Science and myth intertwine when Duncan Smock, a recluse with strange habits, finds himself being driven to discover the origins of the universe itself. With help from a fitness show extra with a bad case of ADD and a Native American stripper bearing an ancestral tattoo of unknown power, Duncan must strive to understand his own obscure origins and connections to a source known as The Absolute. Reality is at risk unless Duncan can figure out how to wield a shovel holding the essence of a thousand dead cultures and face the nature of existence head on. Through awkward and surreal encounters, the trio, consisting of Duncan the death cleaner, Starlina the stripper, and Lester the fitness show extra, will have to come to terms with their roles in preventing the unraveling of all that is known. With a mix of humor, horror, and fantasy, Shovel Ready weaves a tale of distorted reality and unlikely bonds. For fans of Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, and Christopher Moore.