I have to give a major shout out to Paramount Books - a fantastic independent bookstore nestled in…read morethe sometimes overlooked and forgotten Shudehill area of town. Ok so there may be a million KFC ripoff takeaways and a few random shops that have seen better days around it but Paramount stands out as a well looked after 2nd hand book store with loads of character! I was pulled in on a wet and windy Monday by their comic book sale - in fact there's a whole area in the back dedicated to rare comics and graphic novels (fantastic selection) - inside there's a fantastic selection covering everything from music and film to politics, history and philosophy - really good to browse and possible pick up a tome to take home (wow that rhymes...) The best part of this place is the owner who basically is exactly what you'd be looking for if casting this place in a Hollywood movie. With glasses dangling from his neck and a scholarly look as he sorts the shelves - the classical music in the background makes you really feel what a unique place this is in the world of chain stores and amazon. Make sure you check out Paramount soon and enjoy a slip back into yesteryear!

Thank the lord for Paramount Book Exchange…read more One of the few independent bookshops left in Manchester, it's a strictly DIY affair run by a genuine book lover. The sign outside suggests it's only open Fridays and Saturdays but it's usually open Monday to Saturday unless the owner has popped out for something. The lively window displays give a great indicator of what's in store with stacks of new, vintage and secondhand books everywhere. Fans of cult fiction, sci-fi, horror, crime noir, queer fiction, biographies and pop culture will find much to treasure here as the stock leans more towards William Burroughs, Poppy Z Brite and Neil Gaiman than Harry Potter. There's also a small selection of 60s-90s vinyl for crate diggers. All they need is a coffee machine and I'd happily move in!

This is very unique book store full of unusual books but also has first edition books from medicine…read moreto children's novel. Over 5 floors, which allegedly the building was built in the late 1800s. I personally love the unusual book store, where love thy neighbours vaule/ trust in each other still stands. This is a rarity in itself, which I love so much . They even have diy tea area where you help yourself to tea/coffee for a very small nominal fee.

One of the best shops I have been to. A great selection of comics plus a continual supply of…read morespecial offers.

When I lived on Oldham Street many moons ago, I used to pop into Forbidden Planet on a weekly basis…read moreto pick up new copies of The Sandman, The Invisibles and other cool comics. These days, I only venture in now and again for something specific, like Reinhard Kleist's awesome graphic novel based on the life of Johnny Cash - I See A Darkness. For me, the layout and interior of Forbidden Planet lacks the ambience and wow factor of somewhere like Dave's Comics in Brighton but their range of comics, manga and graphic novels is faultless. For true fantatics and collectors, they also stock a massive range of cartoon, comic and pop culture memorabilia including tee-shirts, games, videos and toys. Personally, I have my eye on one of Frank Kozak's toy smoking rabbits complete with eye patch.

When Michael Moon was on Roper Street back in the day I could have spent all day in that Bookstore…read moreit was better than the library which was not so far away but Moon's was the best

The best second hand bookshop in North West England. Well worth a visit. And Mr Moon is so…read moreknowledgeable. Graeme

This shop has a 3 paperbacks for £5 section much like The Works but has quite a bit more choice…read morethan The Works offers. I recently managed to stock up on books by the likes of Andy McNab and Jeff Lindsey that I haven't been able to find in The Works or any other discount book retailer so it gets a thumbs up from me.

Nice little book shop, quite similar to Publisher Book Clearance outlets. Quite a variety of books…read moreon show, with the obligatory 3 for £5 section, and you can find some books for as little as one pound. Plenty of room for customers. It's worth mentioning that they stock quite a few Marvel, DC & other graphic novels and collections, so if you're a comic book fan this shop could become a favourite stop off.