About Parallel
We’re here to inspire curious minds, create community, and change the world.
Like other bookstores, at Parallel we love pukapuka (books)
Unlike other bookstores, we’re not just about the books. Because it’s the people that make books great—the creatives and authors, the fans, and readers.
We champion the voices of underdogs, innovators, and gamechangers.
We uplift LGBTQIA+ / Queer, neurodivergent, Indigenous, disabled, and Aotearoa New Zealand voices that have too long gone unnoticed and unheard.
And we create spaces where outsiders, in-betweeners, and people of all kinds can feel comfortable and safe to explore, discover, and play.
From our physical store, coffee house, and in-person events and hui (gatherings) to our online memberships and communities—we mahi (work) to make sure that the spaces where we connect as a community are safe, inclusive, accessible, and welcoming for all.
Whether you’re totally new to speculative literature—or deeply entrenched in a niche fandom—we can help you discover new worlds, new voices, and new ideas. And find wonder, hope, joy, and connection.
Parallel’s kaupapa (values)
Hopeful curiosity—what we can imagine, we can create
We aren’t just about the dark, moody, and dystopian. We like to imagine alternate worlds that are full of colour, joy, and optimism. And we’re here to create a hopeful future, a better world, a more connected community.
Creative expression—curating beautiful things and joyful experiences
Form doesn’t always have to follow function and beautiful things can exist purely for delight, pleasure, and joy. We celebrate creativity, self-expression, and play. And we curate experiences and objects that enhance your passions and interests.
Inclusive community—building a place where all belong
We believe that our diversity and our differences don’t divide us but unite us in a beautiful, complex, shared humanity. And we believe it’s our diversity that can help us create a better world, together.
We aren’t quiet advocates
At Parallel we are loud, proud, and active in our work to live our values and create a better world.
Meet our founders, the original Pathfinders, Luna and Jess
Luna and Jess moved to Aotearoa New Zealand from Seattle in 2017. They founded Parallel in 2023 to celebrate and share the transformative power of speculative fiction, provide a platform for outsider voices, and create a community space that is welcoming, warm, and safe for all.
Luna Lee (they/them)
Co-founder | Head Dreamer, Vibe Curator, and Buyer
A multidisciplinary artist and creative force, Luna’s love of speculative fiction began when they read The Dark is Rising series by Susan Cooper in their tweens—and soon expanded to include authors like Nnedi Okorafor, Naomi Novik, Octavia Butler, Emily St. John Mandel, Kurt Vonnegut, Sascha Stronach, Kazuo Ishiguro, and Tamsyn Muir.
Reading these works, Luna discovered a portal through which they could safely explore their identity as a queer, transgender, and neurodivergent person—and discover alternate realities where the harmful dominant systems of this world simply didn’t exist.
Speculative fiction became a place of sanctuary and provided a way for Luna to imagine a more positive future for their community and the world in which we all live in.
When Luna’s not engrossed in a story, you can find them throwing pottery, painting, hiking, making kai (food) for friends, or rewatching their favourite comfort shows (Bee and Puppycat, Star Trek, and Steven Universe).
Jess (she/her)
Co-founder | Head of Kawhe (coffee)
A musician and creative tech-head, Jess brings the brews and back-of-house support that keeps Parallel running as smoothly as The USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D, of course.)
As a queer, transgender person Jess understands firsthand the importance of safe, welcoming spaces and brings her passion for great coffee and connected community to Parallel.
Jess loves nothing more than getting creative or battling her mates over a competitive tākaro (game). When she's not working on Parallel behind-the-scenes, you can find Jess making music, painting miniatures, or getting lost in a video game.
Come say Kia Ora
Visit Us
Parallel Homebase bookstore and coffee house
501 Karanagahape Road, Unit D
Auckland CBD 1010
Monday - Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday - Saturday: 10 AM - 5 PM
Sunday: 10 AM - 4 PM
To stay in the know about any updates follow us on Instagram, or sign up for Transmissions from a Parallel world below.