Fluorocarbons Are Here To Stay! by Donald E. Westlake Episode #221

Donald E. Westlake | June 17, 2024

Fluorocarbons Are Here To Stay! by Donald E. Westlake Episode #221
Donald E. Westlake

FLUOROCARBONS ARE HERE TO STAY!

Episode #221 · Written by Donald E. Westlake · Narrated by Scott Miller

What happens when a technological triumph refuses to cooperate with human plans? Fluorocarbons Are Here To Stay! turns a proud innovation into an escalating problem, blending dry humor with mounting consequences.

Donald E. Westlake crafts a story where logic keeps failing and persistence only makes things worse. Each new solution collides with an unmovable reality, exposing how fragile our assumptions about control and progress really are.

The story’s brilliance lies in its restraint. The tone stays playful even as the implications grow serious, letting the absurdity speak for itself. It’s a reminder that perfection, once achieved, may not be negotiable.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Donald E. Westlake was one of the most versatile writers of the twentieth century, known for his sharp wit, tight plotting, and deep understanding of human behavior. While widely celebrated for his crime novels, his science fiction reveals the same mastery of irony and consequence.

In this story, Westlake applies his signature humor to a speculative idea grounded in everyday logic. The result is a timeless satire that feels just as relevant today as when it was first published.

LISTEN TO THE STORY

Listen to Fluorocarbons Are Here To Stay! by Donald E. Westlake — a witty classic science fiction short story exploring permanence, progress, and unintended consequences.

ABOUT THE LOST SCI-FI PODCAST

The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast is the most listened-to vintage science fiction podcast in the world. Ranked #1 in 34 countries and heard in more than 190 countries, the show has surpassed 3.3 million listens, introducing classic science fiction to a global audience of devoted fans.

Each episode features carefully selected stories from the Golden Age of science fiction, professionally narrated. Timeless storytelling the way it was meant to be heard.

What listeners are saying:

★★★★★ “Best thing since sliced bread!! My absolute favourite podcast! I love science fiction, this podcast gets me through long days at work, Scott’s narration really brings these stories to life and fires my imagination.”
—Alec in the Scottish Borders

★★★★★ “Si-Fi King. First class stories beautifully performed. Scott, you are the vintage Si-Fi king.”
—mopea

Vintage science fiction. Professionally narrated. Carefully curated.