Åcon the Second: 1–4 May 2008

If the rumors are to be believed, the first Åcon wasn’t a complete failure. So we’re doing the same thing again next year! I’m hereby announcing Åcon 2, to be held in Mariehamn 1–4 May next year. More details to follow, but the general idea is to not change a working format. Membership fee will again be 20 €.

GoH Has Landed

Our Guest of Honour Hal Duncan has arrived in Turku. Åcon is almost here! See you tomorrow!

Hal Duncan (on the right) at Turku railway station, with Sari, Jukka, and Mekku.

Programme Skeleton Ready

Yes, we have programming at Åcon! The programme page contains a general structure of the programme items during the convention. As you can see, the programming is quite relaxed, with ample time to see Mariehamn, eat, and find time to talk with friends in the bar.

Book Guest of Honour

Åcon’s “book guest of honour” is Dan Simmon’s praiseworthy magnum opus Hyperion, the first part of a longer work often called the Hyperion Cantos. The Fall of Hyperion, Endymion, and the sequel The Rise of Endymion extend the original Hyperion pair into a quartet.

There will be discussion about the book and its merits, structure, and influence on the field at the convention, so this might be a good time to go back and refresh your memories of it!

Still Room at the Con

There are a few rooms left at the hotel, and they promised that even though they won’t hold the rooms for us, you can get them while they last at the special con rate by mentioning Åcon. So if you’re still undecided about coming, don’t hesitate but reserve your room now!

The same goes with the ferry bookings – if there are cabins left, you can inquire about the special Åcon rate. No promises here, though.

The Amazing Extending Deadlines

In case you’re in the middle of a mad last-minute rush, here’s a (very) slight bit or breathing room for you: the travel and hotel booking deadlines have been extended until the day after tomorrow, Sunday 15 April.

Last Days to Reserve Your Hotel Room

Remember to reserve your hotel room for the convention. The deadline for the special con price is this Friday (the 13th)! More info on the hotel info page.

Travel Booking Deadline Approaching

The deadline to book your Åcon trip through us is Friday this week (April 13). So, act now to book the ridiculously inexpensive trip to the convention!

Ink

Our GoH Hal Duncan’s second novel, Ink, is out. Gwyneth Jones reviews it in the Guardian:

Readers content to be carried along by the tide will be rewarded with a rip-roaring supernatural adventure

Agent in Denmark

Our Danish agent is Olav M.J. Christiansen. The membership fee in the Danish currency is 160 kr, and you can find the payment info on the members page.