Cabin Fever Books

This isn’t the biggest used book store in Calgary, but they had a few things I couldn’t find anywhere else, and in great condition. I love ratty old books, but this place doesn’t lean in that direction. They have a nice collection of travel, science, and nature books. There’s a couple racks of vinyl records as well.

My kids love coming here, they bring their books to trade in for a little cash and quickly pick up a new one with the help of the owner. She is delightful and welcoming. The shelves are filled top to bottom with books so it can be overwhelming to find something on your own, but staff are always open to helping and will make a great effort to find the book you will enjoy!

[Written by my husband who is a serious collector of fine books]: «An ok bookstore with lots of cool stuff. Be careful trying to get stuff out of their „warehouse.“ They get your phone number, call you, tell you to come by to pick up the book and they sell it behind your back. Seen better customer service.»

Quite like this book store — they have quite a few jems for good prices. All the books I’ve bought here have been in really good condition for used books. They also have some really neat old knitting books that have been out of print for years. Worth checking out if you’re looking for something specific.
Customer service is excellent, and the staff are friendly.
Only minus is that you must go to the store (there isn’t really an online catalog or ordering system) which can be time consuming. Luckily there are a few buses that run along Centre Street, so fairly good transit access.
Overall a good place to shop for used or out of print books, definitely would go there again.

Cabin Fever is definitely my favourite used bookstore in Calgary. I first experienced this little gem over the fall, when I was looking for a copy of Michael Crummey’s «Galore,» and saw on abebooks that they had a copy! So happy I was brought in here.
I was greeted by a woman whom I assumed was the owner of the store. She was able to grab me my copy of «Galore» right away. When she asked if I needed anything else, I mentioned how I had just finished my English degree, and really wished to delve into more Canadian literature now that I had leisure reading time.
This launched us into a half hour conversation about all sorts of Canadian authors. The lovely owners of Cabin Fever really know their stuff! She had an extensive hardcover section of Canadian lit, as well as paperbacks. We also nerded out hard about Leonard Cohen. I recommended a quaint forty five minute documentary I had recently watched called «Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Leonard Cohen,» and she proceeded to start watching it in the store while I was there, which kept me for a little while longer!
An hour or so later, I ended up leaving with a stack full of Canadian authors to check out, as well as a mint condition copy of Ted Hughes’ «Wolfwatching.» (Yes, I was going through a Hughes’-Plath phase at the time, having just finished a British Literature after 1950s course).
I love how I can go looking for something specific, and actually sometimes fiiiiind it at Cabin Fever, which I find to be a rarity at other bookstores I’ve experienced in the city. As displayed, one can also go in with nothing particular in mind, and still end up leaving with armfuls of books. I will continue to be a patron of Cabin Fever Books and have recommended it to most everyone I know since discovering it! How it could receive any rating below five stars will baffle me, as this completely embodies what a used bookstore should be. Thank you for keeping the independent book store scene alive, and supporting Canadian authors so strongly, Cabin Fever!
Oh yeah, and for any Leonard Cohen fans, that documentary I can be watched for freeee on the National Film Board website!:

If somebody had asked me how many books it would be physically possible to fit into a space this size, I’m pretty sure my answer would be SIGNIFICANTLY lower than the stock at ‘Cabin Fever’.
I’ve never experienced the condition that this place was named after (at least, that I know of) but even just in the time I was walking the isles in this little independent book store I did experience several bouts of mild claustrophobia (and that’s not even getting into the couple time I just about started hallucinating the library scene from Ghostbusters). Honestly, I can’t think of enough ways to put this, there are A LOT of (explitive deleted) ing books in this place. Like, more than you could possibly be picturing in your mind.
For an avid reader, I can only imagine this place being their Fort Knox. I’m not the biggest reader ever — in fact I could probably count on both hands the number of actual physical books I’ve read since become an adult. Audiobooks are a different story, as I have an almost unhealthy love for a couple of authors that podcast their works, but when it comes to the actual bindings of paper containing ink-​versions of these works, I’m a bit of a slacker at best, so Cabin Fever TO ME was the proverbial haystack in which I was rummaging to find that one needle that would stick me just the right way. Okay, maybe a bad metaphor, but I think you know what I’m getting at, and I’m in the midst of a several day ‘House’ marathon, so metaphors are bound to be plentiful.
Anyway, back to the point. My couple visits to this place have been made with a friend who reads a lot more than I do, and he generally reacted with enthusiasm akin to… (No, no more figures of speech! Get the review out!) …let’s just say he was very happy with the experience. I cant’ say I’ve ever hit that gem that I was going to look back and remember fondly enough to really give this place an outstanding recommendation myself, but at least their prices are generally so far below retail that even the few placeholders I bought for my bookshelf that I’ve never even opened didn’t put too big of a dent in my wallet.
If you’re a big reader, this is a spot to check out. If you’re like me… hey, it may be an interesting way to spend a couple hours, and who knows? You may find something that will encourage you TO read more… and that’s never a bad thing.
¹⁴⁄₃₀

A wonderful addition to our city!
If you’re looking for that special find and haven’t had much luck at other used book stores in the city, it’s quite likely that Cabin Fever will not only have it in stock, but will have it available in better condition than you’d expect!
Carrying rare collectibles, special editions and books that you thought had fallen off the planet, Cabin Fever will ensure you leave as one happy camper.
A little warning for all you book lovers out there — leave extra time for your visit. Before you know it, hours of your life will have passed you by!

If you’re pacing the floors at your place and you’re restless and bored out of your mind, you may have Cabin Fever.
Or not — I’m no doctor.
What I am is a dude who’s been to his fair share of used book stores, and as far as they go, Cabin Fever Books is a good one. The barely used books that line their shelves are meticulously categorized and organized, which makes finding what you’re looking for a breeze. When you find what you’re after, chances are you’ll find the price to be a little more than what you’re accustomed for paying for a used book. But, from what I saw, the books available were in near pristine condition, so the slightly higher prices are justified.
I recommend Cabin Fever to all you avid book collectors out there for a good store to build your personal library with quality used books.

High quality books for serious book lovers and collectors alike. This shop is a real find for rare, classic, and educational books.

This is one of the more interesting book stores in Calgary in that it sells used collectable, out of print and hard to find books.
The store is simple but very well laid out, with well labelled shelves and tons of interesting finds. I always had a secret fantasy of living my life solely as a bibliophile but I don’t have the expertise nor the know how to even know how to accomplish this; I am so envious of people who do though.
Here you will find autographed books, first editions, books with original plates and limited edition copies.
There was a poetry book of Kipling that had very nice color plates, the spine was worn a little but otherwise a delightful find at $ 250. There were copies of the original books of Ian Fleming whom is the ever so popular originator of the James Bond series.
Nostalgia passed through me in waves as I passed by the children’s books section, there lurking on the shelves were the familiar colors of the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series, both of which I had read when I was a child.
I could in fact spend my whole day here, some people like comics or records well I love books, I am so glad I found this store today, I am totally now an official regular thanks to Don who is the very knowledgeable owner.