In this world (Earth), some processes move backwards compared to our world. A coffin is dug out of the ground, the person inside is moved to a bed and starts breathing, etc. Eating, talking etc. seems to function normally. One remembers the past, but an emotional reaction to a future event is possible. In this world we follow a man from tomb to womb.
| Date | Publication | Publisher | Type | Page | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 1964 |
|
Science Fantasy, February 1964 | Nova Publications Ltd. | MAGAZINE | 85 |
| April 1966 |
|
The Impossible Man and Other Stories | Berkley Medallion | Collection | 117 |
| November 1967 |
|
The Overloaded Man | Panther | Collection | 97 |
| May 1968 |
|
Urania #487 | Mondadori | MAGAZINE | 60 |
| 1971 |
|
The Overloaded Man | Panther | Collection | 97 |
| 1971 |
|
Der unmögliche Mensch und andere Stories | Marion von Schröder | Collection | 121 |
| 1973 |
|
De wachtvelden | Meulenhoff | Collection | 105 |
| January 1973 |
|
Der unmögliche Mensch | Heyne | Collection | 105 |
| September 1973 |
|
Espaces inhabitables Tome 2 | Casterman | Anthology | 31 |
| September 1978 |
|
Time of Passage | Taplinger | Anthology | 123 |
| October 1978 | Time of Passage | Robert Hale | Anthology | ||
| 1980 |
|
The Venus Hunters | Granada | Collection | 72 |
| December 1981 |
|
Urania #908 | Mondadori | MAGAZINE | 280 |
| 1984 |
|
Die Zeitgräber und andere phantastische Erzählungen | Suhrkamp | Collection | 84 |
| May 1984 |
|
Les chasseurs de Vénus | Denoël | Collection | 106 |
| 1985 | The Venus Hunters | Triad Granada | Collection | 72 | |
| August 1986 |
|
Afterlives | Vintage Books | Anthology | 29 |
| November 1986 |
|
The Venus Hunters | Gollancz | Collection | 72 |
| 1988 |
|
The Venus Hunters | Grafton / Collins (UK) | Collection | 72 |
| November 1988 |
|
Das unentdeckte Land | Bastei LĂĽbbe | Anthology | 15 |
| April 1990 |
|
Urania #1124 | Mondadori | MAGAZINE | 44 |
| 1992 |
|
The Venus Hunters | Flamingo | Collection | |
| November 2001 |
|
The Complete Short Stories | Flamingo | Collection | 559 |
| November 2002 |
|
The Complete Short Stories | Flamingo | Collection | 559 |
| September 2007 |
|
Vom Leben und Tod Gottes | Heyne | Collection | 7 |
| September 2009 |
|
The Complete Stories of J. G. Ballard | W. W. Norton & Company | Collection | 559 |
| October 2009 |
|
Nouvelles complètes Volume 2, 1963-1970 | Tristram | Collection | 257 |
| 2010 |
|
The Complete Stories of J. G. Ballard | W. W. Norton & Company | Collection | 559 |
| June 2012 |
|
The Complete Stories of J. G. Ballard | W. W. Norton & Company | Collection | |39 |
| August 2014 |
|
The Complete Stories of J. G. Ballard | Audible Studios | Collection | |559 |