I am overcome by nostalgia when I walk near the University. I remember the lectures of Hannu Riikonen, professor of comparative literature, which were fascinating and inspiring. Outwardly Riikonen resembled Professor Calculus, with his tuft of a beard, but he had a reputation as a riveting speaker who could light a fire under his audience. Riikonen was also very strict with his exams, and rambling answers did not get you far. The answers had to be succinct and to the point. I also remember the encouraging personality of Anna Makkonen, who was the supervisor on my bachelor’s dissertation.

Heikki Nevala has been a magician for the past 30 years. His interest in magic was piqued, as is so often the case, when he was still a small boy. “I started using my stage name, Heikki Harha, in 1993. However, I had been doing magic before that, and I still do. But magic is only something I do to supplement my income. I have also delved into the cultural history of the profession and been involved in various associations in the field.”

Besides being a magician, Heikki Nevala has also written non-fiction. His interest in magic, which began when he was a child, has influenced his choice of topics. In his books Nevala has studied the different aspects of entertainment. “Sven Hirn, the now deceased pioneer in the field of circus and fairgrounds, had delved into the same topics and helped me with my material. These topics are on the margin compared to traditional favourites like politics and war. On the other hand, it is interesting to know how people used to entertain themselves.”

Heikki Nevala is an active member of Skepsis, the Finnish Association of Sceptics. The purpose of the association is to support the teaching of methods for acquiring scientific knowledge, critical thinking, and a worldview based on reason. Nevala has been a board member for the association for several years, and he has written articles for the Skeptikko (‘Sceptic’) magazine on topics that touch on magicians and swindlers. Skepsis has also promised a reward of 20000 euros for anyone who can produce a paranormal phenomenon under observable conditions.

My dream concerns writing. I already became interested in literature and producing text as a youngster. As a teenager I went through the great classics of world literature and dreamt of becoming a writer. At some point I would like to make that dream come true and start writing fiction.