Dispatches From FinnCon #1

From Darkest Somerset to Lightest (it being midsummer and near the Arctic Circle) Finland, we bring you the first of what I hope to be several dispatches from our continental correspondent attending the Finnish National Science Fiction Convention.

As you know, this year's Finncon is taking place in St. Petersburg, a small Baltic city annexed by the Finns during the Russo-Finnish War of 1939-40. Due to the proximity to the Russian border, we are expecting several thousand Russian SF fans to attend. Today, however, we are in Helsinki where we will be attending a press conference for the Finnish media, following which we, and a large contingent of Finnish fans, will be traveling on to the convention by luxury train.

Beware of Flying Deadpans

To quote a phrase from johnnyeponymous, "I'm just saying, that's all." There are people commenting in my journals who are going to get "Easy Target" ribbons the next time I see them.

Dispatches from FinnCon #2

Having managed to find her way to a steam-powered internet connection, our correspondent reports:

Good news: Joe Haldeman is free. We were worried for a time. His flight from Boston to Helsinki involved a change of planes in Paris. When it because known that a famous American war hero would be traveling through their country, a group of French terrorists decided to kidnap him. They were refusing to let him go until the USA agreed to start calling Freedom Fries French Fries again. Thankfully, as Joe's trip to Finncon was being paid for by the Finnish Arts Ministry, we had access to help in the highest places. A team of crack Finnish commandos launched a daring raid on Charles De Gaulle Airport, freeing Joe and his fellow passengers. Joe has now arrived safely in Finland only a day late, and will be at the con in time for his first panel tomorrow afternoon (much to the relief of Liz Hand and I who thought we might have to do it all by ourselves).

Going Round the Houses

Thanks to this web site, I now know exactly how far out of our way we're having to go in order to get to Japan in business class: 1565 nautical miles.

( Some of you have heard this before.... )