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.

RELATED STORIES

• The Risk Profession by Donald E. Westlake
• Fluorocarbons Are Here To Stay! by Donald E. Westlake
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