New version, June 2025:
It’s time for an updated version of our get-to-know-the-team interviews. A few years have gone by since we introduced our second-in-command, the equivalent of a “speaker of the house,” vice chair Constanze:
- Tell us about you!
Hi, my name is Constanze Hofmann, I moved to Hamburg in 2023 and I am a voracious reader, almost exclusively in SFF. My entryway to organized fandom was via the Hugo awards, which also led me to my first Worldcon in Helsinki in 2017. I’ve been addicted to cons ever since, and had a staff role at the Dublin 2019 and Glasgow 2024 Worldcons. - What genre is your home?
Science Fiction and Fantasy – almost exclusively in written form. Luckily, running out of reading material is not a problem anymore since the invention of the ereader. - What is your role at MetropolCon – and why are you involved?
As Vice Chair of the association I’m taking care of a lot of the administrative work – meetings and the agendas/minutes of them, time planning. Apart from that I’m always excited about a good dealers’ and exhibition area at a con, which is why I am also engaged in that area.
Why I’m involved? Because I don’t want to always have to travel abroad to experience a cool, diverse con that is organized by fans for fans. - It’s Saturday night at some con: Where will you be found?
Hopefully, at an awesome evening event, whether that is an award ceremony, a cosplay competition, or a concert. I’ll probably fall asleep after that, since I’ll have spent the whole day helping to make attendees & participants smile. - What has been your most magical con moment so far and what do you particularly look forward to at cons?
I’m especially looking forward to seeing like-minded friends who I usually only see once a year. A good con is like coming home. It gets magical when I’m sitting in the auditorium and can’t stop grinning because some of those friends have just won a Hugo Award. - Which artifact accompanies you through your everyday life at a con?
The never-emptying bottle containing magic water, so I don’t forget to hydrate. - Your ultimate survival tip for MetropolCon?
Fresh air! Get outside every once in a while, even if it’s just for a little walk. - One work of speculative fiction (whether book or film or series or game) you would strongly recommend we all check out?
“The Hands of the Emperor” by Victoria Goddard, a fantasy novel with a protagonist whose hair is going grey already and whose weapons aren’t sword and magic, but his pen and voice – and who’s making the world better for everyone with those. - What are your wishes for the future of the speculative genres, particularly in Germany?
Multiplicity, and as broad a perspective as possible; looking over the rim of the teacup, and not just at the English-speaking countries. Europe is varied, and this variety should be mirrored in the speculative texts and media that are available.