Dark Carnival Imaginative Fiction Bookstore

My husband and I have been science fiction readers since we were kids looking for stories to read. We've been happy customers of this shop since we discovered it, a very long time ago.

Now we're thinkers, editors and writers, but those books and more are still there in this magical shop, waiting to jump out at more curious young readers like we used to be. In fact, there's a rumor that Santa sends his elves there every September to scout for new stories. Just sayin'...

Best bookstore in the Bay! Owner knows every book under his roof. It's an amazing experience.

Excellent store for SciFi, horror, fantasy, and mystery books. You pay for your books two stores down at the comic book shop.

The best little fantasy bookstore and comic book manga shop in the east bay. Excellent and friendly staff

Best bookstore I have ever been to. A true treasure trove.

More book stores need to be like this place. A "storied" location

Get lost in a labyrinth of mystery, sci-fi, fantasy, and art books. Kids books upstairs too.

My daughter who loves fantasy and sci-fi books loved exploring and reading through the stacks of books and of course she did not walk out empty-handed.

I have walked by this place a 1,000 times, stopped to pet the dragon a 100 times (with my 3 year old son), and went in for the first time today... and it was great! It had a fun selection of kids books, and I happily bought a book my son picked out for just $5! I am certain we will be back regularly for more. I hope others are more adventurous than me and check it out sooner than I did.

This book store!!! It's so fun to go to! My friend and I like to make monthly (if not weekly) trips to the store, and we always enjoy it. There is something about the store, so full of books and quiet that makes us stay there for at least an hour every time we go. Hugely recommend going!

There is no way to accurately describe the glory of this bookstore / geek nirvana. Sure, there is an insanely diverse collection of fantasy, sci-fi, and mystery spanning many strange rooms and even across two stories! But there are also tomes of reference books from all manners of obscure and popular domains. There are geeky toys, collectible items, and graphic novels. However, for me, the joy is in knowing that there is simply no way to take it all in in a single visit. I think years might need to be dedicated to properly understand this monument. Thank you, sir. You have made the world a better place.

A nerdy hoarders paradise! You can’t find many places like this anymore. I spent over an hour here and wish I could’ve stayed longer. So many small gag gifts and books to peruse and tons of old treasures that you can’t find anywhere anymore. Not everything is organized but is fun for those of us that have time to explore and dig. They take card and you you have to pay at the comic books store two doors down which I wish I made time for too 😂 Definitely go here if you’re looking for presents.

I love, love, love this bookstore. The selection of science fiction, fantasy, horror, and mystery is extraordinary! There's games, and toys, and all sorts of fun gift ideas too. I'll be visiting again soon.

This place and the comic book store 2 doors down are just what you want them to be. Packed floor to ceiling, hidden treasures stuffed into every cranny and a staff that knows exactly what you are looking for, if they have it and where to find it. All of my kids love it and I found a pair of girl squirrel underwear to send as a thank you to my bestie who sent me "The Toast that Has No Ears". I have been searching for 16 years for just the right thing! (And yes, you read both of those things correctlu :))

This place has always been a great source of science fiction and fantasy books and similar themed items. I've been going here since grade school and can say the only thing that has changed are the ever updating books. Going through the place, even with the newer books it contains, feels like going through an old library where you might find that one truly magical book that will take you to Fantasia.

Can't believe I've never stopped in here before today. What an amazing bookstore.
The collection of sci-fi and fantasy is unlike any I've seen and the eclectic, relaxed feel of the store is so so rare these days. Highly recommended.

Took my kids here to look for some new reading material that might interest them. OMG what a fantastic place for book lovers. They carry more than just imaginative fiction too. Their knowledge and recommendations are outstanding. Be sure to visit their comic book store two doors down. Equally fantastic

More fantasy and science fiction books than you can possibly imagine under one roof. Books line the stairs. Books line the floors. There's more than one shelf so full of books that it's sagging. The way they're all stored is probably a fire hazard, but I don't care because this is my favorite bookstore.

I love that I'm able to find books by authors that don't make it to the big box bookstores, and are otherwise only available online.

One of the best real SF/Fantasy bookstores on the planet.

I've been going to Dark Carnival for decades, and it's a real old-school bookstore with history, delightful clutter and weirdness, and of course actual knowledge of SF books. Authors are frequently doing book signings here because it's that kind of place.

Next door to Escapist Comics which is affiliated, it's a one-two punch hard to beat for the bibliophile of either SF/Fantasy/Horror or Graphic novels and Comics.

I'd rather spend my book budget here and keep the tax dollars in the community than some conglomerate chain, where the poor wage slaves have no idea who Honor Harrington is.

I have never found a bookstore quite like this one in any other part of the world. It's got towers of books from every genre of speculative fiction. Lots of classics as well as new titles. The warren-like organization of the place is a little strange but it definitely heightens the otherworldliness of it all. Truly how browsing for a new sci-fi or fantasy book should be experienced!