Tom Ölander

Tom Ölander (17 August 1945 - 26 August 2002) was one of the main actors to kick-start an active fannish culture in Finland.[1] He was the prime mover for the second Finnish sf convention King Con in 1989, with the assistance of a boat load of Swedish imports, and regularized the tradition of convention holding by working to institute the biannual Finncon tradition.[2] For these efforts he is domestically known as the "father of Finnish Fandom",[3] and internationally as "Finland's Mr. Science Fiction". In recognition of his significant role in the Finnish science fiction fandom, Ölander was a Guest of Honor of Finncon 1989.[3]

Besides his local efforts, often worked behind the scenes, his great passion was bridge-building between far-flung corners of international fandom.[4]

Together with Jari Koponen, Olavi Markkanen and Jyrki Ijäs, he formed the editorial board of the first Finnish nationwide science fiction magazine, Aikakone, started in 1981.[5]

References
  1. Jerrman, Toni. "It All Started with Tom Ölander", Worldcon 75 Souvenir Book. 2017. Page 54.
  2. Engholm, Ahrvid. Dödsfall / Utlandet, Dagens Nyheter. 2002-11-19. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
  3. Finncon 2010: Finncons through the ages
  4. Peltonen, Leena. "Tom Ölander on poissa", Aikakone. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
  5. Ashley, Mike. Science Fiction Rebels: The Story of the Science-Fiction Magazines from 1981 to 1990. Liverpool University Press, 2016. Page 261.


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