Date Published: March 15, 2021
Publisher: Del Sol Press
In the course of a morning, Dungsten Crease resurrects his neighbor’s dog, is arrested by TSA for carrying a weapon which never existed, and drowns a woman at an airline ticket counter—or could he be hallucinating? In his panic he locks himself in the men's room of a coffee shop only to find a strange man in cycling togs sharing the space. The lanky intruder claims to be Dungsten’s neurally implanted concierge unit who has two disturbing messages. Dungsten is a Shaper—an obsolete, genetically programmed tool created by a bankrupt galactic corporation to terraform planetary experiences for vacationing clients; and the woman he inadvertently killed at the airport with his Shaper abilities will be the love of his life. Attracting government agents who want to weaponize him and Galactic Business Council assassins who want to terminate him, fear drives the Shaper within to inadvertently bifurcate, a second Dungsten also now running from his pursuers. But bifurcation comes at a price: loss of appetite, swelling of the hands and feet, an erection lasting longer than four hours, loss of bladder control, rectal bleeding, psychosis, convulsions, and sudden death. To pull himself back together and if he’s lucky, survive, he must master his Shaper abilities before he becomes a victim, or worse, accidentally destroys Earth and everyone he loves along with it.
Interview with Richard Hacker
For those interested in exploring the subject or theme of your book, where should they start?
Rather than subject or theme, because I don’t think there is a place to explore alien probes sent to far-flung planets by a now bankrupt galactic corporation—well, there is a library on Zet’XxRa, but you have to get past the acid spitting gorps just to sign up for a library card—I’d suggest reading the glossary at the back of the book. There you’ll find information on such galactic phenomena as blaggots, garbezas, and zebelmeisters. And then, with that knowledge in hand, go forth to page 1!
How did you become involved with the subject or theme of your book?
I suppose the answer should center around an alien abduction, but it’s a bit more mundane than that. The very first version of this book was written around 2007 or 2008. I sat down in a coffee shop and just wrote. Sadly, this is what came out of my head.
What were your goals and intentions in this book, and how well do you feel you achieved them?
My primary goal with all of my writing is to entertain readers. There are plenty of sources for MEANING out there without me trying to pile on. I’m more for enjoying a good story. Some of my stories lean to the humorous, like Bifurcation of Dungsten Crease, and some, like Die Back are darker fantasy thrillers, but I hope still entertaining reads. As far as achieving what I wanted to achieve with this book, I’d say I met my goal. Early on I got feedback that I was on the right path with it. The Texas Writers League awarded the book (by a different title back in 2010) best science fiction novel. And while I very much appreciate the great feedback I’ve gotten from folks like The Prairies Book Review, the test for me is that I still chuckle every time I read the story.
Anything you would like to say to your readers and fans?
Thank you for being readers! You are the reason for the season. Without readers I suppose I could still enjoy writing the story, but a story needs an audience. I need a dialogue with you. So, thanks for supporting authors. You definitely make a difference.
What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
The silliness of it. My previous two novels are fantasy thrillers with elements of historical and speculative fiction. The research to write something like that can be pretty extensive. With Dungsten, I just made stuff up in my twisted mind.
Can you tell us a little bit about your next books or what you have planned for the future?
There is a follow-on to Bifurcation. My publisher will cringe at the working title, but it’s Antikythera. I’ve also got the beginnings of the third book in the Alchemia series (Die Back & Vengeance of Grimbald), as well as another untitled speculative fiction story.
How long have you been writing?
My first moment of writing fame occurred in the 3rd grade reading short stories to the class instead of bringing pet snakes and gerbils to show and tell. I dabbled over the years, but after dipping my toe in the novel waters in 2007, I went full Monty in 2009 and haven’t stopped.
Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in The Bifurcation of Dungsten Crease?
Dungsten, the protagonist, is an ordinary guy thrust into extraordinary circumstances. He’s not really hero material, “flight” being his favorite aspect of “fight or flight”. However, in spite of his shortcomings, he doggedly (or maybe desperately) steps into life looking for some peace and happiness. Don’t we all do that in our own ways?
Kate is an intelligent, thoughtful, patient, and persistent professor of archeology and finds herself in a love relationship with Dungsten. She serves often as his guiding light and the voice of reason.
Sandarian Megaleez is a galactic politician and a highly awarded player in the Assassination Game. The game was developed to deal with the thousands of Shaper probes spread across the galaxy when the PIPSCO, the Phoenix Interstellar Planet Share Corporation, went bankrupt. All is explained in the book. He has two hearts, a hot sexually driven relationship with X’ramta, a twelve-armed cephalopod of his home planet, Ola'lazrid. Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it…
Ashanti Blair, a very bad-ass agent of DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) who has decided Dungsten will make an extremely valuable weapon of mass destruction.
Sam, who is Dungsten’s neurologically implanted concierge unit. Sam does his best to guide the emerging Shaper on a path that hopefully avoids a conmic whoops—like imploding Earth.
If you could spend the day with one of the characters from THE BIFURCATION OF DUNGSTEN CREASE, who would it be? Please tell us why you chose this particular character, where you would go and what you would do.
Great question. And I’m surprising myself with my answer. I’m going with Sandarian Megaleez. Why? While he’s quite scary, he has also seen much of the galaxy. You definitely don’t want to meet this guy in a dark alley. You need witnesses, so a bar might be good. Best to have all sharp objects removed—if he decides to whack me, I don’t want to make it too easy. Then I’ll buy him a few Intergalactic Stardust Cutters and in return, he’ll give me a grand view of goings and comings of the Galaxy, including political intrigue and drinking games in Azzzamabbaarrang.
In case I don’t survive cocktails with Sandarian, thanks for hosting me on your blog. Much appreciated!
About the Author
Del Sol Press books by Richard Hacker are available at Amazon
The Alchimeía Series
DIEBACK: Book One
VENGEANCE OF GRIMBALD: Book Two
Other books by Richard Hacker:
Nick Sibelius Crime Series
KILL’T DEAD OR WORSE
BUZZARD BAIT
ALL HAT AND NO CATTLE
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