[SKRIVA] Finncon 2007 report

(Here's my Finncon report, for two Swedish lists and also Trufen - for you guys in English. The report will also later go to individual Finncon participants and OTHER English language lists. Tell me of any terrible mistakes or wrong doings in my report before that! --AE) 

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There're things to say about long, detailed egocentric con reports. They'll bore you to death. I'll probably use too many words in this my report from Fincon 2007, but I'd like to add a few things in my own defense: 1) Finncon is the second biggest regular sf con in the world, and what is said about it may be interesting because of that. 2) A con report is usually also a sort of philosophical or antropological report about a long trip into cultures and domains hitherto unknown, so it may contain some general "human interest" stuff. 3) And it, finally, gives an insight into the twisted mind of the con reporter (me), but this argument is rather weak since I'm not a particulary interesting person. (One of the rules of sneaky rhetoric is to downplay your own importance, and you can see how I here follow this...)
I always go by ferry to Finland. The Baltic Sea has some of the most lively ferry lines in the world, and the Finland ferries are the top of the bill. Price-wise these ferries are getting less competitive. You can get to Finland (from Sweden) for the same price or only 1/3 or so more by air. But I take the ferry because 1) I'm used to it, 2) I can buy taxfree booze on it (that price advantage has increased after the booze tax cuts in Finland earlier), 3) I live less than 1 km from the Viking Line ferry terminal and 4) I in a strange way enjoy the slow, soothing transportation that a ferry means. The waves roll slowly, I can observe people, I can think. I would have gotten a cheaper price if I had booked earlier. Booking late - as I tend to do to keep my options and flexibility open - meant reasonable tickets were only available in "steerage class" (no cabins, but they are worthless anyway). My ferry *to* (but not from) Finland had skipped the "air chair room" which meant I had to sleep on the *soft* (not bad!) carpet outside one of the bars, using my incredibly warm and useful emergency silver blanket. Before the trip I had loaded my MP3 player with 100+ episodes of the US 1950's sf radio series "X Minus One" plus some Sunkit songs (Sunkit is the Stockholm club playing "incredibly strange music"). After leaving Stockholm's beatiful harbour, I went to the taxfree shop and got myself some bheer. I enjoyed a quiet and nice but long trip listening to the MP3's, consuming bheer and reading my bring-along-book, Lila - An Inquiry Into Morals by Robert M Pirsig. Fascinating stuff, almost sf, but I only managed 250 pages during the trip so a review will have to wait - this book covers a boat trip, so it felt fitting! My Helsinki contact Aleksi said he couldn't leave work until lunch, so we said we'd meet up at the railway station. I've been to Helsinki 20+ times before so that was no problem. The only problem was my heavy load to carry. Finncon had been deserted by their normal book distributors, so they needed books by their GoHs from the SF Bookstore in Stockholm. And I was to provide the books - probably just under 20 kg, plus my own luggage, plus "some" extra taxfree bheer from the ferry. I had to rest on benches 3-4 times during the 1,5 km walking to the train station (I probably had a total of ca 45 kg to carry) but managed it after all. Aleksi met up just after 12.00, and I soon found that lots of other Finnish fans were taking the same train - probably 30-40 of them. Gave Aleksi some VAT-free winegum candy from the ferry, as thanks for moral support and getting me train tickets. (My deal for carrying the books was that Finncon would pay my train; I paid the ferry myself. This made their transport cost for the books much higher than their possible profit margin, but I guess they thought it important enough to GET GoH books to the con at all.) There was a light shower of rain in both Helsinki and Jyväskylä. It was the case more or less all the time, only briefly interrupted by cats and dogs. From the Jyväskylä train station I was transported by car (maybe 1+ km) to the con, because they wanted to be *sure* all books came through. And I began saying hello to all friends and have a look around. The convention site was Jyväskylä university main building, plus adjacent buildings (maybe half a dozen, and a couple of them pretty big, meaning that you never saw more than 1/3 of the con unless you took a stroll up to 500 metres away, which I did once). The con hadn't really started in earnest. Finncons always make soft starts. I understand that some Finncon activities began already on Thursday, and there were some small things on, on Friday - but all main things would be Satur/Sunday. After that I walked the ca 150 metres to something called the "writers' house" (guest house, administration for the writers' union) where they said I could stay (thanks!) and without really asking I grabbed a sofa which I managed to hold on to during the whole con. My silver blanket worked fine, and the fact I sometimes got less than desireable amounts of sleep was my own fault. After that we were all (or all reasonably VIP, at least hundreds of people) invited to an art show opening, featuring Judith Clute and a local Finnish artist. She did very skilled oil paintings, and the Finnish artist had some good partly abstract, ghostlike paintings. They had wine and chips (crisps to you Brits) and after that I went to to the tabletop ice-hockey tournament on the Sowhi bar (ca 150 metres from the con, somewhat of the con bar, even if Finncon also had a café with bheer rights on the site). This game is something the Finns love. The make of the game is actually from the Swedish firm Stiga, but the Finnfans are masters of it. Icehockey is popular in Finland. I had hoped to do better than two losses (narrowly) and one draw, but was eliminated in the group play. More shoking was that the best Swedish player Mikael Pargman was also eliminated in the group games. Paasi was final winner out of ca a dozen entrants. (I have at best managed to reach 6th place here.) The Con newsletter later had a headline saying "The Swedes says we are disappointed"...they gloated! This tabletop hockey game is a tradition of Finncon since at least 15 years or something. And it's fun, even if you lose. Afterwards I mingled in the bar, with eg GoHs Joe and Gay Haldeman. I met them already on out Swecon last autumn, but it was nice to see them again. I don't know if Joe H is getting "old" and thoughtful but he tends to think before replies (probably wise) or perhaps that's just the way he is. Gay is a much more outward person, but both are very nice and socialable. (On Swecon the year before I went to a writer's seminar hosted by Joe H. He gave some good advice. My story from that seminar was later "sold" - got no money because it was a semi-prozine - and I think his advice had some influence on my editing.) 
  Came home to the writer's house perhaps 01 am.
From now on my report will simply have to become more fragmented. On Saturday the con started in full force. I have notes, but I will mix them up, and forget some things (and consider other things unimportant). I talked to probably more than 30-40 people for longer than five minutes, and I can't remember them all, or remember everything said with people I talked with for an hour. But I hanged around a lot with the two other Swedes, Mikael Pargman and Tommy Persson (who has his con pics on http://egad.dyndns.org/gallery/index.php ) and the two Danes, Klaus and Tue (except for GoH:s the AFAIK the only non-Finnish attendees). I said in a pre-announcement of Finncon 2007 that half was in English. That may be too much, but let's say 35 percent was - and there were almost always *something* in the English program, sometimes even competing with each other. I saw maybe 60-65 percent of the English language program, which was well done, prepared and had decent audiences counted in the hundreds. I won't go through everything but it was panels and talks and interviews with the GoHs:
Joe and Gay Haldeman (Joe more intellectual and quiet, Gay more sparkling - both very friendly) Ellen Datlow (who I didn't speak too much with, but she seemed nice - eg talked about cats!) Elizabeth Hand (dito - but she seemed bright, and I wonder when she got those tatooes?) Cheryl Morgan (several times Finnconer, and I know some think her feminist agenda may be too much, but she is personally very charming) Jonathan Clements (Anime and Manga, and "special guest", a charming guy I spoke to somewhat and felt getting good connections with) Ben Roimola (Fan-GoH, for the FIRST time - well deserved! - I guy I known since he was a neo, the Mr Finland-Swedish SF, publisher of Enhörningen, "Unicorn") John and Judith Clute (both "special guests", Judith's art already mentioned, and I also had some very nice chats with the Mr Clute, where he eg mentioned that a new web edition of SFE is on RSN and we discussed that Sam J Lundwall may be unreliable in sf history reporting)
My notes from the con are a bit blurry. Not because of drunkeness (I got *at most* 1/3 pissed, and the absolute champion in getting pissed mr JVH wasn't there) but my handwriting is so awfuylwl I can't read it even myself. I remember talking to the Finland-Swedish guy Kenneth ("Finland-Swedish" mean beaing of the Swedish speaking ca 6 percent minority, just like the French Canadians) who mentioned how he in the 1970's published the perhaps FIRST Finnish fanzine, called Fantastix (spellng?) but all copies are now lost. I noticed that the big Finnish newspaper Helsinging Sanomat had a big article about Finncon, with an interview with Jone Haldeman. Later after handing out the Atorox- (for short stories) and other awards lots of papers would run the prize lists, eg Hufvudstadsbladet. The Finncons have always been good with the press contacts. I gave a review copy of my book Murder on the Moon to the editor of Finland's probably leading (Toni Jerrman of Tähtivaeltaja may object! - we had some fun in one party when I claimed I had deciphered that the Finnish word "Mittä" meant "what") sf magazine Portti, since it may be a chance of a story from it getting translated (and Raimo says he reads Swedish). A later review copy went to Erkki Widenius of another Finnish newspaper who on the Sunday interviewed me for a longer article in his Rovaniemi paper. You see, I'm reasonably well-known in Finland (at least Finnish fandom), among other things for beeing the only person alive going to ALL Finncons. My first one was in 1982, and I haven't been able to break the habit... (I have also been fan-Goh at two earlier Finncons - incl Jyväskylä in 2001 - something that this time gave me smiles and favourable comments and memories, though it was slightly painful after partying to 06.00 in Turku in 1999, being woke up in 09.00 to catch the 10.00 ferry. No one has been more a zombie than me at that particular time...) In the reception there was a "memory book" to be signed by friends of Leena Peltonen, who recently died. I signed with a small cartoon. Leena was one of the FIRST Finnnish sf fans I came to know, already from the early to mid 80's. She passing away felt very sad. There will be a Eurocon in Denmark, Copenhagen (www.eurcocon20´07.dk) of Which I have been desgignated planner of a special Baltcon sub program. On Finncon I managed to make a lot of connections etc to possiblre Baltcon suib-program participants, so that program should now be almost full. That was a very constructive part oif my Finncon attendance; I actually did some "work" (how you define it...). Saturday evening I and the two other Swedes and the two Danes went out to eat something. After some deliberation we landed in a wonderful Italian/etc joint on the main street (BTW a good place for second hand bookshops, ehich I hadn't time to visit then, but I did that in 2001), where the "etc" meant they lacked most of the desired dishes. But it was OK for me. I ordered a pizza for 5 Euros, which became an incredibly pleasant surprise. 1) It was huge (and for that price!) extending 5 cm over the edge of the plate. 2) Nobody complained that I cut out huge chunks of it to save for later consumption. (They were promoted to my breakfasts for Sunday AND Monday. A huge pizza giving three day's worth of food!) I didn't come "home" too late (quarter to 02 perhaps) but there was some problems since I lacked a key to the authors' house. I had to wake up a poor Finnish fan. However, I took the two later attendances to our little sleeping party. I couldn't really get to sleep fast - my head all spinning - and hearing inspiring sounds from my MP3 player. (Some of the OTR was too exciting for me getting to sleep.)
As said, there were a lot of rain in Jyväskylä that weekend. (Though mostly only light showers.) I got up too early on Sunday, because I wanted to attend the Finland-Swedish panel, and one hour later had my own speech ("Talk on the Moon", relating to my collection Murder on the Moon). Ben headed the Finland-Swedish program item. We learned for instance that Kenneth (mentioned above) had a web-radio show in Swedish where he promoted activities. And got contacts witn the Association for Strange Interersts (at Åbo Akademi, Turku's Swedish spekaing university, the oldest in Finland). This association also associates itself with science fiction. I later talked to them a bit about the absolutely crazy Swedish con-artist etc Johnny Bode who during WWII went to Turku and set up an *sf musical* (before being forcefully readmitted to his insanity asylym...). After Ben I had my talk. I had by bad planning/brain mislaid my manuscript for the talk, but since I discovered this the day before I could reconstruct most of it from my head to notes on paper. It went, I think, reasonably well. I talked about by dealings in sf, my writing, space, my tips about How To Write, etc. I've held versions of that speech at least three times before. (And as back-up, I had my speech fropm the Stockholm Cultural House in April, though it was beyond use since I didn't have the slides with me. That speech was more pulp magazines, space and sf history.) Ms Morgan walked around with a birthday card for us to sign for a BNF soon having an important birthday, but I promised not to say to whom. (But I'm on that big autograph chart from Finncon, and we love you!) I remember many wise words from Joe Haldeman (or maybe I'm mixing it up with things he said in Stockholm last autum), especially his critique towards the GW Bush-war. All other US GoHs also said GW Bush was a prick. (I find it hard to disagree. Been thinking hard about it, but I can't disagree.) The closing program of Finncon 2007 was a panel about the influences of Robert A Heinlein. Cheryl Morgan did a very funny and brilliant intro to it (portraying Heinlein as a cult leader à la L Ron Hubbard, done tounge in cheek). Finncon's chairman closed with saying that 7500 "warm bodies" had passed through the turnstiles. However, after consulting with eg last year's Finncon general Jukka Halme, I conclude it translates to 3000-4000 individual participants. Perhaps 80% of them were Anime-con attendees (Anime-con was combined with Finncon). However, Finncon has always been great, co-organised with role playing, Star Trek, TV fandoms, Tolkien etc (all those are welcome and will come) - but it doesn't take away the fact that Finncon is probably the second biggest sf con of the world. Here's why: 
  1) The main program is basically all sf literature or fandom.
2) The main organisers are "regular" (books, fanzines) sf fans, who know about stencils, fiawol, etc. There have been discussions about Finland candiating for a Worldcon. It may take some years, but if they do I'd support it will all my heart. And they'd have a wonderful vote magnet: they could probably/perhaps do it *without any attendance fee*. Finncon is today made though cultural grants, sponsorships, selling huckster space, selling program book ad space, etc. (I can't see how you could beat such a bid. You don't say 50 dollars, not 100, not 200 - you say 0, zero. Go there for only the air fare! And besides, the Finns have proved they can manage big cons. Finncon 2007 had up to eight parallel programs.) I should say a few words about Jyväskylä. It's a compact and very nice and academic city, of maybe 100 000 inhabitants. It is all dominated by the university and sometimes called "The Athens of Finland". The main street has good bookshops and the feeling of the city is very nice - I'd compare it to Sweden's "Athens", namely Uppsala, 80 km north of Stockholm, which also is very compact and has this nice academic feeling about it. At the same time as Finncon we had something called the Jyväslylä Arts Festival, of which Finncon was a part. (But I don't understand how the short Finnish word "kesä" could be equal to the longer expression "Arts festival", as in Jyväskylkän Kesä, which I saw everywhere. Maybe "Ke" is art and "sä" festival...)
The Finncon dead dog parties are (from my perspective) the highlight of the con. This year (as a year before, 2001 I think) it was in a tourist cabin maybe 4-5 km from Juväskylä. Getting there took some administrative voluntary car driver shuffle, but up to 100 of the organisers, gophers, GoHs (the Clutes had to leave earlier due to a booking fuck-up) and other unreliable poeple assembled. The cabin was near a cold lake. On the other side you saw ski-jumping towers. Inside were saunas. You thought: typically Finland. They had a mini-smorgasbord and bheer and wine and some terrible booze (the tar-vodka was OK but Ms Morgans chili-booze was chemical warfare!). I had a near-death experience. They had lockers outside the sauna. You're not meant to close them - but I did. And there was no key. I got visions of me getting back on the ferry in my towel. But fortunately a concom-member - Eemeli - helped me out of the situation by finding the keys. I shared sauna with both Mr Haldeman and Clements. Afterward I talked politics will Mr Haleman. Since he was anti 'Nam he was also anti Iraq. He said a lot of senisible things. I got a very good impression of Joe Haldeman. A loveable guy. Swedish fandom (in this case me, with taxfree ferry bheer) contributed to the booze, but just after twelve we run out of it anyway (maybe that chemical warfare booze was left) so transportation back was organised. (Thanks for Toumas for picking up my partial taxi tab; I had to leave the vehicle early, perhaps 1.30 AM, but heard they went on until 3.30 AM in a club on town!) Got up in good but tired time to get to the 10.22 train. 20-25 fans where on it, incl all GoHs but the Clutes (departing the day before). I slept most of the time. Towards the end I went through the train and delivered maybe a dozen copies of my fannish chatzine Yngvi. I noticed that after changing train in Tampere wew got some of those strange double-decker cars. Listened to my wonderful MP3 thingy. On the Helsinkiu platform Vesa gave me good tips about the best Helsinki second hand bookshops (which I found but they had no Rex Stout novels). I had maybe 3 hours before the ferry left, and another thing I did was to look up a public library - which however lacked the Swedish speaking Finnish newspapers Åbo Underrättelser and Vasabladet, which both about this time should have short stories by me (the "summer sales" of our little exclusive "Short Story Masters Group"). I bought some food in a local K-Markt (that chain is recommendable!), including 1 litre of strange mandarin, banana and lemon joúice (just to get some vitamins - but the damn thing actually tasted good). The ferry back had an "air chair room" and I got decent seats (one for me, one for my luggage...). I found out that the ship had cable TV (how the heck? gyro-stbilised parboles?) which meant that I could se a favourite program from Swedish TV on Monday night, and after that I was glued to the dumb box watching discovery, drinking bheer, hearing MP3 and reading my Pirsig novel. (I'm a master if multitasking: sight, hearing, taste and...reading). Coming back to Stockholm - beautiful Stockholm in Sunshine, with the unsurpassed Old Town! - I was really tired (having slept only somewhat in the air seat room). I went home with a wonderful feeling. A good con. Nice people. I am still the only person going to all Finncons (next year it is in Tampere, and I plan to...take a French vacation then...or have a guess!). I happen to love Finnish fandom because one of my first foreign fandom contacts was Finland's Tom Ölander, and I through him also got involved in the first Finnish Finncon in 1986. and the first con ever in 1982. And from that on - it has just moved on! I came to know the Finnish fans, I came to love them, I came to be astounded by the *incredible* activity they showed (approx twice the fanac for a country half the size of Sweden = equals four times the fanac/capita) and you can't help but be fascinated by the hate/love relationship created by the fact that we selfish Swedes used to rule over Finland (for a measly 600 years). Finland is the foreign country I have visited the most, and their Finncon is the foreign con I won't miss. The Finncon in Jyväskylä in 2007 was very good. I could cite a couple of Finncons that were even better (basically my to GoH ones, which makes me biased...), but it's unimportant. The Jyväskylä crowd this year did a *heck* of a job. I'm so impressed! What a lot of work that went into the second biggest sf con in the world! Thanks to you all! We should all learn from Finncon. (And I'm so grateful that they will give me privileges like borrowing a sofa in the writers house. But after all I'm an item in finish fandom.) 
  Remember the wise words of Monty Python:

Finland, Finland, Finland,
The country where I want to be,
Eating breakfast or dinner,
Or snack lunch in the hall.
Finland, Finland, Finland.
Finland has it all.     
You're so sadly neglected
And often ignored,
A poor second to Belgium,
When going abroad.

Finland, Finland, Finland,
The country where I quite want to be,
Your mountains so lofty,
Your treetops so tall.
Finland, Finland, Finland.
Finland has it all.

Amen.

--Ahrvid

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ahrvid@xxxxxxxxxxxx/ahrvid@xxxxxxxxxxx/tel 073-68622[53+mercersdag]
Pangram för 29 sv bokstäver: Yxskaftbud, ge vår wczonmö iqhjälp!
Novelltävling, info http://www.skriva.bravewriting.com - gå med!

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ahrvid@xxxxxxxxxxxx/ahrvid@xxxxxxxxxxx/tel 073-68622[53+mercersdag]
Pangram för 29 sv bokstäver: Yxskaftbud, ge vår wczonmö iqhjälp!
Novelltävling, info http://www.skriva.bravewriting.com - gå med!
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