Frustrated with India's bookshops!!!

jonnybardo · Nov 19th, 2003, 13:00

...or at least Bangalore's; they seem to have an "anti-science fiction/fantasy bias", or I suppose the genre just doesn't sell that well here.

Anyways, I was in the middle of two sf/fantasy series' and returned to Bangalore from Mysore (where I am living until late December), partially to pick up the rest of both series where I bought the first books and lo' and behold, both of the big stores on MG Road--Gangaram's and Higginbotham's--had returned them and about 75% of their sf/fantasy stock in the three week interim! I was rather pissed, especially considering I've been downing books at a rapid rate while travelling and living in India (lots of time). Sapna's and Premier didn't have them either, nor did the excellent used bookshop Book House on Church st. And of course there are maybe a dozen or two science fiction books in the entire city of Mysore, so no luck here...

Any ideas? Amazon international shipping is simply too much--I'd end up paying about $15 US per mass market paperback, and I'm not THAT desperate. I've looked at some of the Indian online bookshops--like Vedma's, Prakash and OM--and they just don't seem to carry much English fiction, especially sf.

So the question is, does anyone know of an online bookshop within India that has a large selection of English language literature/fiction? Or am I doomed to wait until I go to Europe in May?

And a recommendation to voracious science fiction/fantasy readers: If you're coming to India, stock up--the selection is pretty weak. Or just go without and ride the jones

oldhippie · Nov 19th, 2003, 14:28

Jonny
Amazon is the only way to go. If you get bored and can't find any books go out and score a couple Indian women instead. They are more than willing to hook up with foreigners with an interest in Indian culture and more

Bill

Apana · Nov 19th, 2003, 15:09

Try http://www.firstandsecond.com they're based in Delhi and are fairly prompt. They have a huge online catalogue.

Apana

link fixed by indiamike

pooch · Nov 20th, 2003, 01:44

Jonny, when I was living in Bangalore up until March this year we used to order books through Gangaram's, the books always arrived. One annoying thing was that the staff never bothered calling up and informing the books had arrived so you'll have to check with them once a week.

jonnybardo · Nov 20th, 2003, 10:39

oldhippie, that's an idea but I'm not sure if my wife would approve!

I'm actually surprised there isn't an Amazon India yet...maybe in a few years.

apana, I had looked at First and Second, but their SF/F selection is--again--rather lacking.

pooch, that's an idea, although I wonder if they could order books they just returned!

Actually, the best place online I've found so far is sapnaonline.com; they have listings for all the books I wanted, but only a couple are available--and none from the same series! Just bad luck, I guess. Anyhow, they have some other good books and I'll probably just wait for the others. I've also been wanting to read V.S. Naipaul's India: A Million Mutinies Now, which should keep me occupied. And of course there is the book I am writing!

I'm also going to Goa in late December, so I'm thinking I'll be able to find some decent stuff in the used bookstalls...

It is just nice to have a "timeout" from the craziness of India and be able to dive into a good book for a couple hours...

jonnybardo · Nov 20th, 2003, 11:25

Apana, scratch that--First and Second has a very good selection, but the prices are often outrageous (more than twice the standard price, and even more than ordering from Amazon), and the dispatch time (on the books I'm interested on) is long. So I'm thinking they order stuff from the UK, so I might as well go Amazon UK and get quicker shipping...

Apana · Nov 20th, 2003, 11:52

As a very last resort you could try Landmark, Madras. Their on-line store may be accessed through the Sify portal, but I feel that they will also list titles but not have them in stock.

The lack of SF is surprising. Between '94 and '96 almost everything you wanted was available in Hyderabad. I used to read a lot of Orson Scott Card and Ursula Le Guin. Now I guess it is just the SF canon (Asimov-Clark-Rodenberry) who are readily available.

Me? I order all my books from Amazon.co.uk. They are efficient and the books reach me in seven days.

Apana

oldhippie · Nov 20th, 2003, 12:52

Jonny
Ignore my suggestion about the women if your wife is with you. It could get you into trouble

Amazon has a fulfillment center in Mumbai and 40% of all their customer service reps are also in Mumbai. I bet they will set up something there fairly soon.

Maybe you should have someone on this board pick some books up for you and air mail it over. it really isn't that expensive. I will be back Stateside in Jan for two weeks so if you want some stuff brought over I can carry it back with me to Mumbai.

Bill

Nov 19th, 2003, 13:00	#1
jonnybardo Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: mysore for now Posts: 78	Frustrated with India's bookshops!!! ...or at least Bangalore's; they seem to have an "anti-science fiction/fantasy bias", or I suppose the genre just doesn't sell that well here. Anyways, I was in the middle of two sf/fantasy series' and returned to Bangalore from Mysore (where I am living until late December), partially to pick up the rest of both series where I bought the first books and lo' and behold, both of the big stores on MG Road--Gangaram's and Higginbotham's--had returned them and about 75% of their sf/fantasy stock in the three week interim! I was rather pissed, especially considering I've been downing books at a rapid rate while travelling and living in India (lots of time). Sapna's and Premier didn't have them either, nor did the excellent used bookshop Book House on Church st. And of course there are maybe a dozen or two science fiction books in the entire city of Mysore, so no luck here... Any ideas? Amazon international shipping is simply too much--I'd end up paying about $15 US per mass market paperback, and I'm not THAT desperate. I've looked at some of the Indian online bookshops--like Vedma's, Prakash and OM--and they just don't seem to carry much English fiction, especially sf. So the question is, does anyone know of an online bookshop within India that has a large selection of English language literature/fiction? Or am I doomed to wait until I go to Europe in May? And a recommendation to voracious science fiction/fantasy readers: If you're coming to India, stock up--the selection is pretty weak. Or just go without and ride the jones

Nov 19th, 2003, 14:28	#2
oldhippie Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 413	Jonny Amazon is the only way to go. If you get bored and can't find any books go out and score a couple Indian women instead. They are more than willing to hook up with foreigners with an interest in Indian culture and more Bill __________________ Too Many Gandus, Too Few Bullets.

Nov 19th, 2003, 15:09	#3
Apana Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Hyderabad, India Posts: 147	Try http://www.firstandsecond.com they're based in Delhi and are fairly prompt. They have a huge online catalogue. Apana link fixed by indiamike Last edited by indiamike : Nov 19th, 2003 at 16:51.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Bookshops in India	jonnybardo	Books, Music, and Movies	46	Jan 2nd, 2008 01:23
What is India's GDP?	dumb_bacchus	Chai and Chat	34	Nov 22nd, 2005 12:07
Why are expat Indians so frustrated with India?	soulfood	India Expat Area	111	Mar 5th, 2005 17:36
2nd hand bookshops Mumbai/Goa	alicat	Books, Music, and Movies	3	Oct 19th, 2001 16:33

Nov 20th, 2003, 01:44	#4
pooch Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Middle East <---->India Posts: 384	Jonny, when I was living in Bangalore up until March this year we used to order books through Gangaram's, the books always arrived. One annoying thing was that the staff never bothered calling up and informing the books had arrived so you'll have to check with them once a week.

Nov 20th, 2003, 10:39	#5
jonnybardo Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: mysore for now Posts: 78	oldhippie, that's an idea but I'm not sure if my wife would approve! I'm actually surprised there isn't an Amazon India yet...maybe in a few years. apana, I had looked at First and Second, but their SF/F selection is--again--rather lacking. pooch, that's an idea, although I wonder if they could order books they just returned! Actually, the best place online I've found so far is sapnaonline.com; they have listings for all the books I wanted, but only a couple are available--and none from the same series! Just bad luck, I guess. Anyhow, they have some other good books and I'll probably just wait for the others. I've also been wanting to read V.S. Naipaul's India: A Million Mutinies Now, which should keep me occupied. And of course there is the book I am writing! I'm also going to Goa in late December, so I'm thinking I'll be able to find some decent stuff in the used bookstalls... It is just nice to have a "timeout" from the craziness of India and be able to dive into a good book for a couple hours...

Nov 20th, 2003, 11:25	#6
jonnybardo Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: mysore for now Posts: 78	Apana, scratch that--First and Second has a very good selection, but the prices are often outrageous (more than twice the standard price, and even more than ordering from Amazon), and the dispatch time (on the books I'm interested on) is long. So I'm thinking they order stuff from the UK, so I might as well go Amazon UK and get quicker shipping...

Nov 20th, 2003, 11:52	#7
Apana Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Hyderabad, India Posts: 147	As a very last resort you could try Landmark, Madras. Their on-line store may be accessed through the Sify portal, but I feel that they will also list titles but not have them in stock. The lack of SF is surprising. Between '94 and '96 almost everything you wanted was available in Hyderabad. I used to read a lot of Orson Scott Card and Ursula Le Guin. Now I guess it is just the SF canon (Asimov-Clark-Rodenberry) who are readily available. Me? I order all my books from Amazon.co.uk. They are efficient and the books reach me in seven days. Apana

Nov 20th, 2003, 12:52	#8
oldhippie Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 413	Jonny Ignore my suggestion about the women if your wife is with you. It could get you into trouble Amazon has a fulfillment center in Mumbai and 40% of all their customer service reps are also in Mumbai. I bet they will set up something there fairly soon. Maybe you should have someone on this board pick some books up for you and air mail it over. it really isn't that expensive. I will be back Stateside in Jan for two weeks so if you want some stuff brought over I can carry it back with me to Mumbai. Bill

User Name		Remember Me?
Password