I'm going to Ad Astra, the Toronto science fiction convention, this year again. And this time I'm even giving a talk: a presentation about dark matter. I intend to keep it at a conversational tone and hopefully accessible for most, and I'm spicing it up with lots of science fiction references (I always wanted to use them for something) -- but it's going to be real science.
I'm also going to be on the panel of scientists answering questions from the audience. (I also offered to be on a couple of other panels, but at the moment it's not clear to me if they are included in the final programme.)
If you are in Toronto the weekend after next, maybe I'll meet you there.
Showing posts with label fandomry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fandomry. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Lazy fan
I haven't nominated for the Hugo awards. (I know I should, but I'm not reading enough to feel that I know what I should nominate...)
I haven't written a LoC in months. A fanzine is coming soon (in Swedish), extremely late as usual.
I'm very much behind on the correspondence for the planning of the Worldcon science and technology programme. (Unfortunately I cannot sign up to participate as a panelist myself, since I'm afraid that will be stressful for us with a two month old baby.)
But I'm going to the Ad Astra convention in Toronto in a month. And I think I'm going to give a talk on dark matter there (I only have a half confirmation). And last week I did hold an information night about the Worldcon, and maybe inspired some people to go!
Fanac cannot always have high priority, but sometimes I'll do some things. And tonight I will meet with the Fearless Fantasy Fans, to look at some boxes of books we got donated to us. There are some goodies there!
I haven't written a LoC in months. A fanzine is coming soon (in Swedish), extremely late as usual.
I'm very much behind on the correspondence for the planning of the Worldcon science and technology programme. (Unfortunately I cannot sign up to participate as a panelist myself, since I'm afraid that will be stressful for us with a two month old baby.)
But I'm going to the Ad Astra convention in Toronto in a month. And I think I'm going to give a talk on dark matter there (I only have a half confirmation). And last week I did hold an information night about the Worldcon, and maybe inspired some people to go!
Fanac cannot always have high priority, but sometimes I'll do some things. And tonight I will meet with the Fearless Fantasy Fans, to look at some boxes of books we got donated to us. There are some goodies there!
Monday, January 5, 2009
Another view of science and science fiction
Those of you who liked my little series of interviews about science and science fiction might be interested in the following little note from the latest Ansible:
As Science Sees Us. In a profile of the life-extension researcher Mark Roth, Tom Junod notes that Roth has 'got a lot of ideas, for a scientist, and some of them come from unusual sources, like tabloidy news reports and science fiction.' He continues: 'It's a weird thing about scientists -- you would think that they would love science fiction. But they don't. To admit that you get your ideas from science fiction, if you're a scientist, that's like, career-threatening, man.' (Esquire, December) [MMW]
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
How to make convention panels work
I have been to two sf conventions in Canada. At one of them, I was a programme participant. At both, I was thinking about what it is that makes the panels run smoothly. One common problem seems to be that panelists don't show up for their panels. Someone told me that this is because they might have been signed up for the panel six months ago, and by now they have forgotten about it. This can easily be avoided by some planning.
There are many other things I have learned over the years, involved in planning and arranging cons myself. Here are my thoughts on how to make the panel part of the convention program work well. I should say that my experience is from small(ish) conventions, but I think most of this will apply also for conventions with several hundred members.
Topics. Brainstorm, look at other conventions for inspiration, use the special interests of the guests. Test the topics by discussing them yourself. If you cannot keep it going for more than a few minutes, it might not work for a panel. If it's something you know nothing about this might be difficult -- then try instead to come up with interesting questions. If you can write down ten or so, then it might be a good topic for a panel.
Participants. Don't just wait for people to sign up, also actively ask people you know with some knowledge of the topic in question. Try to put together a panel of people who are not only interested in the topic, but will also work well as a panel. Usually you might not know everyone on the panel, but try as best you can to balance the participants. A very loud and talkative person needs to be balanced by a strong moderator, especially if there are some more quiet or shy people on the same panel.
Information to moderators. Don't assume that everyone knows what they are supposed to do. Make sure that the moderators know what their task is: keep the panel on topic, and let everyone get to speak. Provide them with the panel description in the green room just before the panel, in case they forgot their notes. Add some help questions to that, it can never hurt. You owe it to the members to make sure that the panel is really about what it says in the programme that it's going to be about. Interesting sidetracks can be noted and pursued later in the bar (or whatever meeting place your con has).
Information for all participants. Send out an email about a week before the con, containing at least the following information. Don't assume that everyone knows it all! Even experienced panelists might need some reminders.
Leave some space for the panelists to breathe. If possible, don't put the same person on two panels after eachother. In any case, make sure that there is 10 minutes between panels, to let panelists and audience find the next thing they are going to.
Include all information in the printed programme. Yes, the members need to understand what the panels are about. Don't give just a fun title, make sure to provide at least one sentence of description. A nice thing is to also include a very short presentation of the panelists in the programme book, especially if the convention is so large that not everyone will meet everyone. (At Swedish conventions this might be interesting mostly for new fans, since everyone else usually knows everyone already, but nevertheless.)
That was all, at least all I can think of right now. Any thoughts or comments? Anything I should add or remove?
Addendum: someone just reminded me that it can be a good idea to prepare a little guide for each panelist (or other programme participants), just a printed list of items with time and location for each. It's good if it's small enough to fit in the badge holder, so you can easily have it ready at all times. Very helpful!
There are many other things I have learned over the years, involved in planning and arranging cons myself. Here are my thoughts on how to make the panel part of the convention program work well. I should say that my experience is from small(ish) conventions, but I think most of this will apply also for conventions with several hundred members.
Topics. Brainstorm, look at other conventions for inspiration, use the special interests of the guests. Test the topics by discussing them yourself. If you cannot keep it going for more than a few minutes, it might not work for a panel. If it's something you know nothing about this might be difficult -- then try instead to come up with interesting questions. If you can write down ten or so, then it might be a good topic for a panel.
Participants. Don't just wait for people to sign up, also actively ask people you know with some knowledge of the topic in question. Try to put together a panel of people who are not only interested in the topic, but will also work well as a panel. Usually you might not know everyone on the panel, but try as best you can to balance the participants. A very loud and talkative person needs to be balanced by a strong moderator, especially if there are some more quiet or shy people on the same panel.
Information to moderators. Don't assume that everyone knows what they are supposed to do. Make sure that the moderators know what their task is: keep the panel on topic, and let everyone get to speak. Provide them with the panel description in the green room just before the panel, in case they forgot their notes. Add some help questions to that, it can never hurt. You owe it to the members to make sure that the panel is really about what it says in the programme that it's going to be about. Interesting sidetracks can be noted and pursued later in the bar (or whatever meeting place your con has).
Information for all participants. Send out an email about a week before the con, containing at least the following information. Don't assume that everyone knows it all! Even experienced panelists might need some reminders.
- A list with the panels this person is signed up for, as a reminder.
- Instructions to check on arrival to make sure that when and where your panels are. Check also during the con, for changes.
- Instructions to meet with the others on the panel in the Green Room just before the panel starts. It will give them time to say hello and make sure that they all agree on what it is they are going to discuss.
- A description of the compensation panelists are offered, whether it is free things from the bar or discount on the membership. Just so that everyone is aware of this in advance.
Leave some space for the panelists to breathe. If possible, don't put the same person on two panels after eachother. In any case, make sure that there is 10 minutes between panels, to let panelists and audience find the next thing they are going to.
Include all information in the printed programme. Yes, the members need to understand what the panels are about. Don't give just a fun title, make sure to provide at least one sentence of description. A nice thing is to also include a very short presentation of the panelists in the programme book, especially if the convention is so large that not everyone will meet everyone. (At Swedish conventions this might be interesting mostly for new fans, since everyone else usually knows everyone already, but nevertheless.)
That was all, at least all I can think of right now. Any thoughts or comments? Anything I should add or remove?
Addendum: someone just reminded me that it can be a good idea to prepare a little guide for each panelist (or other programme participants), just a printed list of items with time and location for each. It's good if it's small enough to fit in the badge holder, so you can easily have it ready at all times. Very helpful!
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
As others see us
If you ever read Ansible you are familiar with Dave Langford's ongoing collection of quotes about how the outside world percieves fandom: "As Others See Us".
I just found a sample of my own, from a list of Toronto's Literary Events:
I'm going there. Does it mean that I belong among the "not-so-serious (young adult)" readers? Well, I'm not that old. And I'm not terribly serious all the time, despite my tendency to take myself a little to seriously. Still, I think those who put together this list share the unfortunate notion that fantastic literature is just escapistic and probably mostly for kids anyway -- partly true, but far from a complete picture and missing most of the interesting parts.
I just found a sample of my own, from a list of Toronto's Literary Events:
And for the not-so-serious (young adult) reader, this weekend marks the annual Ad Astra conference, featuring sci-fi writers like husband-wife duo Kevin J. Anderson and Rebecca Moesta.
I'm going there. Does it mean that I belong among the "not-so-serious (young adult)" readers? Well, I'm not that old. And I'm not terribly serious all the time, despite my tendency to take myself a little to seriously. Still, I think those who put together this list share the unfortunate notion that fantastic literature is just escapistic and probably mostly for kids anyway -- partly true, but far from a complete picture and missing most of the interesting parts.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
From the fringe of fanzine fandom
My nose is running, my head feels too heavy for my neck, and I feel alternatingly too hot or too cold. Nice. At least I have a new issue of Banana Wings to entertain me, between the long spells when I do nothing but stare out the window.
In case you don't know, Banana Wings is a well known fanzine (edited by Claire Brialey and Mark Plummer) with readers and contributors from all around the world. Fanzine fandom consists of people who communicate through eachother's fanzines -- it is a virtual community surviving from the time before the www, when all mail was snail mail and you had to publish on paper if you wanted to publish anything. It is not directly transferrable to the internet, it has it's own culture with expectations and conventions and survives as a distinct mode of conversation. Of course, nowadays many fanzines are also available for download from eFanzines.com.
From the previous paragraph you can see that I'm not expecting everyone of my readers to know about these things.
In the beginning, when I was new in the world of fanzine fandom, I used lots of fan slang and obscure references in everything I wrote. I wanted to show that I was on the inside, that I was one of the initiated. After a while, when the newness of fanzine making had worn off, my focus shifted from showing off to communicating. I also realized that fanzine fandom was very small, and that I didn't want to scare away newcomers who had not yet discovered that they were interested in deciphering the jargon.
Nowadays when I write I'm trying to address everyone: the experienced fans as well as the neos or proto-fans. By "proto-fans" I mean science fiction (including fantasy, of course) readers who might be interested in fandom but who don't know that yet. I love fandom, fan culture and fan history, but I love science fiction and meeting people even more. I want to build bridges between people I think could have something in common, and I want to promote an exchange of thoughts and ideas about science fiction (again, including fantasy). At the same time I really want to be a involved in fandom.
Reading the editorial of this issue of Banana Wings, it's also obvious to me that I'm not as involved in It All as I sometimes try to be. I have missed the discussion about "Core Fandom" that is mentioned (it has taken place in some other fanzines, which I know of but haven't read), and I don't know "The Eminent Peter Weston's theory about handing out fanzines at conventions". I try in periods to sample what I find at eFanzines.com, but I have two problems with that: I usually don't find them suitable for reading on the computer screen, and I don't want to waste printing resources at work. This means that to get into the habit of really reading fanzines, I would have to get my own printer -- or make myself take a memory stick to a copy shop to print things. At the moment, I'm just sometimes printing sample pages, or compressing them to two or four pages per page (and double-sided of course) to save paper, or not reading fanzines at all.
I'm happy when I get dead tree fanzines in the mail. Especially when they bring with them a feeling that fandom is alive, which Banana Wings does (despite expressing a sligth pessimism about the whole thing). A letter column that takes up ten pages! There is the conversation.
And yes, I'm making a fanzine to bring to Ad Astra.
In case you don't know, Banana Wings is a well known fanzine (edited by Claire Brialey and Mark Plummer) with readers and contributors from all around the world. Fanzine fandom consists of people who communicate through eachother's fanzines -- it is a virtual community surviving from the time before the www, when all mail was snail mail and you had to publish on paper if you wanted to publish anything. It is not directly transferrable to the internet, it has it's own culture with expectations and conventions and survives as a distinct mode of conversation. Of course, nowadays many fanzines are also available for download from eFanzines.com.
From the previous paragraph you can see that I'm not expecting everyone of my readers to know about these things.
In the beginning, when I was new in the world of fanzine fandom, I used lots of fan slang and obscure references in everything I wrote. I wanted to show that I was on the inside, that I was one of the initiated. After a while, when the newness of fanzine making had worn off, my focus shifted from showing off to communicating. I also realized that fanzine fandom was very small, and that I didn't want to scare away newcomers who had not yet discovered that they were interested in deciphering the jargon.
Nowadays when I write I'm trying to address everyone: the experienced fans as well as the neos or proto-fans. By "proto-fans" I mean science fiction (including fantasy, of course) readers who might be interested in fandom but who don't know that yet. I love fandom, fan culture and fan history, but I love science fiction and meeting people even more. I want to build bridges between people I think could have something in common, and I want to promote an exchange of thoughts and ideas about science fiction (again, including fantasy). At the same time I really want to be a involved in fandom.
Reading the editorial of this issue of Banana Wings, it's also obvious to me that I'm not as involved in It All as I sometimes try to be. I have missed the discussion about "Core Fandom" that is mentioned (it has taken place in some other fanzines, which I know of but haven't read), and I don't know "The Eminent Peter Weston's theory about handing out fanzines at conventions". I try in periods to sample what I find at eFanzines.com, but I have two problems with that: I usually don't find them suitable for reading on the computer screen, and I don't want to waste printing resources at work. This means that to get into the habit of really reading fanzines, I would have to get my own printer -- or make myself take a memory stick to a copy shop to print things. At the moment, I'm just sometimes printing sample pages, or compressing them to two or four pages per page (and double-sided of course) to save paper, or not reading fanzines at all.
I'm happy when I get dead tree fanzines in the mail. Especially when they bring with them a feeling that fandom is alive, which Banana Wings does (despite expressing a sligth pessimism about the whole thing). A letter column that takes up ten pages! There is the conversation.
And yes, I'm making a fanzine to bring to Ad Astra.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
My schedule at Ad Astra
Just in case someone who reads this blog is going to Ad Astra, I'll post my appearances in the program here. And also, of course, because Important People usually do that, and I want to be like them ;-)
Bad Science in the Movies (Sat 1:00 PM) Exactly what you would think. I don't think it's necessary to fight against or be angry at bad science on the silver screen, but it's fun as a starting point for thinking about how things really work.
Team Banzai (Sat 3:00 PM) Scientists get questions from the audience. If we can answer them, they will learn something, and if we cannot, we will learn something.
Through Rose-Tinted Goggles (Sun 12:00 PM) I will moderate a panel about the roots of steampunk.
Looking for a Few Good Fen (Sun 2:00 PM) How to make people feel like members and help make a convention work, instead of just buying a ticket and expect to be entertained. Always interesting.
Of course I will do what I can to bring a new issue of my fanzine (hmm, and maybe in the process also write some locs to other fanzines...)
Bad Science in the Movies (Sat 1:00 PM) Exactly what you would think. I don't think it's necessary to fight against or be angry at bad science on the silver screen, but it's fun as a starting point for thinking about how things really work.
Team Banzai (Sat 3:00 PM) Scientists get questions from the audience. If we can answer them, they will learn something, and if we cannot, we will learn something.
Through Rose-Tinted Goggles (Sun 12:00 PM) I will moderate a panel about the roots of steampunk.
Looking for a Few Good Fen (Sun 2:00 PM) How to make people feel like members and help make a convention work, instead of just buying a ticket and expect to be entertained. Always interesting.
Of course I will do what I can to bring a new issue of my fanzine (hmm, and maybe in the process also write some locs to other fanzines...)
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Fandom lament
Tuesday this week was the second Tuesday of January. This means meeting with the Fearless Fantasy Fans. Unfortunately it looks that we are now down to two fearless, sitting lonely in a café and wondering where all the other readers of fantastic literature hang out.
Could it be that other readers don't feel the urge to talk about the books they read? That they don't like sharing the experience with others? Or perhaps it's just that everyone else prefers a boring life, going home to sit in front of the tv after work instead of meeting other people? What's the matter with everyone!
I don't know. But I really miss the monthly pub meetings with the fans in Uppsala. We were rarely less than twenty showing up, and often some of us would stay past midnight (not me, for a long time, but I used to). We talked about everything, because these were not any organized club meetings but just a gathering of people with a background in the same interests. (The common denominator was reading science fiction and fantasy, but the local fans were also often into gaming, linguistics, computers, science and mathematics. The usual stuff.)
Then we had book meetings as well, and sometimes we did other things together. We arranged to travel together to conventions. And we held our own conventions.
Describing this all in past tense it is like it's all over just because I moved away. I think Upsalafandom still lives. Now I just want something similar over here. To me fandom has always been about making friends, and the last ten years most of my social life has been related to fandom in some way -- online and offline. Now I feel strangely isolated. Fandom can often be dissapointing, and fans can be very annoying, but I cannot help thinking of it as my people, my
tribe.
I have been trying a bit to get into English speaking fanzine fandom, but I find it difficult to get into the habit of reading and responding to fanzines. Strange. I have to try a bit more. But I would also like to meet people IRL. Talk about books and everything else.
So where are all of the protofans that could be gathered into a group? Why don't they jump with joy as soon as they see our ads, why don't they stand in line to come to our meetings?
Could it be that other readers don't feel the urge to talk about the books they read? That they don't like sharing the experience with others? Or perhaps it's just that everyone else prefers a boring life, going home to sit in front of the tv after work instead of meeting other people? What's the matter with everyone!
I don't know. But I really miss the monthly pub meetings with the fans in Uppsala. We were rarely less than twenty showing up, and often some of us would stay past midnight (not me, for a long time, but I used to). We talked about everything, because these were not any organized club meetings but just a gathering of people with a background in the same interests. (The common denominator was reading science fiction and fantasy, but the local fans were also often into gaming, linguistics, computers, science and mathematics. The usual stuff.)
Then we had book meetings as well, and sometimes we did other things together. We arranged to travel together to conventions. And we held our own conventions.
Describing this all in past tense it is like it's all over just because I moved away. I think Upsalafandom still lives. Now I just want something similar over here. To me fandom has always been about making friends, and the last ten years most of my social life has been related to fandom in some way -- online and offline. Now I feel strangely isolated. Fandom can often be dissapointing, and fans can be very annoying, but I cannot help thinking of it as my people, my
tribe.
I have been trying a bit to get into English speaking fanzine fandom, but I find it difficult to get into the habit of reading and responding to fanzines. Strange. I have to try a bit more. But I would also like to meet people IRL. Talk about books and everything else.
So where are all of the protofans that could be gathered into a group? Why don't they jump with joy as soon as they see our ads, why don't they stand in line to come to our meetings?
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Banana Wings!
When I came home today an envelope was waiting for me. Not a boring envelope, but a big, friendly envelope with british stamps on it. A real fanzine! For me!
This probably means that I'm really a part of English-speaking fandom. That's nice! Now I have to remember to write a LoC.
And I vaguely remember talking to Mark and Claire about an article I wanted to write. The Alvar Appeltoft fanzine archive, now donated to the Royal Library in Stockholm. Maybe. Maybe I'll put it back on my list of things I want to write soon.
But first I want to read Banana Wings 32.
This probably means that I'm really a part of English-speaking fandom. That's nice! Now I have to remember to write a LoC.
And I vaguely remember talking to Mark and Claire about an article I wanted to write. The Alvar Appeltoft fanzine archive, now donated to the Royal Library in Stockholm. Maybe. Maybe I'll put it back on my list of things I want to write soon.
But first I want to read Banana Wings 32.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
New fanzine
A new fanzine from me is available at eFanzines.com. It's called Physicality of Words on Paper, since it's really meant to be printed. I made a few copies for the Fearless Fantasy meeting last week, but before submitting it to Bill Burns and his nice fanzine website I tried to correct the worst typos. It's still not the best fanzine I've ever made, but it works as a means of communication.
This first issue (I intend to make more in the future) contains LoCs I got to my oneshot Of Physicists and Fen two years ago. There are also some notes about differences between Sweden and Canada -- is Sweden more science fiction? -- reviews of the webzine Flurb #4, the fanzine Steam Engine Time #7 and Steampunk Magazine #2, and some random thoughts and information about me.
Now it's online. Download a PDF, realize that two column layout is no good for reading on screen, print it, read it, and then send me a comment! (Please be aware that I didn't really have time to make a fanzine but made it in little ten minute intervals I found here and there. No masterpiece. But still.)
This first issue (I intend to make more in the future) contains LoCs I got to my oneshot Of Physicists and Fen two years ago. There are also some notes about differences between Sweden and Canada -- is Sweden more science fiction? -- reviews of the webzine Flurb #4, the fanzine Steam Engine Time #7 and Steampunk Magazine #2, and some random thoughts and information about me.
Now it's online. Download a PDF, realize that two column layout is no good for reading on screen, print it, read it, and then send me a comment! (Please be aware that I didn't really have time to make a fanzine but made it in little ten minute intervals I found here and there. No masterpiece. But still.)
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Canadian conventions
Today I have not crossed the continent to go to VCon in Vancouver. Montreal is actually within reach, but last weekend I nevertheless stayed in Kingston and did not attend Con*Cept.
I downloaded the Con*Cept pocket program PDF and looked it through. Immediately I felt the effect of being on several concoms through the years, and could not help critically evaluating the schedule. Are people really going to show up at opening ceremonies at 9 in the morning? (Maybe a cultural difference, at home I wouldn't dream of starting the programming that early.) Is it really a good idea to have Tanya Huff on two consecutive panels? But more important: what topics could I reuse or adapt for another convention? I am really thoroughly indoctrinated to think about these things.
But I think these conventions are about an order of magnitude larger than those I've been involved in organizing. Swedish conventions outside of Stockholm rarely have over 150 members. On the other hand they tend to be more focused on literature, perhaps with a gaming corner and a film room but not with much happening except the panels and talks and fannish games and those things. Not much gaming (you go to a gaming convention instead, where noone has heard of fandom -- i like those too) and very little costuming or filk. (But there are lots of important things happening in the bar of course, where people meet and make grand plans for the future (or just have a good time).)
Anyway. When will I go to a Canadian convention? Perhaps at the end of March, to Ad Astra in Toronto. The web page is ugly and has some navigation problems, and is probably not going to attract anyone who does not know about conventions from other places. It works well for the purpose of informing someone like me, which is probably the intention of it anyway, so I should not complain too much. But this is strange:
It has to be a typo, or they will not get any suggestions at all -- and then they could just remove the option to leave suggestions.
Well well. Keycon has a much more attractive web page, and I would be tempted to put it higher on my priority list if it was not located in Winnipeg. Far away. Sort of. Not as far away as Vancouver and VCon, but far enough to scare me a bit even though I'm not sure what it means in money or time. Canada is enormous, in case you didn't know. The distance from Kingston to Winnipeg is 2245 km -- the length of Sweden from north to South is 1572 km.
If I'm going to a convention far away I have my old dream of visiting Readercon, which could be possible now that I'm on the right continent -- this is clearly a higher priority than Keycon.
Moving here has been incredibly expensive, even after being reimbursed for the actual travel costs. As a postdoc I'm better payed than ever in my life, but I'm not yet really sure what that means in practice (with a family to feed and everything). I'll have to start saving soon, and hope that I can afford some travel next year! (I have good hopes for Ad Astra at least.)
I downloaded the Con*Cept pocket program PDF and looked it through. Immediately I felt the effect of being on several concoms through the years, and could not help critically evaluating the schedule. Are people really going to show up at opening ceremonies at 9 in the morning? (Maybe a cultural difference, at home I wouldn't dream of starting the programming that early.) Is it really a good idea to have Tanya Huff on two consecutive panels? But more important: what topics could I reuse or adapt for another convention? I am really thoroughly indoctrinated to think about these things.
But I think these conventions are about an order of magnitude larger than those I've been involved in organizing. Swedish conventions outside of Stockholm rarely have over 150 members. On the other hand they tend to be more focused on literature, perhaps with a gaming corner and a film room but not with much happening except the panels and talks and fannish games and those things. Not much gaming (you go to a gaming convention instead, where noone has heard of fandom -- i like those too) and very little costuming or filk. (But there are lots of important things happening in the bar of course, where people meet and make grand plans for the future (or just have a good time).)
Anyway. When will I go to a Canadian convention? Perhaps at the end of March, to Ad Astra in Toronto. The web page is ugly and has some navigation problems, and is probably not going to attract anyone who does not know about conventions from other places. It works well for the purpose of informing someone like me, which is probably the intention of it anyway, so I should not complain too much. But this is strange:
If there is a Panel you wish to see please go to the Panel Suggestion Page.
Note: Anything submitted after January 5th, 2007,
may not make it into the panels for 2008.
It has to be a typo, or they will not get any suggestions at all -- and then they could just remove the option to leave suggestions.
Well well. Keycon has a much more attractive web page, and I would be tempted to put it higher on my priority list if it was not located in Winnipeg. Far away. Sort of. Not as far away as Vancouver and VCon, but far enough to scare me a bit even though I'm not sure what it means in money or time. Canada is enormous, in case you didn't know. The distance from Kingston to Winnipeg is 2245 km -- the length of Sweden from north to South is 1572 km.
If I'm going to a convention far away I have my old dream of visiting Readercon, which could be possible now that I'm on the right continent -- this is clearly a higher priority than Keycon.
Moving here has been incredibly expensive, even after being reimbursed for the actual travel costs. As a postdoc I'm better payed than ever in my life, but I'm not yet really sure what that means in practice (with a family to feed and everything). I'll have to start saving soon, and hope that I can afford some travel next year! (I have good hopes for Ad Astra at least.)
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
GUFF losers
I was nominated for GUFF this year, as you might remember, and I didn't win. Together with Johan Anglemark I made a GUFF Loser's Fanzine, click on the link to find a pdf that can be downloaded from eFanzines.com!
Monday, October 8, 2007
Canadian fan history
I just learned from Claw of the Conciliator that a significant sf-collector and fan has donated his collection to a library. I wanted to know more, and googled Chester Cuthbert. In this way I found A History of Canadian SF Fandom by Garth Spencer, and a long and informative blogpost by Randy Reichardt at the Pod Bay Door blog about Chester D Cuthbert and the story behind the donation, including links to pictures and other interesting things.
I like stories like this (quoted from Randy Reichardt, link above):
I want a Decadent Kingston Fandom!
By the way, today is Thanksgiving in Canada and I'm not working (well, not much anyway). (My husband decided to buy some turkey, and since I love sweets I got us a pumpkin pie.) Since some of us found it inconvenient to have a meeting between Thanksgiving and the election on Wednesday we moved the Fearless Fantasy meeting to next Tuesday. (If you are in Kingston: we will meet at Indigo about 7PM and then find a coffee place where we can sit and discuss A Wrinkle in Time and other things, and then decide on the book for next month.)
I like stories like this (quoted from Randy Reichardt, link above):
In the mid-1970s, when I was active in sf fandom and lived in Winnipeg, I made regular visits to Chester’s home on Saturdays, where the local group of sf fans would congregate on an almost-weekly basis to swap stories, discuss the latest novels and writing, report on conventions, and make plans for our various fanzines and upcoming trips to sf conventions. Chester, who turns 95 on 15 October 2007, welcomed us into his home, and would often share stories of the glory days of past decades in the world of sf fandom. In the 1950s and 1960s, other local fans had descended upon Chester’s house, and spent many a Friday evening until the wee hours doing the same as our local group, nicknamed Decadent Winnipeg Fandom (DWF), did in the mid-1970s.
I want a Decadent Kingston Fandom!
By the way, today is Thanksgiving in Canada and I'm not working (well, not much anyway). (My husband decided to buy some turkey, and since I love sweets I got us a pumpkin pie.) Since some of us found it inconvenient to have a meeting between Thanksgiving and the election on Wednesday we moved the Fearless Fantasy meeting to next Tuesday. (If you are in Kingston: we will meet at Indigo about 7PM and then find a coffee place where we can sit and discuss A Wrinkle in Time and other things, and then decide on the book for next month.)
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Steampunk -- again
Steampunk Magazine had already been mentioned a couple of times on this blog. I printed out the latest ish (#2) several weeks ago, but haven't read more than snippets of it until now. There is a long article by Cory Gross (seems to be an interesting person) which is an excellent history of steampunk in film, literature and popular culture. Just the kind of well researched article I always try to write, and therefore get lost in endless reading of books and articles and seldom finish. The kind of article that John-Henri Holmberg might write (and does), if you know this Swedish science fiction guru.
What I want to say is: read this, if you're not reading anything else in Steampunk Magazine. It starts on page 54, and the pdf can be downloaded here.
A full review of this issue of Steampunk Magazine will come in my little fanzine in English. And if you're tired of all my promises of fanzines which never appear, I can assure you that this is a quick and simple fanzine -- no bells and whistles, translated articles or colour pages, just text. It will actually be ready before the second tuesday in October, if nothing really serious comes in my way.
What I want to say is: read this, if you're not reading anything else in Steampunk Magazine. It starts on page 54, and the pdf can be downloaded here.
A full review of this issue of Steampunk Magazine will come in my little fanzine in English. And if you're tired of all my promises of fanzines which never appear, I can assure you that this is a quick and simple fanzine -- no bells and whistles, translated articles or colour pages, just text. It will actually be ready before the second tuesday in October, if nothing really serious comes in my way.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Fearless Fantasy
I've been trying to visit all of the bookstores I've found so far. In one of them there was a sign posted on the counter that said that there was a fantasy book group meeting at the library. I asked the girl in the store -- it seems to be her initiative. Great!
Yesterday I was at my first meeting with this group. It's not big, only five persons including me. They seem to know nothing about fandom, but they are exactly the right reader types. I know (proto)fans when I see them. I found them! I already feel much more at home in Kingston. There are some people to discuss books with (and I might try to force them to read my fanzines).
For next time we are going to read A Wrinkle in Time, a book people have been talking about since the author passed away recently. A good thing about books for children is that they are usually quick reads -- so I'll have time for more books!
I informed the others about the Judith Merrill collection in Toronto and about the Worldcon in Montreal 2009. Nice to be able to contribute with interesting information. Fandom is a great network for resources of the fantastic (fandom actually is the Resource -- without it, no Worldcon).
Yesterday I was at my first meeting with this group. It's not big, only five persons including me. They seem to know nothing about fandom, but they are exactly the right reader types. I know (proto)fans when I see them. I found them! I already feel much more at home in Kingston. There are some people to discuss books with (and I might try to force them to read my fanzines).
For next time we are going to read A Wrinkle in Time, a book people have been talking about since the author passed away recently. A good thing about books for children is that they are usually quick reads -- so I'll have time for more books!
I informed the others about the Judith Merrill collection in Toronto and about the Worldcon in Montreal 2009. Nice to be able to contribute with interesting information. Fandom is a great network for resources of the fantastic (fandom actually is the Resource -- without it, no Worldcon).
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Kingston, Ontario
Well. I'm here. I haven't had internet access all the time, and there are lots of things to do.
I've found an apartment for me and my family. I've met some people, and got a social insurance number, and a health insurance, and a cell phone, and keys to the department and my temporary office.
We have started to check out the book stores. We have found out where gamers hang out. I have read a strange novel I want to review when I'm not so tired.
And the Worldcon 2009 will be in Montreal. Maybe I should stay for another year? Too early to decide yet -- but I confess that it would be fun to be here for the Canadian Worldcon. We simply don't have a convention centre that can be used for something like that in Sweden, so I doubt that the Worldcon will ever be in Scandinavia (but I hear that the Swedish-Norwegian parties have a good reputation at the Worldcon!).
I've found an apartment for me and my family. I've met some people, and got a social insurance number, and a health insurance, and a cell phone, and keys to the department and my temporary office.
We have started to check out the book stores. We have found out where gamers hang out. I have read a strange novel I want to review when I'm not so tired.
And the Worldcon 2009 will be in Montreal. Maybe I should stay for another year? Too early to decide yet -- but I confess that it would be fun to be here for the Canadian Worldcon. We simply don't have a convention centre that can be used for something like that in Sweden, so I doubt that the Worldcon will ever be in Scandinavia (but I hear that the Swedish-Norwegian parties have a good reputation at the Worldcon!).
Friday, July 6, 2007
Going abroad
OK. I haven't updated for a while. There are other things on my mind, and I also need to visit all relatives before leaving the country for a year. I submitted my work permit the week before last, and hope that it's only a matter of shuffling it through the standard treatment. This means that I'm planning on leaving Uppsala at the end of August.
I'm also writing things. I still hope there will be a Swedish GUFF losers fanzine, and I'm working on my own Landet Annien (available only in Swedish). And some sciency stuff as well.
I made some initial investigations into fandom in Canada. We'll se what I can find.
One thing that I certainly intend to do when I'm on the right continent is to go to Readercon next summer (July 17-20, 2008). I've heard so much good about it, I think I'll feel at home!
Today I went to see a play by the local Harry Potter fans, Uppsala Slug Club. It was nice!
I'm also writing things. I still hope there will be a Swedish GUFF losers fanzine, and I'm working on my own Landet Annien (available only in Swedish). And some sciency stuff as well.
I made some initial investigations into fandom in Canada. We'll se what I can find.
One thing that I certainly intend to do when I'm on the right continent is to go to Readercon next summer (July 17-20, 2008). I've heard so much good about it, I think I'll feel at home!
Today I went to see a play by the local Harry Potter fans, Uppsala Slug Club. It was nice!
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Cosplay now and then
Today I saw two girls who were probably on their way to a costume party. They were wearing some kind of colourful pirate costumes, very well made, and just passed the cash machine at the town square. The funny thing was that some japanese tourists stopped them and wanted their picture taken together with these tall pirate girls. My first reaction was that they surely have cosplayers at home, and don't need to go to Sweden to take their picture with a pirate. But then again, why not?
This makes me think of this piece by Forrest Ackerman were he tells us, among other things, about the origins of costuming at science fiction conventions. I'm not especially enthusiastic about costuming, but I always admire people who make things (like the Steampunk Workshop). And I remember a photo I've seen in an old Swedish fanzine, with a young Sam J. Lundwall dressed as a Martian. It can be kind of fun and good for the atmosphere at a convention, in small doses. (Never more costumes than interesting literary discussions!)
This old photo in turn makes me think of things I started. Now maybe I'll have time to take up my old fanhistory project. A couple of years ago I put together an anthology of Swedish convention reports, from the 50's until now (then). I want to continue this project, and make as much as possible of it available on the web. And maybe write an article about the joys of working with a fanzine archive... there's so much I want to do!
This makes me think of this piece by Forrest Ackerman were he tells us, among other things, about the origins of costuming at science fiction conventions. I'm not especially enthusiastic about costuming, but I always admire people who make things (like the Steampunk Workshop). And I remember a photo I've seen in an old Swedish fanzine, with a young Sam J. Lundwall dressed as a Martian. It can be kind of fun and good for the atmosphere at a convention, in small doses. (Never more costumes than interesting literary discussions!)
This old photo in turn makes me think of things I started. Now maybe I'll have time to take up my old fanhistory project. A couple of years ago I put together an anthology of Swedish convention reports, from the 50's until now (then). I want to continue this project, and make as much as possible of it available on the web. And maybe write an article about the joys of working with a fanzine archive... there's so much I want to do!
Friday, June 8, 2007
Conventional Wokka
At my first Eastercon, ReConvene in Liverpool 1999, i tried to explain my nick name to a dutch man. Åka is not so easy for non-scandinavians (its pronounced almost like "orca"). He tried to spell it, and wrote it like "wokka". I found it cute, and started using that spelling online.
I like conventions -- no surprise for those who read this blog (if anyone does, I haven't dared to install a counter).
Today is the first day of Convergence 2, this year's Australian National Science Fiction Convention. If I had won the GUFF race I would be there now. I'm not sorry for that, but I'm sorry that we didn't have time to finish the Scandinavian GUFF-losers fanzine in time for the convention. Well, it comes RSN...
Next weekend I will miss the yearly Swedish Swecon, this time called Conviction, with Richard Morgan and John Ajvide Lindqvist (a Swedish horror author) as guests of honour. I cannot go, because I need to defend my thesis (and then there is a family gathering on the Saturday).
And I missed Åcon (I recommend these comments by one of the organizers!).
So. I'm convention-starved! I want to go to a science fiction convention! At least there was our monthly sf pub meeting this week (always the first tuesday of the month).
I like conventions -- no surprise for those who read this blog (if anyone does, I haven't dared to install a counter).
Today is the first day of Convergence 2, this year's Australian National Science Fiction Convention. If I had won the GUFF race I would be there now. I'm not sorry for that, but I'm sorry that we didn't have time to finish the Scandinavian GUFF-losers fanzine in time for the convention. Well, it comes RSN...
Next weekend I will miss the yearly Swedish Swecon, this time called Conviction, with Richard Morgan and John Ajvide Lindqvist (a Swedish horror author) as guests of honour. I cannot go, because I need to defend my thesis (and then there is a family gathering on the Saturday).
And I missed Åcon (I recommend these comments by one of the organizers!).
So. I'm convention-starved! I want to go to a science fiction convention! At least there was our monthly sf pub meeting this week (always the first tuesday of the month).
Thursday, June 7, 2007
What is fandom anyway?
I wanted to post at least something here every day, but I haven't really made it. I also notice that my English is better some days, and when I'm busy with other things the text that comes up here is probably a bit strange. Exams! (But next weekend it will all be over, I hope.)
Well, Anactoria asked me what this fandom thing I'm talking about all the time is all about. Fans of what? Short answer: science fiction in the broad sense, including all varieties of fantastic literature (fantasy, horror and related stuff) and perhaps also film, tv and comics.
But fandom is not defined as all people interested in the fantastic. Fandom is a network of people, with its own culture and history. Some care a lot about fandom itself, some don't. I do. Some days I'm much more a science fiction fan interested in physics than a physicist interested in science fiction.
For a nice introduction to the history and culture of this particular fandom variety (since it's the oldest kind under this label its usually called just "fandom" and nothing more), take a look at Information for Those New to Fandom at this site for Canadian SF/F.
I'm still interested in getting in touch with more fans in Canada, by the way.
Well, Anactoria asked me what this fandom thing I'm talking about all the time is all about. Fans of what? Short answer: science fiction in the broad sense, including all varieties of fantastic literature (fantasy, horror and related stuff) and perhaps also film, tv and comics.
But fandom is not defined as all people interested in the fantastic. Fandom is a network of people, with its own culture and history. Some care a lot about fandom itself, some don't. I do. Some days I'm much more a science fiction fan interested in physics than a physicist interested in science fiction.
For a nice introduction to the history and culture of this particular fandom variety (since it's the oldest kind under this label its usually called just "fandom" and nothing more), take a look at Information for Those New to Fandom at this site for Canadian SF/F.
I'm still interested in getting in touch with more fans in Canada, by the way.
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