Jan Howard Finder

jan howard finder is a prominent American science fiction writer, filker, hostelling tour guide, costumer, production assistant, and fan, who was a guest of honor at the 1993 ConFrancisco. He normally spells his name in lower case, jan howard finder, and his last name is pronounced "finn-der". [ [http://pern.srellim.org/charbase.htm Pern Characters web site] ] He currently lives in the Albany, New York area, and is considered by many in science fiction fandom to be the epitome of smof (a "behind the scenes" worker).

cience Fiction

Finder, nick-named "The Wombat," has been a frequent guest at numerous Science Fiction conventions, including Honored Guest at ConFrancisco (the 1993 Worldcon). [ [http://www.scifiinc.net/scifiinc/gallery/bio/finder,_jan_howard.htm SciFi Fan Gallery page on Jan Howard Finder] ] [ [http://dpsinfo.com/pbt/worldcons/93progthu.html WorldCon programming cached web site] ] He has also be Fan Guest of Honor at BYOB-Con 8 (1978), Lastcon 1 (1981, Albany NY), LepreCon 8 (1982), Genericon 1 (1985), NotJustAnotherCon 4 (1988) and Arisia 12 (2001). [ [http://www.scifiinc.net/scifiinc/gallery/bio/finder,_jan_howard.htm SciFi Fan Gallery page on Jan Howard Finder] ] [ [http://www.leprecon.org/lep29/participants.html LepreCon web site] ] He was a co-founder of Albacon. [ [http://www.readersadvice.com/cons/con118.html Readers Advice web site] ]

He has been the chairperson at several cons, including two cons specifically dedicated to the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien. [ [http://www.scifiinc.net/scifiinc/gallery/bio/finder,_jan_howard.htm SciFi Fan Gallery page on Jan Howard Finder] ] He was chair of Albacon in 1996 and of the Science Fiction Research Association (SFRA) 32 in Schenectady, New York in 2001. [ [http://www.scifiinc.net/scifiinc/gallery/bio/finder,_jan_howard.htm SciFi Fan Gallery page on Jan Howard Finder] ] [ [http://www.leprecon.org/lep29/participants.html LepreCon web site] ]

Well-known in fannish circles, [ [http://www.boston-baden.com/hazel/Pix/A/janhowardfinder.htm Sci Fi Fan Photo website] ] [ [http://pipl.com/directory/people/Jan%2520Howard/Finder Fannish Trivia web site] ] he was editor of the Fanzine, "The Spang Blah". [ [http://www.scifiinc.net/scifiinc/gallery/bio/finder,_jan_howard.htm SciFi Fan Gallery page on Jan Howard Finder] ]

The Wombat has been a frequent masquerade judge, [ [http://www.interaction.worldcon.org.uk/staflist.htm WorldCon 2005 offciail web page program listing] ] [ [http://www.leprecon.org/lep29/participants.html LepreCon web site] ] costumer [ [http://www.costume-con.org/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=7256 Costume Con Gallery web page on one of his creations] ] charity auctioneer, and speaker on sci-fi con panels, from Arisia and Albacon in the Northeast United States to World Cons [ [http://www.torcon3.on.ca/programming/news/saturday.html Wolrd Con 2003 program] ] [ [http://www.boston-baden.com/hazel/Pix/p.cgi?2005+3301-02+ia0793.jpg+3301 WolrdCon 2005 Photo gallery] ] and Lunacon 2007. [ [http://www.lunacon.net/lists_programs_byparticipant.asp?p=138 LunaCon web site] ] He has mentored other prospective con chairs. [ [http://www.archonstl.org/30/pocket_program.html Archon web site] ]

Finder writes in the short-story genre, and his short fiction writing has been published in several anthologies, including "The Grapes of Rath" (1980) in "Microcosmic Tales" (1981). [ [http://www.iblist.com/author3099.htm IBList web site] ] [ [http://www.diversebooks.com/cgi-bin/pw.cgi?4eb4e7 Diverse Books web site] ] [ [http://contento.best.vwh.net/s99.htm Index to Science Fiction Anthologies and Collections] ]

He was editor of "Alien Encounters" (1982), [ [http://www.alibris.com/search/search.cfm?qwork=231334&wauth=Jan%20Howard%20Finder&matches=14&qsort=r&cm_re=works*listing*title A Libris web site page on Alien Encounters] ] [ [http://www.bookfinder.com/author/jan-howard-finder/ Book-finder.com web site page on Alien Encounters] ] [ [http://contento.best.vwh.net/t124.htm Index to Science Fiction Anthologies and Collections page on Alien Encounters] ] [ [http://www.diversebooks.com/cgi-bin/ea.cgi?Jan_Howard_Finder Diverse Books web site page on Alien Encounters] ] which is sold on Amazon. [ [http://www.amazon.ca/dp/0800801687 Amazon.ca] ] [ [http://www.amazon.com/s?keywords=Jan%20Howard%20Finder&index=books&page=1 Amazon.com] ]

He has achieved that rarest of fannish honors - another writer has named a character for him. [ [http://pern.srellim.org/charbase.htm Pern Character web site] ]

Tour guide

Finder is well-known for his organized hostelling tours of science-fiction and -fantasy related sites, such as to "Middle-earth" - meaning New Zealand, in which "The Lord of the Rings" was filmed. [ [http://www.lastsfa.org/sfdg/sfdg_newsletter_20050305.html Lastfa web site discussion] ]

Production

Finder made an unsuccessful effort to assist with the production of "The Lord of the Rings". Fact|date=August 2007 He did succeed in becoming a production assistant with the 2007 motion picture "The Break-Up". [ [http://us.imdb.com/name/nm2562836/ IMDB site] ]

References

ee also

* Albacon
* Filking
* Hostel
* List of Worldcons
* 51st World Science Fiction Convention
* Science fiction convention
* Science fiction fandom
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