Fluke, or, I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings

Author	Christopher Moore
Cover Artist	Ruth Marten
Language	English
Genre(s)	absurdist fiction
Publisher	William Morrow & Company
Released	3 June 2003
Media Type	Print (Hardcover)
Pages	336
ISBN	ISBN 0380978415

Fluke, or, I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings is the seventh novel by Christopher Moore. Published in 2003, it combines elements of absurdist and fantasy fiction, as well as the author's own brand of social commentary and wacky humor. A serious theme in the novel involves environmentalism, particularly that associated with whales; and the author's personal research-experience with marine biologists helped to inform much of the story. Christopher Moore is an American writer of absurdist fiction. ... Absurdist Fiction, an extreme branch of satire, is a form of fiction or poetry that utilizes absurd characters, situations or subjects to promote thoughtful laughter. ... Christopher Moore is an American writer of absurdist fiction. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Absurdist Fiction, an extreme branch of satire, is a form of fiction or poetry that utilizes absurd characters, situations or subjects to promote thoughtful laughter. ... For other definitions of fantasy see fantasy (psychology). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into environmentalist. ... Whales are the largest species of exclusively aquatic mammals, members of the order Cetacea, which also includes dolphins and porpoises. ... Marine biology is the Scientific study of the plants, animals and other organisms that live in the ocean. ...

An unabridged commercial audio cassette recording of Fluke has been issued with narration by Bill Irwin and whale songs. Typical 60-minute Compact Cassette. ... Bill Irwin (born April 11, 1950, Santa Monica, California) is an American clown and actor noted for his contribution to the renaissance of American circus during the 1970s. ...

The novel is set on and off the island of Maui, in Hawaii (the author himself resided on Kauai for several years until 2006), as well as deep underneath the Pacific Ocean, off the shore of Chile. Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at 727 square miles (1883 km²). Native Hawaiian tradition gives the origin of the islands name in the legend of Hawaiiloa, the Polynesian navigator attributed with discovery of the Hawaiian Islands. ... Official language(s) English, Hawaiian Capital Honolulu Largest city Honolulu Area  Ranked 43rd  - Total 10,941 sq mi (28,337 km²)  - Width n/a miles (n/a km)  - Length 1,522 miles (2,450 km)  - % water 41. ... Kauai (usually called Kauai outside the Hawaiian Islands) is the oldest and fourth largest of the main Hawaiian Islands, having an area of 1,446 km² . Known also as the Garden Isle, Kauai lies 105 miles (170 kilometers) across the Kauai Channel, northwest of Oahu. ...

Nathan Quinn, a marine biologist, goes out on a routine day-trip expedition to survey whales in the area. One of the whales flukes, and Nate notices that the words "BITE ME" are spelled out in huge letters on the mammal's tail-fins. His curiosity uncovers one mystery after another. Marine biology is the study of animal and plant life within saltwater ecosystems. ...

External links

• Author's own site for the novel