Europe and much of the rest
 of the world.  Often missed is the rare books and special editions
 that Sir Basil Blackwell collected.  This is now in the basement
 of the Music Shop, in the city centre on Holywell Street (see
 below).  The atmosphere is fairly rarified and country house-y, all
 lockable bookcases and high prices.  They specialise in modern
 first editions and produce their own catalogue.
Book Bargains (2 St. Ebbe St).
Bookshop on the Plain (cross Magdaelen Bridge and start up the Cowley Rd;
 it's immediately on your left).
Dillons (corner of Broad Street).  Large shop.  Tries to compete with
 Blackwells and doesn't really carry it off.
The EOA Communist Bookshop (across the road from Bookshop on the Plain).
 Might carry Irish stuff for all the wrong reasons, I suppose, but
 being a Tory I wouldn't know :-."  Someone thinks it may now be
 called the Inner Bookshop.
Music Shop (Holywell Street).  Part of Blackwells.  Sells sheet music and
 CDs and cassettes (almost exclusively classical) as well as books
 on music.  It also sells tickets for many of the concerts in
 Oxford.  The staff are very knowledgeable: most of the permanent
 staff have degrees in music and are active in performing music.
 They also have their own mail-order department (ext 4452) for CDs
 and sheet music.
Thorton's.  "Look out for Thornton's as it's *dear*."
Waterfield's (36 Park End St).  Large second-hand bookshop.  Good philosophy
 section.  The antiques emporium just before it and the Jam Factory
 over the road by the traffic lights also house minor booksellers
 amongst their other denizens.

Further out there is a Bookshop at Oxford Brookes University in Headington
and at the John Radcliffe Hospital.

Opening hours for all the city centre shops are Monday-Saturday 9AM-6PM
(opens 9:30 Tuesdays). Open several Sundays during the tourist seaason.

============================================================================
------------------------------

Subject: Lisbon, Portugal

Alfarrabios (Calcada do Carmo No. 50).  Used books.
Alfarrabista (R. do Alecrim No. 44).  Used books.
Antunes (R. da Voz do Operario No.7-B).  Used books.
Barata (Av. de Roma 11-A, 1000 Lisboa, 848 16 31,
 fax: 80 33 44).  (ALso has another store at Amoreiras Shopping at
 Torres das Amoreiras.)  New books.
Barateira Lda. (R. Nova da Trindade No. 16-C).  Used books.
Bertrand (Av. Roma 13-B, 1000 Lisboa,
 796 92 71, 793 63 56; R. Garrett 73, Chiado, 1200 Lisboa,
 346 86 46, 346 76 29; R. da Anchieta No. 15).  (Also has a store at
 Shopping Amoreiras.)  New books.
Britanica (R. Luis Fernando 14/8).  New books.
Buchholz  (R. Duque de Palmela 4, 1200 Lisboa, 315 73 58, fax:
 352 26 34).  New books.
Camoes (Misericordia 137/41).  Used books.
Castil (C.C. Alvalade, lj 15, C.C. Fonte Nova, lj 63).  New books.
Europa-America (Av. Marques de Tomar 1-B).  New books.
Historica e Ultramarina - Travessa Queimada No.28, 1).  Used books.
Olisipo (Largo Trindade Coelho No.7).  Used books.
Manuscrito historico (Calcada do Sacramento No. 50).  Used books.
Mundo do Livro (Largo da Trindade 11/3).  Used books.
Portugal (R. do Carmo No. 70).  New books.
Rui Alberto (Largo do Carmo).  Used books.
Sociedade Biblica (R. Jose Estevao 4-B).  Christian literature.

There is anlso an annual book fair in Eduardo VII park every May/June
where you can find a stand for every major editor and bookstore and get
some nice discounts too.

Someone initially had said:
"This place is a book desert.  Apart from an antiquarian shop up on the
hillside above Restauradores I've seen nowhere I was even tempted to go
into, and this is the only major city I've been to where I've never bought a
book.  Somebody tell me there's something somewhere."

To which Antonio Leal ([e-mail]) replied:
"We keep our bookstores carefully hidden, so that only the cognoscenti
can find them.  Innocent tourists only get to see airport shops ;-)"
(but then sent some of the above list).

[e-mail] also sent a long list (included above) and said:
"Well, I really don't have much time to complete the list (I'm at work
here), but if you didn't buy a book when you were in Lisbon it's because
you really didn't try!"

============================================================================
------------------------------

Subject: Barcelona, Spain

Casa del Libro (Rda. Sant Pere, 3; 08007, Tel. [phone]).  Spanish books on
 science and art, and Catalonian books.
Crisol (Rbla. Catalunya, 81; Tel. [phone]).  An excellent bookstore on
 literature, art, travel, etc.  Open on Sunday.
Liberia Bosch (Rda. Universitat, 11; 08007, Tel. [phone]).  Spanish books
 on a important variety of themes: science, legal, education....
Libreria Herder (C/ Balmes 26; 08007, Tel. [phone]).  This has a good
 technical section with books in English, German, etc.

[This part contributed by Gloria Soriano ([e-mail]).]

============================================================================
------------------------------

Subject: Madrid, Spain

Booksellers S.A. (Jose Abascal 48, 28003).  New books in English.  English
 as a Second Language materials.
Casa del Libro (Gran Via, 29).  Mostly new Spanish books, with an English
 section.
Turner English Books (Genova 3, 28004).  New books in Spanish, English, and
 French.  Also has a video rental collection, including many British
 films.

Also check out the bookstalls on Claudio Moyano, between the Prado, Atocha
station, and Retiro Park (more precisely, it's the street that runs between
the southern edge of the Botanical Gardens and the Agriculture Ministry; but
no one knows where those are; it's west of the southern end of Retiro Park).
Spanish books, new and used, old volumes often very reasonably priced.

============================================================================
------------------------------

Subject: Grenoble, France

Arthaud (Grand Rue).  The big general bookstore, which has everything.
Glenat (avenue Alsace-Lorraine).  For "bandes dessinees" (comix
 French-style).

Get "Le Dahu" (the local alternative/student guidebook, updated annually)
for reviews of other bookshops.

============================================================================
------------------------------

Subject: Marseille, France

FNAC (in the shopping center "Centre Bourse," near the Canebiere).  Another
 very big general bookstore, has also nearly everything.
Virgin Megastore (rue Saint-Ferreol).  The biggest general bookstore, which
 has nearly everything (also comics, SF, music, ...).
 Nice cafe inside at one story of the bookstore.  Very few non-French
 books.

"Since I don't live in Marseille at the moment (my family does), I usually
have not much time to go shopping when I'm there, therefore I go to one of
these two shops to buy as much as I can in the short time.  I'm sure there
are plenty of nice smaller bookshops (there were, 8 years ago, as I used to
live in France) but I don't have up-to-date infomtion about them."

[This part contributed by Francoise Miane ([e-mail]).]

============================================================================
------------------------------

Subject: Paris, France

Brentano's (37, avenue de l'Opera, 400m from the Opera, 75002 Paris,
 Tel [phone]).  American bookstore, with specialized
 sections, French books and a newsstand that carries American mags.
 Very large array of fantasy and SF paperbacks just to the right of
 the main entrance.  The Horror section is separate.
 Very few hardbacks, located near the cashier  No comics to speak of.
 Will take orders.
FNAC (several *big* shops in Paris, and many in other major French towns).
Galignani (224 rue de Rivoli, Paris I).  Was the bookstore of the
 expatriates of the lost generation, and countless others.  Has
 managed (for how long?) to preserve the same decor, and same
 atmosphere.  Good selection of current fiction, paperbacks.  Also
 magazines (art, fashion and decoration; French, British and
 American), and current French titles.  Many books on the arts in
 general.
Gibert Jeune (179 Bd. St-Michel and other locations).  Stores a very
 comprehensive range of textbooks (French and international) on all
 subjects, paperbacks, art books, guides, literature, comics,
 records, video and recently videogames.  The main store has a 5th
 floor full of foreign literature (many languages) and self-teaching
 language methods.  A good source of used paperback SF.  Used books
 are generally mingled with new ones.  For technical and scientific
 books, also look at the store on Place St-Michel.  Also in other big
 towns.
Librairie Breizh (near the Gare Montparnasse).  Books and music about
 Britanny and the Celtic world in general.
Librairie du Pacifique (near the Sorbonne).  A good range of books on
 Polynesia.
Librairie Gourmande (4, rue Dante, Paris 5).  For those who are interested
 in books about food and cooking.  Some books in English, but a large
 and good selection in French.
Shakespeare's (near St. Michel across the Seine from Notre Dame).  Probably
 the best known English bookstore in Paris, even more than WH Smith
 or Brentanos.  The bookstore has an excellent collection of
 non-fiction with some rare prints in stock.  There is a small but
 decent collection of paperback mysteries and SF paperbacks.  A lot
 of good European travel guides are available.  "Shakespeare's deals
 mainly in used books though they have a few new titles on display.
 The bookstore itself is rather musty and old-worldish.  A steep
 flight of stairs leads you to a reading room on the first (American
 second) floor where there are some rare, out of print books not for
 sale."
Tea and Tattered Pages (4, Rue Mayet, about ten minutes' walk from Gare De
 Montparnasse though the nearest metro is Duroc).  This is a used
 bookstore dealing almost exclusively in fiction.  The selection is
 pretty good.  You can find some out of print books here if you look
 long enough.  The plus point abut this store is the low price tags
 on the books.  Almost all the books sell for less than 25 francs
 (about US$4).  Towards the back of the shop is a small tea room
 where you can get American style munchies like bagels and cream
 cheese and read some English newspapers and magazines while sipping
 your tea.
Transmondia (Rue Douai, Metro Place Clichy or Blanche).  Nice selection of
 books on railroad topics, on both European and American prototypes.
 Also N Gauge model trains. Credit cards accepted and English spoken.
The Village Voice (6, rue Princesse, Paris 6).  A nice store; only books in
 the English language.  Some readings by poets or writers coming
 through town.  The owner is a pleasant lady who has lived in the
 US, and knows the current literature.
Virgin Megastore (Champs Elysees).  Music and books.
W. H. Smith (rue de Rivoli near the American Embassy and the Concorde
 Place).  Large English bookstore, carries about everything from
 comics to videotapes.  The SF/Fantasy/Horror section is now at the
 bottom of the store, near the rear entrance.  Hardbacks are
 displayed on the top of the shelf, with some of the newest
 paperbacks.  The fantasy and SF are mixed; the horror books use a
 separate third of the back shelf.  More expensive in the average
 than Brentano's.

"Don't know the names of the two shops I'm about to recommend, but I
can give fairly good geographic directions.  The first is on the rue
Git-le-Coeur, the nearest Metro being St. Michel.  It's a very short
street with only one bookstore on it, so it's easy to find.  Specialises
in surrealism, comics, detective and SF, some erotica (at the back on the
right) and art books.  Prices very competetive; many remainders, and some
antiqurian items.  There is no apparent order to the place; it's small and
cluttered, with books piled up everywhere.  Great place.  The second is on
a corner of the place Sulpice, where the famous church is.  It's a huge,
barn of a shop run by publisher Jean-jacques Pauvert.  Very good general
stock, tendency toward avant-garde and surrealism.  Used books mixed in with
the new.  It's close enough to walk to from the Git-le-Coeur shop."

Of Shakespeare & Co., Bill Bryson says in his NEITHER HERE NOR THERE:
"...  a wonderfully gloomy English-language bookstore full of cobwebs
and musty smells and old forgotten novels by writers like Warwick
Deeping.  Plump chairs and sagging sofas were scattered about the rooms
and on each a young person in intellectual-looking glasses was curled
up reading one of the proprietor's books, evidently from cover to cover
(I saw one owlish young man turn down the corner of a page and replace
the book on its shelf before scowling at me and departing into the
night).  The bookstore had an engagingly clubby atmosphere, but how it
stays in business I have no idea.  Not only was the guy at the till
conspicuously underemployed--only at the most considerable of intervals
did he have to stir from his own book to transact a small sale--but the
store's location, on the banks of the Seine in the very shadow of
Notre-Dame, must surely push its rent into the stratosphere.  Anywhere
else in the world Shakespeare & Co. would be a souvenir emporium,
selling die-cast models of the cathedral, Quasimodo ashtrays, slide
strips, postcards, and Ooh-La-La T-shirts, or else one of those
high-speed cafes where the waiters dash around frantically, leaving you
waiting forty minutes before taking your order, and then make it clear
that you have twenty-five seconds to drink your coffee, eat your baba
rum and clear off, and don't even *think* about asking for a glass of
water if you don't want spit in it.  How it has managed to escape this
dismal fate is a miracle, but it left me in the right admiring frame of
mind, as I wandered back to my hotel through the dark streets, to think
that Paris was a very fine place indeed."

============================================================================
------------------------------

Subject: Amsterdam, The Netherlands

AKO Paper booth (the main concourse of the Central Station, Stationsplein
 13, 1012 AB Amsterdam, [phone]: almost all trains, trams,
 buses and subways stop here).  Sells daily papers from all over the
 world, including the New York Times, Intl. Herald Trib, USA Today,
 Wall Street Journal.  Even sells Turkish, Russian, Greek, German,
 Indian, French and other-language-papers.
American Book Centers (Kalverstraat 185, 1012 XC Amsterdam,
 [phone], FAX [phone]; Tram 16, 24 and 25, stop
 'Munt').  They cater to the large English-language community in
 Holland.  Besides a large selection in recent American fiction they
 stock a lot of SF and fantasy.  The staff is friendly and helpful.
 If they don't have the books you want in stock they will try to
 order them for you.  They recently (8/93) dropped the word
 "discount" from their name, but still offer a 10% discount to
 students, teachers, and discount card holders.  Open Mon-Wed,
 Fri-Sun 10h-18h, Thu 10h-22h.
Atheneum Bookstore (Spui 14-16, 1012 XA Amsterdam, [phone]) and
 Atheneum Newscentre (Spui 14-16, 1012 XA Amsterdam, [phone]);
 (Tram 1, 2 and 5, stop 'Spui').  Next to each other.  At the
 newscentre you can buy all periodicals printed almost anywhere in
 the world.  It used to sell Marxist papers and other
 out-of-the-ordinary-stuff.  The bookstore is much like Scheltema,
 Holkema, Vermeulen, but somewhat smaller. The staff know
 *everything*.
De Slegte (Kalverstraat 48-52, 1012 PE Amsterdam, [phone]; Tram 1, 2,
 4, 5, 13, 14, 16, 17, 24 and 25, stop 'Dam square').  A huge
 bargain- and used-bookshop.  Sells novels, academic books and maps.
 Check out the antiquarian selection on the second floor (which might
 be the third floor to Americans?).
Het Computercollectief  (Amstel 312, 1017 AP Amsterdam, [phone],
 fax [phone]; Tram 6, 7 and 10, stop 'Oosteinde').
 Amsterdam's source for computer-related information; it sells a
 large range of computer software for different operating systems,
 computer magazines, guidance books and software manuals in Dutch and
 (most of them in) English.
Kloof Antiquarian (Kloveniersburgwal 44, 1012 CW Amsterdam, [phone];
 Subway, stop 'Nieuwmarkt').  An antiquarian bookshop similar to Kok,
 selling books about economics, law, history, psychology, science,
 literature and encyclopedias.
Kok Antiquarian (Oude Hooghstraat 14-18, 1012 CE Amsterdam, [phone];
 Subway, stop 'Nieuwmarkt').  A very interesting antiquarian bookshop
 that sells second-hand Dutch books and English paperbacks (in the
 basement), maps, books about art, architecture, history,
 encyclopedias and illustrations.
Scheltema, Holkema, Vermeulen (Koningsplein 20, 1017 BB Amsterdam,
 [phone]; Tram 1, 2 and 5, stop 'Koningsplein').  This is not
 only the best but also the largest bookstore in The Netherlands.
 Donner in Rotterdam may be the biggest in square meters, but SHV has
 more titles in stock.  Six floors full of books, from academic books
 to poetry and from travel to literature in Dutch, English, French
 and German language.
VU boekhandel (De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV Amsterdam, [phone],
        FAX [phone]; Tram 5, speed-tram 51, stop 'VU').  A recently
        expanded, well-stocked academic bookstore.  Besides catering to all
 the university courses (the majority of books in English) of the
 'Vrije Universiteit,' they sell lots of general books, maps,
 magazines, etc. They also have quite a fair range of computer books
 comparable to that of Het Computercollectief.  Open Mon-Thu
 9h-18.45h, Fri 9h-17.30h, Sat 9h-15.00h.
WH Smith (Kalverstraat 152, 1012 XE Amsterdam, [phone]).  Quite a
 large shop with 3-1/2 floors of books (the half floor is dedicated
 to childeren books only).  "Very experienced staff makes you buy
 more than intended."  The ground floor is for new books, SF, crime,
 travel: very good selection, all the Lonely Planets and Let's Gos
 are stocked, as well as local travel guides and magazines (some
 titles only available from this shop).  First (US second) floor is
 for fiction, very large selelection, US and UK publications
 stocked, as well as cookery, art, biography, poetry, and literary
 criticism.  Second floor (US third) for computer books, history,
 health and languages.

As most Dutch shops, these bookshops are opened on Monday to Friday from
 9.30h to 18.00h.  On Saturdays they close an hour earlier.  They are
 closed on Sundays and some on Monday mornings.

There is also:
OTS Books Direct (PO Box 192, NL - 5300 AD Zaltbommel, NETHERLANDS,
 [phone], FAX [phone], [e-mail].)  OTS Books
 Direct represents Paramount Publishing in Europe and sells their
 scientific books direct to the European market.

============================================================================
------------------------------

Subject: Groningen, the Netherlands

Godert Walter (Oude Ebbingestraat 53, Groningen, [phone]).
 Specializes in books on art.  Owner (Erik Kweksilber) is extremely
 knowledgeable on the subject of typesetting.

============================================================================
------------------------------

Subject: The Hague, The Netherlands

American Book Centers (Lange Poten 23, 2511 CM 's Gravenhage,
 [phone], FAX [phone]).  They cater for the large
 English-language community in Holland.  Besides a large selection in
 recent American fiction they stock a lot of SF and fantasy.  The
 staff is friendly and helpful.  If they don't have the books you
 want in stock they will try to order them for you.  They recently
 (8/93) dropped the word "discount" from their name, but still offer
 a 10% discount to students, teachers, and discount card holders.
 Open Mon-Wed, Fri-Sat 10h-18h, Thu 10h-22h.

============================================================================
------------------------------

Subject: Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Donner (Lijnbaan 150/Binnenwegplein 7).  Largest bookstore in the
 Netherlands.

============================================================================
------------------------------

Subject: Antwerpen/Antwerp, Belgium

FNAC (Groenplaats).  Like all FNACs in Belgium, wide selection of books in
        many languages; also music, photo, hi-fi, etc.  Usually expensive.
Standaard Boekhandel (Huidevettersstr, off the Meir).  Well-organised
 English-language section, with good collection of fiction (including
 SF) and non-fiction.

============================================================================
------------------------------

Subject: Brussel/Bruxelles/Brussels, Belgium:

FNAC (Nieusstr).  Like all FNACs in Belgium, wide selection of books in
        many languages; also music, photo, hi-fi, etc.  Good reference
 section.
W. H. Smiths (Bvd. A. Max).  Best English bookshop in Brussels, much used by
        expatriots working for E.U. and other organisations.  You'll find a
        good choice of periodicals, SF, Penguins, and a decent reference
        section.  All imported from Britain.

============================================================================
------------------------------

Subject: Copenhagen, Denmark

Athenaeum (Noerregade 6).  Medicine, psychology, paedagogics, and
 English-language and literature.
Boghallen (Raadhuspladsen 37, DK-1550 Cop. V, [phone]).  A good
 place to buy books in English in Copenhagen.
Dickens--The Bookshop (Sankt Pedersstraede 30, [phone]).  Complete
 line of Penguin books.
Fantask (Sankt Pedersstraede 18, [phone]).  Comics and SF.
Munksgaard A/S (Noerre Soegade 35 DK-1370 Cop. K, [phone];
 FAX [phone]).  Used to be Ejnar Munksgaard.
Polyteknisk Boghandel (Anker Engelundsvej 1, [phone]).  Technical
 books.  (This is the main building of the Technical University of
 Denmark, and the bookstore is right across the corridor from
 Danmarks Tekniske Bibliotek, the country's main library for
 technical books and periodicals.)

In general, Noerregade and Fiolstraede (next to the Noerreport Station) are
the places to go shopping for books.  A few large shops on Stroeget as
well.

============================================================================
------------------------------

Subject: Bergen, Norway

Erasmus Montanus (Torgalmenningen 6, in the center of town, Galleriet)).
 Mainly English-language books. Good selection of SF.
F. Beyer (Strandgaten 4, just off Torgalmenningen).  Has both Norwegian and
 English books. A few French, German, Spanish books.  Good selection
 of SF.
Studia (Students Centre, Parkveien 1).  University bookstore.  Has large
 selection of literature about many subjects, also paperbacks.  Has
 several sub-departments at five other places in town (law, economy,
 medicine, etc.)  (Reduced opening hours in the summertime.)

The various Narvesen kiosks have a varying amount of English-language books,
mainly best-sellers and SF, and also some foreign magazines in various
languages.  Try the ones at the railway station and in Olav Kyrres gate (by
the Music Pavillion).  The used-books stores have usually a small number of
English books.  Bergen is one of the four university towns of Norway (the
other are Oslo, Trondheim and Tromsoe.

[This part contributed by Frank H. Flaesland ([e-mail]).]
============================================================================
------------------------------

Subject: Oslo, Norway

Akademika (on the Blindern university campus, pb.84 Blindern;
 tel. [phone]).  University bookstore, fairly large selection in
 most subjects.  Penguin Classics and Penguin Modern Classics.
 Slightly more expensive than most.  Law department in the centre
 building of the old university campus on Karl Johans gate.  English
 contemporary fiction on the Blindern campus in the "Frederikke"
 cantine building neighbouring the main bookshop building.
Avalon (upstairs from Tanum, on Karl Johan, nr. 37/41, tel. [phone]);
 SF, comics and games.  The SF is mostly run-of-the-mill American
 editions, nothing especially exciting or literary.  No SF magazines
 last time I looked.  The service is very gaming-orientated.
Damms Antikvariat (between Karl Johan and the Akershus fortress, Tollbugt.
 25, tel. [phone]).  Used, for first editions, professional
 collectors place.
J W Cappelens antikvariat (between Norli & Norlis antikvariat,
 Universitetsgt 20, tel. [phone]).  Used, like Damms, and
 publishes regular catalogue.  Auctions.
Majorstuen antikvariat, (off Bogstadveien, Vibesgt. 15, tel. [phone]).
 Used, well-stocked.
Norli (just off Karl Johan by the old University campus, Universitetsg. 24;
 tel. [phone]).  Very good selection of books (fiction,
 philosophy) in all Scandinavian languages, in addition to a fairly
 well-stocked section of contemporary English-language novels, etc.
 Good periodicals section, and language-learning sections.  Very
 competent service.
Norlis antikvariat (further up the road from Norli, Universitetsgt 18,
 tel. [phone]).  Used, well-stocked.
Oslo Nye Antikvariat (off Bogstadveien, Majorstuvn. 15, tel. [phone]).
 Used, very good for all sorts of non-fiction.  English fiction
 (classics) down the stairs.
Quist (to the left of the Royal Palace, Drammensvn. 16, tel. [phone]).
 Slightly eccentric, "Your English-Language Bookshop."
Scanalka (on the East side of the Akerselva river, in Grunerloekka, Thorvald
 Meyers gt. 42, tel. [phone]).  Occult, new age, health stuff.
Tanum (on Karl Johan, nr. 37/41, tel. [phone]).  Largest bookshop in
 Oslo, plenty of English-language paperbacks, a very good art
 section.
Travellers Shop (Uranienborgvn. 4?, tel. [phone]).  For travellers.
Tronsmo (Kr. Aug. gt. 19, tel. [phone]).  A very political, left-wing
 bookshop with lots of theory and radical magazines - and a large
 comics section in the cellar.  Very competent service.
(university campus bookshop at Blindern).   A good range of material in
 foreign languages, especially English.

(Norwegian for bookshop is "bokhandel"; some will have stationary too--
"bok-og papirhandel"; for second hand books, try "antikvariat."  Few of the
second-hand shops deal very much in English-language books for some reason--
they especially avoid paperbacks; but the ones listed have some.  None have
any sort of expertise on contemporary international fiction.  The Oslo
students' SF club has auctions twice a year (and also at conventions), very
reasonable prices for exciting books.  Write to Aniara, pb. 38 Blindern,
N-0313 OSLO for details.)

============================================================================
------------------------------

Subject: Stockholm, Sweden

SF-Bokhandeln (Stora Nygatan 45 in Gamla Stan, [phone], FAX
 [phone]).  Specializes in SF.  Open weekdays 1100-1900,
 Saturdays 1000-1600.  During June, July, August and December; also
 open on Sundays 1200-1600.

============================================================================
------------------------------

Subject: Helsinki, Finland

Akateeminen Kirjakauppa (Akademiska Bokhandeln in Swedish -- the other
 official language there) (across the street from (and legally a part
 of) the large Stockmann department store on Keskuskatu
 (Centralgatan) at the corner of Pohjoisesplanaadi (Norra
 Esplanaden)).  Despite the name (literally: "Academic Bookstore"),
 Akateeminen carries a large selection of modern fiction as well.
 Books are in Finnish, Swedish, and English, and to a lesser extent
 German, French, and Russian.  This used to be the largest bookstore
 in the world, with some 250,000 titles.  (Akateeminen is actually a
 chain, and their shops are found in or near most Stockmann
 locations, but the one in Helsinki is the largest and best.
 It is also the oldest, celebrating its 100th anniversary in 1993.
 It has a cafe and carries 140,000 titles (1,000,000 volumes).  It
 was designed by the Finnish architect Alvar Aalto.  There was an
 article about it in the 27 Sep 1993 issue of PUBLISHERS WEEKLY.)
Suomalainen Kirjakauppa (Finska Bookhandeln in Swedish: Finnish Bookstore).
 It's about one hunderd meters from Akateeminen and also opposite of
 Stockmann but on the side of Aleksanterinkatu (Aleksandersgatan).
 "It also sells books in different languages and it's the only
 possible place in Finnland where you might find something that you
 were looking in Akateeminen but did not find."

============================================================================
------------------------------

Subject: Berlin, Germany

Near the Technical University (former West Berlin) around Ernst Reuter
Platz, the two biggest stores are "Kiepert" (with two other (smaller)
outlets in Berlin near the Free University and the Humboldt University)
and "J. F. Lehmanns" (with three other (smaller) outlets in Berlin in
or near University Hospitals).  For Lehmanns, there probably could be
given the same comment as above for the shop in Cologne ("Outlets also
in other towns .... Still, not a chain store").  Lehmanns also has net
access:

J.F.Lehmanns (D-10623 Berlin, Hardenbergstrasse 11, [phone], fax:
 [phone], orders and questions via email:
 [e-mail], orders via free phone (corresponding to
 US 800-numbers) : 0130 4372).  (German "bestellung" translates to
 English "order")

"Kiepert" near Ernst Reuter Platz has several departments which are
specialized in Maps, Old Books, Pocketbooks, Art and many others,
including a big selection of books in English/original language.
As far as I know, "Lehmanns" was founded as a bookshop specialized
for medical books, but now they have other books too, eg. computer
and technical sections. (they advertise as "Fachbuchhandlung fuer
Medizin, Technik, Naturwissenschaften, Computerliteratur")

And besides these two big shops, there are many more (>10) small shops
in a range of few minutes walk by foot, part of them specialised in
certain kinds of books and literature, e.g., several shops for foreign
books (different shops for different languages/countries), one for
feminist books, some for Antiques, etc.

In Germany, postal codes (zip codes) are changing on 1st of July and all
cities get new numbers. Bigger cities like Berlin and Cologne get up to
800 new numbers for one city and maybe one of the bookstores mentioned
above (Kiepert) might even have three different codes for two halves of
its shop (it's around a corner of two streets at a 'zip boundary', and if
they have a postbox, that's the third number).  People should watch for
new and correct codes if they already have addresses of some German shops.

"Most German books are available via a distribution system that includes
almost all shops in Germany, so shop size is not relevant.  Ordered books
are usually available within the week."

[This part contributed by Andreas Bewersdorff ([e-mail]).]

============================================================================
------------------------------

Subject: Cologne, Germany

Buchhandlung Klaus Bittner (Albertus Strasse 6; across the street from
 Walther Koenig).  Modern German language literature.  Very helpful
 and knowledgeable as well.  Has also a very broad selection of books
 on opera, theatre and ballet.  Carries a small stock of English
 paperbacks.  Regular reading and lecture events with German language
 and international writers.  On Saturdays a meeting place of the
 Cologne writers and would-be writers.

Buchhandlung Walther Koenig (Breite Strasse 93).  A classic!  Specialized in
 fine arts,with an emphasis on contemporary art, design, museum
 catalogues, architecture, photography, film.  Two bookshops next to
 each other.  The one directly at the corner has bargain books; the
 store next to it has the current editions as well as journals.  "In
 my personal view among the best for these subject areas.  Good
 selection of English language publications.  The owner is a walking
 CD-rom and famous in the German art scene.  Equally helpful and
 knowledgeable staff."  English and French spoken.  Outlets also at
 the Museum Ludwig (Cologne's Museum of Contemporary Art close to the
 Cathedral), at the Bundeskunsthalle (Bonn), in Duesseldorf and
 Frankfurt am Main and may be at other places.  Still, not a chain
 store...

============================================================================
------------------------------

Subject: Dortmund, Germany (city phone prefix is +49-231)

Krueger (Westenhellweg).  Large bookshop with departments on a lot of
 topics, good computer science department, bad service.
Niehoerster (large shop downtown and some outside areas).  Usual topics
 available, chaotic service.
Shakespeare (Saarlandstrasse).  Nice small shop, actual literature and
 used/antiquarian books.  Very good in child books, criminal stories,
 art.  Qualified fast service.  Irregular events with writers.

[This part contributed primarily by Thomas Dettmer
([e-mail]).]

============================================================================
------------------------------

Subject: Frankfurt am Main, Germany

British Bookshop (Boersenstrasse 17,  just off Hochstrasse near the
 Frankfurt Stock Market, ++69-240492).  "General selection, but seem
 to have a helpful staff.  I have only dealt with them by phone, but
 if I ever visit them in person, I will send you some more comments."
Hugendubel (Hauptwache, ++69-29982-0).  Large German bookshop with a  fairly
 big selection of mainstream English books on second floor. Overseas
 orders take an average 4 weeks).
Muhlhausen Buchhandlung (near Hugendubel).  Large independent bookstore with
 90,000 to 100,000 books.
Sussmann's (Zeil 127, ++69-1310751).  English, French, Italian, Spanish
 books and a very large selection of US magazines.

============================================================================
------------------------------

Subject: Hamburg, Germany (city phone prefix +49-40-)

Colon, Esplanade (near Dammtor Bahnhof, Stephansplatz U-Bahn).  Good foreign
 language shop, belongs to Colon language institute
Dr. Goetze Land & Karte (Bleichenhof Shopping Mall).  Travel, maps, and
 geography books.
The English Bookshop (near Christuskirche U-Bahn). Used English books.
Frensche International (Landesbank Galerie, Gerhart-Hauptmann-Platz, along
 Moenkebergstrasse in the City).  Good foreign language shop.
Heymann's (on "Eppendorfer Baum").  Good general purpose bookstore.
Otto Spatz (near the University Hospital Eppendorf (UKE) in NW Hamburg).
 Specializes in medical books.
Thalia Buchhaus (along Spitalerstrasse near Hauptbahnhof).  Good large
 general Bookshop.  Some English literature.

[This part contributed mostly by Mathias Koerber
([e-mail]).]

============================================================================
------------------------------

Hannover, Germany (city phone prefix +49-511-)

Schmorl u.v. Seefeld (near the main railway station).  One of the oldest and
 largest bookstores in Hannover.  They have some separate branches in
 other buildings nearby specializing in paperbacks, CD music,
 newspapers, sales, childrens books, etc.
Weidemann (near "Steintor" place).  They specialize in scientific books and
 are the top address for all the students of the university.
"Internationalismus Buchladen" (on "Engelbosteler Damm").  "Definitely
 left-wing, may lack some funding in these post-cold-war days... :-)"

[This part contributed by Harald Schiller Frame
([e-mail]).]

============================================================================
------------------------------

Subject: Munich, Germany

Anglia English Bookshop (Schellingstrasse 3, [phone]).  English
 books.
Comic Company (Baaderstrasse 74, [phone]).  Comics, very good
 choice, but nearly everything in German.  If you are lucky, you may
 find French or English original versions of some new interesting
 titles (the shopkeeper sometimes doesn't want to wait until they get
 translated into German!).
Geobuch (Rosental  6,  80331 Munich, [phone]).  Travel guides, maps,
        etc., for all parts of the world, even including jet navigational
        charts.
Hugendubel (several *big* shops in Munich) big general bookstores, which
 have almost everything (also comics, SF, ...), competent staff:
 - Marienplatz 22 ([phone] - 1)
   The oldest (and biggest) "Hugendubel", good choice of everything
   in German, good choice of English books, some books in a few
   other languages (French, Italian, Spanish, ...)
 - Karlsplatz ([phone])
   The newest, nicest (and second biggest) "Hugendubel", good choice
   of everything in german.  The best choice for foreign languages.
   Small (non-smoker) cafe in the first floor inside of the
   bookstore.
 Other smaller "Hugendubel" :
 - Nymphenburgerstrasse 188 ([phone])
 - shopping center "Olympiaeinkaufszentrum" ([phone])
 - shopping center "P.E.P." ([phone])
Librairie Francaise (Schellingstrasse 3, [phone]).  French books,
 some French comics (very few).
Sussmann's Presse und Buch (in the central station "Hauptbahnhof," and in
 the east station "Ostbahnhof", [phone] - 0; several small
 shops).  This is also an important address, since shops in Germany
 are not allowed to be open after certain hours and on certain days;
 some of the few exceptions are shops in stations (supposed to be
 only for travellers).  Here you can find quite a lot of nearly every
 kind of books (also a few in English, French, Italian, Spanish,
 etc..), seven days a week until 21:00.
2001 (Tuerkenstrasse 67, [phone]).  One of the most important
 places for books/music.  2001 prints books you can't find anywhere
 else (a lot of first printings in German, for instance, books from
 Douglas Adams, Boris Vian, Alfred Jary, etc...).  There are "2001"
 bookstores in many German cities, they are usually small; but you
 can order anything from their own catalogue.
Words' Worth (Schellingstr. 21A, 80799 Munich, [phone]--CAREFUL:
        this street alone has three postal codes :-/]--50 meters distance
        from Anglia Bookshop, in the immediate environs of the Ludwig
        Maximillian University).  British books; also accepts orders for
 British and American books.

[This part mostly contributed by Francoise Miane
([e-mail]).]

============================================================================
------------------------------

Subject: Zurich, Switzerland

Filmbuchhandel Rohr (Oberdorfstrasse).  Good selection of books about film.
Orel Fuessli (Fuesllistrasse 4).  Largest bookstore in the city, and even
 larger now in their new (12/93) location.  Large general selection,
 excellent collection of German-language paperback novels, travel
 guides for all over the world, maps, coffee-table travel picture
 books.  Decent selection of English-language books.
Payot (Bahnhofstrasse).  Good French- and English-language bookstore.
 General selection, good collection of art books.  English-language
 books are generally British editions.
Travel Bookstore (Rindmarkt).  Excellent collection of travel guides and
 maps.  English-language guides available.

============================================================================
------------------------------

Subject: Vienna, Austria

American Discount (Wienzeile near Karlsplatz).  Somewhat seedy store, but
 good selection of new paperbacks, also comics and movie-related
 books.  Wide selection of foreign magazines.  Sell almost
 exclusively English-language stuff (except for the comics).   Good
 SF selection, comparable to Frick or British Bookshop.
British Book Shop (Weihburggasse).  Regular book store with lots of English
 stuff and staff.  Nice people.
Frick (Graben).  Mainly German, but has a nice department of foreign (French
 & English) books.  Perhaps not quite the size of the one at the
 British Bookshop.  SF selection is good.  The main difference is
 that they have more U.S. editions, while the British Book Shop has
 more, though by no means exclusively, British ones.
Sallmayer (Neuer Markt, just off Kaerntnerstrasse).  Not too friendly,
 but interesting stock.  Specialized shop, does not sell mainstream
 literature, most of their stuff is in English.  Mostly military,
 technical, and arts books, but also SF.  One shelf of used
 English-language paperbacks.
Shakespeare & Company (Sterngasse near Pickwicks).  Regular book store, lots
 of English stuff.
Morawa (Wollzeile 11 (?)).  Mainly German, but also has a small department
 of foreign books, mostly English.  Best known for magazines
 (domestic and lots of foreign) because they are one of the biggest
 importers (and resellers) of foreign magazines in Austria.  Very
 good selection of newspapers and of German and English-language
 travel-guides.

In general Wollzeile and the surrounding areas has many bookshops.

All of these are in the 1.Bezirk (the City), and are within easy walking
distance from Stephansplatz.

============================================================================
------------------------------

Subject: Istanbul, Turkey

There are two areas to look at.  One is the bookseller's market at Beyazit;
this is mind-bogglingly chaotic, particularly the second-hand shops, and
mainly good for Turkish-language material.  The other is in the
Pera/Beyoglu area from the Tunel to Taksim Square; there are a few places
here that sell foreign-language books, and one small shop in a square near
the Tunel has the only second-hand shop in town that sells English and
French language stuff (the square it's in will make any cat lover go all
wobbly, there are dozens of lovely fluffy moggies outside).  There are also
bookshops attached to publishers all over the city (though predominantly in
Sultanahmet as that's where the publishers themselves congregate).  But for
general tourist guides and informative material about Turkey in any language
you probably can't beat the shop beside the Blue Mosque.

============================================================================

Evelyn C. Leeper | [phone] | [e-mail] /
[e-mail]

--
Evelyn C. Leeper | [phone] | [e-mail]
"The Internet is already an information superhighway, except that ... it is
like
driving a car through a blizzard without windshield wipers or lights, and all
of
the road signs are written upside down and backwards."--Mike Royko (not Dave
Barry!)


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------