Bookstore Celebrates Grand Opening

—the specializing in the mystery, science fiction, fantasy and horror genres—is in the throes of its official grand opening month.

Though the shop held a , the official ribbon-cutting was held Oct. 12, kicking off a several weeks' worth of book signings and panels from celebrity authors.

Friday evening featured a panel discussion with authors Harry Turtledove, Todd McCaffrey, Michael Cassutt, Amber Benson and Ben Loory. Topics ranged from world-building to copy editors.

Turtledove is best known for writing alternate versions of history, such as placing an alien invasion in the middle of World War II. McCaffrey, on the other hand, writes books for the acclaimed Dragonriders of Pern series with his mother Anne.

Cassutt is both a novelist and a screenwriter who's contributed scripts to shows like The Twilight Zone (revival), The Dead Zone, The Outer Limits, Farscape and Stargate SG-1, to name a few. His most recent literary work was written in collaboration with David S. Goyer.

Benson's name may be most familiar to fans of Joss Whedon and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The actress-turned-author spent several years on the series as Tara, girlfriend of uberwitch Willow Rosenberg.

Ben Loory's first book, a collection of short stories called Stories for Nighttime and Some for the Day, was an August selection of the Starbucks Coffee Bookish Reading Club.

Celebrity author Orson Scott Card and Emily Card signed books Sunday afternoon.

Other visiting authors will include Charlaine Harris, who writes the books on which True Blood is based, on Oct. 26 and Kathy and Brendan Reichs on Oct. 25.

Mysterious Galaxy is located at 2810 Artesia Blvd. in North Redondo Beach.