Jan Howard Finder
Encyclopedia
Jan Howard Finder is an American
academic administrator
, science fiction
writer, filker, hostel
ling tour guide
, costumer, and fan
. He was a guest of honor at the 1993 ConFrancisco
. He often spells his name in lower case, jan howard finder, and his last name is pronounced finn-der. He lives in the Albany, New York
area, and is considered by many in science fiction fandom to be the epitome of a SMOF
(a "behind the scenes" worker).
, Illinois
, Finder became a devotee of the works of J. R. R. Tolkien
in 1964, when he "spent three straight days curled up at his parents’ house" reading The Lord of the Rings
trilogy. He studied academic administration
at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
, and while there organized the "First Conference on Middle-earth", in 1969. Two years later he held the second "Conference on Middle-earth" at Cleveland State University
, where he was working as an assistant dean
.
," has been a frequent guest of honor at science fiction conventions, including Honored Guest at ConFrancisco (the 1993 Worldcon). He has also been 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). He was a co-founder of Albacon
.
He has been the chairperson of several science fiction conventions not specifically dedicated to the writings of Tolkien. He was chair of Albacon
in 1996 and of the Science Fiction Research Association
(SFRA) 32 in Schenectady, New York
in 2001.
Well-known in fannish circles,, Finder was editor of the fanzine, The Spang Blah. He was, until 2011, "scribe" (secretary
) of the Latham-Albany-Schenectady-Troy Science Fiction Association.
The Wombat has been a frequent masquerade
judge, costumer
charity
auctioneer, and participant in panel discussions, from Arisia
and Albacon
in the Northeast United States to Worldcons and Lunacon
2007. He has mentored other prospective con chairs.
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).
He edited the 1982 anthology
Alien Encounters (1982) Taplinger ISBN 0-8008-0168-7 , which included short stories by Lynn Abbey
, Ben Bova
, Lee Killough
, David Langford
and Ian Watson
, among others.
Finder was tuckerized
when Anne McCaffrey
named a character for him.
ling 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.
in the 2006 film UnCivil Liberties
, and was a production assistant
with the 2007 motion picture The Break-Up
.
. "I just finally said, 'I want to do it, and I don’t give a damn if I lose money — I’ll pay for it...'" "This is something I’ve wanted to do for 40 years." Finder is now retired from academia
and has been dealing with prostate cancer
, spending part of mid-March and then again in August 2011 in the hospital.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
academic administrator
Academic administration
An academic administration is a branch of university or college employees responsible for the maintenance and supervision of the institution and separate from the faculty or academics, although some personnel may have joint responsibilities...
, science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
writer, filker, hostel
Hostel
Hostels provide budget oriented, sociable accommodation where guests can rent a bed, usually a bunk bed, in a dormitory and share a bathroom, lounge and sometimes a kitchen. Rooms can be mixed or single-sex, although private rooms may also be available...
ling tour guide
Tour guide
A tour guide provides assistance, information and cultural, historical and contemporary heritage interpretation to people on organized tours, individual clients, educational establishments, at religious and historical sites, museums, and at venues of other significant interest...
, costumer, and fan
Science fiction fandom
Science fiction fandom or SF fandom is a community or "fandom" of people actively interested in science fiction and fantasy and in contact with one another based upon that interest...
. He was a guest of honor at the 1993 ConFrancisco
51st World Science Fiction Convention
The 51st World Science Fiction Convention , also known as ConFrancisco, was held September 2–6, 1993, at the ANA Hotel, Parc Fifty Five, and Nikko Hotels, and the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, California, USA....
. He often spells his name in lower case, jan howard finder, and his last name is pronounced finn-der. He lives in the Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
area, and is considered by many in science fiction fandom to be the epitome of a SMOF
SMOF
SMOF is an acronym which stands for "Secret Master Of Fandom" and is a term used within the science fiction fan community. Its coining is generally attributed to science fiction author Jack L...
(a "behind the scenes" worker).
Background
Originally from ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, Finder became a devotee of the works of J. R. R. Tolkien
J. R. R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the classic high fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.Tolkien was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke College,...
in 1964, when he "spent three straight days curled up at his parents’ house" reading The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is a high fantasy epic written by English philologist and University of Oxford professor J. R. R. Tolkien. The story began as a sequel to Tolkien's earlier, less complex children's fantasy novel The Hobbit , but eventually developed into a much larger work. It was written in...
trilogy. He studied academic administration
Academic administration
An academic administration is a branch of university or college employees responsible for the maintenance and supervision of the institution and separate from the faculty or academics, although some personnel may have joint responsibilities...
at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
, and while there organized the "First Conference on Middle-earth", in 1969. Two years later he held the second "Conference on Middle-earth" at Cleveland State University
Cleveland State University
Cleveland State University is a public university located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. It was established in 1964 when the state of Ohio assumed control of Fenn College, and it absorbed the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 1969...
, where he was working as an assistant dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
.
Science fiction
Finder, nicknamed "The WombatWombat
Wombats are Australian marsupials; they are short-legged, muscular quadrupeds, approximately in length with a short, stubby tail. They are adaptable in their habitat tolerances, and are found in forested, mountainous, and heathland areas of south-eastern Australia, including Tasmania, as well as...
," has been a frequent guest of honor at science fiction conventions, including Honored Guest at ConFrancisco (the 1993 Worldcon). He has also been Fan Guest of Honor at BYOB-Con 8 (1978), Lastcon 1 (1981, Albany NY), LepreCon
Leprecon
LepreCon is an annual science fiction convention with an emphasis on art held in and around Phoenix, Arizona usually in May around Mother's Day weekend. It is the second oldest science fiction convention in Arizona. It is sponsored by Leprecon, Inc., an Arizona non-profit corporation...
8 (1982), Genericon 1 (1985), NotJustAnotherCon 4 (1988) and Arisia
Arisia
Arisia is a Boston-area science fiction convention, named for a planet in the Lensman novels by E. E. "Doc" Smith. The name was chosen as an homage to an older Boston-area con, Boskone, which took the typical ending for a convention—con—and then altered the spelling to match the name of an...
12 (2001). He was a co-founder of Albacon
Albacon
Albacon is the Albany science fiction convention, held each autumn in the Albany, New York area, also called the Capital District.Albacon is the largest "Con" in upstate New York. It is hosted by LASTSFA, or Latham-Albany-Schenectady-Troy Science Fiction Association, a local science fiction fandom...
.
He has been the chairperson of several science fiction conventions not specifically dedicated to the writings of Tolkien. He was chair of Albacon
Albacon
Albacon is the Albany science fiction convention, held each autumn in the Albany, New York area, also called the Capital District.Albacon is the largest "Con" in upstate New York. It is hosted by LASTSFA, or Latham-Albany-Schenectady-Troy Science Fiction Association, a local science fiction fandom...
in 1996 and of the Science Fiction Research Association
Science Fiction Research Association
The Science Fiction Research Association , founded in 1970, is the oldest, non-profit professional organization committed to encouraging, facilitating, and rewarding the study of science fiction and fantasy literature, film, and other media...
(SFRA) 32 in Schenectady, New York
Schenectady, New York
Schenectady is a city in Schenectady County, New York, United States, of which it is the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 66,135...
in 2001.
Well-known in fannish circles,, Finder was editor of the fanzine, The Spang Blah. He was, until 2011, "scribe" (secretary
Secretary (club)
Secretary is a title commonly held by a member of an organization, club, or society. Common duties of the Secretary include taking minutes, notifying members of meetings, contacting various persons in relation to the society, administrating the day to day activities of the organization and...
) of the Latham-Albany-Schenectady-Troy Science Fiction Association.
The Wombat has been a frequent masquerade
Masquerade ball
A masquerade ball is an event which the participants attend in costume wearing a mask. - History :...
judge, costumer
Haute couture
Haute couture refers to the creation of exclusive custom-fitted clothing. Haute couture is made to order for a specific customer, and it is usually made from high-quality, expensive fabric and sewn with extreme attention to detail and finished by the most experienced and capable seamstresses,...
charity
Charity (practice)
The practice of charity means the voluntary giving of help to those in need who are not related to the giver.- Etymology :The word "charity" entered the English language through the Old French word "charité" which was derived from the Latin "caritas".Originally in Latin the word caritas meant...
auctioneer, and participant in panel discussions, from Arisia
Arisia
Arisia is a Boston-area science fiction convention, named for a planet in the Lensman novels by E. E. "Doc" Smith. The name was chosen as an homage to an older Boston-area con, Boskone, which took the typical ending for a convention—con—and then altered the spelling to match the name of an...
and Albacon
Albacon
Albacon is the Albany science fiction convention, held each autumn in the Albany, New York area, also called the Capital District.Albacon is the largest "Con" in upstate New York. It is hosted by LASTSFA, or Latham-Albany-Schenectady-Troy Science Fiction Association, a local science fiction fandom...
in the Northeast United States to Worldcons and Lunacon
Lunacon
Lunacon is an annual science fiction/fantasy convention organized by The Lunarians. First held in May 1957, it is the oldest science fiction convention in New York state, and is generally held on the third weekend of March....
2007. He has mentored other prospective con chairs.
Finder writes in the short story
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
genre
Genre
Genre , Greek: genos, γένος) is the term for any category of literature or other forms of art or culture, e.g. music, and in general, any type of discourse, whether written or spoken, audial or visual, based on some set of stylistic criteria. Genres are formed by conventions that change over time...
, and his short fiction writing has been published in several anthologies, including "The Grapes of Rath" (1980) in Microcosmic Tales (1981).
He edited the 1982 anthology
Anthology
An anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler. It may be a collection of poems, short stories, plays, songs, or excerpts...
Alien Encounters (1982) Taplinger ISBN 0-8008-0168-7 , which included short stories by Lynn Abbey
Lynn Abbey
Lynn Abbey is an American computer programmer and author.-Background:Born in Peekskill, New York, Abbey was daughter of Ronald Lionel and Doris Lorraine . She attended the University of Rochester, where she began as an astrophysics major. She earned a A.B...
, Ben Bova
Ben Bova
Benjamin William Bova is an American science-fiction author and editor. He is the recipient of six Hugo Awards for Best Professional Editor for his work at Analog Science Fiction in the 1970's.-Personal life:...
, Lee Killough
Lee Killough
Lee Killough may refer to:*Karen Lee Killough , American writer, uses "Lee Killough"*Lee Killough...
, David Langford
David Langford
David Rowland Langford is a British author, editor and critic, largely active within the science fiction field. He publishes the science fiction fanzine and newsletter Ansible.-Personal background:...
and Ian Watson
Ian Watson
Ian Watson may refer to:* Ian Watson * Ian Watson , British science fiction author* Ian Watson , British cricketer* Ian Watson , British footballer...
, among others.
Finder was tuckerized
Tuckerization
Tuckerization is the act of using a person's name in an original story as an in-joke. The term is derived from Wilson Tucker, a pioneering American science fiction writer and fanzine editor, who made a practice of using his friends' names for minor characters in his stories...
when Anne McCaffrey
Anne McCaffrey
Anne Inez McCaffrey was an American-born Irish writer, best known for her Dragonriders of Pern series. Over the course of her 46 year career she won a Hugo Award and a Nebula Award...
named a character for him.
Tour guide
Finder is well-known for his organized hostelHostel
Hostels provide budget oriented, sociable accommodation where guests can rent a bed, usually a bunk bed, in a dormitory and share a bathroom, lounge and sometimes a kitchen. Rooms can be mixed or single-sex, although private rooms may also be available...
ling tours of science-fiction and -fantasy related sites, such as to "Middle-earth
Middle-earth
Middle-earth is the fictional setting of the majority of author J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy writings. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings take place entirely in Middle-earth, as does much of The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales....
" - meaning New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, in which The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is a high fantasy epic written by English philologist and University of Oxford professor J. R. R. Tolkien. The story began as a sequel to Tolkien's earlier, less complex children's fantasy novel The Hobbit , but eventually developed into a much larger work. It was written in...
was filmed.
Film
Finder played a bit partBit part
A bit part is a supporting acting role with at least one line of dialogue . In British television, bit parts are referred to as under sixes...
in the 2006 film UnCivil Liberties
UnCivil Liberties
UnCivil Liberties is a 2007 film directed by Thomas Mercer starring Glenn Allen and Tony Grocki.-Synopsis:Set in the near future, UnCivil Liberties imagines a Big Brother-type government that uses technology to spy on its citizens...
, and was a production assistant
Production assistant
A production assistant, also known as a PA, is a job title used in filmmaking and television for a person responsible for various aspects of a production...
with the 2007 motion picture The Break-Up
The Break-Up
The Break-Up is a 2006 American comedy-drama romance film directed by Peyton Reed, starring Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn. It was written by Jay Lavender and Jeremy Garelick and produced by Universal Pictures.-Plot:...
.
Recent events
For 2011, Finder has organized the "3rd Conference on Middle-earth" (deliberately hearkening back to those of 1969 and 1971 which he led), in Westford, MassachusettsWestford, Massachusetts
Westford is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 21,951 at the 2010 census.-History:Originally a part of neighboring Chelmsford, West Chelmsford soon grew large enough to sustain its own governance, and was officially incorporated as Westford on September 23,...
. "I just finally said, 'I want to do it, and I don’t give a damn if I lose money — I’ll pay for it...'" "This is something I’ve wanted to do for 40 years." Finder is now retired from academia
Academia
Academia is the community of students and scholars engaged in higher education and research.-Etymology:The word comes from the akademeia in ancient Greece. Outside the city walls of Athens, the gymnasium was made famous by Plato as a center of learning...
and has been dealing with prostate cancer
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
, spending part of mid-March and then again in August 2011 in the hospital.