Finncon membership is free of charge.
FINNCON is the largest science fiction and fantasy event in Finland and in Nordic countries, its size, organization and visibility comparable to Eurocons. Finncon has been arranged since 1986 and is currently held annually or bi-annually. Originally Finncon took place in Helsinki, the capital of Finland, but from 1995 it has also been held in the cities of Jyväskylä and Turku. The nature of the event has its base on experiences and information from European and North American cons. Finncon has always presented science fiction and fantasy widely, the view being especially on literature, but also on movies, comics, the visual arts, theatre, music and the science fiction devotees themselves, the fandom. The expected amount of visitors is currently around 6000-7000 and the admission is free.
ANIMECON is Finland's largest anime and manga event and has now been held twice in cooperation with Finncon. Animecon features speeches, panel conversations, workshops and several competitions as well as fan group meetings. Free admission.
This year Finncon celebrates its 20th anniversary and is held in Helsinki August 18-20, 2006. The chosen venue is appropriately the Paasitorni conference center, a wonderful building situated on the seashore, within a walking distance from the city centre. The program will once again include e.g. panels, presentations, arts, science, costuming, evening program and odd cometitions and there will be program in three languages: Finnish, English and Swedish. Guests of honour are Jeff VanderMeer, Justina Robson, Risto Isomäki and Rickard Berghorn. The theme is 'Borderlines': how and why are the genres defined and can the boundaries be bent? What are the characteristics of science fiction or fantasy and what should be labelled as new weird? This year the event is organized by Helsingin Science Fiction Seura ry and Helsingin Yliopiston Science Fiction klubi ry with the efforts of the members of the con-committee and voluntary workers.
PREVIOUS FINNCON GUESTS OF HONOUR:
Finncon 2004, Jyväskylä:
John Clute
Robin Hobb
Gwyneth Jones
Cheryl Morgan
yoshitoshi ABe (Animecon III)
Finncon-Eurocon-Baltcon 2003, Turku:
Carolina Bjällerstedt Mickos
Steve Sansweet
Michael Swanwick
Jonathan Clements (Animecon II)
Finncon-Baltcon 2001, Jyväskylä:
Jonathan Carroll
David Langford
Johanna Sinisalo
Richard Stallman
Stelarc
Finncon 2000, Helsinki:
Stephen Baxter
Neil Gaiman
Ken MacLeod
Finncon 1999, Turku:
Philip Pullman
Connie Willis
Finncon 1997, Helsinki:
Ian McDonald
Norman Spinrad
Finncon 1995, Jyväskylä:
Storm Constantine
Vonda N. McIntyre
Bruce Sterling
Finncon 1993, Helsinki:
Terry Pratchett
Finncon 1991, Helsinki:
Iain Banks
Finncon 1989, Helsinki:
John Brunner
Tom Ölander
Finncon 1986, Helsinki:
Brian Aldiss
