Making Your Own Fandom

Maul Junior, also known as Venja Suntila, age two weeks. Is this the one who brings balance to the Force?

Alastair Reynolds at Book Fair

Alastair Reynolds appears at the Turku Book Fair next weekend. (October 1–3). He can be seen on Saturday at noon (stage A) and again at 15:45 (The New Coming of Space Opera, Seminar room 4). Other programming of interest includes: Where Finnish fantasy is going (Saturday 13:00, Seminar Room 4). A discussion about E-books and electronic publishing in Finland just might be interesting too. (Friday 15:30, Auditorium 1).

Finnish science fiction and fantasy fandom (in Turku, anyway) has a stand in hall C (C39 b). Stop by if you happen to be at the fair.

Update: If you're one of those unfortunates who happen to live in the Helsinki region and are thus unable to attend the book fair, according to Babek Nabel Mr. Reynolds will visit the Arabianranta library on monday October 4 at 17:00. He will be interviewed by Antti Mäkinen.

AnarCon 2004 Next Saturday

AnarCon is a mini con for people interested in political science fiction. It is held in Turku next Saturday (September 25^th).

Tamfan04 Approaching

Tamfan, a biennial fantasy convention in Tampere, is held next weekend. This year's GoH is Sari Peltoniemi, who just came in fifth on this year's Atorox awards.

Unfortunately, I'm unable to attend, but hope you'll have a good time there.

Atonova 2004, part 3

Part 1 Part 2


Afterwards, the event continued in Cosmic Comic café.




Congratulations to the 2004 Atorox winner!

And thanks to the organizers of this event. Much fun was had by all.

Others: M. G. Soikkeli has a report of the event with some pictures.

Atonova 2004, part 2

Atonova 2004, part 1


The Nova results were announced by competition secretary Kirsi Saaros and member of the jury Markku Soikkeli.


This year's winner, Jenny Kangasvuo.


Mari Saario (second place. )


Miina Supinen (third place).


After the awards ceremony, there was a very interesting panel discussion about the competitions, writing and sf in general. Members of the panel were (from the left): Sari Peltoniemi, Pasi Karppanen, Anne Leinonen, Petri Laine and Jenny Kangasvuo.

Next: after the ceremony

Atonova 2004, part 1

Atonova 2004 took place yesterday in Turun kirjakahvila. At the event, the Atorox award for the best Finnish sf short story published last year, and the Nova short story competition winners were announced.


About 30 persons gathered in Kirjakahvila for the Atonova event.


The coveted Atorox prize.


The Atorox winners were announced by Hanne Martelius (the Atorox organizer for the year) and Maarit Lamminen (acting head of TSFS).


The author of the best Finnish sf short story published in 2003: Anne Leinonen.


Boris Hurtta, a long time contributor to Finnish sf literature, took third place, losing only by one vote to the second place.


Petri Laine (fourth place).


Sari Peltoniemi (fifth place).

Next: the Nova competition