LTC Rolt Events by the IWA

The UK's Inland Waterways Association (IWA) has set up a number of centennial events this year in honor of L.T.C. Rolt. There's even a reenactment of a cruise he took along Britain's inner channels during his lifetime, which resulted in him writing a log that helped generate interest in these inland waterways. Like his contemporary, Robert Aickman, Rolt was fascinated by the old network of rivers and locks throughout Britain. Rolt will always be remembered for his ghost story collection Sleep No More, which proved something of a high quality one shot in weird literature.

These events by the IWA help celebrate an important part of Rolt's life. They also remind weird aficionados that many great weird writers have interests outside a niche genre of literature. In L.T.C. Rolt's case, his devotion to preserving inland waterways was even more of a priority than writing ghost stories.

-Grim Blogger

LTC Rolt Events by the IWA

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Omnia Exeunt in Mysterium: LTC Rolt

The Omnia Exeunt In Mysterium blog has come out with a fascinating post on the life and writings of L.T.C. Rolt. "Who?" is likely the exclamation sputtering from the mouths of many, both in and out of the weird literary circle. As the linked blog tells us, Rolt was an engineer, transportation enthusiast, and weird fiction writer who produced a well received collection of tales in the traditional ghostly model called Sleep No More. He's also another curious link in the history of weird writers who have latched supernatural phenomena to industrial conveyances, much like Robert Aickman and Stefan Grabinski.

Rolt is worth re-exploring now, in part, because we're fast approaching his centennial. February 9, 2010, marks the birth of this elusive figure. According to blogger Kai Roberts, it will become a bit easier to read Rolt's contributions to the weird, thanks to a planned re-issue of his ghostly collection by History Press. This is scheduled for an unknown release later this year.

Rolt's jittery world of possessed industry deserves a wider readership, and perhaps things will be set in motion to that end with this anniversary of his birth. Those who can't wait for the reprint of Sleep No More can try seeking a copy of the out-of-print edition of this book by Ash-Tree press.

-Grim Blogger

Omnia Exeunt in Mysterium: LTC Rolt

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