Old Firehouse Books Curates Dark Fantasy and Urban Planning Picks

The air in Fort Collins hangs thick with the scent of dry grass and approaching rain, a familiar prelude to the summer storms that roll over the Front Range. Inside Old Firehouse Books, the shelves are packed with paperbacks and hardcovers, waiting for hands that know exactly which spine to pull. It’s a place where the noise of the city fades, replaced by the quiet rustle of turning pages.

This week, the staff at Old Firehouse Books has curated a selection for The Colorado Sun’s SunLit section, focusing on titles that blend the dark, the magical, and the practical. Their recommendations span horror, fantasy, and nonfiction, offering readers a mix of escapism and insight.

One of the standout picks is Back for Blood: Never Whistle at Night Part II, an anthology of Indigenous dark fiction. The book features twenty-one new stories by established and emerging authors, accompanied by illustrations from Cheyenne and Arapaho painter Brent Learned. The collection explores both supernatural terrors and the mundane horrors of colonial life. Revati, a co-owner of the shop, notes that the tales are "thrillingly eerie" and may leave readers questioning whether the monsters are real.

For those seeking fantasy with a noir edge, the staff recommends Wickhills by Premee Mohamed. Set in a dangerous magical city, the novel follows a streetwise secret agent tasked with protecting a foreign defector. The plot thickens when the defector turns out to be carrying an apocalypse-level magical weapon. Allison, a book buyer at the store, praises Mohamed’s "verve-y prose" and world-building, suggesting it appeals to fans of China Miéville and the TV series Slow Horses.

Finally, the list includes Shrink the City by Natalie Whittle, a nonfiction work that challenges traditional urban planning. The book argues for rethinking how we design and move through cities, proposing alternatives to car-dependent infrastructure. It asks readers to consider what we gain by reclaiming the time currently lost to commuting.

These selections reflect a broader trend in local bookstores to highlight diverse voices and experimental formats. By mixing genres, Old Firehouse Books encourages readers to step outside their comfort zones. Whether you’re drawn to the grimy streets of Wickhills or the haunting landscapes of Indigenous folklore, there’s a shelf waiting for you.

The lights dim in the reading corner as evening settles over the valley. A single lamp casts a warm glow on a stack of unopened books, their covers still crisp, their stories untouched. Outside, the first drops of rain hit the pavement, soft and steady, washing the dust from the day.