When Elana and Julianne, the team behind South Austin's Escapist Bookstore, had the chance to meet author Michael Chabon (whose book The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay inspired the local booktique's name), they presented him with a camisole and panties emblazoned with the Escapist's logo: a superwoman breaking through chains. This hero is supercharged with the power of fiery and volatile mixtures: sexiness and intelligence, high brow and low. The Escapist loves to bask in the glow of such hot intersections. They sell not only books, but "deconstructed" fashion; they also host parties, plays, multimedia art installations, and events like Book Punk, where music and literature merge in such seemingly unwieldy combinations as Neal Pollack and the Yuppie Pricks. The Escapist bridges the gap between hip, edgy, independent, DIY culture, and the written word.
