Uncle Hugo’s Science Fiction Bookstore

It’s is dark, dingy, crowded, haphazardly organized, and run by a quirky sometimes rude staff. In short, it’s perfect!

If I had more time and had driven instead of flown, I would have been in read trouble here. As it was, I bought more books than I could comfortably shove into my suitcase and don’t regret it for a minute.
I am a librarian who’s favorite genres are sci-​fi and fantasy, and I was truly impressed with the selection of both new and used books at Uncle Hugo’s. The huge assortment of titles can be overwhelming, but the store isn’t cramped, like some bookstores I’ve been in, so just make sure you come with ample time to browse and you will certainly find some gems to take home!

I’ve been a customer here for about 25 years — love this store. It’s a book-​lovers bookstore, and has the best selection of new and used sci-​fi books around. The store itself is over-​stuffed with books — they fill the shelves, and spill out into boxes on the floor (organized by author). It’s exactly what a bookstore ought to be.
Sadly, the feel of the store has changed over the years, since some of the best employees have moved on (or passed away), and I’ve since had a couple of encounters with a cranky clerk. But, frankly, it’s worth it for the variety and selection they always have on hand. Since I now live out-​of-​state, I can hardly leave without spending a couple hundred bucks.

The day I made the original review I had a really odd and frustrating experience. Today I had a follow up to that experience… it wasn’t good.
On 7/​27, I called in and asked if they had a used book I wanted to buy. The bookstore clerk went to check, said they had one and would set it aside for me. I arrived at the store a few hours later, she handed me the book. It was not used. I told her I called for a used copy. She said that those don’t come in very often. I agreed and said that’s why I called in before stopping by in the first place. She says that she didn’t hear me say used. She offers to put me on a list to call if they get a used copy. I say that will be great. Then, I say what the heck and that I’ll just buy the new copy, so I don’t have to make the trip again. She seems surprised that I want to buy it. I have to repeat that I want to buy the book. I actually in reality say, «I’ll just buy this copy. That way, you won’t have to call me.» Of course, today I got a call in the morning telling me there is a used copy of the book I wanted. I tell her she sold me a new copy. She replies, «We didn’t know that.»
I think I’d be okay with the entire experience of not being heard if it wasn’t for the royal we nose in the air attitude about the whole thing. I’ve worked customer service for 6 years and know the customer isn’t always right, but a simple acceptance of some responsibility for the situation would be nice. Just like «Whoops, sorry» or anything really.
I think I’ll go back to shopping for books online…

Love this place. They’re holding strong for the sff geek in us all. Go with a credit card, or a ton of cash, you won’t leave without an armload.

I told my friend we were stopping here to at least get her a t-​shirt. I was not particularly in the market for any sci fi, fantasy or mystery books. That does not mean, however, that I wasn’t overwhelmed and totally impressed by Uncle Hugo’s.
Our itinerary for the day was pretty tight so I had to limit our time here to just under an hour. I could have easily walked around that store for days. I wasn’t looking for anything in particular. I would be intrigued by a book title, I would pick up said book and be endlessly entertained by the description.
I even spent some time in Uncle Edgar’s, the back half of the store devoted to mystery books. I was again entertained, this time by the amount of covers and stories that involve cats as well as the plethora of «punny» titles. (I think my favorite ended up being «Fillet of Murder» — great title, great cover.)
By the time we got there (day 9 of our 10 day vacation), my friend also needed a new tote bag. Thank goodness Uncle Hugo’s also sells those. For her to promptly fill up with all her new books.

I was in Minneapolis for a few days with my wife for the internet cat video festival and we wanted to check out some of the book stores while we were there. We are both science fiction and fantasy fans going way back and so were excited about visiting this place. We were not disappointed.
They have the largest selection of new and used science fiction and fantasy books that I have ever seen in one place. There was plenty of new stuff., including I noticed some paperback books even that were signed by the authors. I have never seen that many original series Doctor Who and Star Trek books in one place before lol. Some of the stuff was not intuitively organized but the person at the store knew where to find everything easily and was very knowledgable.
We ended up getting more books than we could take back with us on the plane, but they were able to ship the books back home for 6.00 shipping which was very reasonable and which took less than a week which isn’t bad considering that we live in Massachusetts. I only wish we could have brought the store back with us to Massachusetts, too, but I guess that wouldn’t have been fair to the people of Minneapolis.

Great selection of new and used scifi. Staff are knowledgeable and helpful. This is a great place to go shopping for gifts or to find rare books!

Uncle Hugo’s Science Fiction and Fantasy Bookstore. I honestly didn’t know there was a bookstore of this kind around. Once I saw pictures of the inside (google maps will take you in) I knew I had to go there. You can buy a lot of their books online, they have a website and use AbeBooks, but I personally like shopping in bookstores. When I got there I was almost overwhelmed; there was just so MUCH! Not that it was hard to find what I wanted. It was organized quite well in alphabetical order, with new, used, hardcover, paperback, signed and collectors books all having their own areas. Plus one of the employees gave me a tour of the place, showing me how they have the newer items separate from the older, and just giving me a good understanding of how things are laid out. There was another guy working there, the ‘grumpy’ one you’ve read about if you’ve checked some of the other reviews. I’ll say this: he was grumpy, but he was «I’m working my ass off (which he was) grumpy» not «I’m an asshole grumpy.» He was friendly, if terse, and helped me find a number of books. And while I don’t read mystery books I did go next door to Uncle Edgar’s just to look around. The lady working there was fantastic. All in all the whole experience was basically nerd heaven. They’ll see me again.

OMG this place rocks. Tons of old science fiction books. Great place to shop if you have no idea what your looking for. If your looking for something specific might be a little harder to find though…

Uncle Hugo’s Science Fiction Bookstore could also be called «Uncle Introverts Disorganized Book Piles». It is the antisocial and unkempt sibling of Uncle Edgar’s Mystery Books (they are connected).
Walking in, you might see a guy working behind a desk but don’t make eye contact or even look at him! If you do he won’t acknowelege you… Why you might ask? Because… he’s EXTREMELY BUSY. You see, he has one of the most important jobs in the world. Taking piles of old science fiction books and strewning them about into various piles throughout the book store. Sometimes he’ll take a pile of Star Wars novels and put them over here. And other days he takes a pile of Star Trek novels and puts them over there. So now you see his importance and why you can’t bother him. The true importance of his job shines through when you realize his book piles are all about blocking people from walking around. Tthe less people can find what they want, the less people will come here. EXCEPT for deserving people who truly love science fiction. Eventually you will walk in only to see a solid wall of old science fiction books blocking the door. From within you will hear muffled voices of truly worthy sci fi worthy book lovers.
All kidding aside, this place is pretty great. It does have an ENORMOUS selection of Science Fiction books /​magazines /​games, whatever fuels your nerdy desires. It could be a bit more organized, but that’s part of its charm. I mean, if I wanted a perfectly laid out, well-​designed, cold and calculated bookstore, selling the same books you might find on the NYT Best Seller list, and where someone stands at the front waiting for you to walk in so they can hard sell you you on their hot new tablet and give you a hint of negativity when you decline to buy their frequent reader’s card, then I would have gone to Barnes and Noble. Duh. For discerning nerds, this is the place to be.
However… my last warning to you is about the bathroom. Don’t go in it. It’s a vortex, a wormhole into another dimension, and if you fall in, you may never get out…

Everything a bookstore should be! Full of books (literally from floor to ceiling) from writers I know and those I’ve never heard of… at obscenely low prices.
Love me my books and man do they have ‘em! Plus the guys there are friendly, and if they don’t know the answer to your question, they find out.
I always walk out with at least 4 books and some mullah in my wallet. I also like their recommended section which has steered me right with several authors I’d never heard of.
Go. Read. Feed your mind and imagination.

Uncle Hugo’s defines bookstores to me so there’s no way I can’t give it 5 stars. However the staff varies widely in helpfulness and I sometimes feel I’m a burden to them when I want to buy something. You can’t beat the stock or the ambiance, but I hope the morale improves someday.

Uncle Hugo’s is in the front for science-​fiction, and Uncle Edgar’s is in the back for mysteries. These two bookshops are Minneapolis institutions. They do a great job of stocking what’s new and their prices on used are reasonable — I think the last time I was there the price of used books was half off or a minimum of $ 2.50. They’ve got a discount card for frequent shoppers and a monthly newsletter (also available online) to keep you up-​to-​date on the new releases, store news, and author signings.

This store houses both a mystery bookstore and a sci-​fi/​fantasy bookstore, and it is one of the most fabulous shops I’ve ever been in. When we approached, the building is so run down and the signs so faded that we were worried it was closed. Nope! Inside are floor to ceiling books, a maze of books, with piles of books and boxes of books all around. Considering how much stuff they had, it was amazingly organized. I found vintage Mckillip that I’ve been looking for forever, Jack Vance’s the Dying Earth, and assorted treasures from hard to find authors like Haggard, Lord Dunsany, and Mervyn Peake. I really appreciate the fact that they stock writers like Lethem that aren’t usually consider sci-​fi.

Fantastic bookstore. Uncle Hugo’s carries both new and used books and even includes books for kids. If you read Science Fiction this store is a must visit.

As long as Uncle Hugo’s is open, I can be rest assured that I am dating a total geek.
(Any place that has so many books that they are piled on the floor is a-​ok with me.)

All kinds of retro here. As you walk in it’s old childrens mysteries. For years I overlooked a favorite local author, Mary Janice Davidson. She writes mysteries, but because the leading characters are witches, werewolves, vampires, and mermaids, they’re over here. I guess fantasy tends to be thrown into the sci-​fi shuffle. At Borders she’s in the romance section, because she writes those too. This combo store definitely needs a second location. As a teenager, this was my genre, and I never got around to reading all those books either. They often bring in authors at both places for signings. Same shared newsletter.

Wow. No one has reviewed Uncle Hugo’s.
This place is a world renown place for Science Fiction and Mystery books and is, as the website tells me «the oldest independent science fiction bookstore in America. Founded in 1974.» Cool!
The adjoining bookstore (which share’s the same entrance), Uncle Edgar’s
is separate but equally devoted to mystery books.
Many a time have I come to this place and left with a grocery bag of used books.
The man who always seemed to be behind the counter at Uncle Hugo’s was amazing. He knew everything there was to know about science fiction. You could ask him things like, «oh hey! I really liked some book! can you recommend another by someone else that I would like?»
He would give you a list of them immediately and they would be prefect recommendations.
You could also ask «oh hey! what was that book with that guy who finds the thing and then the other guy takes it from him and.» (you get the idea.) He would know the answer immediately.
Sadly, I was told that he died a couple years ago. He was a living treasure and I am saddened to know that there are many people who did not get the chance to meet and talk to him for a while.