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An Examination of Identity
Deadpan follows an antisemitic Buick salesman from West Virginia who wakes up one day as a famous Jewish comedian. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
If I were still a professor at a university, I would say Deadpan is an homage to Kafka. Because I retired from the faculty several years ago, however, I will say that I stole it from Kafka. In his story The Metamorphosis, a man wakes up one morning to discover that he has been transformed into an insect. I wondered, in what other identity could one awaken? I decided upon the world’s most popular standup comedian.
Dwight is thrown into a world where he has to face his prejudices head-on and evaluate how beliefs. What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think make for great fiction?
To me, at its most basic level, all worthy fiction is an examination of identity. How do we know we really are the person we think we are? In Deadpan, a man has thrust upon him an alternative identity. As the narrative evolves, he comes to welcome this revised image of himself and, instead of rejecting, decides to embrace it, which becomes increasingly difficult–and ultimately impossible–for him to do.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Deadpan is an exploration of hate speech and bigotry in general, and antisemitism in particular. Rape, murder, and arson are dreadful, obvious aspects of racism. But there is a less spectacular though equally destructive, subtler form, which is the benign way that everyday folks, including the author of Deadpan, benignly tolerate wrongdoing and evil.
What is the next book that you are working on and when can your fans expect it to be out?
My next novel is Skinn (that’s not a typo). It’s the story of a celebrity Beverly Hills dermatologist who, however unwittingly, becomes entrapped in the world of internet porn.
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The story is set during the world-wide oil crises of the 1970s, alternating among locations in West Virginia, Las Vegas, Washington, Tehran, and Sinai, and featuring characters as diverse as Sarah Palin, Mel Brooks, and the Shah of Iran. This phantasmagorical tour-de-force not only constitutes a satirical takedown of antisemitism (and bigotry in general), it is also a dazzling display of human dignity, resilience, and humor.
Deadpan
Set in the 1970s, Richard Walter’s novel Deadpan introduces us to Dwight Bridges, a Buick salesman living in West Virginia. His life is unremarkable, marked by a casual antisemitism reflective of his environment. However, Walter swiftly upends Dwight’s world with a surreal twist: Dwight inexplicably finds himself transformed into a famous Jewish comedian. This startling metamorphosis propels the narrative, leaving readers and Dwight alike grappling with a bewildering new reality.
Walter’s storytelling echoes the bizarre identity swaps seen in Being John Malkovich, and shares Kafka’s knack for the absurd, particularly reminiscent of The Metamorphosis. As Dwight navigates his unexpected new life, he confronts his prejudices head-on, offering a candid exploration of bigotry and its personal impacts. The narrative journeys through a tapestry of settings, from Tehran to Las Vegas to Sinai, weaving a complex web where each location contributes to the overarching enigma. Walter masterfully maintains a delicate balance between confusion and coherence, ensuring that the underlying purpose of Dwight’s transformation, as cryptic as it is, gradually comes into focus.
Richard Walter’s Deadpan stands out for its unique exploration of identity and prejudice, couched within an offbeat yet compelling narrative. The novel invites readers to delve into the author’s imaginative and unconventional world, which may not resonate with everyone but is sure to captivate those with a penchant for the peculiar. In its exploration of human tribalism and the personal impact of bigotry, Deadpan offers a distinctive reading experience marked by its audacity and creative vision.
Pages: 246 | ASIN : B0CV2R29S3
LITERARY TITAN 