Paradigm Shifts: Typewritten Tales of Digital Collapse

by Richard Polt, Frederic S. Durbin (Editor), Andrew V. McFeaters (Editor)

Digital technology is breaking down—and typewriters are back. Join storytellers, poets, and artists as they explore the collapse and its aftermath. Contributors include Linda M. Au, Wendell Berry, David G. Brechbiel, Valentine J. Brkich, Catalina Cariaga, Barbara DeMarco-Barrett, Frederic S. Durbin, Trinity Grau, Kristofferson Harris, Arkadiusz Hubczuk, Michael Kitchen, Steve Kuterescz, Jos Legrand, Bill Meissner, R. J. Montgomery, Vinny Negron, Robert Neuwirth, Erich J. Noack, Reine Nust, Carol Ochs, Christopher Ochs, Joey Patrickt, Cornelia Penner, Mark Petersen, Richard Polt, Aaron Schmidt, Nutthawut Siridejchai, Charles Sterrow, Istvan Takacs, Joe Van Cleave, Armando Warner, Matthew Weaver, and Brian Zimmerman.

272 pages, Paperback

Published May 28, 2019

About the author

Richard F. H. Polt is a professor of philosophy at Xavier University. He holds a B.A. in philosophy from the University of California at Berkeley and a Ph.D. from the Committee on Social Thought at the University of Chicago (1991). His main interests are the metaphysical and ethical problems of Greek and German philosophy. He has taught elective courses on a variety of topics, including Plato, Aristotle, Kant, German idealism, existentialism, slavery, time, and Heidegger.

Selected publications:

Heidegger: An Introduction. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1999.

A Companion to Heidegger's "Introduction to Metaphysics." Edited by Richard Polt and Gregory Fried. New Haven: Yale Unversity Press, 2001.

Heidegger's "Being and Time": Critical Essays. Edited by Richard Polt. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2005.

The Emergency of Being: On Heidegger's "Contributions to Philosophy." Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2006.

Reviews

[Chad Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a typewriter collector, the theme of this collection was undeniably fun. The stories themselves had a bit of a range, from merely interesting to truly entertaining. I particularly enjoyed the stories by Cornelia Penner, Carol Ochs, Richard Polt, Joe Van Cleave, and Vinny Negron. The whole idea of the collection, things changing so significantly that what we've left behind suddenly becomes immensely valuable, is thought-provoking.

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slightly freaky read with what's going on in the world now

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure: I have a short story, "Hunting Season," in this collection of stories in which typewriters are featured. When I heard about this collection and the call for stories, I got to work on one and happily, it was accepted. Wendell Berry also has a poem here, as well as stories, and a few photographs, from around the world, all from writers a little bit (or a lot) obsessed with typewriters.

[Marina Garrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book is amazingly well written and worth the small cost (less than $9 CDN). The short stories are of a much higher standard than I was expecting.

Several have left me stunned, shocked (including “You’ll Be Needing This” by Richard Polt) - and wanting to give up my tech job simply because I feel like I am responsible for the future collapse of society!!

On the other hand “Cold Dead Hands” by Steve Kuterescz has got to be the funniest thing I’ve ever read - laugh out loud funny. I especially love his creative character names for the President, Vice-President and National Security Advisor: Truman P Dold, Spike Mence and Mitch Finn (who don’t sound familiar at all!!! ;)

Do yourself a favour and buy this book as quick as you can. I have already purchased Volume 2 “Escapements” and am eagerly awaiting Volume 3 which will be about time travel. If these live up to the quality of the 1st then I’m absolutely hooked.

[Michael Kitchen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun stuff. On to Volume 2!