Finncon

I attended Finncon 2006 (it is a science fiction/ fantasy literature conference if you didn't know, one of the biggest held in Europe) in Helsinki last weekend. The weekend's weather was quite hot so being in a conference crowded with people - too much people! - wasn't so pleasant. Humankind still hasn't learn how to queue or not to block all the exits and so on. Or how to shut down their goddamn mobiles... But that's how it is with people. Hmph. I say, people...

But despite these unavoidable little things that comes along every time you leave your apartment I had a good time. Couple of good lectures - especially the ones by Paul Gravett - and many interesting panel discussions. The Sunday afternoon panel about heroines and heroes in the works of five Finnish female novelists turned out to be also very entertaining. At least there was much more laughter than in any other panel I witnessed, though the panel about Alternative History Meets Technology also tried it's best to entertain the audience with humour.
I tried to steer myself away from the many booths selling books and comics and I was doing a fine job but then on a second day of Finncon I found myself handing money to that guy behind the pile of books. Damn, they got me! But now I have Super-Cannes by J.G. Ballard and Light by M. John Harrison. Both books have been long in my I_should_read_these_next list, so it was not so bad moment of weakness.

And I also met some good friends in Helsinki. So it was a good weekend, unfortunately that equals boring Monday. Should draw something. Do some work. I'd like to draw some lighthouses. Yes, lighthouses, I have them in my head because of a one on an island called Tankar and one in a Spanish movie I saw last week. Unfortunately none of my work contains any lighthouses... maybe I get back to them after some work.