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Reefsong
After narrowly escaping death in a forest fire, Angie Dinsman found herself under the control of the World Life Company. They promptly equipped her with webbed hands and gills—creating a half‑fish, half‑woman. Her mission is to uncover secret research files on the water world of Lesaat. But first she has to undergo the terrifying process of learning to breathe underwater. After mastering the basics of survival, she faces an insurmountable challenge: finding the information that could end starvation on Earth while sabotaging the company's evil plans.
311 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
13 people are currently reading
347 people want to read
About the author
Carol Severance
7 books12 followersCarol Severance (1944-2015) was a Hawaii-based writer of science fiction with a special interest in Pacific Islanders and their environments.
After growing up in Denver, she served in the Peace Corps and later assisted with anthropological fieldwork in the remote coral atolls of Truk, Micronesia.
She lived in Hilo, where she shared her home with a scholarly fisherman, a surfer, and an undetermined number of geckos.
After growing up in Denver, she served in the Peace Corps and later assisted with anthropological fieldwork in the remote coral atolls of Truk, Micronesia.
She lived in Hilo, where she shared her home with a scholarly fisherman, a surfer, and an undetermined number of geckos.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 21, 2015
Got this in the christmas white elephant my book club runs. I think the cover art was the primary motivator for including this volume in the draw with the odd half naked girl with tentacle hands and webbed flipper feet and her otter/manta ray hybrid friend lying on a rock watching a robot or something working in a urine coloured sea.
This image made more sense as I read the book and seems to be of Pau and one of her wing ray friends.
Anyway the story starts off fairly confusingly in a forest on earth the introduction is a bit convaluted but we learn that earth is under the control of some corporation that evolved from drug cartels and has a strangle hold on the planets food which due to some other weird bans on birth control and abortion is in scarce supply due to overpopulation. The main character Angie is some sort of UN agent a troubleshooter tasked with resolving food problems. She's on holiday in a forest acting as some sort of watcher.
Then there is a fire and an accident and when she wakes up the company had without her consent installed gills and replaced her hands with tentacle fingers and is set to bill her for this unless she goes to a remote water planet which is mostly reefs. They use the planet to grow algae for food for earth but unchecked the algae can grow out of control and then kill the reefs so it needs to be managed carefully. There is also some formula for the total conversion enzyme which does something that allows people to survive off no food or less food and this has gone missing. There is also Pua the girl from the cover of the book who has been taken from the planet due to her parents dying.
Angie reluctantly takes the job but stipulates she wants to take Pua with her and get her hands back when she is done. Angie is also terrified of being under the water due to some past accident which makes the whole going to a water planet a bit of a bad idea.
The water planet is mostly populated by people of pacific island decent and has a mix of their cultures and attitudes. It also has yellow sea and glowing reefs.
The rest of the book covers the UN troubleshooter trying to work out what is going on and fix the harvest of the algae before it ruins the reef struggling with the competing forces of the company and the native water worlders.
It wasn't too bad a story a little confusing starting out. The characters were interesting with their different backgrounds and goals.
Most of the construction of what is happening on earth is fairly irrelevant other than as a point of conflict to drive the events on the water planet.
You have the mustache twirling villains of the company with their evil plans who are not well fleshed out. The couple of groups of swimmers on the planet some company some native. You have the few major players who get the majority of the screen time.
There is a lot of time spent talking about the weird ecology of the planet and how the reef hangs together but it gets semi mystical real quick with both Pua and Angie claiming to hear the voice of the land/ocean.
All in all it was not a bad story and the cover was a fair estimation of some of the books contents.
This image made more sense as I read the book and seems to be of Pau and one of her wing ray friends.
Anyway the story starts off fairly confusingly in a forest on earth the introduction is a bit convaluted but we learn that earth is under the control of some corporation that evolved from drug cartels and has a strangle hold on the planets food which due to some other weird bans on birth control and abortion is in scarce supply due to overpopulation. The main character Angie is some sort of UN agent a troubleshooter tasked with resolving food problems. She's on holiday in a forest acting as some sort of watcher.
Then there is a fire and an accident and when she wakes up the company had without her consent installed gills and replaced her hands with tentacle fingers and is set to bill her for this unless she goes to a remote water planet which is mostly reefs. They use the planet to grow algae for food for earth but unchecked the algae can grow out of control and then kill the reefs so it needs to be managed carefully. There is also some formula for the total conversion enzyme which does something that allows people to survive off no food or less food and this has gone missing. There is also Pua the girl from the cover of the book who has been taken from the planet due to her parents dying.
Angie reluctantly takes the job but stipulates she wants to take Pua with her and get her hands back when she is done. Angie is also terrified of being under the water due to some past accident which makes the whole going to a water planet a bit of a bad idea.
The water planet is mostly populated by people of pacific island decent and has a mix of their cultures and attitudes. It also has yellow sea and glowing reefs.
The rest of the book covers the UN troubleshooter trying to work out what is going on and fix the harvest of the algae before it ruins the reef struggling with the competing forces of the company and the native water worlders.
It wasn't too bad a story a little confusing starting out. The characters were interesting with their different backgrounds and goals.
Most of the construction of what is happening on earth is fairly irrelevant other than as a point of conflict to drive the events on the water planet.
You have the mustache twirling villains of the company with their evil plans who are not well fleshed out. The couple of groups of swimmers on the planet some company some native. You have the few major players who get the majority of the screen time.
There is a lot of time spent talking about the weird ecology of the planet and how the reef hangs together but it gets semi mystical real quick with both Pua and Angie claiming to hear the voice of the land/ocean.
All in all it was not a bad story and the cover was a fair estimation of some of the books contents.
October 3, 2025
Rating: [B-]
I found this book in a second hand store and it was a fun surprise. There is very clear inspiration from Dune; political intrigue, off world planet, indigenous population, farming a rare resource. But instead of a sand world it's water. That being said, Dune is much more dense. This book is a lighter story.
For some reason i found this book a bit hard to get through despite enjoying it. Overall though, a good story.
I found this book in a second hand store and it was a fun surprise. There is very clear inspiration from Dune; political intrigue, off world planet, indigenous population, farming a rare resource. But instead of a sand world it's water. That being said, Dune is much more dense. This book is a lighter story.
For some reason i found this book a bit hard to get through despite enjoying it. Overall though, a good story.
August 15, 2015
This book's theme reminded me very much of City of Pearl, and another one that looks very similar but I am yet to read is The Color of Distance.
July 1, 2021
such a beautiful story, a great read at any age!
August 8, 2018
A better novel than I expected. The made-up swearing is a little goofy, but otherwise the ecological, anti-corporate theme is unfortunately still timely. Liked the characters.
February 24, 2023
An interesting novel set in a future in which some of Earth’s population migrated to a water planet where they established an intriguing culture. They breathe through gills and—a fascinating idea—possess hands with tentacle fingers.
The author created a unique world, but, for me, didn’t quite convey it in a vivid way. The protagonist, Angie Dinsman, came off well—a strong, knowledgeable, action-oriented woman with great troubleshooting skills.
It just seemed a little difficult to understand Angie’s mission on this planet, and thus hard for me to care deeply about her conflicts.
The novel could have benefited from an additional round of editing: sudden point-of-view shifts; too many characters introduced too soon; too many characters whose names begin with the same letter; confusing scenes; odd phrasing of some sentences; and missing punctuation.
All that said, sea-based science fiction remains rare and I commend the author for writing this novel and contributing to an underserved sub-genre.
The author created a unique world, but, for me, didn’t quite convey it in a vivid way. The protagonist, Angie Dinsman, came off well—a strong, knowledgeable, action-oriented woman with great troubleshooting skills.
It just seemed a little difficult to understand Angie’s mission on this planet, and thus hard for me to care deeply about her conflicts.
The novel could have benefited from an additional round of editing: sudden point-of-view shifts; too many characters introduced too soon; too many characters whose names begin with the same letter; confusing scenes; odd phrasing of some sentences; and missing punctuation.
All that said, sea-based science fiction remains rare and I commend the author for writing this novel and contributing to an underserved sub-genre.
March 12, 2023
This book is just okay. It took me a long time to read — almost two weeks — and that’s due to the fact that there was nothing keeping me interested in reading. But on the flip side, there was nothing that deterred me from reading, either. It’s just sort of slow. The characters are interesting, but I cared more about the relationship between Pua and Angie than anything else that was going on. This could be personal preference, but I also feel like the relationship between the two of them was more concrete and developed than any of the action regarding the main plot.
November 25, 2022
Futuristic novel set on a water planet about genetic engineering, indigenous people, and sustainable food sources. It was fun.
All about glass reading challenge-5. Glass is not a solid (something that moves on the cover)
All about glass reading challenge-5. Glass is not a solid (something that moves on the cover)
November 9, 2023
A very good read, although I was expecting it to be less hard sci-fi and more like brain candy. You will love this if you seek strong female characters, intrigue, double- and triple-crossers, and daring efforts to defeat large, faceless corporate villains.
September 5, 2012
Originally reviewed on Kirkus' Science Fiction & Fantasy Blog
When Ana and I sat down to figure out what old-school, non-white/European science fiction novel to review next, one childhood favorite immediately jumped to mind: Reefsong by Carol Severance. I couldn’t recall much of the novel, other than that the protagonist had crazy biologically engineered tentacles for hands and the book was set on a distant planet inspired by Polynesian cultures. And, oh yeah, I remember that I really loved the book. Thanks to the power of ebooks, Reefsong has been saved from out-of-print purgatory and is the subject of today’s review.
Thea’s Take:
Re-reading a childhood favorite is a terrifying thing—it’s nigh impossible for it to live up to sentimental expectations. Amazingly, Reefsong not only passes the test of time, it was even better than I remembered.
Reefsong tells the story of Angie Dinsman, a UN peacekeeper and skilled fire warden in the employ of the World Life Company on a future version of Earth. After Angie nearly dies in a rescue attempt on the job, she awakens to find her body irrevocably modified: The World Life Company, owning 10 years of Angie’s life on a contract, has replaced her burned hands with tentacles and given her gills. Angie has unwillingly become a “squid” and, as part of a desperate gamble by the company, she is sent to recover sensitive, top-level research hidden in the algae blooms on the distant water planet of Lesaat. Needless to say, Angie is pissed at having been experimented on against her will, but grudgingly agrees to help—if only to find a way to find a way to tear the company down from the inside.
Featuring capable, intelligent heroines (Angie and her 14-year-old cohort, Pua) and a respectful take on a Polynesian-inspired culture, Reefsong excels on both the character and world-building fronts. Angie is a no-nonsense protagonist betrayed by someone close to her and finds herself victim of the company’s nefarious schemes. But instead of crumbling, she rallies. She must also confront her own prejudices and fears: her distaste for those who have gills and webbed (or now tentacled) hands and her fear of drowning. The world of Lesaat and the role of the Company in this future dystopian universe is well defined, as Reefsong grapples with issues of exploitation and ecological degradation without slipping into didacticism.
While some of the writing feels slightly dated—there’s an interesting use of exclamation points, and expletives are sanitized with phrases like “fire-loving” or “spit!”—the technology, genetics and science fiction aspects do not. In fact, Reefsong is easily better than any number of current SFF dystopias (especially those of the YA-crossover variety). Basically, Reefsong rocks. Absolutely recommended to readers of all ages and eras.
In Book Smugglerish, a cool 8 out of 10.
Ana’s Take:
Unlike Thea, I had zero familiarity with the novel and the only real expectation I had came from a preoccupation with cultural appropriation since the novel uses elements from Polynesian culture in the creation of its world. I also had fingers (and toes) crossed that this 1991 novel would not be as dated as a The KLF album.
Thankfully, Reefsong turned out to be a pleasant surprise. In fact, I absolutely loved it.
A futuristic dystopian world controlled by a company whose tentacles spread across the universe and whose influence is felt deeply in the lives of the citizens under its tutelage, this is a book with teeth. From its opening chapter, it is easy to see how no character is safe and that this company really means business when it comes to the control they try to assert. Breaking this control is, of course, inevitable and the fun centers around how the characters develop their plans.
Plot and character development merged successfully, and as one progressed, the other followed suit. I loved the book for its plethora of well-developed, fully fleshed main and secondary characters—most especially its portrayal of female characters. I loved that Pua, one of the main protagonists, is a pragmatic, headstrong, obstinate 14-year-old girl who has a clear plan for the future of her people. I loved that there is no sign of any false dichotomy between the pursuit of science and respect for nature; both are intrinsically linked. I loved the respectful way that Pacific cultures and peoples are incorporated into this story with a strong voice and active presence.
The things I listed above should be minimum requirement for any well-conceived sci-fi book. But when you read (or try to) as many dystopian sci-fi YA novels as we do, you come across false dichotomies and ridiculous, badly conceived premises that crumble under any amount of scrutiny. Books like Reefsong come as a breath of fresh air.
Absolutely recommended.
In Book Smugglerish, 8 out of 10.
When Ana and I sat down to figure out what old-school, non-white/European science fiction novel to review next, one childhood favorite immediately jumped to mind: Reefsong by Carol Severance. I couldn’t recall much of the novel, other than that the protagonist had crazy biologically engineered tentacles for hands and the book was set on a distant planet inspired by Polynesian cultures. And, oh yeah, I remember that I really loved the book. Thanks to the power of ebooks, Reefsong has been saved from out-of-print purgatory and is the subject of today’s review.
Thea’s Take:
Re-reading a childhood favorite is a terrifying thing—it’s nigh impossible for it to live up to sentimental expectations. Amazingly, Reefsong not only passes the test of time, it was even better than I remembered.
Reefsong tells the story of Angie Dinsman, a UN peacekeeper and skilled fire warden in the employ of the World Life Company on a future version of Earth. After Angie nearly dies in a rescue attempt on the job, she awakens to find her body irrevocably modified: The World Life Company, owning 10 years of Angie’s life on a contract, has replaced her burned hands with tentacles and given her gills. Angie has unwillingly become a “squid” and, as part of a desperate gamble by the company, she is sent to recover sensitive, top-level research hidden in the algae blooms on the distant water planet of Lesaat. Needless to say, Angie is pissed at having been experimented on against her will, but grudgingly agrees to help—if only to find a way to find a way to tear the company down from the inside.
Featuring capable, intelligent heroines (Angie and her 14-year-old cohort, Pua) and a respectful take on a Polynesian-inspired culture, Reefsong excels on both the character and world-building fronts. Angie is a no-nonsense protagonist betrayed by someone close to her and finds herself victim of the company’s nefarious schemes. But instead of crumbling, she rallies. She must also confront her own prejudices and fears: her distaste for those who have gills and webbed (or now tentacled) hands and her fear of drowning. The world of Lesaat and the role of the Company in this future dystopian universe is well defined, as Reefsong grapples with issues of exploitation and ecological degradation without slipping into didacticism.
While some of the writing feels slightly dated—there’s an interesting use of exclamation points, and expletives are sanitized with phrases like “fire-loving” or “spit!”—the technology, genetics and science fiction aspects do not. In fact, Reefsong is easily better than any number of current SFF dystopias (especially those of the YA-crossover variety). Basically, Reefsong rocks. Absolutely recommended to readers of all ages and eras.
In Book Smugglerish, a cool 8 out of 10.
Ana’s Take:
Unlike Thea, I had zero familiarity with the novel and the only real expectation I had came from a preoccupation with cultural appropriation since the novel uses elements from Polynesian culture in the creation of its world. I also had fingers (and toes) crossed that this 1991 novel would not be as dated as a The KLF album.
Thankfully, Reefsong turned out to be a pleasant surprise. In fact, I absolutely loved it.
A futuristic dystopian world controlled by a company whose tentacles spread across the universe and whose influence is felt deeply in the lives of the citizens under its tutelage, this is a book with teeth. From its opening chapter, it is easy to see how no character is safe and that this company really means business when it comes to the control they try to assert. Breaking this control is, of course, inevitable and the fun centers around how the characters develop their plans.
Plot and character development merged successfully, and as one progressed, the other followed suit. I loved the book for its plethora of well-developed, fully fleshed main and secondary characters—most especially its portrayal of female characters. I loved that Pua, one of the main protagonists, is a pragmatic, headstrong, obstinate 14-year-old girl who has a clear plan for the future of her people. I loved that there is no sign of any false dichotomy between the pursuit of science and respect for nature; both are intrinsically linked. I loved the respectful way that Pacific cultures and peoples are incorporated into this story with a strong voice and active presence.
The things I listed above should be minimum requirement for any well-conceived sci-fi book. But when you read (or try to) as many dystopian sci-fi YA novels as we do, you come across false dichotomies and ridiculous, badly conceived premises that crumble under any amount of scrutiny. Books like Reefsong come as a breath of fresh air.
Absolutely recommended.
In Book Smugglerish, 8 out of 10.
December 31, 2014
Angie Dinsman had no intention of going to a waterworld. As a U. N. troubleshooter, she's found her way to all sorts of strange places, but being surgically altered without her consent and sent to a world mostly covered in water was not in her plans. Still, once there she's determined to see the job done. Rumors of an enzyme with the potential to end the hunger crisis have caught the attention of powerful people, and if Angie can get the job done, she can get everything back again. But everyone is hiding something, and it will take everything she has just to survive, let alone go home.
With sci-fi overtones and whispers of myth, the story keeps winding and swirling down unpredictable pathways. Angie is a strong lead: a capable woman whose life was (from her perspective) ruined by corporate overlords and a betrayal of someone close, but a woman who never loses sight of her ultimate goal to come back. Pua, too, is an equally compelling character. As temperamental as the seas, and with more than a few secrets of her own, she's thrust into the position of relying on Angie in order to get back to her home of Pukui.
The story isn't entirely a mystery. There's plenty of action, exploration, and drama. Things like drugs that force people to tell the truth don't become deus ex machina to reveal the ending---people can't tell what they don't know, and no one has the entire story. In fact, actually using the drug backfires on pretty much everyone, though it did serve some useful purpose. The Pacific Island culture gives the whole story a fresh flavor.
Overall this was a powerful novel with a unique focus. The ending, particularly Angie's actions, made a satisfying conclusion. I rate this novel Recommended.
Content notes: The characters swear a lot, but most of the swearing replaced the words with something more harmless, like "Spit!" There were a few implied sex scenes.
With sci-fi overtones and whispers of myth, the story keeps winding and swirling down unpredictable pathways. Angie is a strong lead: a capable woman whose life was (from her perspective) ruined by corporate overlords and a betrayal of someone close, but a woman who never loses sight of her ultimate goal to come back. Pua, too, is an equally compelling character. As temperamental as the seas, and with more than a few secrets of her own, she's thrust into the position of relying on Angie in order to get back to her home of Pukui.
The story isn't entirely a mystery. There's plenty of action, exploration, and drama. Things like drugs that force people to tell the truth don't become deus ex machina to reveal the ending---people can't tell what they don't know, and no one has the entire story. In fact, actually using the drug backfires on pretty much everyone, though it did serve some useful purpose. The Pacific Island culture gives the whole story a fresh flavor.
Overall this was a powerful novel with a unique focus. The ending, particularly Angie's actions, made a satisfying conclusion. I rate this novel Recommended.
Content notes: The characters swear a lot, but most of the swearing replaced the words with something more harmless, like "Spit!" There were a few implied sex scenes.
November 15, 2012
This story is so original! I was blown away. I loved the character of Pua, her independence and vigor are undeniable, and her love of her homeworld is like nothing I've ever read. All the science in this book is not too far removed from reality, so it seems very plausible and realistic. It's not too wordy, not too concise, and doesn't feel like a cliffhanger at the end. A fabulous read, overall!
June 7, 2016
Read it several times over the years, but the last time was a while ago. It definitely stuck with me. I remember being happy it was SF with a female lead (that was unusual back then). And I remember the tentacle hands. And so,e kind of mystery about an ocean planet.
I don't recall specifics. But it was something I loved at the time.
I don't recall specifics. But it was something I loved at the time.
May 7, 2012
This is an impressive marriage of fantasy and real-life Polynesian culture. I grew up in Hawaii, and was there during the debates about a potential space port in Ka'u - I loved how Carol Severance worked that fact in. Loved this book!
April 22, 2012
Annoying substitution-style censoring, such as "spit" for "sh*t" and "fireloving" for "f*cking." Why even include expletives if you aren't going whole-hog? But other than that, great story-telling and description.
January 7, 2015
This is a book I read to my kids at night for a bedtime story. Well its one of the books. That was over 18 years ago for my youngest and he is reading it over almost every year. I have just put it back on my nightstand again and look forward to yet another go.
February 5, 2008
The author brings her experiences with Pacific Island culture to this book.
July 25, 2008
I remember liking this book a lot when I read it, but it was several years ago, and I might benefit from a second reading, now that I'm not 14.
August 14, 2015
I loved how the author describes what it would be like to swim underwater. Wish I had the old cover with the image of the girl in the book.
February 10, 2017
Every time I read this book, I fall in love with it all over again. Truly one of my favorite sci-fi books.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews