Best. Bookstore. EVER. My husband and I stopped in here while we were on our honeymoon, and we had no idea what to expect when we walked through the door. We were delighted to find, dear reader, that this particular bookstore stocks nothing but science-fiction, fantasy, horror, and suspense literature. Whereas other bookstores relegate these genres to a few meagre bookcases, Borderlands Books is an entire STORE of shelf after shelf of wonderful fantastic and speculative fiction. The clerk tending the counter on the day we stopped in was also knowledgeable, friendly, and enthusiastic about the authors and titles carried in the store. My husband and I are thrilled just knowing this place exists; weve been raving about it to people since we got home. We will definitely stop back in the next time that were in San Francisco!

Absolutely love this bookstore and the team who run it! Lovely people. They provide one of the most (if not the most) expansive range of sci-fi and fantasy books. You can find pretty much any title in those genre realms. Take your time here too if it’s your first time.

Borderlands is an amazing fantasy and science fiction bookstore (that also carries mysteries). They have a great assortment of new and used books and are always willing to help with suggestions if you are looking for something new. Alan, Jude, Scott, and Jeremy are all very knowledgeable and personable and every visit is like returning home. Rush right out now and visit and find something to read!

Imagine that you stumbled into the book collection of someone whos tastes run from mystery to science fiction to adventures of self discovery in alternative realities... then go there! A short block from the #14 or a pretty walk from Delores park and the street car. Marvel at the mural on the womens building. Many Indian/Pakistani restaurants nearby as well. Prices for new books are competitive with the internet, so you wont regret impulse purchases. Browsing is rewarding given the excellent selection. Valencia Ave is often stuffed with people but the store has always been calm and welcoming!

Im a HUGE urban fantasy reader and this is the only book store that has ALL the series! Even the old ones! Gasped when I saw Morganville vampire series I read that like ten years ago and totally forgot about it.

Best bookstore Ive been to in years. Very organized and friendly staff.

This is a cool bookshop with a big emphasis on science fiction. There is deepness in the stacks with many obscure and hard to find titles. The proprietor has a great familiarity with the titles and was happy to share her knowledge. I just dont think you can ask for more than this!

I LOVE this place - staff is super knowledgeable and friendly, and the selection is awesome and extremely well curated. Definitely stop by.

This is a lovely shop filled with used and new SF, fantasy, horror AND literary criticism of all these. I had a helpful chat with the person who rang me up about a small press I was curious about. I left with that particular buzz of a good bookstore haul.

Such a delightful charity-focused bookstore dedicated to fantasy genres. Staff was helpful and awesome.

Not enough people know that this gem of a bookstore and community is, unfortunately, owned by an abuser who also exploits his staff. Google mission local borderlands for more info, and please consider shopping at a different independent bookstore. Sincerely, a former staff member who was wrongfully terminated and threatened with retaliation after asking for workplace safety measures.

Absolutely wonderful store. If you have a thirst for specificially science fiction, you should most definately give this place a visit.

Helpful and friendly staff, not above recommending Dog Earred Books for books they dont carry. I love having a genre specific bookstore to go to. :)

Cool old school bookstore that’s managed to stick around. Good selection, not the best prices, and a pretty laid back atmosphere. Probably not my first thought if I actually need a book, but it’s a nice way to kill some time if you’re down this way.

Christmas Miracle - thank you Borderlands BooksFor 20+ years I’ve been hoping against hope (and slowly losing hope) that one of my favorite series would be reprinted. (The Saga of the Pliocene Exile.) Meanwhile my ancient copies were literally losing pages like a tree in Autumn.What did I find today? My Christmas Miracle! Four beautiful robust volumes, just sitting there, apparently waiting for me. Now they have a new home and pride of place.Thanks Borderlands!Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

I ordered a signed edition of an obscure horror book from the shop. I was absolutely delighted to find a copy, and it is actually in even better condition than stated. It looks almost new. It arrived four days after I ordered it- yes, I paid priority shipping, but we all know thats no guarantee right now- carefully wrapped and safely delivered to my doorstep. Borderlands, I just want you to know that you have made my husbands birthday wonderful. He was so happy with the book he was speechless. I cant recommend this store enough.

They have the best staff and give the best reccomendations! Scott is a delight! Plus they have a buy back program. I received a free book with the store credit I earned. 😍

The exact opposite of a Barnes & Noble.

Ive lived in many many cities. This is bar none the best specialty book store I have ever encountered. The staff are all sci-fi aficionados. if they dont have it, they can get it. Rare, out of print, nobody but you has ever heard of it? No problem. They probably know the author personally. If you love sci-fi and live in SF you NEED to know this place. If you love sci-fi and are just visiting SF, you NEED to visit this place.

Friendly, knowledgeable staff who are passionate about sci-fi and fantasy. Great selection. Good ventilation for COVID safety.

This bookstore is so amazing. Sectioned off in a way in which you can easily find things, there is such an eclectic collection of novels that you can easily find something you and your friends will like. From picture books to The Hobbit to The Buddhist Bible, this place seemingly has it all!

One of my happy places. The staff is incredibly friendly and Im always able to find numerous books that are on my list and some that werent.

God this is a fantasy lovers actual dream come true!friends and i stopped by this place a couple times and its got an absolute s tier selection. i found all the books i wanted in the used section and spend last than $30 for 4 books. got recommended a lot of poc authors as well and they were all in stock!!also spoke to the cashier for a bit and she was so nice!! got to hear a little about the stores history and the interaction was very genuine. cant wait to come back when i visit sf again.

Lovely indie bookstore with good covid practices. Excellent science fiction and fantasy selection. Definitely a focused offering.Miss the coffee shop right next door (with limited wifi hours).

Great selection of science fiction, mystery, and horror

I love this store. Whenever my husband and I go to the Castro theater for a date, we always make an effort to stop buy and pick out books for each other. Great selection and good prices. Theres also a used section where we have often found great books to read.

Amazing service. I called to have copies of a magazine sent to me here in Arkansas. They went out of their way to make this happen although their profit will be very small. They could not have been nicer. Terrific customer service!

My favorite book store. They always have whatever Im looking for (and an armload more).

Go here! Get a book! They have cheap used ones in the back, too!

Borderlands was the dark secluded alchemy lair in the most crowded part of the city. With an adjacent cafe, it was the perfect place to lose yourself in new favorite drink, while reading an old favorite story. About a year ago the cafe closed, and the book store is soon to follow. It will be greatly missed.

Wonderful staff, great selection of horror, scifi, and fantasy. If they dont have what you seek, they will happily order it.If you dont know what youre in the mood for reading -- they are happy to suggest.I love this store, one of my favorite CA finds, and their endearing cafe which is now adjoined cant be beat.

This place brings back memories of the great Borderlands Books from yesteryear. They have a huge selection of books with new releases right up front. The staff were helpful and gift wrapped our purchase. It was truly enjoyable to browse and shop here and was a nice change from the big box bookstores.

Great selection and service!

The owner suggested a series after Id finished the Dark Tower and now Im hooked. Tell him your faves and maybe hell do the same for you. Awesome for horror & sci-fi.

It was cool.i only saw it from outside,but the selection of books they had on display was intriguing.

The staff here was super helpful, friendly, and even recommended books for me to read if I enjoyed the book I was purchasing there. Its clear by their attitude that the employees really care about the books they sell here. Highly recommend

Easily makes my top three favorite bookstores in major cities list!! I was in there forever! I love all the little corners you can sit and read at. I love all the artwork, poems, and quotes on the walls. Theres three stories, be sure to check each one out. Such a humble and charming little bookstore!

This place is a San Francisco fixture. They have such a local fan base that folks got together to help them find, afford, and move into the current location. The are focused on schedule for fantasy and horror, and have a great selection.Parking can be tight and more than a little pricy, which can make it a bit problematic if youre coming in from outside the city. For locals though, public transportation is easy.The attached coffee shop is a nice place to relax with your new books and enjoy a fresh cup.

Great place. It has a large selection of books with quite the variety. Plus they have some really cool eclectic items. It is definitely worth a visit.

Absolutely lovely place. Their curated selection of staff picks made browsing really fun and introduced some great books.

Great book selection with knowledgeable staff. If you are looking for a gift and only know the genre, the staff can help you find something exciting for you to give. The attached cafe makes a great Mexican mocha too.

Excellent selection of sci-fi, fantasy, mystery. They even seem to have a book club that meets here, which is kind of cool.

The beatnik writers hung out here. What more needs said?Great poetry room upstairs, large beat writers section. Quirky little nooks and crannies to the place making it a surprise around every corner.The place has an amazing aura to it. If youre visiting CA this place is a must see.

A light and airy interior. Wonderful selection of Science Fiction and Fantasy books, old and new. Current authors and old favorites. Used books (all bindings); limited editions behind the counter. Ive seen chapbooks there. Expected magazines. For me, a ride on the 33 and a 5-10 minute stroll, and I am there.

Went here to get recommendations for xenoarchaeology themed titles. The staff were very helpful and the woman who helped even gave me another way of thinking about my interest (i.e. mystery/discovery and scientists doing research and fieldwork). They have many author events though I havent been able to attend any yet.

They know everything about their stock, and if they dont have something, theyll give you titles to look up online. They all know their stuff, and they have a wonderful variety of speculative fiction. One of the few good standalone bookstores left!

Truly a great book shop! One could get lost in the bookcases for days. For lovers of dynamic and imaginative fiction, it is pure heaven.

I love this store. You cant find such an amazing selection of scifi and fantasy anywhere else. Shop local! Screw Amazon!

Amazing book store. Wonderful selection of books by an amazingly diverse range of authors and friendly, knowledge staff. You cant ask for better.

This is a small bookstore and it doesnt take long to browse the shelves. However, it is a potent space. Its exactly what an indie bookstore should be: filled with a mix of new and older titles as well as new and used books, staffed by people who care about SF/F books and reading, full of hand-picked suggestions, just big enough that you can wander around and get sucked into reading a book without feeling like someone is always looking at you.Im so glad this store didnt go away. Its amazing how the community pulled together to save it. Its worth saving and keeping.

Beautiful book store with a fine selection, mostly science fiction and fantasy. Some great Edward Gorey puzzles and books too. The adjoining cafe is quite nice too.

Im in love .... with Dog Eared books...could spend several hours here. The best prices on new books...better than Amazon!

We went for a Sanderson signing tonight and they were overflowing and sold out. Why, you might ask, the 5* review for a place that’s overfilled and sold out?The owner came out to greet us and talk over what that meant. He gave multiple options for how we could still get our signed books, as well as alternatives for purchasing since their stock was exhausted. In general, the staff was awesome, and that’s what makes any business a good one.

Great bookstore with friendly, knowledgeable staff. Specializes in speculative fiction (sci-fi, fantasy, horror) with a large stock, including some used books for sale. Often have author readings/signings from a range of sci-fi and fantasy authors.

Specialty book shop with an eclectic stock of new & used imports, fan fiction & rare editions.

God I loved this bookstore. If youre a SF / Fantasy buff at all you can easily sink hours browsing and talking to the employees about books. A must-visit for me from now on.

Borderlands Books is one of the coolest bookstores Ive seen. Large selection of new and used rare books. Comfortable interior to relax in.

Best for sci-fi love Octavia Butler

Best sci-fi bookstore in the city, moving to the Height soon.

This is the place to be if you love science fiction or fantasy books.

Wonderful staff, always friendly and knowledgeable. It has a great selection of genre works (sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and mystery), with good staff recommendations and section of used and rare books. The joined cafe next door is also great

Great shop with an excellent selection! There’s a wealth of recommendations, and I appreciated an easy view of some bestsellers.

Favorite bookstore on the planet, easily. Fantastic selection of genre fiction, knowledgeable and super friendly staff that like the same books as you do— its everything one could ask for. Sad theyre moving out of their longtime location in the vaguely near future, but the new loc is closer to where I live, which is a definite plus

One of the best specialty bookstores in the country! Caters exclusively to fans of sci-fi/fantasy, horror, and mystery. I stop by every time I visit San Francisco and I never walk away without an armload of books and some incredibly thoughtful recommendations from the knowledgeable and friendly book wizards. Be sure to check the staff recommendations and grab a coffee next door at their sister coffee and pastry shop.

Huge science fiction selection. Too many good books. A sizable collection of horror, and plenty of anthologies for both. I had a hard time walking out with only one book.

A great, local bookstore specializing in scifi, mystery and horror.

I can give this store no less than five stars, and heres why. Endless miles and miles of books at a small discount as well! Even though its touristy and huge, it somehow still feels intimate. Even on the weekends, the lines, although long, dont take long to get through. I really love this place, and with so many book retailers going out of business, I truly hope Borderlands Books is here to stay.

Phenomenally helpful and friendly staff. Great selection. Shopping here was a fantastically positive experience through and through.

Great little bookshop. All, Sci-fi, horror fantasy. Also sells pulp-fiction covers as post-cards, limited edition and used books.

A staple of the community. They always have great tea selections and an easy working environment. Just be aware that the internet shuts off at 5pm!

Such a cool fantasy and sci-fi bookstore. If I hadnt been restricted by luggage space I would have spent a dangerous amount of money there.

Right in the heart of the Mission District, this great book store exists! A wonderful place to get lost in books. Rare, new and used books. I love the lighting, decor and staff! Recently went to support a local bay area mystery author, R. Franklin James for a book signing.

Staff was friendly and very quick with assisting with our every need!

Big store with a great selection. They have used books, too and not just fantasy and sci-fi but mystery as well. I couldnt find many of the books in my wish list, especially older prints, but no brick and mortar store could have them all anyway. Very friendly staff that goes out of their way to help you or recommend fresh reads. They have book signings and events, if youre into that sort of thing, too. I believe the store exists in a temporal black hole because you enter it in the morning and then minutes later, after youve picked a couple of (dozens of) books, you exit and its evening! I honestly think I could live there. Just get me some tea and biscuits and Im happy.

Long standing science fiction and fantasy bookstore loved by local community. The graphic novel selection is not bad. Events and readings make this place a fun writer hangout and resource.

A wonderful bookstore staffed by people who are passionate—maybe even a little dotty—about books and genre literature. A true hub of the SF and mystery community.

One of my all-time favorite bookstores! Found a book I have been looking for the last few years, and got to meet a wonderful teen author yesterday.

The best bookstore in the Bay Area! Knowledgeable and friendly staff, great selection, and a literary gem!

Have you ever asked wished there was a geeky bookstore dedicated entirely to science fiction and fantasy? Because they did! Staff reviews and recommendations can be found strewn about the shelves. Now I just need to find my soul mate while browsing here.

A great quiet place to read, study or have a quiet conversation...The staff is super nice and helpful, and they really care.

Great books and atmosphere, and friendly staff!

The single best bookstore in San Francisco for Sci Fi and Horror.

Its hard to review Borderlands Books without reviewing Borderlands Cafe. Luckily, they are both solid so this should be easy. Its wonderful to have a specialty bookstore on hand for all the science fiction/fantasy/and horror aficionados out there. Im not too much of a die hard but even I still recognize the usefulness of a specialty bookstore that has the obscure titles youll never find in a Books, Inc. Plus, theres also the cafe...One of the best mochas in SF, I kid you not. The staff is so friendly, nearly to a fault. Basically, dont go in unless you are in a chatty mood. Also, check out the meat and cheese platters if youre looking for a nice afternoon snack while reading your favorite Asimov or Philip K. Dick.

Great selection of sci-fi, mystery, horror and other genres of fiction books. They also have a cafe right next to the store. Overall, my experience here was great

Best bookstore in the known universe for science fiction and fantasy! All the people who work there are friendly and widely knowledgeable about books and authors.

My favorite bookstore in San Francisco! Awesome selection of Sci-fi and fantasy and lots in between. The cafe side is cash only, but otherwise the place is wonderful.

Nifty little new and used bookstore specializing in science fiction, fantasy, mystery, and horror.

A lovely place to browse, many fantastic books, great helpful staff, bought a book suggested I wouldnt have picked up, and the cafe is a Bonus!

Astounding and amazing in size and scope, but sometimes frustratingly uneven, this is where I come when I want to browse for a book or wander across something unexpected. If I want to FIND a book, like a specific book, Ill go to B&N first and Borderlands Books second. A must visit for book nerds. A minor madhouse during Christmastime.

Great niche book selection. Staff is top notch. Good café next door. Great special events.

One of the most treasured establishments in the city. The staff is wonderful and theres always interesting events for sponsors. Recommended!

My favorite bookstore in the Mission. Which isnt too surprising given how I love sci-fi and fantasy.

I am addicted to buying books from this store. Fantastic selection dotted with staff recommendations to make your buying decisions a little easier.

A treasure trove of science fiction and fantasy books, both new and used, with knowledgeable and friendly staff. Also a sweet little coffee shop that hosts wonderful readings by todays most exciting authors.

If you love sci-fi, fantasy, horror, or mystery literature, this is the place.This place cant be absorbed in an hour. Be prepared to be inundated with choices; theres even a limited selection of used books. After your purchase, cross over to the adjacent cafe.

Outstanding Sci-Fi bookstore. I got great guidance on new and established authors.

Ducked in here to get relief from the heat and what a gem. If youre into your sci-fi, fantasy and mystery books then its seriously worth a visit

The best Sci-Fi/Fantasy (and Mystery and Horror) genre bookstore in San Francisco -- and arguably in the world.

Amazing spot for fantasy and scifi books! Found a couple of great used books for great prices!

Great selection of science fiction and fantasy titles in the heart of Mission