Guests
Eurocon Guests of Honor
Juraj Červenák
Writer (born 1974) is a Slovak author best known for his short stories and novels which mix elements of sword and sorcery with historical fantasy and Slavic mythology. His first work (Olgerd — The Sword Of Thormaren, 1993) was published under the pen name Thorleif Larssen.
Andrzej Sapkowski
Writer (born 1948) debuted in 1986 with a short story “The Witcher”. His short stories and five-volume series present a coherent fantasy world where the adventures of Geralt – the slayer of striga and other numerous beasts – are narrated in an exceptionally colourful fashion. The author is also a successful writer of horror fiction. Five-time Zajdel Award winner, awarded with the Paszport Polityki prize. Narrenturm, the first book of the Reynevan saga, was shortlisted for NIKE Literary Award.
Pavel Weigel
Translator, born in Brno in 1942, ardent enthusiast of Stanisław Lem, founder of Stanisław Lem Society and a renowned translator of his books. He started translating in 1966 and since then he has been presented with numerous achievement awards by the Czech fandom.
Miroslav Žamboch
Writer, born in Hranice in 1972, a nuclear physicist by profession, extreme sports’ enthusiast, made a literary debut with a short story in 1993. Four novels (including two two-volumes) and two books of short stories of his have been published in Poland. His fantasy and science fiction novels and short stories embrace a very modern sensitivity, placing Žamboch at the forefront of contemporary Eastern European writers of the genre.
Bridget Wilkinson
Bridget Wilkinson is a long-time active member of British fandom, a travelling fan and an Eastern Europe “specialist” (but not only).
In 1987, during the Worldcon in Brighton, she took care of the fan delegates from behind the iron curtain. This has remain her character feature and many of us have experienced her hospitality first hand.
Since the 1980s Bridget has taken active part in European Science Fiction Society’s actions, and was one of the prominent people who steered the organisation to safe waters after the stormy period at the beginning of the 1990s. In 1993, during the Eurocon in w St Helier on the Jersey Island, she became the chairperson of ESFS (succeeding Wiktor Bukato) until the year 2002. She is the board secretary at the moment. For a few years she published Fans Across The World fanzine.
She’s the traveller type. She has been to the conventions in almost all of the European countries. She has visited Poland many times, taking part in not only Polcons, but also Nordcons and Konturs.
She has visited Czech Republic as well. In 1992 she was a guest at Parcon in Ostrava. During her stay she saw Beskidy Mountains and she promptly fell in love with them.
She has been to Cieszyn on both sides of the border but she will see a Cieszyn-based convention for the first time.
Special guest of Eurocon
Jaromír Nohavica
singer, songwriter, translator, born June 7, 1953, Ostrava.
Nohavica attended a secondary comprehensive school in his home town and then completed a secondary school of library studies in Brno; his studies at the Ostrava Polytechnic Institute of Mining were never completed. He currently lives in Ostrava, though in the years 1978–99 he lived in Český Těšín.
Parcon Guests
Edita Dufková
Writer and editor in popular science e-magazine Třetí pól (Third Pole). Born in Prague in March, studied at the ČVUT (České Vysoké Učení Technické v Praze – Czech Technical University in Prague) engineering and nuclear physics. Represented together with partner Pavel Haman the Czech Republic in Ballroom Dancing. She started writing in the childhood. In 1995 her story Skogamandra was published in the children’s magazine “Ohníček”. After a four year silence she won the fandom literary contest for the Karel Čapek prize (Cena Karla Čapka CKČ) and received the Mlok (Newt Award) for “Noční můry” in shortstory category, published originally in 1999 in Fantasy planet. Sincethen her stories were published in Ikarie magazine (Jeskyně trakkalu 12/1999, Jízda vlakem 4/2001, Nebudeš mutantam! 8/2002). In 2006 a short stories collection Za okraj Světa has been published.
Ondrej Herec
Dr Ondrej Herec is a theorist, publisher, translator, science fiction organizer. Born in 1944. Sociologist.
He worked as member of the European Committee of Social Rights by the Council of Europe for the European Social Charter, Member of the Board of Directors of European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research, an institution associated with the UNO, director of international relations department of ÚSRSVT SR (Úrad pre stratégiu rozvoja spoločnosti, vedy a techniky Slovenskej republiky). In 1973 he graduated from Comenius University in Bratislava. He worked as an editor in a publishing house, scientific worker, translator, civil servant in the ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of Slovak Republic, President of international relations section of the Slovak Association of towns and villages.
The influence of being a sociologist comes out in his SF mainly in variations of contemporary social utopias, a new view on the world. He learnt about fandom from Vlad Srpoň in 1986 (most favourite convention – Dracon), member of CKČ and president of jury of Gustáv Reuss Awars, in 1989 founding member of ČSAF (Československý syndikát autorů fantastiky – Czech and Slovak Assiociaiton of SF writers), since 1990 founding member and since 1994 President of SSAF (Slovenský syndikát autorov fantastiky – Slovak Association of SF writers), publisher of Slovak SF stories anthologies Krutohlav, lecruter of the Workshop Fantázie a PEN klubu
Favourite authors:
C. Biedermannová, M. Dubnický, D. Kostovský, V. Kvasnica, O. Neff, F. Novotný, J. Maxon, P. Mikuláštík, J. Pavlík, Z. Rampas, J.Toman and some young authors whom he doesn’t name so that they don’t become presumptuous too soon.
In 1999 he received the award Národného osvetového centra (National Center of Education) for special contribution to the development of theory and critics of SF in Slovakia. In 2007 he received two awards: of the SF, fantasy and horror Academy for the entirety of his work and the Mlok of Merit, the highest award of the Czech and Slovak fandom.
Františka Vrbenská
Františka Vrbenská (de domo Beerová) received in 1979 a PhD from the Charles University in Prague in IT and Library science. In the years 1985-1991 she kept the Library of the Institute of Management and Administration. Currently she is librarian in the national programme for protection of National Library of Czech Republic collection. Besides fantasy she writes also professional works on scientific information and library science.
In the mid-eighties a number of her SF stories have been published in various periodical (e.g. Zlatý faraón 2034, Ve čtvrtek bude konec světa, Čas má hadí zuby). For the first part of the historical fantasy Labyrint půlnočního draka – Král z Hlubiny půlnoci, created already in 1991 she received in 1995 the knights title in the Jules Verne Club competition. The book was published in print however, only in 1998. At this time Františka Vrbenská co-authored the tripartite publication Čas hradů v Čechách and wrote historical stories with fantasy elements.
Františka Vrbenská is active in fandom, often gives speeches at conventions. In 2008 at the Parcon in Plzeň she was awarded the Mlok of merit for her contribution to the development of the genre and her life’s work.
Polcon Guests
Wit Szostak
Wit Szostak (b.1976) is a Polish fantasy writer and philosophy PhD. He lives in Cracow. He’s a member of Tischner Society and a huge fan of J.R.R.Tolkien’s works. He’s interested in folk music.
Four his books have been published so far: “Wichry Smoczogór”, “Poszrapane granie”, “Ględźby Ropucha” and “Oberki do końca świata”. In 2008 he was awarded with Janusz A. Zajdel Award fot a short story “Miasto grobów. Uwertura”. His works are often inspired with Polish mountains folklore.
He’s using a pen name to draw a line between different areas of his interests.
Wydawnictwo MAG
Jacek Rodek (born in 1956) – publisher, editor, comic author (Funky Koval, with Maciej Parowski). Active in the Polish fandom since 1976 – in the Ogólnopolski Klub Miłośników Fantastyki i SF (All-Polish Science Fiction Lovers Club). He was an active member of this organisation until its transformation into the PSMF (Polskie Stowarzyszenie Miłośników Fantastyki – Polish Association of SF Lovers). One of the founders (1982) of “Fantastyka” magazine, was the editor of foreign literature department. He was also editor of the comic magazine “CDN”, chief editor of “Komiks-Fantastyka” magazine and the Orbita publishing house. Founder and owner of MAG publishing house, specialising in SF. Since the beginning he was interested in Role Playing Games, introduced Warhammer into the Polish market as well as the first Polish RPG “Kryształy czasu” – “Crystals of Time”. He published a games magazine “Magia i miecz” — “Sorcery and Sword” and the literary magazine “Fenix”. Received the Śląkfa Award in Publisher category (1994)
Katarzyna Rodek – Graduated from Warsaw School of Economics, started working in marketing of a large insurance company. For more than ten years in the position of PR & Advertising Director in Mag Publishing House. In 2006 together with Jacek Rodek and Andrzej Miszkurka founded the Nowa Proza (New Prose) Publishing House of which she is the president. Nowa Proza publishes the latest foreign literature.
Andrzej Miszkurka (b. 1971) – the editor-in-chief of “Magia i Miecz” and “Feniks” magazines. The editor-in-chief for many years in MAG Publishing House, he started publishing literature after having been specialised in RPG before that. His newest idea is the Feast of Imagination series. Co-founder and vice-president of the “Nowa Proza” publishing House, in both publishing houses is the responisble for the copyrights purchases. He has been awarded with Ślakfa three times in Best publisher category (1997, 2001 and 2006). Married, lives in Warsaw.
Fan: Sławek Sączek
Sławomir Sączek – born 1956 in Częstochowa. Fan and bookshop owner. He graduated from Silesian Polytechnics in Gliwice and started working for the academy. In 1984-1989 lived in Prague, where he contacted Czech fandom and started his own company, providing Polish books for his Czech colleagues as well as for Polish Institute’s bookshop in Prague (1991-1997). Together with Karel Marha he started “Makros” company, which specialized in importing fantasy paintings’ albums. One of the first members of the Silesian Science Fiction Club. In Prague he was a member of Time Machine and RUR. He’s attended many conventions in both Poland and Czech Republic, as well as many conventions worldwide. Right now he has a bookshop in Częstochowa. He’s one of the people who started the idea of Tricon.
Jadwiga Zajdel
Honorary patron of Janusz A. Zajdel Literary Award. She has been living in Warsaw’s suburb Bródno for many years. She used to work with her husband in Centralne Laboratorium Ochrony Radiologicznej. She takes care of the literary works of her husband; at the moment she’s working on publishing a short story collection.
Her grandson, a son of Joanna Zajdel-Przybył, is keeping her occupied as well.
Wojciech Siudmak
Born in Wieluń Wojciech Siudmak became one of the greatest and most famous Polish artists in history. On worldwide sites he is mentioned as being as important as Wojciech Kilar and Roman Polański. Living in France since 1966 he is considered to be one of the leading representatives of fantastic realism (with M. C. Escher, M. Klinger, L. Fini, and others). He calls himself a fantasy hyperrealist, emphasizing his individuality.
“His fine draftsmanship and sense of light and dark give his visions great depth and multiply the remarkable range of colours and textures. There is a powerful tranquillity in his creations, and an endless space to explore and invent” describes George Lucas.
Wojciech Siudmak is the initiator and driving force of the Universal Peace Project sculpture “Eternal Love” and the author of illustrations to the Polish collector’s edition of Frank Herbert’s “Dune” series.
As part of the convention there will be held an exhibition of the artists graphics inspired by “Dune”.
Foreign guests
Steven Erikson
Steven Erikson (born October 7, 1959) is the pseudonym of Steve Rune Lundin, a Canadian novelist. Steven Erikson was born in Toronto, Canada, and grew up in Winnipeg. He subsequently lived in the UK with his wife and son, but has since returned to Winnipeg.
His best-known work is the ongoing fantasy series Malazan Book of the Fallen, which by 2006 had sold over 250,000 copies. Erikson’s first novel of the Malazan Book of the Fallen series, Gardens of the Moon (1999), was critically acclaimed. It was short-listed for a World Fantasy Award. It has also earned him the reputation as one of the best authors in the fantasy genre.
Alan Campbell
Alan Campbell – author, born 7.7.1971 Falkirk, Scotland.
Graduated in 1993 in Computer Science, worked on development of several computer games for many platforms, including the famous series Grand Theft Auto.
In addition to writing he spends his time on snowboarding, motorbiking, camping and photographing. Lives in Scotland, in South Lanarkshire.
More on author’s page.
Orson Scott Card
Orson Scott Card (born August 24, 1951) is an American author, critic, public speaker and conservative political activist.
He writes in several genres, but is primarily known for his science fiction. His novel “Ender’s Game” (1985) and its sequel “Speaker for the Dead” (1986) both won Hugo and Nebula Awards, making Card the only author to win both of American science fiction’s top prizes in consecutive years. A devout and outspoken Mormon, Card is a board member of the National Organization for Marriage.
(Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
More information on the official website.
Gerald Home
Gerald was born and raised in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He played Tessek – Squid Head and the Mon Calamari Officer in “Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi”, and was a puppeteer on “Little Shop of Horrors”, operating Audrey 11, the man-eating plant.
In the West End of London he appeared in “The Blue Angel” for the Royal Shakespeare Company at the Gielgud Theatre, in “The Arabian Nights” at the Arts Theatre and for a year in the farce “No Sex Please – We’re British” at the Strand Theatre. Other theatre work includes “A Christmas Carol” in Oxford, “The Wizard of Oz” and “The Winter’s Tale” in Exeter, “The Gingerbread Man” and a season of new plays in Milford Haven, and national tours of “Dreams of Anne Frank”, “Salad Days” and “Bell, Book & Candle”.
In Wimbledon, London, where he lives, he has appeared in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “Alice in Wonderland” at the Wimbledon Theatre, and in 10 plays at the Polka Theatre. Favourite roles at Polka include Dr. Livesey in “Treasure Island” and Professor Moriarty in a new Sherlock Holmes play written by Philip Pullman.
He is still probably best known to many people as the original Mr. Muscle in the long-running series of TV commercials which were shown throughout Europe and as far away as South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. He has also made commercials for Belgium, Germany, Holland and Ireland. Voice work includes voice-overs and readings for BBC Radio.
Gerald has appeared at many conventions and shows, meeting lots of Star Wars fans around the globe. He is an Honorary Member of several fan groups, including the “501st Legion” and the “Rebel Legion”. He is Honorary Ambassador of the “Star Wars Outer Rim Alliance” (“SWORA”), an international alliance of many Star Wars fan groups from all around the world, which he co-founded in 2008.
(Source: GeraldHome.com)