Fluke

Or, I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings

By: Christopher Moore

Narrated by: Bill Irwin

Length: 9 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

Just why do humpback whales sing? That's the question that has marine behavioral biologist Nate Quinn and his crew poking, charting, recording, and photographing very big, wet, gray marine mammals - until the extraordinary day when a whale lifts its tail into the air to display a cryptic message spelled out in foot-high letters: Bite Me.

Trouble is, Nate's beginning to wonder if he hasn't spent just a little too much time in the sun. 'Cause no one else on his team saw a thing - not his longtime partner, Clay Demodocus; not their saucy young research assistant; not even the spliff-puffing white-boy Rastaman Kona (aka Preston Applebaum). But later, when a roll of film returns from the lab missing the crucial tail shot - and his research facility is trashed - Nate realizes something very fishy indeed is going on.

By turns witty, irreverent, fascinating, puzzling, and surprising, Fluke is Christopher Moore at his outrageous best.

©2003 Christopher Moore (P)2006 HarperAudio

Critic reviews

"This amusing pastiche cobbles together elements from all the classic sea yarns: from 'Jonah and the Whale' to Moby Dick to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea." (Booklist)

Best listen/read of my year!

Well written, nicely composed with a plot that let me work out what is happening without beating me about the head with it. Voice execution was amazing. Narrator complemented the work nicely. Story required thought which I enjoyed greatly. This is the only book I tracked twice this year. I generally do not track anything twice but this I restarted immediately.

By far best read of my year!

This is why I listen to audio books

After listening to "Fluke" the first time, I sent a note to Bill Irwin, thanking him for such an entertaining experience. His interpretation of these characters--laid-back Nate and Clay, Clair, the Old Broad, Kona--fleshed out Moore's book in hilarious and unexpected ways. His performance was, in my opinion, pitch perfect.

My favorites? Kona's reaction to the news that the Chinese eat kitties; the Old Broad's insistence that the big whale wanted a pastrami sandwich. Moore's work is why I read and Irwin's narration is exactly why I listen to audio books.

Not my favorite Christopher Moore

I love Christopher Moore's books but this one felt.... disjointed. It wasn't hard to finish but, I noticed that the story seemed.....pieced together from 4 or 5 different versions of this same book that seemed to compete with eachother. Others seem to love this book. I wish I had spent my credit on a different Christopher Moore book. Sorry Mr. Moore.

Aahhh I love a well written story

Christopher Moore did not disappoint. So refreshing after listening to so many books with hope but ending up apathetic, if not irritated.
Thank you, Mr. Moore for another great story!!

Great Christopher Moore read

I love his style. This book was funny and easy to listen to, definitely recommend it

Good Book, Bad narration

First off, this is a pretty good book. Not quite as good as some of his books, but still good.

Second of all, the narration. It made the book sound so lifeless. The reading of the book sounded so monotoned that seemed it sucked the life out of the characters. I'm a certified insomniac and this book nearly put me the sleep just listening to it. If you're going to read a book that's going to be heard worldwide, at least put some feeling and emotions into the reading of the book. It makes it sound more real and inviting as if the speaker enjoys the book he or she is reading. And with Moore's brand of humor, it's needed.

Again, this is a good book. Not as good as some of his other works, but still good. It's just the narration. Good reading rhythm, but no life.

Snowy biscuit, whaley boys, and goo... Oh my!

This is one of Christopher Moore's best books (as far as plot goes - similar to Dirty Job). There are plenty of twists and turns. It really kept me guessing! The characters are awesome, as always. Kona's pigeon speak is hilarious! I do agree that Bill Irwin was a little monotone in the beginning, but it gets better as the story progresses.

This might help your experience:
1. Do not listen to this right after listening to chronicles of Abby Normal. Susan Bennett did such a wonderful job and she is a tough act to follow.
2. Try listening to a non-fiction book with a lot of facts first. Then this might suck you in right from the beginning.

Moore Doesn't Disappoint

As a steadfast Christopher Moore fan, I had been running out of material to read that appealed to me. Fool, Lamb, the Vampire episodes, all were outstanding; a story about a whale researcher? Really? But I was "between" other stuff, so I gave it a shot. What a hoot it is! Well written, parts that are laugh-out-loud funny, and much dry wit regarding the human (and cetacean) condition. A very pleasant surprise. I loved it, and if you like Moore, you will too.

(Loved the Kona character--Yah man, as Ja say, whales be our brudders, ya know. Great stuff.)

Jacques Cousteau meets Aldous Huxley

I love Christopher Moore. He writes about vampires, demons, goblins and other overdone fantasy characters, but he makes them so utterly normal and goofy that they are entertaining. If you're looking for some gothic romances, look elsewhere. His human characters are also flawed, silly, exasperating, and funny. In this book he goes into our collective treatment of the ocean and its creatures. Not preachy, but there's a little more of a big message than in Moore's other books, which is the only reason why I didn't give it five stars. It's definitely worth a credit.

Counter point

I've read that some dislike the narration. It isn't flat, it's deadpan. It's glorious. It makes it so much funnier that any other, I mean laughing out loud in empty rooms and public transit levels of funny. It's a style that lets the punchlines sneak up on you at take you out at the knees. I adore it.

For complicated reasons I bought this audiobook twice level of love of the narration.