Should I say that I have seen nine tenths of all the islands I’ll ever see in what remains of my life? Or that one of them I swam to, in the last rays of a sun still above the horizon at nine at night?
Should I say that I have sat, naked and sweat-soaked among more SF fans and writers – also naked and sweat-soaked – than ever ought decently to be crammed into a darkened space the size of a generously proportioned garden shed?
Should I say that I have seen church pulpits fitted with egg timers to shut priests up, before they have the chance to put to sleep a congregation with their cant?
Or learnt that I am – and indeed most men over the age of thirty are – too old to hear the Song of the Finnish Grasshopper?
Should I say that I have tasted wild strawberries the size of a ladybird shell, exploding with flavour on my tongue like some insane essence of the larger fruit? Or vodka infused with salty liquorice and ice cream flavoured with pitch?
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Or should I simply say that I have been a Guest of Honour at FinnCon 2011?
Because I have. And that’s what it was like.
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With many, many thanks to Tino Warinowski, Johanna Ahonen, Paivi Vaatanen, Nalo Hopkinson and David Findlay, the committee and sponsors of FinnCon (and apologies to T.S. Eliot)
It’s been a blast.
But did you happen to run into this man?
http://www.youtube.com/user/tykylevits#p/a/u/1/mBgxCunPUUM
Paivi suggested that the slogan could be, “Finncon 2011; we out-mooned the moon!” An honour and a pleasure to co-GoH with you.
Haha Fran, I’m sure glad I didn’t run into him. But he does play a wicked Air (compressor) Guitar;>
Didn’t have a chance to meet you in person, but I am delighted to see you liked it here. A little.
Welcome back anytime Mr. Morgan. Finland and fandom liked you. A lot.
Sounds like fun.
On an entirely unrelated topic would like to hear your opinion on the phone-hacking scandal that is currently taking the world by storm. Powerful folks finally getting their comeuppance. Thats right up your alley. Rupert Murdoch is now throwing his own kid to the wolves in an attempt to cover his own ass. The guy has become a parody of himself. An absurd Bond-villain of over-the-top nastiness bordering on camp. All he needs now is a wheelchair and black cat to stroke as he cackles evilly to himself. He also appears to have made some kind of a deal with the devil as he’s 80 now and shows no signs of slowing down or becoming any less of a cunt.
One unlikely character who I’ve gained a whole new respect for in the whole affair is Hugh Grant who has been using his celebrity to promote the “Hacked Off” campaign to petition for a full and immediate public enquiry into the whole business. He’s doing a media blitz in both UK and US to go after News Corp and the tabloids and cheerfully admits that he is absolutely going to get crucified for it later but he’s not bothered because its a subject he feels strongly about. Very very unusual for a celebrity such as him to be brave enough to take up this kind of cause. Unheard of really. Kudos Hugh.
Also have you had time to watch Game of Thrones yet cos its fah-king brilliant.
I was there at the Finncon to listen to your speeches and I thought it was great fun, you’re a very good speaker. I have never even read your books, but now I’m definitely going to! Thank you for coming!
Naked and sweat-soaked SF fans…
Pretty good post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your post
very cool article!!