Alienated Majesty Books
Photos by @reillysbadphotos and @lockhardtphoto
613 W 29th St — Austin
alienatedmajestybooks.com ✽ @alienatedmajestybooks
Year Opened — 2023
Employees — 6, plus one cleaning robot
“Louche literary leastsellers”
What’s the story of your store’s origin?
August 2023. We were inspired by Malvern Books, a visionary bookstore founded by Joe Bratcher in 2013 that specialized in small press fiction and works in translation. When Joe died in 2022, the current owners decided that they couldn't imagine the Austin literary community without a place to promote these hard-to-find books.
What makes your store special?
Our specialty is works in translation, small presses, independent comics, and titles that are hard to find elsewhere in the city (or even the state!). In 2024, we were voted Best Obscure Literature Collection by the Austin Chronicle.
We also love hosting events — book launches, yes, but also DIY shows, ambient music nights, mutual aid workshops, potluck parties, spooky story readings. If it’s interesting and unexpected, we’re into it.
