io9
Last week, we profiled a beloved local scifi bookstore in San Francisco, Borderlands. This week, Dave writes in to rave about Germ Books, a Philadelphia bookstore and art gallery specializing in cyberpunk, post-apocalyptic fiction, and conspiracy theories. Here you can see Wred and Crazy Carl, two members of the Underground Literary Alliance, posing in front of Germ before a reading. And Germ doesn't just sell tales about alien conspiracies — those stories ran in bookstore founder Jennifer Bates' blood. Her dad was a secret agent, you see.
In an interview a couple of years ago, Bates told Philly's City Paper, "After he died, I discovered he had various aliases, and that the name I knew him by wasn't [his real name]." 
Sadly, Bates died last year, but she left a wonderful legacy to the Philly area. Her bookstore — you can see the interior above — is home to great art events, excellent readings, and a life-sized poster of Robby the Robot. If you doubt Germ's sense of spooky, smart fun, just read this description of the bookstore's origins, from their Web site:
GERM Books + Gallery began out of a need for a truly alternative independent bookstore that would provide access to ideologically unpopular books; books that address difficult social topics; books that don't cater to the lockstep mentality of the current counterculture; and books that reveal who our true masters are: The UFO Overlords.If you want to drop in, be sure to do it on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, which are the only days Germ is open. Image of interior by Gac.
If you would like your beloved local scifi or comic book store profiled on io9, write to us at tips@io9.com (subject line: beloved local) and tell us about it! Pictures, too, please!
Comments
Germ is a great name.
@FrankenPC: Wunderbar. Glad they're not selling cheesesteaks :)
Bummer, I lived in Philly for a summer and never knew about this place.
@horseloverfat: I think they just opened?
In any case, good music outta Philly~
@EncephelanetRepairHelperGuy: Damn, you are all over Gawker...
@Tracy Ham and Eggs: Thank the io9 team for that
TESTING TESTING 123.
So is the party here?
Hello Nerds,
We, the drunken buffoons of Deadspin, are having commenting problems at our site. We were wondering if you guys would be amenable to a "borrowing" of your site for about the next six hours. On the bright side, it will be more comments than you get in a month. On the downside, there will be gay jokes. More than a few.
Anyhoo, if it's fine by you, we'd really appreciate. And the new site is great. Loved the Mercury pictures. Thanks in advance.
Innings Eater
So, just exactly how many Gawker sites can one be logged into (onto?) simultaneously?
@longefellowes: Who cares just have fun!!!!
/dick jokes
@Fat-Fat: Nibbles is on enough death lists. I don't care to join him. That said,
/shits pants
@Innings Eater: You can make gay jokes as long as we can have hot butt love with you. Or wait, no.
So what's this post about? hmmmm...Gonna check...Seems Tom Brady and Tony Romo went out looking for Majic cards.
@annalee: Well, if you're gonna go straight to the sweet talkin'...
Hehe, "Tennessee will turn you over all night"
Actually though, I am interested in this bookstore....next time I'm downtown on a Friday, I'm poking my nose in, assuming I can find it (the store, not my nose. I know where my nose is.)
@Innings Eater: /Rape joke?
Or is it too soon, you know, since we just met these people?
@annalee: JOIN US!
@Theodore_Donald_Kerabatsos: Aw, man, at least serve them a few roofie-coladas first!
Boobie! For three!
@Theodore_Donald_Kerabatsos: Yes, Donny. Too Soon.
That guy wearing the ULA shirt resembles Martin Lawrence. FUCK YOUR MEME'S IRACANE!
@Innings Eater: Gatorade makes you drunk? How long have you been out a rehab, intergalactic bedfellow?
@Theodore_Donald_Kerabatsos: Show us your ass, then the rape jokes. And by "show us," I mean we want the pix. On Flickr.
ass pics, is that a new genre?
@annalee: you I like, join us at Du!an anytime.
@Tracy Ham and Eggs: Sure. Now start talking about science fiction or I'll stick these roofies in your drink and you'll wind up all bruised and used on Saturn tomorrow.
Heeey now THERE'S a location in range!
We'll have to go check this one out for sure.
I'm getting in the habit of thanking you, io9. :)
@EncephelanetRepairHelperGuy: No, Germ's been open for a few years at least. It USED to be on Girard (a few friends of mine lived right above it), but it has since moved to Frankford.
It's in the fishtown area of Philly, near Johnny Brenda's (#1 hipster bar). It was known as the creepy little book store that always had weird people going in and out of, so you can imagine how great it is (though I've never been in there).
If you go to Fishtown, stop by... beer's on me!
@dirtybacon: Sounds therapeutic to me--thanks, will do!
That sucks. Lived in Philly for 5 years while goign to school and never knew about this place.
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