A Change of Hobbit

A Change of Hobbit
Location(1st location) Westwood Village, West Los Angeles
(2nd location) Westwood Boulevard, West Los Angeles
(3rd location) Lincoln Boulevard, Santa Monica
(4th location) 2nd Street, Santa Monica
Opening date1972
Closing date1991
OwnerSherry Gottlieb
Goods soldSpeculative fiction
This article is about the original store in southern California. For the northern California version established in 1977, see The Other Change of Hobbit.

A Change of Hobbit (1972–1991) was one of the first science fiction, fantasy and horror bookstores established, and was a significant part of science fiction fandom generally and in Southern California particularly.[1][2] The name puns on the hobbits of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings.

The Change of Hobbit bookstore hosted numerous events, including, famously, Harlan Ellison in its front window, writing a story in public view over the course of a week.[3] The store was also a mainstay on author tours, as Anne Rice noted: "Authors around the world have dreamed of going to the Hobbit for signings. What's a West Coast tour if you can't visit Sherry?"[1] The store was also notable for Gottlieb's pet boa constrictor, "Wrinklesnakeskin".[1]

  1. ^ a b c Duke Helfand, "For Science Fiction Fans, Old Habit Dies Hard : Change of Hobbit Devotees Are Already Mourning Bookstore Demise", Los Angeles Times, Feb. 10, 1991.
  2. ^ Sherry Gottlieb, "Escape Velocity: A History of A Change of Hobbit Bookstore" (draft memoir, last visited March 31, 2014).
  3. ^ Harlan Ellison, Strange Wine.