Cryptography

While this book was “in progress” it remained unoriented, its progression having no overarching idea. It was only very late, after all these pieces had been written, that the thought of aligning them in the order of their composition took over somewhat. This is a circumstance that I hasten to confide to the reader of this introduction, who rightfully expects some accounting for what is to follow.

Each of the steps in this non-progression were taken within the compass of the work of Jacques Derrida. This repeated reference was, for the large majority of pieces collected here, dictated by a context, occasion, or event. Before the fall of 2004, these contexts always varied. After Derrida's death in October, 2004, each context was, whether or not this was made explicit, a frame of some sort thrown around the disarray that so many then experienced. At many public gatherings in the weeks and months that followed, often at institutions with which Derrida had been associated, a few of his colleagues, friends, or students spoke or tried to speak, thought or tried to think aloud in some manner of response to the loss.

More than five years have now passed. In addition to memorial issues of numerous journals, a number of monographs have appeared whose signatories have likewise been jolted by the sudden disappearance of someone whose work and whose friendship had long accompanied them.