Fantasy scholar Stefan Ekman is guest of the Finfar researcher meeting. Ekman lectures at the University of Lund, has a background in English and economics, and has worked as a translator and researcher since the early 1990s. Ekman received his doctorate in 2010; his thesis dealt with the topofocal perspective of settings in fantasy.
Ekman has also held many international functions. He has chaired IAFA’s (International Association of the Fantastic in Arts) department of fantasy literature, and his speeches at the annual ICFA conferences have covered a broad spectrum of topics. He has written on the various embodiments of evil in fantasy literature as well as on the themes in the novels of YA author Maria Gripe.
Ekman’s favourite books include Ursula Le Guin’s Earthsea stories, Neil Gaiman’s Smoke and Mirrors collection and Jeff Noon’s Vurt series. His hobbies include judo, theatre and role playing.