Finncon 2014 Announces Hotels

The website of next year’s Finncon now has some info, most importantly about hotels (only in Finnish at the moment, though).

If you’re going to Finncon next summer, you should book your room quickly—Jyväskylä is hosting a big housing fare next summer at the same time as Finncon, so there will probably be a shortage of hotel rooms in the city (and the prices are already above average for Jyväskylä).

The main con hotel is Alba, located on a beautiful spot by the water, a bit away from the city centre, but only a short walking distance (about 600 meters) from the con site. The convention price is 94 €/room/night for a standard double room, 78 €/room/night for a standard single room, and 74 €/room/night for an economy single room. Superior rooms and suites with a sauna are also available. The prices include breakfast and parking.

There are more rooms in the Rantasipi Laajavuori. It is more remote—located a few kilometres away from the con site (about 5 minutes by car)—but on the other hand, it is a spa hotel so if you want to combine some extra relaxing with the convention, it might be a good choice. Prices are 92 €/room/night for a single and 102 €/room/night for a double room, including breakfast and use of the spa and gym.

A more affordable option is Gasthaus Laajis, four kilometres from the con site. Prices are 35 €/person/night in a double room, and 30 €/person/night in a 4-person room. You can add extra beds in the rooms fro 15 €/person/night, up to 8 persons. Breakfast is included in the standard prices; for extra beds breakfast is an additional 6 €. The hostel has shared bathrooms and also facilities for preparing food.

The reservation code for the con prices is FINNCON2014. The offer is valid until May 11 for Alba and Rantasipi (but it’s doubtful there will be available rooms that long). To get the special price for Laajis you must book the room by February 1.

Besides the official convention accommodation, it’s of course possible to book your room independently. There are still some vacancies in the Jyväskylä hotels, but the prices might be higher than what you’re used to. Milton is of course the traditional hotel used by Finncon attendees. I’ve got a room booked at the Alexandra (right by the railway station). The most inexpensive option (excluding hostels) is the Omena hotel, with current prices of 70 €/room/night for a double or 90 €/room/night for a four-person room (not including breakfast).

I’ve put together a Google Map where you can see the con site and the accommodation options mentioned here.

Kid-Friendly Mafia Tomorrow

A new sfnal activity in Turku: some families have been discussing a regular playdate for parents with small children. The goal is for the parents to be able to engage in sfnal discussion while the children play with each other.

The meetings will take place on the last Friday of the month, and the plan is to rotate the place among the participants. The first mukulamafia is tomorrow at Tomi & Hanne’s place. All interested parties are welcome. More info from Hanne.

Charles Dexter Ward Rises Again

Due to its popularity last spring, the Tikkurila theater brings back their H.P. Lovecraft play Charles Dexter Wardin tapaus this autumn. The premiere is on Saturday, November 16.

Young Aleksis Kivi Nominees

The Nuori Aleksis award (“Young Aleksis”), named after Finland’s national writer Aleksis Kivi, is an award founded by the Finnish teachers’ union, given each year to one outstanding and significant book, selected by a jury comprising senior high school students from around Finland.

This year’s shortlist has been announced and I’m happy to report that three of the six nominees are sf. Among the nominees are Teemestarin kirja (Memory of Water) by Emmi Itäranta, Unikoira (Seeing Eyes) by Marko Hautala, and Näkijän tytär (The Prophet’s Daughter) by Kristiina Vuori (more info about the nominees).

A curious thing I noticed in the announcement: the nominees are selected by a large jury of high schoolers, but from a long list (around 100 books) given to them, I guess determined by the working group administering the award. Included are novels, short story and poetry collections, plays and essays. But, even though this is an award for young people by young people, YA books are specifically excluded from eligibility. This feels very stupid to me, especially since nowadays there are (in my opinion) larger amounts of very good quality Finnish YA literature than ever before.

Finndom on Facebook

There’s a new Facebook group called Suomalainen fandom. The purpose is to share information and discuss finndom-related things (I expect the overwhelming majority of the discussions to be in Finnish).

This is a public Facebook group, so it should be possible to read the discussions without signing onto Facebook (at least for the moment). You can also follow new topic posts via an RSS feed.

Vainonen on PW

Publisher's Weekly likes Jyrki Vainonen’s collection The Explorer and Other Stories, coming soon from Cheeky Frawg.

Tove Jansson Bio in English Next Year

A definite Tove Jansson biography Tove Jansson – Tee työtä ja rakasta, written by Dr. Tuula Karjalainen, will be published by Tammi this October. An English edition, The Life and Art of Tove Jansson, will be published next year (coinciding with the 100th anniversary of Tove Jansson) by Penguin Books. Publishing rights have also been sold to Sweden and Japan.

More info

Update: Also the Norwegian rights have been sold. Heinesen Forlag will publish the pub in Norway in 2014.

Pub Meeting Friday

This month’s Turku sf pub meeting is tomorrow (Friday the 6th) at Cosmic Comic Cafe starting at 6. Welcome!

If you had your heart set up on a Thursday meeting, today is the last Varjomafia at the Terrakoti club house before the move, also starting around 6. Should be plenty of people there, especially as today has also been open house there due to the University season start. Or, if you’re more interested in having a pint, a couple of fans from Helsinki are visiting today; text me for details (040 576 6450).