Risto Isomäki

Our Finnish Guest of Honour, Risto Isomäki's latest novel, Sarasvatin hiekkaa (Sands of Sarasvati is an ecological thriller about near-future, when the melting of the permafrost causes major tsunami's to wreck havoc on the coasts of the Indian ocean) has been nominated on the shortlist of this year's Finlandia prize. The most important literary award in Finland, Finlandia has been previously won by Johanna Sinisalo's Not Before Sundown (ie. Troll - A Love Story, originally Ennen päivänlaskua ei voi). This year's Finlandia will be chosen by the chairman of the Finnish Parliament, Paavo Lipponen.

Finncon 2006 is delighted to be able to congratulate Risto for this singular honour! All the best with the battle over the Chairman's soul!