Route 57 Issue 14: Loco-Motion

One of the things I’ve been up to this year is editing the University of Sheffield’s creative writing journal, Route 57.

This year’s special issue – a collaboration with the National Railway Museum entitled Loco-Motion, part of the larger Railway Cultures project – has been designed by the incomparable book artist Abi Goodman, and printed on risograph (a kind of old-school printer from the 1980s) by Choriso Press/La Biblioteka, Sheffield. Interspersed are some pictures of the issue in all its grainy, risographic glory. Buy it here.

Loco-Motion takes the culture shock of the railways, their histories, their present and future, as a jumping-off point from which to interrogate speed, transport, mobility, stasis and the politics of travel. It features exceptional, experimental poetry, fiction, performance writing, artwork and non-fiction from students, staff and alumni of the University of Sheffield. The contributions interpret the theme broadly, veering off down the branch lines of automotive, technological and bodily loco-motion, while stressing the way technology alters perceptions of space and time.

This hand-made book is made entirely in Sheffield, and is a steal at only £6 or collection. It is available to buy via IndieGoGo, a crowd-funding campaign site. The first 100 orders come with a free copy of its companion volume, Railway Cultures. While this year’s issue was supported by a one-off grant from the important-sounding Industrial Strategies something something (yawn), we can’t rely on any support whatsoever next year. Please consider buying a copy to ensure that there will be a next year! All proceeds help to ensure the viability of next year’s issue, and support creative writing and the arts in Sheffield. Here’s the link again: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/route-57-issue-14-loco-motion#/.

The launch for both the print issue, Loco-Motion, and the online issue, is next Wednesday (30th), at Blackwells, 6-8pm. There will be wine, *short* readings from both the print and the digital issues, and plenty of time for relaxed chatting. We may also have some limited edition risograph posters on sale. Do come and join us for the last Centre of Poetry & Poetics reading of the academic year!