Love of Books Award to Toni Jerrman

The Finnish Fair Foundation has given the “For the Love of the Book” achievement prize to Toni Jerrman in recognition of his long-standing cultural work in the field of science fiction, fantasy, and horror literature. The jury commended Jerrman for a determined and sincere enthusiasm that has promoted awareness of genre literature for over 25 years. He has worked in the field as an editor, newspaper critic, radio journalist, and lecturer, and with his “rock spirit, anarchism, and courage” helped especially adolescent boys and young men find their way into the habit of reading books. Toni’s influence in the Finnish fandom was also recognized by the jury.

The Finnish Fair Foundation operates in conjunction with the Finnish Fair Corporation and aims to promote Finnish trade and industry, as well as Finnish business life in general. The Love of Books award is worth 5 000 €, and the winner is decided by a jury that this year comprised the chairwoman of the Finnish Book Publishers’ Association Anna Baijars, author Olli Jalonen, professor Laura Kolbe, author Sofi Oksanen, editor-in-chief Jarmo Papinniemi and cultural journalist Reetta Ravi.

Saario in Albedo One

The Irish sf magazine Albedo One’s latest issue (#39) contains an English translation of Mari Saario’s short story The Horse Shoe Nail (Kenkänaula) which won the Atorox Award in 2009 for best Finnish sf story. The issue is available as a paper copy and also in pdf format—no ebook version, alas.

New Date for Finsmofcon

Just a quick post to note that, to avoid a clash with a big fandom social event, the Finnish "smofcon" (yhteistyökokous) has been moved one week earlier than previously announced, to Saturday, February 19. The place is the traditional Kaupinoja sauna in Tampere.

His Master’s Voice Online

The latest issue of the Redstone Science Fiction webzine features the short story His Master’s Voice by Hannu Rajaniemi. This very cool story first appeared in English in Interzone #218. In Finnish, it was originally published in the Usva web zine, and came fourth in the 2006 Atorox awards (the annual fan vote award for best Finnish short story).

PS The latest issue of the excellent Tähtivaeltaja zine is out, and it contains an interview with and a new short story by Hannu. Among lots of other fine sfnal content, as usual.

Fantasy Evening at British Council

From Risingshadow: an evening of fantasy at the British Council Finland on October 29, featuring fantasy writers Angie Sage, Seita Parkkola, Anne Leinonen, Eija Lappalainen, and Viivi Hyvönen.

Free admission, but the amount of attendees is limited—contact Sari Tuomaala (040 197 3997) if you want to go and for more information.

Turku Book Fair 2010

The Turku International Book Fair started today. This year we have a special sfnal guest: to celebrate the publication of the Finnish edition of Ink, Hal Duncan is visiting Turku. You can meet him, along with many other interesting writers, today at the “Book Fair Evening Mass”, organized by the Like, Sammakko, and Savukeidas publishers, at Club Dynamo (from 7 PM onward).

Hal will also, naturally, be at the Book Fair. Below are some examples of the many interesting program items you can see this weekend:

Saturday

• 10:30 Boris Hurtta interview (Fiore-lava)
• 11:30 Boris Hurtta at the TSFS booth
• 12:10 Comics creators on stage / Ilkka Heilä, Pentti Jarla, and Juba Tuomola
  
• 13:00 Pekka Manninen at the TSFS booth
• 13:30 Turbator show / Boris Hurtta, Juri Nummelin, Petri Laine, Petri Salin, and others (Turku-lava)
  
• 13:50 Hal Duncan interview (Agricola-lava)
• 14:30 Myths in the arts (kokoustila 3)
  
• 15:00 Like & TSFS sf seminar “Spotlight on Hal Duncan” (kokoustila 1–2)
• 15:45 Hal Duncan signing at the Like / Rosebud booth
  
• 16:00 Hal Duncan kaffeeklatch at the TSFS booth
• 16:30 Limits of political humor in literature / Pertti Jarla & others (kokoustila 3)
  

Sunday

• 11:00 Women’s comics morning (Agricola-lava)
  
• 11:00 Jukka Laajarinne interview (Fiore-lava)
• 11:50 Jani Saxell (& others) interview (Fiore-lava)
• 13:10 Pertti Jarla interview (Arktinen Banaani)
  
• 14:00 The roots of Finnish horror literature (kokoustila 1–2)
• 14:50 Astronomy in Turku (Porthan-lava)
• 16:10 Kalevala and pop culture (Porthan-lava)

The full program (in Finnish) can be found on the Book Fair site.

Boris Hurtta Gets Critics Award

The Finnish Critics’ Association has given its “kilon punnus” acknowledgement award to Boris Hurtta, a versatile author of several novels, short stories and fact articles. Hurtta has written many kinds of books from horror and adventure to role playing games, travelogues, and histories. He’s also an author of numerous articles, among others about early Finnish fantasy literature, the monasteries of Meteora, and second-hand book stores in Turku. He’s a known bibliophile and a very well-liked person in the Turku cultural circles.