Walter A. Coslet

Who was Walter A. Coslet?

Walter Allen Coslet was a well known science fiction fan, collector, and fanzine publisher as well as a charter member of the International Society of Bible Collectors, writing many articles for the society's publications. He served the National Fantasy Fan Federation as both a Vice-President and President.

Coslet was the only child of Arthur Allen Coslet and Bessie Fodushia Pickett; at age four his right arm was injured and a bone had to be removed because it failed to heal. The family moved to Sunnyside, Washington when he entered 2nd grade, to avoid having to have him vaccinated, but returned to Denton, Montana after Washington also passed mandatory vaccination laws for school aged children. His interest in science fiction began in his early teens and he began collecting in 1937. When his mother objected to his reading science fiction he began reading it in the barn. He graduated from high school in Denton in 1941. The childhood injury to his right arm kept him out of military service in World War II.

Coslet attended Prairie Bible Institute in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada for one year . Among his early jobs he worked as a truck driver on a ranch and spent a few weeks as a shepherd.