Published in 2003, it combines elements of absurdist and fantasy fiction, as well as the author's own brand of social commentary and 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.

An unabridged commercial audio cassette recording of Fluke has been issued with narration by Bill Irwin and whale songs.

[1] The plot of Fluke is set on and off the Hawaiian island of Maui as well as deep underneath the Pacific Ocean off the shore of Chile.

When he photographs one of the whale's flukes, he notices that the words "BITE ME" are spelled out in huge letters on the mammal's tail-fin.