A book reading event held in a bookstore with a presenter speaking to an audience seated in front of tall bookshelves filled with books.

Parallel Worlds Bookshop: Events

Whether you're seasoned in the genre or just discovering the joy of genre fiction, we host a variety of events designed to spark conversation, connection, and curiosity.

Bookclubs:

  • General Sci-Fi & Fantasy Bookclub: Dive into imaginative worlds and speculative futures.

  • Romantasy Bookclub: Where romance meets magic and adventure.

  • Horror Bookclub: Explore the eerie, the unsettling, and the thrilling..

Author Events & Signings Meet the minds behind the magic! We host author events featuring Q&A sessions and book signings. These intimate gatherings offer a chance to hear directly from writers about their inspirations, writing journeys, and upcoming projects.

Join us in celebrating the power of storytelling and the joy of community. We can't wait to see you at our next event!

May
16

Author Talk: An Evening with James Kahn

Join us at Parallel Worlds for a special night with acclaimed writer James Kahn, whose work has helped shape iconic stories like Star Wars - alongside the unforgettable worlds he’s created himself.

Kahn will read from his memoir, My Jedi Memoir: A Double Life, and share behind-the-scenes stories from his career, followed by a book signing.

Come spend the evening hearing the stories behind the stories.

🗓️ Sat May 16 at 6:30pm

📍 Parallel Worlds Bookshop

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May
21

Horror Bookclub

Horror Bookclub #9 | Earthlings by Sayaka Murata

Book: Earthlings by Sayaka Murata

When: Thursday May 21th 6:30-8pm

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May
28

Romantasy Two Year Anniversary: By Blood, Shadow, and Fire by Orin Steele

Romantasy Two Year Anniversary:
By Blood, Shadow, and Fire by Orin Steele

Join us for a special Romantasy Bookclub as we celebrate two years of reading together!

Our next selection is By Blood, Shadow, and Fire, the debut novel from Orin Steele. To mark the occasion, Orin will be joining us in person for a conversation, Q&A, and signing!

Run of Show:
6:30-7pm: Bookclub Discussion
7-7:30pm: Author QA
7:30-8pm: Book Signing

When: May 28th 2026 at 6:30pm
Where: Parallel Worlds Bookshop

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Apr
25
to Apr 26

North Portland Book Crawl

North Portland Book Crawl
Saturday, April 25 & Sunday, April 26

Celebrate Independent Bookstore Day weekend with the very first North Portland Book Crawl! Spend the weekend exploring some of Portland’s best independent bookstores, discovering new reads, and supporting the incredible literary community across North and Northeast Portland.

How to Participate

  1. Pick up a punch card at any participating bookstore.

  2. Visit the shops during the crawl on Saturday, April 25 or Sunday, April 26.

  3. Get your card punched at each store you visit.

  4. Return your completed card to Second Shapes Bookstore or submit a photo of it online.

You can submit your completed card by:
• Dropping it off at Second Shapes Bookstore (8124 N Denver Ave)
• Sending a photo to @secondshapesbookstore on social media
• Emailing hello@secondshapesbookstore.com


Participating Bookstores

Reggie’s Manga Shop — 7015 N Greeley
Second Shapes Bookstore — 8124 N Denver
Arches Book House — 8900 N Wall
Always Here Book Store — 4555 N Williams
Revolutions Bookshop — 8713 N Lombard
Two Rivers Bookstore — 8836 N Lombard
Green Bean Books — 1600 NE Alberta
Midslumber Media — 1609 NE Alberta
Melville Books — 2827 NE Alberta
Parallel Worlds — 2639 NE Alberta
Monograph Bookwerks — 5005 NE 27th Ave
Rose City Book Pub — 1329 NE Fremont
A Children’s Place — 1423 NE Fremont

Make a weekend of it, explore Portland’s independent bookstores, and celebrate the vibrant literary community that makes this city so special. 📚

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Apr
18
to Apr 19

Parallel Worlds Anniversary Sale & Treasure Hunt

Parallel Worlds Anniversary Sale & Treasure Hunt

Join us as we celebrate four incredible years of Parallel Worlds Bookshop with a storewide anniversary sale!

For one weekend only, everything in the shop is 25% off. Books, merch, gifts, and all the magical things that make our space what it is. Whether you have been part of the community since day one or are discovering the shop for the first time, this is the perfect time to stock up on your next reads.




⭐️ TREASURE HUNT WEEKEND

Here’s the deal:
We’ve hidden tiny “little guys” all around the shop (yes, THE Lindsay Straube little guys 🐍🐍🐍😉)

👉 Find one = win a book

🏴‍☠️ Possible Book Booty:
🤳 Make Me Better — Sarah Gailey (Out May 12)
⭐️ Radiant Star — Ann Leckie (Out May 12)
🐙 Palaces of the Crow — Ray Nayler (Out May 19)
🦖 Fabulous Bodies — Chuck Tingle (Out July 7)
🕯️ The Reliquary — Hannah Whitten (Out Aug 11)
🎎 The Last Contract of Isako — Fonda Lee (Out Nov 4)
AND ….
🫀 Daggermouth — H.M. Wolfe (Self Pub Edition)
🐍 Split or Swallow — Lindsay Straube (Self Pub Edition)
You can only win ONE… so choose wisely.

Event Details
📅 April 18 and April 19
📍 Parallel Worlds Bookshop
🎉 25% off everything in the store
📚 All genres, all books, all merch included

Thank you for four amazing years. We cannot wait to celebrate with you.

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Street Books Fundaiser
Apr
11
to Apr 12

Street Books Fundaiser

Street Books Fundraiser at Parallel Worlds Bookshop!

When: April 11–12 | 12-6pm

Join us at Parallel Worlds Bookshop for a special two-day fundraiser in support of Street Books, a Portland nonprofit that provides books and literacy support to people experiencing homelessness.

Street Books operates a mobile library that travels throughout Portland, bringing free books directly to people living outside and in shelters. Their mission is simple and powerful: everyone deserves access to books, stories, and the dignity that comes with them. Through community care and consistent presence, Street Books helps foster connection, literacy, and a love of reading among Portland’s most underserved neighbors.

During this fundraiser, 15% of all sales at Parallel Worlds Bookshop on April 11 and 12 will be donated to Street Books to help support their mobile library and ongoing outreach efforts.

Stop by, browse the shelves, and pick up your next great read while supporting a vital community resource. Every book you buy helps put more books into the hands of people who need them most.

Come celebrate the power of books to build connection, dignity, and community. 📚

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Horror Bookclub
Mar
19

Horror Bookclub

Horror Bookclub #8 | Only the Dead Take the A Train by Cassandra Khaw

Book: Only the Dead Take the A Train by Cassandra Khaw

When: Thursday March 19th 6:30-8pm

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Reading Seminar: Iain Banks: The Player of Games
Feb
18

Reading Seminar: Iain Banks: The Player of Games

Reading Seminar: Iain Banks: The Player of Games

We are launching our next Parallel Worlds Reading Seminar with The Player of Games by Iain M. Banks and we are so excited for this one.

🗓 Wednesdays February 4, 11, and 18
⏰ 6:30 to 8pm
📍 Parallel Worlds

This is a three week deep dive into the Culture series and an ideal entry point if you have never read Banks before. We will be reading together in sections so there is no need to finish the entire book before the first meeting.

Week one February 4
Part One Culture Plate

Week two February 11
Part Two Imperium

Week three February 18
Parts Three and Four

Reading Seminars are a little different from bookclub. Think slower pacing, close reading, big ideas, and thoughtful discussion that connects the text to politics, philosophy, history, and the world around us.

All readers welcome. Curious minds encouraged.
Details in the caption and Discord ✨

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Live Music After Hours at Parallel Worlds!
Feb
16

Live Music After Hours at Parallel Worlds!

Live Music at Parallel Worlds Bookshop!

Music by:
Glenn Hendrick (San Juan Island)
Plastic Wildflowers (Cleveland)
A Lot of Water (Portland)

When: Feb 16th 7pm-10pm

Cost: Free

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Reading Seminar: Iain Banks: The Player of Games
Feb
11

Reading Seminar: Iain Banks: The Player of Games

Reading Seminar: Iain Banks: The Player of Games

We are launching our next Parallel Worlds Reading Seminar with The Player of Games by Iain M. Banks and we are so excited for this one.

🗓 Wednesdays February 4, 11, and 18
⏰ 6:30 to 8pm
📍 Parallel Worlds

This is a three week deep dive into the Culture series and an ideal entry point if you have never read Banks before. We will be reading together in sections so there is no need to finish the entire book before the first meeting.

Week one February 4
Part One Culture Plate

Week two February 11
Part Two Imperium

Week three February 18
Parts Three and Four

Reading Seminars are a little different from bookclub. Think slower pacing, close reading, big ideas, and thoughtful discussion that connects the text to politics, philosophy, history, and the world around us.

All readers welcome. Curious minds encouraged.
Details in the caption and Discord ✨

View Event →
Reading Seminar: Iain Banks: The Player of Games
Feb
4

Reading Seminar: Iain Banks: The Player of Games

Reading Seminar: Iain Banks: The Player of Games

We are launching our next Parallel Worlds Reading Seminar with The Player of Games by Iain M. Banks and we are so excited for this one.

🗓 Wednesdays February 4, 11, and 18
⏰ 6:30 to 8pm
📍 Parallel Worlds

This is a three week deep dive into the Culture series and an ideal entry point if you have never read Banks before. We will be reading together in sections so there is no need to finish the entire book before the first meeting.

Week one February 4
Part One Culture Plate

Week two February 11
Part Two Imperium

Week three February 18
Parts Three and Four

Reading Seminars are a little different from bookclub. Think slower pacing, close reading, big ideas, and thoughtful discussion that connects the text to politics, philosophy, history, and the world around us.

All readers welcome. Curious minds encouraged.
Details in the caption and Discord ✨

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Author Convo: Peter Clines and Riley Michael Parker
Nov
15

Author Convo: Peter Clines and Riley Michael Parker

Author Convo: Peter Clines and Riley Michael Parker

We’ll be hosting Peter Clines (Ex-Heroes, Paradox Bound, The Fold, God’s Junk Drawer) at Parallel Worlds for a QA with comic artist Riley Michael Parker!

🗓️November 15th at 6PM Parallel Worlds Bookshop
🎟️Free & open to everyone

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Horror Bookclub
Nov
13

Horror Bookclub

Horror Bookclub 5 | MANHUNT by Gretchen Felker-Martin

Book: MANHUNT by Gretchen Felker-Martin
When: November 13th 6:30-8pm
Where: Parallel Worlds Bookshop!

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