Parcon

[jukkahoo]

"So, what is Parcon?", asks the uninitiated fan from Lesser Knowledge. Glad you asked, I'll try to answer.

Czechs are known as nearly-as-lucky-but-not-quite-as-lucky-as-Swedes ice hockey players, purveyors of great beer and Velvet Revolution (not to be mistaken for Velvet Underground, which was Vaclac Havel's lesser known band in the Days of Yore).

The most famous Czech speculative fiction author is a toss between two names: Karel Čapek and Franz Kafka. The first gave us newts, the second cockroaches. There was someone who gave Prague golems, too. Little is known about the fandom, but it exist and has been organising cconvetions for quite some time now. 

The annual Czech (and Slovak, as they do things together, even if Czeckoslovakia is no more) SF-con is called PARCON, which probably takes its name from the first ever such convention, which was held in the city of PARdubice. Subsequent conventions have been called Parcons, which is quite OK, as otherwise there might've been cons like Olocon, Bracon, Košcon, Šumcon, Banská Byscon, Ústí nad Labcon, Spišská Nová Vescon and my personal favourite: Brandýs nad Labcon.

By using the same principle as the original 1987 con-organisers, this years ccould be called Plzcon. As in Plzeň, or if you like to call it by the German name, Pilsen. Which of course is the home of famous Pilsener, such as Urquell and Staropramen. Very nice. 

But, I digress. Parcon 2008 will be held in Plzeň from 22nd to 24th of August and it looks like a very nice little convention indeed. Interesting topic (New Weird, fancy me liking this one...), interesting Guests of Honour (Jeff [and Ann] VanderMeer, Les Edwards and a list of others, who the organisers haven't confirmed yet (Ian R. MacLeod, China Miéville, Steph Swainston). In Czech Republic, where beer costs practically nothing, there are taps on your restaurant table and counters on the wall! Not to mention cheapo accomodation: 200 local dollars korunas/night, which puts you back something like... €8. As said, cheap. Should be good and I'm sorely tempted.

Anyone else interested? Quick trip to former Eastern Europe (Plzeň is of course over ten longitudes west from Helsinki, while the most western part of Czech is more western than Sweden), few cool, refreshing draughts from the "horses mouth" (there could be a pub by that name somewhere, why not Plzeň?) and fun SF with local fen (who really do look like cross between Helsinki-fandom and TeroY) and Guests. Should be pretty cheap also. OK, has to be pretty cheap. My budget does not allow me to do anything other than Really Cheap Tripping, but then again, where does one spend money in a foreign con? Accomodation, some travel, food, beer and cheap souveniers. All these more or less peanuts to us westerners.

I'm seriously considering this one.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

GO! GO! GO!

Bring the Finns to Plzen!

GO! GO! GO!

JeffV

PS I'll wear my Moomin t-shirt so you can feel like I'm a stereotypical tourist in Helsinki!

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

Mmm, Pilsener. That's enough reason to go right there!

[hansutin.livejournal.com]

Hmmm... That's when I'm having my summer vacation from work. I think I might have to consider this one too.

[teroyks.livejournal.com]

Ever since Eurocon, I've really, I mean really wanted to go to Parcon. I'm still considering it very seriously, and at the moment I think I'm on the "I'm going" side of the fence.

[(Anonymous)]

It'd be wonderful to see you all again, I can tell you that. And, c'mon--*beer* spa?!
Jeff

[arye-sarin.livejournal.com]

who really do look like cross between Helsinki-fandom and TeroY

Should that be a scary sight, an amusing sight or just plain eye candy? ; )

A terribly good ad, but no go. Although I am seriously going to start visiting foreign Cons before I am 60. But August 2008: heavily pregnant (=no beer, and no beer = what's the point of travelling to the country of good beer?) and no vacation from work. And most likely no money either. Too bad.