Natterings From Nepantla

Posted by Alqua

https://fandomrover.com/2025/12/26/smofcon-42-dont-panic-and-appreciate-your-towel/

https://fandomrover.com/?p=2466

is SMOFcon 42 was my second in person Smofcon. It took me eight years to come back to this con, and my experience this time was quite different. Over the course of those years I learned a lot, and I met many people. Not to mention that the world itself has changed a lot too!

Hitchhiker’s Guide to Fandom

It was in the late October in 1984 when the first Smofcon took place. Now after forty one years it was time for SMOFcon 42. I was really happy that the Team running the con used the reference to Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Yet I was even happier that the con itself was so welcoming!

The badge of SMOFcon 42 had clear allusions to ‘Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’.

I remember that when I met fandom for the first time something “clicked” and I became enchanted with it. This year in Stockholm I still felt this enchantment at work. Fans were expressing a lot of warmth and I constantly felt as of being in the right place. It was same as when I visited Fantastika 2016 that took place in the same venue. The difference is that this time I knew way more people. And of course SMOFcon 42 had more international attendees than Fantastika.

I met so many friends – some of whom I haven’t seen since Glasgow 2024. It is hard to believe that it was already over a year ago. Yet I digress. I used the opportunity to meet my friends but also to talk with some fans I didn’t know (or at least not well) before. I spent large part of the convention talking with people. We discussed the conrunning and my potential or actual involvement in the future cons. Yet we also chatted on so many subjects. We covered light-hearted topics like Swedish sweets (which I love), but also very serious things related to conrunning and fandom in general.

Swedish Fika

Team of SMOFcon 42 took care of introducing Swedish traditions to us. First of those was Fika. As per my understanding it is a coffee break that is popular in Sweden. I am not sure to what extent the one at the convention was adhering to the tradition but it was wonderful. Every day in the consuite there was a gathering where people could chit-chat. We were able to enjoy different kinds of soft drinks and many sweets. It shouldn’t be a surprise for my friends that I tried more sweets than beverages. It was not only organizers who brought the treats. Some of the members from different countries also carried some snacks. And the day after the International Party, the Consuite was full to the brim.

Poster directing to the social heart of SMOFcon 42.

Speaking about the International Party – it took place on Saturday evening. I recall tables from Norway, France (Nantes Worldcon 2032 bid), Canada (Montreal 2027 Worldcon), Germany (Metropolcon 2026 Eurocon), Ireland (Dublin 2029 Worldcon bid), Portugal (Smofcon 2026 & Eurocon 2027), Scotland, and Poland. The party was another great occasion to socialize. It also allowed me to try delicious Norwegian chocolate, and sing in French. After singing I got the choice of an “award” from the following: Utopiales convention cap, bottle of French wine, and cookies in a can. Let’s say I have a very nice tin of Petit Beurre from Nantes (where they were invented).

International Party took place in the main convention venue around iconic (to me) lighbulb.

Saturday Fika was special as we experienced another Swedish tradition – Glögg. I don’t usually drink mulled wine (or wine in general) but I thought that I may try a bit. There were two different ones to choose from – one with and the other without alcohol. As the amount of alcohol in the first one was rather low I decided to give it a try. What can I say? It was absolutely delicious! I would love to give it a go again.

Learning and Speaking

I kept writing about the social aspect of SMOFcon 42 before mentioning the programme. And the latter was quite interesting. In fact, I regret that I couldn’t replicate myself and enjoy both the programme and the social aspect at the same time. Having said that I managed to attend a few different programme items.

I especially remember two of those – one was a talk about the Nordic fandoms. There were representatives from Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden (in the alphabetical order). Another one was a panel about learning from betters mistakes. It concentrated on problem solving and the mistakes that others made before. Both of those programme items were pretty interesting. The first made me even more curious about visiting conventions in the Nordic countries where I haven’t yet enjoyed the fannish events. I hope to be able to travel to cons in Norway, Denmark, and Iceland.

Panel about Nordic Fandoms a.k.a ‘How to lure Alqua to a Nordic country’ ;).

At SMOFcon 42 I was also participanting in two panels, and moderating one more. I talked a bit in the panel devoted to the printed souvenir books. I offered to participate there not as a person taking care of publishing but rather as a fan enjoying printed materials. Second panel was way closer to what I was involved in – it treated about the Fan Funds and other means which we use to help other fans attending cons. For some reason I didn’t realise that I should be moderating it until Fia asked me about it at the con. I was like 100% sure that I was a participant, and I even recall seeing it in the programme app. Yet as memory tends to play tricks on us I must have been wrong (or the moderator was changed after I confirmed participation). Either way, I managed to prepare some questions and I kinda enjoyed the conversation we had. I hope that others could enjoy it too. Last panel was about secrets of Eurocon. Carolina, who was a moderator, had to be a bit late because of her other duties. Considering the above I decided to be an impromptu moderator. For the first dozen minutes I was interviewing Bridget about Eurocons. What she had to tell was quite fascinating! Later Carolina came and led the panel as planned.

Working groups and Q&A

Apart from “regular” panels I attended also three other items. Two were marked as “private” as they concerned particular conventions. One was Dublin 2029 bid, while the other LAcon V Worldcon. The first one was more about describing the bid, the roles and way to apply. It was more informative. Second one however, convcentrated on the programme. At first heads of our division described to us the plans, and space we would have. Later on we moved to a brainstorming session about the potential panels. We were divided into a few groups and it was pretty intense. Within our small group for comics, we had quite a few ideas. I believe that other groups had a lot of programme suggestions too. What I regret that most probably I won’t be able make it to LA in person. I am hoping that I will manage to enjoy the online part of LAcon V.

Presentation of the German bid for Worldcon in 2028.

And last, but definitely not least, I want to mention about the Q&A sessions related to the future cons. I didn’t manage to participate in the whole session but I had the chance to see at least a part of it. Next year we may have, for the first time in years, three different bids for Worldcon. I was aware of two of those for some time – Brisbane, Australia, and Kigali, Rwanda. The third one was a recent development – Nuremberg, Germany. Only the last of those had the presentation in person. It was quite interesting and convincing. The team mentioned about the possibility to have a camping ground at the front of the venue. The other two bidders had to connect remotely to the session. The big surprise in Kigali presentation was an offer of 15% off on RwandAir tickets. Which of the bids would win is a mystery to me. I have good reasons to keep my fingers crossed for all three of them – each for different reasons. Site selection next year will be a tough decision for me.

Great Time Spent With Friends

Back in 2017 I barely knew anyone at Smofcon, but I had a good time. This year I met a lot of friends (including five fans from Poland), and I enjoyed the con even more. All members had the chance to order traditional Swedish Christmas dinner. Yet because of my forgetfullness I didn’t do it in time. Fortunately I was able to spend that evening with friends while eating the standard hotel meal. It was a bit like Christmas with the chosen family – and I appreciate it a lot.

A panel about learning form the mistakes of others.

Two of my friends brought me a fanzine, and magazines from overseas. Others brought me promotional materials for the LAcon V (even should you not be able to participate in person, consider joining it online). And all of them, and many others, brought kind words, smiles, and a bit of their time. I missed some people on site but it would be impossible for everyone to come. At least I saw one friend online during the Q&A session. SMOFcon 42 was a wonderful time spent with people I like!

Next year Smofcon travels to Lisbon for the second time. I am still not able to tell whether I will be able to attend it but I really hope so.

You can find more pictures in my FB gallery.

My next post will appear in January.

The post SMOFcon 42 – Don’t Panic and Appreciate Your Towel appeared first on Fandom Rover.

https://fandomrover.com/2025/12/26/smofcon-42-dont-panic-and-appreciate-your-towel/

https://fandomrover.com/?p=2466