Bakka Phoenix Books

Toronto, ON

Bakka Books first opened its doors in 1972 on Toronto's Queen West strip, stocking genre fiction, comics, and nerd stuff of all types. The name, Bakka, was taken from Frank Herbert’s Dune, and means ‘the weeper who mourns for all mankind’. The comics side of the business split into renowned Toronto comics store The Silver Snail in 1976, and in the nearly 50 years since, the store has changed owners, locations, and even its name (slightly); we've hosted the cast of Star Wars, George R.R. Martin, and countless local authors and been a reliable day job and community hangout space for Toronto genre authors, including Leah Bobet, Cory Doctorow, Ed Greenwood, Nalo Hopkinson, Tanya Huff, Fiona Patton, Michelle Sagara West, Robert J. Sawyer, Karina Sumner-Smith, and Tara Tallan. What hasn’t changed: our knowledge of, commitment to, and sheer darned enjoyment of science fiction and fantasy. We host tons of author appearances, readings, panels, and offsite events of all kinds. We’re Canada’s oldest science fiction and fantasy bookstore, and we’re proud to be part of the greater community.