Tähtivaeltaja Award to Troika

The Tähtivaeltaja award for best science fiction book published in Finnish in 2006 was given out yesterday at Tähtivaeltaja Day. The award went to Stepan Chapman for his novel Troikka (The Troika). The jury described the book as a unique, mosaic journey to a whirlwind of wondrous visions; an artistic experience with intellectual insight and pure literary pleasure.

Troikka is published in Finnish by The Tree Club (the only edition in the world that has illustrations by the author), and is translated by Hannu Blommila. The jury consisted of critic Jukka Halme, editor Toni Jerrman, critic Elli Leppä, and journalist Vesa Sisättö.

NOFF 2007

This year’s Finnish NOFF delegate is Pasi Karppanen. Pasi is an active fan from Turku, and also the editor of the Finnish Science Fiction Writers Association’s zine Kosmoskynä. Pasi will be going to either Swecon in Gothenburg, or to this year’s Eurocon in Copenhagen.

You can contribute to the NOFF fund at Finnish sf events. More info about NOFF at <www.enhorningen.net/noff>.

New Fandom

Congratulations to Saija & Eemeli who yesterday evening succesfully brought two new members to fandom! The little girl and the little boy were described by Ipa as “ridiculously cute and perfectly perfect”.

May Is Here

All of a sudden, May is upon us, and the Tähtivaeltaja Day minicon is this Saturday. If you’re going and have room in your car, or if you’d like to go but need a lift, come to the Turku pub meeting tomorrow (Bar Bremer at six) to find others who are going there. Or just to have a couple of beers and talk sf!

Top Short Shorts Online

The results and the top three stories from the FSFWA & Risingshadow short short story competition from 2006 are available online at Risingshadow. The top entries were:

1. Marika Riikonen: Liikuntatunti
2. Markku Penttilä: Jäiset unelmat
3. Heli Määttä: Mänty

Reserve Your Finncon Accommodation Now

If you’re going to Finncon 2007 (and why wouldn’t you be?), it’s time to reserve your accommodation. There will be other seminars in Jyväskylä at the time of the convention, and there will be a shortage of available hotel capacity.

The convention has quotas and special rates at a couple of hotels (Amis, Rentukka & Hostel Laajari), ranging from 17 €/person/night upwards, but if you want to take advantage of those, you’ll have to act before May 20. Better yet, do it now in case the quotas will be filled by then!

There will also be low-cost accommodation organized by the convention (bring your own sleeping bag) for those who don’t want to spring for a hotel room.

More info available on the con site.

Finncon Wants You

The Jyväskylä Finncon is looking for volunteers. The largest sf event in Scandinavia is organized entirely with volunteer effort, and everybody is welcome to help.

The organizers promise everybody a lot of experience in organizing large events, an opportunity to meet Finnish and international fandom, and of course an invitation to the dead dog party at the end of the convention. There are also free t-shirts and lunches to those doing a lot of work for the con.

All the volunteers get thorough orientation and tasks suitable for their skills—previous experience is not required. If you are interested, contact the organizers and tell them about yourself.

Finncon 2007 is July 14–15; volunteers are needed on con days, and also already on Friday.