Eurocon 2011 Membership Fee Rises

If you’re thinking of attending next year’s Eurocon, now would be a good time to pay your membership fee—you have until the end of the Easter holiday (April 5) to become a member with the current price of 35 €. After that, the price will be 40 €.

Eurocon will take place in Stockholm in June 2011. GoHs are Elizabeth Bear and Ian McDonald, fan GoH Jukka Halme. Plenty of Finns are attending and a group trip will be arranged so this will probably be the easiest way to attend Eurocon in a good long while.

BaCon III

FUI (Åbo Akademi university’s sf society) will host their third microcon, BaCon III, at Terrakoti (Yo-talo A, 2nd floor) on Saturday, April 24. The con theme is sf, fantasy, anime, and MEAT.

The nature of BaCon is very informal: watching movies, hanging around, and eating (food will be available at cost). Definitely bacon, but there will also be a vegetarian alternative.

Questions and inquiries to Vilgot Strömsholm.

Beer Today, Whisky Tomorrow

The monthly pub meeting takes place today at Teerenpeli, starting at six. Sfnal conversation over drinks and food. Welcome!

Tomorrow will be the second “whisky mafia” where we gather at Kerttulin kievari (around seven) to sample their fine selection of whiskies in good company. Everybody is welcome there as well.

Richard Morgan to Finncon 2011

Finncon 2011 has announced their second Guest of Honor: British author Richard Morgan will be coming to Turku in July 2011.

Richard Morgan has written six novels, ranging from dystopian cyberpunk detective thrillers to fantasy. Like has published his debut novel, Altered Carbon, in Finnish as Muuntohiili in 2007. He has also penned a couple of comics miniseries for Marvel (collected in trade paperbacks), and is working with the video gaming industry.

By the way, if you haven’t read Muuntohiili yet, it is currently on sale in the Like web shop for only 7 €.

picture from RichardKMorgan.com

Isku Sf Special

Isku is a zine that publishes pulp thriller stories. Isku #11 is a science fiction special issue. It features five short stories, both new ones and reprints (the oldest is from 1940). The zine costs 3 € and can be ordered from the editor Juri Nummelin (details at the link).

FSFWA Wants You

The Finnish Science Fiction Writers Association runs writing circles for all writers interested in getting and giving peer feedback. There are 4–6 writers in every circle, and they are looking for new members. Participation is free and doesn’t require a membership. More info on the association’s discussion forum.

Tähtivaeltaja 2010 shortlist

The Tähtivaeltaja Award shortlist for best science fiction book (Finnish or translated) published last year has been announced. The nominees are:

• Hal Duncan: Vellum (Vellum, Like)
• Charlotte Perkins Gilman: Herland (Herland, Savukeidas)
• Teemu Kaskinen: Sinulle, yö (WSOY)
• Ursula Le Guin: Kahdesti haarautuva puu (The Telling, BTJ)
• Michael Moorcock: Katso ihmistä! (Behold the Man, Vaskikirjat)

The winner will be announced this summer. This is the 25th time the award is given; last year the winner was Tie (The Road) by Cormac McCarthy. The Tähtivaeltaja Award is given by the Helsinki Science Fiction Society. The jury comprises journalist Hannu Blommila, editor Toni Jerrman, critic Elli Leppä, and critic Vesa Sisättö.