Another concern that has been raised is the issue of language. It has been claimed that the Finns and the Icelanders are at a disadvantage, because only books in Danish, Swedish and Norwegian can be nominated. There is, of course, no denying that this does put us Icelanders and the Finns at a certain disadvantage. But, inspite of my Icelandic nationality, I do not honestly see any sensible way around this problem.
It is utterly ridiculous to insist on the right to nominate books in the original language of our countries, however beautiful and important we (rightly!) consider our languages to be. This would limit the possible choice of jurors in the respective countries far too much. There is no shortage of literary people in Iceland and Finnland who can read Danish, Swedish and Norwegian without the constant aid of a dictionary. The people in Denmark, Sweden and Norway, on the other hand, who can read both Icelandic and Finnish without major problems, are few and far apart. It’s not our fault they’re so handicapped...but what can we do?
But what about German, then? some have asked. Or English, for that matter?
Well, what about it? Should we allow Icelandic and Finnish crime novels in German or English translations as entries to the competition for the Glass Key? This will, admittedly, not limit the field of possible jurors quite as much as Icelandic and Finnish, although it will limit it more than before. But, on the other hand, it will expand the field when it comes to picking the candidates.
So what is your take on this particular problem? Stick with the three nordic languages or allow English and German? Why/why not?
Personally, I’d like to stick to the three languages. But that’s just one guy’s personal point of view.
onsdag den 8. februar 2006
SKS's framtid - The different approaches in Finland and Iceland: I
The way we have done it here in Iceland, we’ve simply nominated the best, Icelandic crime novel of the previous year and left it to the author/publisher to see to it that it gets translated in time to be eligible for the Glass Key. The Finns have gone about it the other way around and only nominated a novel amongst those already translated. Here, we have counted on the publishers to realize the importance of the Glass Key, marketing-wise, and until this year, they have seen the light.
It has – maybe unfortunately, maybe fortunately – always been the same publisher, and they’ve always coughed up with the money to pay for the translation (except the first time, but that was before they really realized... and then the author, Viktor Arnar, saw to it personally that his story got translated).
This year, however, it looks as if there will not be an Icelandic novel amongst the contestants for the Glass Key. The jury in the Icelandic crime writers organization did nominate a novel, as usual, but now the publisher (and yes, it is the same old publisher yet again) refuses to pay for the translation. They base their decision upon the fact that this particular novel is not really a traditional crime-novel (and maybe the fact that it is more than 500 pages long has got something to do with it as well...).
This is something we just have to live with – or that, at least, is the attitude amongst us in the Icelandic crime society. In Finland, just like in Iceland and, for that matter, every other Nordic country, the best, Finnish crime-novel is picked out every year and awarded a prize by the Suomen Dekkariseura-jury.
The difference is, that in Finland this particular book is not automatically nominated as local entry for the Glass Key-competition. I have been told that this is not an option in Finland. That there is no way, they can simply nominate the best, Finnish crime-novel and then count on the publishers to get it translated, the way we do here in Iceland.
It has – maybe unfortunately, maybe fortunately – always been the same publisher, and they’ve always coughed up with the money to pay for the translation (except the first time, but that was before they really realized... and then the author, Viktor Arnar, saw to it personally that his story got translated).
This year, however, it looks as if there will not be an Icelandic novel amongst the contestants for the Glass Key. The jury in the Icelandic crime writers organization did nominate a novel, as usual, but now the publisher (and yes, it is the same old publisher yet again) refuses to pay for the translation. They base their decision upon the fact that this particular novel is not really a traditional crime-novel (and maybe the fact that it is more than 500 pages long has got something to do with it as well...).
This is something we just have to live with – or that, at least, is the attitude amongst us in the Icelandic crime society. In Finland, just like in Iceland and, for that matter, every other Nordic country, the best, Finnish crime-novel is picked out every year and awarded a prize by the Suomen Dekkariseura-jury.
The difference is, that in Finland this particular book is not automatically nominated as local entry for the Glass Key-competition. I have been told that this is not an option in Finland. That there is no way, they can simply nominate the best, Finnish crime-novel and then count on the publishers to get it translated, the way we do here in Iceland.
SKS's framtid - The different approaches in Finland and Iceland II
I cannot pretend to know better, but I still have to ask – has this approach really been tried?
Somehow, I find it hard to believe that Finnish publishers do not realize the commercial value of a Glass-key nomination. And I have even more problems imagining Finnish publishers being poorer – or for that matter, cheaper – than Icelandic publishers, who are working a market that just this january crossed the 300.000 persons-line.
O.k., maybe they have to be convinced, but has anyone tried – really tried – to convince them about the importance and the possible (or, to be more accurate, the certain) gain of having one of their novels nominated for the Glass Key? And we’re talking about clear-cut financial gain as well as prestige... Has the board of the Suomen Dekkariseura ever gone to the publisher of this or that year’s best, Finnish crime novel and said, this is the best Finnish crime novel of the year and we are nominating it for the glass key, but in order for it to be eligible for the prize, it has to be translated into Norwegian, Danish or Swedish – and it’s your responsibility to see that this happens...
Somehow, I find it hard to believe that Finnish publishers do not realize the commercial value of a Glass-key nomination. And I have even more problems imagining Finnish publishers being poorer – or for that matter, cheaper – than Icelandic publishers, who are working a market that just this january crossed the 300.000 persons-line.
O.k., maybe they have to be convinced, but has anyone tried – really tried – to convince them about the importance and the possible (or, to be more accurate, the certain) gain of having one of their novels nominated for the Glass Key? And we’re talking about clear-cut financial gain as well as prestige... Has the board of the Suomen Dekkariseura ever gone to the publisher of this or that year’s best, Finnish crime novel and said, this is the best Finnish crime novel of the year and we are nominating it for the glass key, but in order for it to be eligible for the prize, it has to be translated into Norwegian, Danish or Swedish – and it’s your responsibility to see that this happens...
SKS's framtid - other possibilities
But allright, let’s assume – until someone corrects me – that Finnish publishers in general are too stubborn, too tight with their money and/or too short-sighted to realize and embrace the opportunities involved in the Glass-key nomination and therefore refuse to spend a few thousand euros on a translation. And that not even the example of Arnaldur Indriðason is enough to convince them otherwise. What then?
Maybe there are unexplored avenues in the Nordic apparatus, maybe we can get some sort of a stipendium in aid of translations from Finnish and Icelandic, in spite of the recent cut-downs in the cultural sector of the Nordic Council’s operations. Who knows? And who is willing and able to find out? Such an application would probably be more likely to succeed if it came from SKS, rather than from the respective national societies, so maybe here’s yet another task for the organization...
Maybe there are unexplored avenues in the Nordic apparatus, maybe we can get some sort of a stipendium in aid of translations from Finnish and Icelandic, in spite of the recent cut-downs in the cultural sector of the Nordic Council’s operations. Who knows? And who is willing and able to find out? Such an application would probably be more likely to succeed if it came from SKS, rather than from the respective national societies, so maybe here’s yet another task for the organization...
SKS's framtid - The glass key
I think we have to change the statutes in order to clarify once and for all what kind of manuscripts/works of fiction we accept. Also, it is important, I think, to ensure that in the final round, the juries will choose between two books and two books only. If this means an extra round of voting every once in a while, then so be it. And even if no book is nominated from this country or that, each national society should commit itself to participate in the vote. This year, as I said, we will probably not be in the running, but none the less we certainly want to have our say about the other books nominated for the Glass key.
SKS's framtid - Bottom line
Bottom line: Lets keep it simple - and stick together
Anyway, I´m rambling. I’ve written much more than I intended.
But the point of it all is: Let’s stick together, and let’s keep it simple. Every national organization keeps on trucking at its own leisure. Does its thing. One of those things is to nominate a book for the Glass key every year and consequently participate in the voting for the best nordic crime novel (or however you want to put it), which then will be awarded the Glass key. Every five years, each and every national society which wants to be a part of this has to host the awarding ceremony and a seminar and an AGM (and a damn good party all round) in the name of SKS. This is really all it takes, when it comes right down to it, isn’t it? Picking the best of the best of nordic crime fiction, awarding the Glass Key and having some fun while we’re at it? And that, to me, does not seem to be a very arduous task. What do you think? Well, think about it ... and talk about it ... and, by all means, write about it!
Best regards and wishes from your so-called president,
Ævar Örn Jósepsson.
Anyway, I´m rambling. I’ve written much more than I intended.
But the point of it all is: Let’s stick together, and let’s keep it simple. Every national organization keeps on trucking at its own leisure. Does its thing. One of those things is to nominate a book for the Glass key every year and consequently participate in the voting for the best nordic crime novel (or however you want to put it), which then will be awarded the Glass key. Every five years, each and every national society which wants to be a part of this has to host the awarding ceremony and a seminar and an AGM (and a damn good party all round) in the name of SKS. This is really all it takes, when it comes right down to it, isn’t it? Picking the best of the best of nordic crime fiction, awarding the Glass Key and having some fun while we’re at it? And that, to me, does not seem to be a very arduous task. What do you think? Well, think about it ... and talk about it ... and, by all means, write about it!
Best regards and wishes from your so-called president,
Ævar Örn Jósepsson.
tirsdag den 3. januar 2006
A new year of crime - two important dates
Hi everybody and a happy new year - I hope it will be a good one.
And no, I'm not dead - yet. There is no excuse for this laziness, not even a decent explanation, but let bygones be bygones and move on (and yes, I would really appreciate it if anyone else would make the effort to write something, anything to post on this blog - there must be someone out there who has something to share with the rest of us... Just e-mail me, and I'll make sure it appears right here).
Anyway, I'll stop whining and get down to business.
We left the meeting in Copenhagen very optimistic and up-beat, confident that we'd move on, move beyond our troubles, find solutions etc. We had a plan...
Sadly, the plan has not come to fruition - yet - and we've done nothing since to solve our problems. At least, not in common. And yes, it's probably all my fault, as I have not vielded the presidential whip at all. But there's still plenty of time. For the whip, for the plan, for SKS.
Anyway, the date and venue for the 2006 SKS-conference remain intact - Copenhagen, May 19th - 21st. The costs will be about the same as last year, or less - i.e. 1.000 dkr + hotel, or dkr 2.000 total if at all possible.
The program - well, it's still a bit early to tell, but I think it's safe to say that there will be a couple of dinners, a few lectures and, yes, an Annual General Meeting on sunday. Anyone with a good idea for a lecture, please contact me asap or simply comment this article - a lively exchange of ideas about anything, right here on this blogsite, is what this is supposed to be all about.
Another important date is June 2nd - and the venue is Zaragoza, Spain. On June 2nd through june 4th, the annual general meeting of AIEP, the international organization of crime writers takes place at the hotel Via Romana. Details will be provided here soon.
So, for everyone coming from Sweden, Finland, Norway or Iceland - make a trip of it! I'm sure there are some decently priced flights from Copenhagen to Barcelona or Madrid... And the Danes, of course, have all the luck - just nip to the SKS-conference downtown Copenhagen, and take a trip to the sun a couple of weeks later...
I will contact the local vice-presidents in the next days in order to organize the SKS-conference and get their views on SKS's future, something I trust you all have discussed thoroughly for the last few months...
I have some ideas of my own, which I will post here in the days to follow - so stay posted.
Cheers and a lovely new year to all of you,
Ævar Örn.
And no, I'm not dead - yet. There is no excuse for this laziness, not even a decent explanation, but let bygones be bygones and move on (and yes, I would really appreciate it if anyone else would make the effort to write something, anything to post on this blog - there must be someone out there who has something to share with the rest of us... Just e-mail me, and I'll make sure it appears right here).
Anyway, I'll stop whining and get down to business.
We left the meeting in Copenhagen very optimistic and up-beat, confident that we'd move on, move beyond our troubles, find solutions etc. We had a plan...
Sadly, the plan has not come to fruition - yet - and we've done nothing since to solve our problems. At least, not in common. And yes, it's probably all my fault, as I have not vielded the presidential whip at all. But there's still plenty of time. For the whip, for the plan, for SKS.
Anyway, the date and venue for the 2006 SKS-conference remain intact - Copenhagen, May 19th - 21st. The costs will be about the same as last year, or less - i.e. 1.000 dkr + hotel, or dkr 2.000 total if at all possible.
The program - well, it's still a bit early to tell, but I think it's safe to say that there will be a couple of dinners, a few lectures and, yes, an Annual General Meeting on sunday. Anyone with a good idea for a lecture, please contact me asap or simply comment this article - a lively exchange of ideas about anything, right here on this blogsite, is what this is supposed to be all about.
Another important date is June 2nd - and the venue is Zaragoza, Spain. On June 2nd through june 4th, the annual general meeting of AIEP, the international organization of crime writers takes place at the hotel Via Romana. Details will be provided here soon.
So, for everyone coming from Sweden, Finland, Norway or Iceland - make a trip of it! I'm sure there are some decently priced flights from Copenhagen to Barcelona or Madrid... And the Danes, of course, have all the luck - just nip to the SKS-conference downtown Copenhagen, and take a trip to the sun a couple of weeks later...
I will contact the local vice-presidents in the next days in order to organize the SKS-conference and get their views on SKS's future, something I trust you all have discussed thoroughly for the last few months...
I have some ideas of my own, which I will post here in the days to follow - so stay posted.
Cheers and a lovely new year to all of you,
Ævar Örn.
torsdag den 9. juni 2005
Deckarforum
Hej, jag tänkte bara att jag skulle tipsa om det Deckarforum som Per Olaisen och jag alldeles nyligen har startat. Ett diskussionsforum om all sorts spänningslitteratur. Vem som helst kan registrera sig och delta i diskussionen. Deckarforum hittar man på: http://deckarforum.proboards45.com/
Bästa hälsningar,
Mattias Boström
Bästa hälsningar,
Mattias Boström
mandag den 6. juni 2005
Velkommen til Island - en kriminell grillfest venter
Lördagen den 23. juli bli'r der en kriminell grillfest på Island. Programmet er ikke klart, og for at være helt ærlig, så bli'r det vel aldrig klart - jeg tror vi kan grille og more os uden program. Men her er det, som står fest: Lördag, 23. juli, hjemme hos mig (Engjavegur 8, 270 Mosfellsbær, Island...), når som helst efter kl. 16.00: Vi træffes, åbner en öl eller to - nogle vil vel åbne en flaske vin - snakker, fyrer op i kolerne og griller lammeköd/svineköd/kylling/hesteköd/nötkött (det sidstnævnte måtte jeg bare skrive på svensk, det er så et fantastiskt ord - nötkött...) og kartofler, naturligvis. Så spiser vi. Og drikker lidt mere. Og måske spiser lidt mere. Og drikker lidt mere. Hörer musik. Og taler sammen. Ind i natten.
Hvis vejret (og naboerne) tillader, så sidder vi ude i haven, ellers söger vi ly inde hos mig. Jeg byder desværre ikke på noget udenfor kolerne, huset, måske lidt salat og kartoflerne, naturligvist. Og vand, masser av vand. Og overnatning, for dem som har lyst til at overnatte, og frokost til dem også, naturligvist. Orangensaft, kaffe og toast med ost... måske yoghurt, vi får se. Men köd og alkohol må hver og en ta' med for sig. It's a BYO-party, som de i Australien siger, Bring-Your-Own.
Jeg har plads for mindst 12 - 14 gæster som vil overnatte, d.v.s. hvis de er villige til at sove 2 - 3 - 4 i samme værelse. Og haven er stor, hvis nogen vil ta' sit telt med.
Selv om jeg ikke er alt for optimistisk, at alt for mange kollegaer fra de andre Nordiske land vil vise sig til festen, så må jeg - og vil jeg - understryge at alle er hjertelig velkomne, og jeg håber at I ikke tror, at dette er nogen skæmt - jo flere, desto bedre! Jeg kan meget gerne göre indköberne for jer, hvis I kommer fra Finnland, Norge, Sverige eller Danmark. D.v.s. jeg köber gerne ködet for jer, men det er bedst hvis I köber jeres alkohol i Duty-Free butikken i Island - ja, man kan köbe alkohol i Duty-Free butikken når man kommer til Island, og det er billigere end i alle de andre, nordiske Duty-free butikker.
Hvis I har altid önsket jer at komme til Island, så gör det! Kom endelig!
Kig ind på Icelandair's danske, norske, finske, eller engelske website (av en eller anden grund er den svenske website på engelsk...) eller på Iceland Express's website, for tilbud...
Som sagt, så kan I gerne overnatte hos mig, mindestens natten til söndag, men jeg kan også rekommendera Reykjavík's Vandrarhem i Laugardalur, Islands eneste Svanmærkte vandrarhem - og derfor også Islands miljö-venligste vandrarhem. Det er såvel billigt som dejligt.
Alle SKS-medlemmer som rejser til Island, og det spiller ingen rolle hvornår de kommer, om det er til grillfesten i juli, i morgen eller overmorgen, eller i desember - er også velkomne på besög når som helst. Hvis der ikke er plads til overnatning her hos mig, så er jeg sikker på at andre medlemmer i det islandske kriminalselskabet kan byde jer velkomne for nogle dager, for at göre rejsen i det alt for dyre Island lidt billigere - og frem for alt en mere hyggelig og personlig oplevelse.
Vi ses i juli,
Ævar Örn.
Hvis vejret (og naboerne) tillader, så sidder vi ude i haven, ellers söger vi ly inde hos mig. Jeg byder desværre ikke på noget udenfor kolerne, huset, måske lidt salat og kartoflerne, naturligvist. Og vand, masser av vand. Og overnatning, for dem som har lyst til at overnatte, og frokost til dem også, naturligvist. Orangensaft, kaffe og toast med ost... måske yoghurt, vi får se. Men köd og alkohol må hver og en ta' med for sig. It's a BYO-party, som de i Australien siger, Bring-Your-Own.
Jeg har plads for mindst 12 - 14 gæster som vil overnatte, d.v.s. hvis de er villige til at sove 2 - 3 - 4 i samme værelse. Og haven er stor, hvis nogen vil ta' sit telt med.
Selv om jeg ikke er alt for optimistisk, at alt for mange kollegaer fra de andre Nordiske land vil vise sig til festen, så må jeg - og vil jeg - understryge at alle er hjertelig velkomne, og jeg håber at I ikke tror, at dette er nogen skæmt - jo flere, desto bedre! Jeg kan meget gerne göre indköberne for jer, hvis I kommer fra Finnland, Norge, Sverige eller Danmark. D.v.s. jeg köber gerne ködet for jer, men det er bedst hvis I köber jeres alkohol i Duty-Free butikken i Island - ja, man kan köbe alkohol i Duty-Free butikken når man kommer til Island, og det er billigere end i alle de andre, nordiske Duty-free butikker.
Hvis I har altid önsket jer at komme til Island, så gör det! Kom endelig!
Kig ind på Icelandair's danske, norske, finske, eller engelske website (av en eller anden grund er den svenske website på engelsk...) eller på Iceland Express's website, for tilbud...
Som sagt, så kan I gerne overnatte hos mig, mindestens natten til söndag, men jeg kan også rekommendera Reykjavík's Vandrarhem i Laugardalur, Islands eneste Svanmærkte vandrarhem - og derfor også Islands miljö-venligste vandrarhem. Det er såvel billigt som dejligt.
Alle SKS-medlemmer som rejser til Island, og det spiller ingen rolle hvornår de kommer, om det er til grillfesten i juli, i morgen eller overmorgen, eller i desember - er også velkomne på besög når som helst. Hvis der ikke er plads til overnatning her hos mig, så er jeg sikker på at andre medlemmer i det islandske kriminalselskabet kan byde jer velkomne for nogle dager, for at göre rejsen i det alt for dyre Island lidt billigere - og frem for alt en mere hyggelig og personlig oplevelse.
Vi ses i juli,
Ævar Örn.
fredag den 3. juni 2005
Tales from the dark side...
De, som kom til Island i fjor, kan sikkert godt huske det islandske kriminalselskabets hovedkvarter, pubben Grand Rokk. og de, som kom til Köbenhavn i maj har forhåbentligt opbevaret deres fine kuglepen fra Grand Rokk - den kulturelle hotspot i Reykjavík.
Grand Rokk var vores störste, private sponsor for årsmödet 2004 (kun kulturministeriet stöttede os mere), og det var ikke nok med at værten sponsorerede SKS-årsmödet, han gav også prisene i en krimnovelle-konkurrence, hvor förste pris var 300.000 islandske kroner, omregnet rund 3.700 euro, hvor av halvdelen bestod av kredit på en internet-marked. De bedste noveller blev siden publiseret av AB-forlag, en avdeling av Edda-forlaget, Islands "Evil empire" i publikationsbranchen, som publiserer Arnaldur, Árni, Stella Blómkvist, Viktor og mig...
Konkurrencen blev holdt i sammenhæng med Grand Rokks egen Kulturfestival, og i samarbejde med det islandske kriminalselskab; Hið íslenska glæpafélag. Dette samarbejde fortsatte i år, men denne gang sögte vi Gyse-noveller, short and horrible stories...
I går aften, kort efter at Grand Rokks Kulturfestival 2005 blev åbnet, blev så kundgjort, hvem skrev de tre bedste horror-noveller. Konkurrencen var en stor suksés, 71 novelle blev indrækket (41 i fjor) og de 10 bedste bliver publiseret i et special-hæft av en av Islands störste tidsskrifter.
Vinderen var en ung mand, kun 23 år gammel, som ikke har publiseret noget för, Gunnar Theodór Eggertsson. Hans novelle hedder "Julehistorie" og blev belönnet med 200.000 kr - cash, denne gangen, det hele - omregnet 2.500 euro.
På anden plads var Lýður Árnason, en vel bekendt læge i Vestfjordene, et multitalent, men hidttils ikke bekandt for sin indsats indom literaturen, han fik 1.250 euro, og tredje pris, 600 euro, gik til en hidtils helt ukendt, 27 år gammel fodboldtrainer, Þorsteinn Mar Gunnlaugsson.
I alt har Grandrokks og det islandske kriminalselskabs samarbejde altså lokket fram 112 noveller på to år, mange av dem fra helt nye og ukendte forfattere. Næste år er Sci-Fi på menuen, 2007 vil vi få erotiske noveller - hvor Grand Rokk kommer for i et eller andet sammenhæng - og 2008 er krimien igen på dagsordningen.
Vi, i det islandske kriminalselskab, kan kun anbefale jer, at I finder en pub, hvor værten er lige så generös, subkultur-venlig og fuldkommen galen som værten på Grand Rokk...
Ævar Örn.
Grand Rokk var vores störste, private sponsor for årsmödet 2004 (kun kulturministeriet stöttede os mere), og det var ikke nok med at værten sponsorerede SKS-årsmödet, han gav også prisene i en krimnovelle-konkurrence, hvor förste pris var 300.000 islandske kroner, omregnet rund 3.700 euro, hvor av halvdelen bestod av kredit på en internet-marked. De bedste noveller blev siden publiseret av AB-forlag, en avdeling av Edda-forlaget, Islands "Evil empire" i publikationsbranchen, som publiserer Arnaldur, Árni, Stella Blómkvist, Viktor og mig...
Konkurrencen blev holdt i sammenhæng med Grand Rokks egen Kulturfestival, og i samarbejde med det islandske kriminalselskab; Hið íslenska glæpafélag. Dette samarbejde fortsatte i år, men denne gang sögte vi Gyse-noveller, short and horrible stories...
I går aften, kort efter at Grand Rokks Kulturfestival 2005 blev åbnet, blev så kundgjort, hvem skrev de tre bedste horror-noveller. Konkurrencen var en stor suksés, 71 novelle blev indrækket (41 i fjor) og de 10 bedste bliver publiseret i et special-hæft av en av Islands störste tidsskrifter.
Vinderen var en ung mand, kun 23 år gammel, som ikke har publiseret noget för, Gunnar Theodór Eggertsson. Hans novelle hedder "Julehistorie" og blev belönnet med 200.000 kr - cash, denne gangen, det hele - omregnet 2.500 euro.
På anden plads var Lýður Árnason, en vel bekendt læge i Vestfjordene, et multitalent, men hidttils ikke bekandt for sin indsats indom literaturen, han fik 1.250 euro, og tredje pris, 600 euro, gik til en hidtils helt ukendt, 27 år gammel fodboldtrainer, Þorsteinn Mar Gunnlaugsson.
I alt har Grandrokks og det islandske kriminalselskabs samarbejde altså lokket fram 112 noveller på to år, mange av dem fra helt nye og ukendte forfattere. Næste år er Sci-Fi på menuen, 2007 vil vi få erotiske noveller - hvor Grand Rokk kommer for i et eller andet sammenhæng - og 2008 er krimien igen på dagsordningen.
Vi, i det islandske kriminalselskab, kan kun anbefale jer, at I finder en pub, hvor værten er lige så generös, subkultur-venlig og fuldkommen galen som værten på Grand Rokk...
Ævar Örn.
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