Backspaces: Typewritten Tales of Time Travel

by Richard Polt

If you could travel back in time, where—and when—would you go? What adventures would await you? Explore the possibilities in this unique collection of art, poetry, and typewritten stories in many genres. Contributors include Dedé Assi, Brandon Bledsoe, Clara Chow, Shelley K. Davenport, E. R. Delafield, Frederic S. Durbin, Mathilda-Anne Florence, Daniel Gewertz, N. E. Glenn, Albert Goldbarth, Martyn V. Halm, Chad Harrison, Martha Lea, Ewan Matheson, Andrew V. McFeaters, Bill Meissner, Vincent Negron, Erich J. Noack, Charles W. Ogg, Joey Patrickt, Richard Polt, Hannah Ricke, Rachel Schnellinger-Bailey, Marni Scofidio, Philip L. Simpson, Denise Terriah, Armando Warner, and Matt Wixey.

303 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2020

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

[SciFi Pinay · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title of this SFF short story collection is really code for nostalgia, as "Cold Hard Type III isn't just about stories involving typewriters, but specifically going back in time with the aid of typewriters. Might sound crazy, but "Backspaces" is quite sentimental aka "Chicken Soup for the Scifi Soul". Not hard SF at all, more genre-bending. Each story could've been a "Twilight Zone" episode! Very strong characters, and so the human aspect of the stories really shine over the usual time travel tropes or the little science the book offers. It showcases how typewriters transcend time, or more accurately, how the emotions and life choices of those who've used these typewriters transcend time. Can we say the same thing for digital devices, such as smartphones and laptops? Decades from now, would we look fondly at 21st century gadgets the same way we look at typewriters now? I highly recommend this for those who are casual science fiction readers or who want a palate cleanser from the usual hard SF.

"All typewriters, whatever their appearance, are solely designed for one thing, and in that thing they are mercilessly and ruthlessly functional -- precise, inanimate, and sane ...Something about its aged form, the way it stood, suggested a machine greater than the sum of its parts. It had stories to tell. Had known things, seen things ...To see words appear as if fired directly from the brain, smashing straight into paper." -Unquiet Writers (Matt Wixey)

[Mathilda-Anne Florence · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm in this one so I'm a tad biased. Great stories from everyone. Cheers.

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed it, every short story led you wanting more. The type style of the last story was hard to read though.