Linkage: Future of FSFWA

There’s an interesting discussion going on on the FSFWA forum about the future of the society, how to find new people to do the work that needs doing, and what the most important functions of the association that need preserving are. If you have an opinion on the matter (or just want to hear what others say), head over there.

Going to Swecon

Imagicon 2, this year’s Swecon (foreign GoHs Liz Williams and Graham Joyce), is held October 16–18 in Stockholm. A bunch of us Finns are going there, and our agent Ben Roimola has arranged a group trip with accommodation.

We’re leaving from Turku by ferry Thursday (Oct 15) evening and return to Turku on the Sunday evening ferry. The cost of the trip including a cabin on the ferries plus two nights at a hotel near the con site will be about 119 € (depending a bit on how many people will attend).

If you’re interested in joining us for a fun trip to a fun convention, contact Ben for details! (And remember to pay the convention membership fee before the 1st of September and you’ll save 5 €).

Open House at Terrakoti

Terrakoti, the club house of the Turku sf societies, has an open house next week (coinciding with the new student events of the university). Aimed primarily at new students, but others are also welcome to go see what the societies are doing and get to know the people there.

From Monday August 31 to Wednesday September 2, Yo-talo A (2nd floor).

Story Night in Lempäälä

Tonight in the Villa Hakkari summer theater: a Story Night filled with “animal tales”. One of the speakers is Finncon 2010 GoH Sari Peltoniemi.

Ender’s Game: The Play

Legioonateatteri, an indie theater group from Tampere, is performing a play based on Ender’s Game. The play ENDER—kuolleiden puolustaja (“Ender, speaker for the dead”) will, despite the peculiar naming, be based on the first Ender book. The première will be on September 6 at Legioonateatteri in Nekala, Tampere.

Shortshorts from Soikkeli

Markku Soikkeli, one of the most skilled and interesting sf writers in Finland, has taken a cue from Bruce Holland Rogers and is offering three new short short stories a month for a small price of 10 €/year, which can be paid either to him or “to a non-governmental organization” (unspecified). The stories will be from 200 to 500 words each and they will be sent to subscribers by e-mail. Recommended!

More information from Markku himself.

Linkage: Sinisalo, Finncon

Johanna Sinisalo was interviewed on the Nebula Awards site about her recent nominee novelette “Baby Doll” (via @Sini74 on Twitter).

Cheryl also linked to this, and in a comment there was a link to another recent interview with Johanna, by a reading group that had been reading Troll.

Jukkahoo has posted some notes on this year’s Finncon, as well as thoughts on the nature and future of the convention (as well as that of the cooperation with Animecon). Couldn’t agree more with his points.

Hirvi Mafia

As mentioned earlier, the Turku fandom pub meetings have moved to the restaurant Kultainen Hirvi. Today was the August meeting, and it was a pretty succesful one. A nice bunch of people, good food, lots of drinks, and good conversation. Especially the big space opera vs. "stylish fantastic" discussion, plus a lot of book tips traded. Also, some talk about the coming Roadside Picnic and arranging rides (on Saturday, at least two cars coming from Turku). There were not one, but two new issues of my Turu Mafia Zine today (the former came out at Finncon, so not everyone had seen it yet). The weather was warm, so we sat mostly outside on the terrace. Everybody present seemed pretty happy with the place, so that will be our venue for the foreseeable future.

Pub Meeting Tomorrow in Kultainen Hirvi

After a discussion on the TSFS discussion list (everybody is welcome to join the list, you don’t have to be a member of TSFS), it was decided to move the monthly Turku pub meetings to the restaurant Kultainen Hirvi for now. Bremer has been quite full lately, so it was time to try something new. The meeting will be held at the usual time, tomorrow (the first Thursday) at six. Everybody interested in meeting other fen and discussing sf (among other things) is welcome!

Finnish Anime Conventions

Jussi Nikander has written a short history of Finnish anime conventions along with some speculation about their future now that the co-operation of Finncon and Animecon is winding down.