Book Your Finncon Accommodation Now

I just got information from this year’s Finncon that some of the hotel quotas will be released at the end of the month. Some rooms will be available until the date announced earlier (June 14), but if you want to make sure you get the room you want, you should book now. More info on the convention web site. Update: the convention staff confirmed that all the rooms will be available until the announced cutoff date after all—their earlier info was premature.

Note: the reservation codes don’t work for Internet booking (at least for every hotel)—you need to e-mail or call the hotel to get a room for the (very good) Finncon rate. Update: The reservations made with the convention code can be cancelled without penalty up to the previous day before the check-in date.

There will also be floor accommodation offered by the convention if you want a very inexpensive place to sleep. The accommodation is at a couple of schools very close to the convention sites (about half a kilometer away); the price is 5 euros/night. There are showers and microwaves at the accommodation, but bring your own sleeping bag and other stuff you need—only floor space is offered at the place. To sign up, fill the form and pay to the Finncon bank account in advance. The floor accommodation will be open on Friday and Saturday nights, from 6 PM to 10 AM next morning.

SF Translation Awards Finalists

The finalists for the first Science Fiction & Fantasy Translation Awards have been announced. There are two categories, long form and short form. In the short form category, three out of the four finalists are by Finns: Wagtail, by Marketta Niemelä, translated by Liisa Rantalaiho (Usva International 2010); Elegy for a Young Elk by Hannu Rajaniemi, translated by Hannu Rajaniemi (Subterranean Online); and Bear’s Bride by Johanna Sinisalo, translated by Liisa Rantalaiho (The Beastly Bride: Tales of the Animal People). Big congratulations to all the nominees!

Åcon 5 Announces GoH

Next year’s Åcon Guest of Honor has been announced:

Catherynne M. Valente is an American writer, critic and editor. She has written several novels as well as short stories and poetry, and has won, among others, the James Tiptree, Jr. Award, the World Fantasy Award, the Rhysling Award, the Mythopoeic Award, and the Andre Norton Award for her work. Her novel Palimpsest was a Hugo and Locus Award nominee and won the Lambda Literary Award in 2010. Her latest book, The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, debuted at number 8 on the New York Times Bestseller List. Her critical work has appeared in the International Journal of the Humanities as well as in the essay anthology Chicks Dig Time Lords. Since last year, she is also the fiction and poetry editor of Apex Magazine.

The latest issue of Tähtivaeltaja (1/2011) has a Finnish translation of the short story A Buyer’s Guide to Maps of Antarctica

Åcon 5 will take place in Mariehamn on May 17–20, 2012. (Still a year to go, alas!)

Vandercon Blogging Round-Up

Jeff VanderMeer has a good round-up post on his blog about all the amazing blogging he has done about the Vandercon trip to Finland. The coverage includes two posts on the Amazon book blog, interviews with Johanna Sinisalo, Toni Jerrman, Viivi Hyvönen, Anne Leinonen, Saara Henriksson, Sari Peltoniemi, and me, plus links to his posts during the travel.

Vandercon was a great experience, and has generated wonderful publicity for Finnish sf writers and fandom in general (and started some real things happening to get Finnish writers published abroad). A big hand for the Finnish Literature Exchange and the many Finnish sf societies who made this happen—you can be proud of the accomplishment!

Finncon Fundraiser

The Turku SF Society, one of the organizers of this year’s Finncon, is having a fundraiser party this Friday in the Turku-sali and the club house Terrakoti. The event starts at noon and continues for the whole day and evening.

There will be an official info session at 1 PM, so everybody who is interested in how Finncon is doing, this is the place to be listening and asking questions. After that, there will be a book auction, raffle, coffee, and other activities.

If you want to have lunch in sfnal company, the Turku mafia monthly lunch is also on Friday, at 12.30PM in the restaurant Hus Lindman. It’s pretty close to the fundraiser venue, so you can come have lunch first and continue to the party afterwards.

Finndom Amazoned, Part 2

The second part of the article about Finnish sf is up on the Amazon book blog, courtesy of Jeff. Mentions of many Finnish authors, and quotes from several members of the Finnish fandom. It’s a good read, go take a look!

Jeff also has the next interviews up on his blog: he talks to Saara Henriksson and Sari Peltoniemi.

2011 Locus Award Finalists

Locus has posted the list of the 2011 Locus Award Finalists. Hannu Rajaniemi’s The Quantum Thief is shortlisted for best first novel. Go Hannu! Also on the list is the anthology The Beastly Bride that contains the short story Bear’s Bride by Johanna Sinisalo.

By the way, you can meet four Locus finalists in Eurocon in Stockholm this June: GoHs Elizabeth Bear (best novella) and Ian McDonald (best science fiction novel) are nominated, and Hannu Rajaniemi (mentioned above) and Charles Stross (nominated for best fantasy novel) will also be at the convention!

Vesa Sisättö Talk on Thursday

Vesa Sisättö speaks about the many worlds of fantasy on Thursday, May 12 at the Sello library at 3 PM. Go visit if you’re in the neighborhood!

Summer Pub Meetings; Hugo Stories in June

In the pub meeting last week it was decided to enjoy the summer and have the pub meetings at a terrace restaurant. The newly-reopened Pinella was chosen as the venue. So, in June (and also July and August, if the place proves suitable) the Turku pub meeting will take place on the Pinella terrace (park side), or inside if the weather does not endorse our outside activities.

Also, the reading circle decided to tackle the four Hugo-nominated short stories for June. So, June 2 at 6:30 PM we’ll be discussing the following:

• Amaryllis by Carrie Vaughn
• For Want of a Nail by Mary Robinette Kowal
• Ponies by Kij Johnson
• The Things by Peter Watts

Come join us and tell your opinion! (Of course, everybody is welcome without reading the stories as well!)

1984 in Theatre in Helsinki

Thespians Anonymous present a play of George Orwell’s 1984 in the Gloria Cultural Arena in Helsinki this week (Tue–Thu). Tickets are from 9 to 13 €, more info at the link.

Linkage: Anne Leinonen Interviewed

Jeff interviews Anne Leinonen on his blog.

Linkage: Viivi Hyvönen Interviewed

Jeff interviews Viivi Hyvönen.

Finndom Amazoned!

Jeff VanderMeer talks about his trip to Finland on the Amazon.com book blog. Sinisalo, Rajaniemi, Moomins, and a video chat with Jukkahoo. Linked to this, there’s also an interview on Jeff’s blog where I get to talk about me! (Well, and a little bit about sf and fandom too.)

Linkage: Worldbuilding

The SF Signal Mind Meld discusses lessons learned from master world-builders. Among good company with Michael Moorcock, Alastair Reynolds, Jeff VanderMeer, and others is also Viivi Hyvönen.

Vandercon Blogging

Jeff has produced several blog posts during his Vandercon trip:

• photos from Finland
• more photos
• Tallahassee Tentacles photos
• Ann reads from Michael Cisco’s “The Divinity Student”

Ann posted a photo album of Finland and Amsterdam (with comments).