1 Exhibition Hall #28 The Special TAFF Issue March 2018 Edited by Christopher J. Garcia Layout by John A. Purcell Contents copyright © 2018 by Christopher J. Garcia & John A. Purcell All rights revert to all original contributors upon publication Contact information Chris Garcia John Purcell 1401 North Shoreline Drive 3744 Marielene Circle Mountain View, CA 94043 College Station, TX 77845 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Table of Contents Editorial Introductory Section – by Chris Garcia………………….…….…3 Well, I’ve Never Heard of Her! – by Helena McCallum………….……….4 Taff Nominee Fia Karlsson – by Fia Karlsson………………………….….5 Mo Chéad Bhriste – by Johan Anglemark…………………………….…..8 I’d Like to Buy a Vowel – by John A. Purcell……………………………..11 Cover and nominee art nicked from the Internet Photographs of Cardiff and Doctor Who Experience by John Purcell This is a One-Off Production. 2 Editorial Introduction Section Welcome to 2018, people! It’s a good time to be awesome! I’m back at it, and I’m happy to be writing about the TransAtlantic Fan Fund, or TAFF. Devotees will remember that I was the TAFF Delegate back in the year 2008, and that I’ve nominated and campaigned for various candidates over the years, and I’m happy to see that the year when I’ve not got a horse in the race, that there are three amazing candidates in the contest! So, what’s in this issue? There’s a piece from the great current TAFF Administrator John Purcell, and then three pieces from the candidates to come to San Jose for WorldCon. I can’t wait to get to hang out with which ever of the wonderful folks win. Speaking of WorldCon, I’m looking forward to it, because I love San Jose, and I love fans who come by to hang out and eat tacos. And yes, there will be tacos. There’s an amazing place for tacos not but three blocks from the convention centre, and there’s a really good place for mole a little further out, but next to the Fairmont Hotel, where the parties will be. There’s a great little Indian joint across from the Fairmont, and a nice Pho place next to the ultimate 1950s dining experience: Original Joe’s. Seriously, it’s more 1950s than those faux drive-ins that popped up in the 80s because it’s EXACTLY the same as it would have been in 1955. The portions are huge, the waiters wear tuxes, they have amazing ravioli, and in all, it’s a great experience. So, why is this all about TAFF? First, I need more time to work on the Gail Carriger issue of ExHall! Second, I really just wanna keep this zine on a more regular schedule, so putting some TAFF stuff made sense. Also, TAFF is amazing. It was an amazing experience for me, with me taking my trip in 2008, going to the Dr. Who Experience in London (at Earl’s Court) and enjoying some time with Claire Brialey and Mark Plummer. This will make more sense with the piece that you’ll read from the great John Purcell! TAFF is an amazing thing. I really can’t wait to see who is going to win this year, since there are three folks running who would all make an amazing TAFF delegate! - Chris Garcia 3 I’ve said it so often, but it’s true, here I am, your TAFF candidate who lives in South London but is from Scotland, who is running because I was told “People like me couldn’t.” I was still at school when I joined ZZ9 Plural Z alpha, the Hitchhikers Guide fan club. I got lots and lots of pen friends and wrote for hours to these people, but never produced a Fanzine as I just didn’t have access to a way of copying them. No mum who worked in an office, no 10ps to do copying at the library. So for years a core of about 20 people would regularly get a personalised Me-Zine, posted with the cheapest stamps, envelopes made from recycled bags or magazine pages. When I finally got a job and money I was so glad to meet these people, in the factory my nickname was “Shakespeare”, and whenever any notes needed to be put on the blackboard that was my job. But I realised I didn’t quite fit in, with these groups of students and civil servants, and being naturally brash and outgoing and not naturally blonde, I laughed and joked and loved my new people. I am always one for a joke, and had been taught to wear any intellect I have lightly as my mum constantly made comments about my smart mouth, and how I’d never marry if I had my books. So I know I got a reputation. I’ve been asked to write stuff for convention websites and my natural straightforward language has been altered to add bigger words before it goes up. I eventually got to university (a couple of times) and travelled a little and I’ve learnt so many languages, yet even fairly recently a long-time fan turned to me and with shock said “I always thought you were an airhead but you are actually quite clever” So what is the point of my rambling anecdote? Hello, this is me, I want to meet you but I need your help and votes if that will happen. And I have so much to tell you all. 4 Who am I? I have loved science fiction and fantasy from an early age. It started with Narnia and the Belgariad, and evolved to me writing poems and stories of my own, inspired by my wild surroundings in the North of Sweden, near the Arctic Circle, with it's old forests, mountains, and rivers. Our home was always full of kids - me, my brothers, and our friends - enjoying board games, the Sci Fi Channel and playing at being superheroes. And every week, my family would watch Start Trek together. Bringing people together like that, creating meeting places where people can find affinity and be a part of something they love, has become my greatest passion in life. I was always a doer. I learnt by my parents' example. When I grew up, my father had three jobs and a thousand other irons in the fire, and my then stay-at- home mother seemed to never sit down. Before I had graduated high school I had two jobs and ran the local school café, with an employee of my own. I was also the ambassador for the business programme at school, and in my spare time I took driving lessons and hung out with my friends. As I went to university, I found a group of friends as passionate about sf and fantasy as me. When we didn't study or work at the local student nightclub, we spent most of our days and nights binge watching Buffy and Angel. My time at the university made me want more of that sf community, but it also seemed to solidify my life as an organiser, as I soon became the head of Outreach for the nightclub. With my team of industrious staffers I promoted the club, made posters, and organised balls and holidays for the staff, which was a fun experience and not too unlike conrunning. When I graduated from university in Luleå in 2007 I decided it was time for a change of scenery and my next adventure. I moved 1560 kilometres down to the very southern shores of Sweden, looking for and 5 eventually finding a job as a civil servant. I spent most of my days at the local library or the Science Fiction Bookshop, reading and starting a book blog. Then I found an online community of Swedish book bloggers, and although I didn't know it at the time, that was the starting point of my life in fandom. I reached out to them, asking if anyone would like to start an SF book circle with me in Malmö. Soon enough, I got a few replies, one from Frida, who's now my very best friend. Eventually, someone online or in the book circle mentioned this thing called fandom, and this big literary sf convention called Eurocon happening in Stockholm in June 2011. I was curious, so I went, checked it out, and finally found the community I had been searching for all my life. My second convention was Swecon in Uppsala in 2012, were I made my first fandom friends. Several members of Upppsala and Stockholm fandom, including Johan Anglemark and Bellis, took me under their wings and showed me the ropes. I also remember Jukka Halme being the Fan Guest of Honour. He talked a lot about his own experiences in fandom, and it made me want to be part of his community. After this convention, I was completely bitten by the fandom bug. Heading back to Malmö, me and a friend from the book circle started a local fandom group called Malmöfandom. It escalated through the years and is now a fairly big group with pub meets in Malmö and Lund, a local fandom pod cast, and writing circles and book circles. I have chaired two local conventions and have done one local book auction so far. And with Denmark just 30 minutes away, I've also been visiting Danish fandom across the Sound, making lots of friends there. But it wasn't easy being new in fandom, especially as a woman.