Moore blends the concepts of marine biology with sci-go and fantasy elements in a way that just makes you want to know more about the world he created. Nathan is very much an average Joe, nerdy protagonist who finds himself in some weird situations. I can’t say I was particularly rooting for or against him, just that I wanted to see him continue being in situations. The supporting cast, especially Clay and Kona, are really fun and help flesh out the other characters. 

There is some homophobia typical of the early 2000s in the humor as well as the treatment of the two feminist lesbian characters, but I didn’t personally feel like it ruined the work as a whole for me. It definitely has a similar vibe to a lot of films from the same timeframe that have the same issues.

As someone who has always loved the ocean, and particularly marine mammals, this felt like a book that perfectly captured what I wanted when I saw the whale fluke on the cover. It’s funny and heartfelt but not too complex, even with some of the technical scientific jargon. It’s an easy read and very entertaining.