Title – Fluke: Or I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings
Author – Christopher Moore
My first comment is that Christopher Moore is a wonderful writer. He has written some of the funniest books I have ever read. That said, this is not one of those books. Don’t expect as many hilarious quips as there are in previous Moore you’ve read. Fortunately, while he didn’t fully use his comedic abilities, Moore gave this tale more heart and introspection than his others.
The plot revolves around scientists working in the Pacific Ocean, just off the coast of Hawaii, to study the songs of humpback whales. Sound cerebral? It is. It’s the most intellectual Moore book I’ve read, delving into science (biology and ecology in particular) with relish. Richard Dawkins’ idea of memes is used liberally as is data about marine life conservation.
Being interested in science, I took an immediate liking to the inside look at the work of scientists who feel ineffectual and useless. It’s common to hear ordinary people wonder why anyone would study something so worthless and seemingly unrelated to human experience. In Fluke, these voices echo in the protagonists’ heads.
Moore, through his use of analogy and anecdote, left me with no doubt of the twofold connection between marine science and human life. The first is obvious to anyone with a basic definition of science. Learning about our natural surroundings helps us to manipulate them in ways that are favorable to us. This idea is the cornerstone of medicine and technology.
The second connection between the findings of science and human existence is more abstract but ultimately more fulfilling. Understanding the universe helps us find our place within it and comprehend our own existence. Fluke frequently implies parallels between humans and other animals through sex, hinting at questions of its function in a healthy society.
Also, just as we are amazed at our insignificance through astronomy, biology helps us realize the interconnectedness of the natural world. When we understand that we aren’t a species set apart, we can start to build an ethic of conservation and environmentalism built on rational thought.
That is the true message of Fluke: science may seem useless at times, but it’s important work for the physical and emotional health of humans and the rest of the natural world. I believe that is a truth worth spreading.
Homo Heretic 