Koraalen: Planetary Symbiosis

by Heather Murata

Settle into your favorite reading nook and immerse yourself in an inspiring science fiction fantasy novel with an environmental twist—ecological science fiction—with a sweet romance and mystery woven into its lush tapestry.

The native plants and animals on the planet Koraalen hold many secrets—secrets that go above and beyond the ordinary—not to mention their value to the world of medicine.

Thriving in a symbiotic relationship with human colonists, under utopian stewardship laws designed to maintain a balance in the ecology of the planet and sustain renewable resources indefinitely, Koraalen is an oasis in the Unified Interstellar Economic Collective.

But now a dark and foreboding mystery shrouds Koraalen, threatening not only pharmaceutical advances, but the very heart and soul of the planet's delicate ecological balance.

Follow marine biologists, Shan and Nerissa, as they race against time in their struggle to solve the mystery and heal the oceans—and their friends—before it's too late.

5-Star

A mystery in the oceans of Koraalen…Beautiful novel with many layers…

A fun sci-fi read with a powerful environmental message…

A gentle romance with a powerful ecological message…

Great world-building, very likable characters, believable fantasy, a bit of romance, a bit of science, some detective work and a very satisfying conclusion…

176 pages, ebook

Published January 30, 2019

Reviews

[Jason VonGerichten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start by saying I enjoyed the heck out of this book. What a fun read. It’s got a fine pace, it paints a wonderfully detailed picture of the settings without becoming overly descriptive (which is not an easy task), and the characters are all well-drawn and relatable.

The Hawaiian influences are obvious from the beginning, even if you don’t read the introduction by the author. It’s almost as if the Hawaiian culture was turned into a planet all its own and then transported a thousand years into the future. As someone who’s been to Hawaii a few times and has a deep love and respect for the islands, this story hit a sweet spot in my imagination, one that I found myself pondering and revisiting, both while I was reading it, and several days after I was done, too.

The story centers around Nerissa, a young woman born with the ability to speak telepathically with the coral reefs of Koraalen. She’s not alone in this ability but she seems to have a more powerful connection than most others, even her new boss, Shan, who has a different sort of powerful connection with Nerissa (team Shanissa all the way!). Almost from the beginning we learn that the coral is becoming sick, and it’s up to Nerissa, Shan, and their team of marine biologists to discover what is causing the illness and stop it before the damage becomes irreversible.

It’s hard to read this without reflecting on the effects of pollution on our oceans, and how, sadly, very little is being done to stop it. I couldn’t help but think wouldn’t it be nice if there were people born with the ability to talk to coral reefs, or any major part of the environment threatened by human’s carelessness. Wouldn’t we be more likely to aim for symbiosis rather than profit? I’m sure the author’s thoughts were not too dissimilar from mine.

My last thoughts are a hope that Heather Murata continues to explore this expansive world she has created. I don’t know if she plans on writing any sequels, but I’ll be the first in line if she does, and I’ll definitely be more conscious of my impact on the environment going forward.

[Priyadarshni Palanikumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a quick read! I did not expect to be hooked so thoroughly once I started reading this book (nothing against the set-up, but I was distracted due to other pursuits in life). This is a requested review from Ms Murata and her team.

A beautiful water-logged planet with islands of Hawaii vibes and an artificially constructed mainland of Oceana, Koraalen is visually stunning. Laden with palm, coconut and tropical fruits, Coralia is the home of Nerissa, a budding marine biologist. She enters into her chosen career after internship at Oceana in the Marin Biology Guild to study the waters of the planet and help maintain order. Koraalen boasts of relationships formed between the Coral Reefs as a whole entity with a life inside and most kindred humans. She meets the head of her new team Shan and amidst a mutual attraction, they embark upon a journey to investigate an illness in the Coral around the Northern Islands. And all hell breaks loose as several areas are affected with bleached and dying Coral. The story goes on to describe whether they solve the problem affecting their beloved ecosystem that supports all of Koraalen.

Engaging writing with beautiful locations and emotive characters attract the reader very much in this book. I love the relationship showcased between different characters as well. I might have knocked off a star due to minimal conflicts inflicted on the main characters and I also wanted a better showdown in the climax.

PS : Ms Murata, can I expect more stories featuring these characters? Because I would love to read more ecological battles to come featuring Nerissa and Shan. Please???

[Mark Ferguson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Koraalen: Planetary Symbiosis by Heather Murata is the story of a utopian world under a mysterious threat, something insidious that must be caught and stopped by a young woman named Nerissa with a passion for marine biology and a deep link to the corals. This link is no metaphor: the coral holds conversation and has a better personality than some humans. Unlike the story of Dr. Dolittle (or the more recent Avatar) in this story there is no skepticism from others about this communication with the alien Gaia, which is an accepted reality on Koraalen. Something is hurting the corals, and Nerissa and her new friends must find the problem and the solution before permanent harm is done.

Environmental stories are hard to do right, but this is no On Deadly Ground. If any such comparison to that film could be made, replace the mindless violence with a passionate and optimistic atmosphere, something that is not often seen in such environmental stories, which usually resort to either utter fantasy (Fern Gully), wallowing hopelessness (Samson and Sally), or distracting spectacle and violence (On Deadly Ground, or Avatar) to make audiences digest their message. We need some optimism in our environmentalism and our science fiction, and Koraalen is a speck of light in a long line of dire predictions and morose science fiction writers who create dystopias with forced edginess (of which I'm personally guilty).

On this world the problem has been caught early, because vigilance pays. Magic is not the answer, but we're not going to blow up Michael Caine to fix this either. There actually is something non-ridiculous that can be done! Nerissa is supported by a vast interplanetary apparatus of scientists and corporate stakeholders to conduct her vital work, and there are almost no one-dimensional 'obstructionist' characters that so often populate these stories of saving the planet. People are good, people do care and can help, sometimes.

The novel seems to be primarily a coming of age tale for the young lady with a hint of mystery, and if I have to poke a hole anywhere I must state that it doesn't make use of science fiction for more than aesthetic purposes in a few places that feel largely superficial. This could have been Earth, maybe in a few years when the coral decides to yell at us. Most of the characters have a clear personality but there is a large cast that feels out of place for a stand-alone novel that is focused primarily on one person's journey, with three characters sometimes doing the work of one. The seamlessness of some relationships felt a little extra-utopian, with a flirtatious workplace relationship having no MeToo issues, and the wealth of luxury hotels and idyllic scenery (important to establish what we're fighting for) was topped off by more wining and dining than I would expect from scientists racing to save the world. Or maybe I'm just being cranky and muttering 'young people'.

Because of how quickly the premise is established I don't think it is a spoiler to say that, to step a little behind the scenes, the primary villain of this story is apathy. The problem on Koraalen is small, and only a few notice, but by the time many people notice it will be far too late. Apathy is a very tricky villain for an author to take on, especially mass apathy. It's harder than mass ignorance - if all you had to do to make people stop using drugs was to teach them about what drugs can do, addiction would be far less of a problem. When it comes to addiction or a neglected environment most people already know the core fundamentals, but how do you make them care? In Murata's story, you make people care by creating a powerful relationship, a new symbiosis. If you're not caring about something as passionately as Nerissa and her corals and her friends and family, what the hell are you doing on this planet with your limited time?

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aloha!

Koraalen is a fun read to be sure. Built around a mystery of why the coral reef is dying while exploring a lush world of Koraalen. The Hawaiian influences are very apparent, but the author does a great job at making the environment feel new and fresh.

The main character, Nerissa, speak telepathically with the coral reefs that provide the ingredients to create powerful medications. We find out that the reefs are dying and it's up to the team of marine biologists Narissa is working with to solve the problem before it hits epidemic proportions and destroys the fragile ecosystem.

As with all good Science Fiction, the aliens are never aliens. The author does a fantastic job of weaving a message of how important our ecology is while not being preachy or heavy handed with it. A tough act indeed.

Overall, this is a great novel by a debut author that I hope we'll see more from in the future!

[Michele Northwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Koraalen :A gentle romance with a powerful ecological message.

The story evolves around Nerissa a marine biologist living on Koraalen. When she is given a new job, she meets Shan Maguire, a more senior member of her new team, and the two fall in love.

Their romance is intertwined within the main storyline, which centres around the coral reefs on Koraalen. They are slowly dying from an unknown entity which has somehow entered the oceans. Nerissa, who has always possessed the ability to speak telepathically to the Reefs, tries to deduce the problem before the coral and sealife become damaged beyond repair.

As the team attempts to establish just what is causing the situation, the reader tries to second guess the problem on Koraalen, counterposing and equating it to our own planet, Earth and the ecological problems man has already created.
This book impels us to consider the amount of destruction which we are causing on a daily basis to our oceans, seas, plants and marine animals: Oil spills, toxic waste dumping, the amount of plastic in our waterways, the list is endless - not to mention everything else on dry land that we are slowly destroying through our carelessness and greed.

When the reason for the problema is discovered. Murata forces us to realise how manunkind thinks only of himself and profit, rather than having sympathy for everything and everybody around him.

A well written, gentle love story with an extremely powerful ecological message.
Highly recommended!

[Norma Nikutowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book begins with Nerissa, who has a passion for marine biology, sharing her concerns with her friends, the Coral Reef. The plants and animals on the planet Koraalen hold secrets that are valued in medicine. There is a dark mystery threatening the pharmaceutical advances and the ecological balance. Shan and Nerissa need to race against time to solve the mystery and heal the oceans and friends before it’s too late. Nerissa is a great protagonist surrounded by colorful characters. I loved the environmental twist of this science fiction fantasy novel.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a problem within the oceans of the planet, Koraalen, and the vast, conscious and telepathic, systems of coral reefs are mysteriously sick and dying, nearing a terrible collapse. Will a young scientist who can communicate with the reefs, and the elite team she’s newly joined be able to save them in time?

This is a lovely and enthralling book with many layers. There are sections worth savoring at a slower pace, as the world reveals itself in rich detail and there are also moments of adventure, suspense and danger as an impending disaster closes in.

There are several strong themes woven throughout the story, beginning with a young woman coming of age, growing into her unique abilities and finding her place in the world. Family in a positive context, along with gender equality, is another theme, and the story portrays strong family relationships within a broader culture. The author serves up the sweetness of new romance, as well. The strongest theme by far, however, is one of environmentalism: the need to connect to and protect nature in a mutually interdependent and wholistic relationship. The story’s depiction of the coral reefs as a conscious and communicative living being with its own telepathic abilities, is a heartfelt expression of the author’s obvious connection to nature and stewardship.

The environment is, itself, a character, and is seen and felt through descriptive and scientific details. The consciousness of the planet’s coral reefs, and the unique and powerful relationship the main character, Nerissa Tagas-Kendrick, and the other scientists have with this organism, creates a real feeling of empathy for the reef as a being, not just as ‘something at risk in nature.’ The fact of the reef’s consciousness allows the reader to connect to it in a unique way. In the context of science fiction, my experience of the reef as a character was more akin to discovering an alien being than a simple anthropomorphism on the part of the author. The reef has a unique non-human voice, its own needs, senses, and speaks as a community of things that have gathered into a single voice, rather than as a human individual.

Sci-fi elements, such as high-tech man-made islands, and inter-planetary travel, as well as the more fantastical concept of the conscious, telepathic coral reef, are introduced with a sense of naturalness that lets the reader be in awe, while the characters simply go about their daily life. Familiar experiences on alien worlds abound throughout the book. I appreciated the fact that the “science” of science-fiction, at least in terms of biological systems and environment, was fully present. The details of space travel were assumed, and were not explained, any more than I would explain how an airplane works in a novel if it were just taking me from point A to point B. The biological sciences, however, were germane to the story and enhanced the understanding of what was happening, for me. It added a depth of knowledge to the novel that made it more realistic and added dimension to the characters.

The landscapes of Koraalen are wonderfully envisioned. I was struck by the deeply descriptive language of the novel, and the variety and unique quality of the settings, both on-world and off, that the author created for readers to explore inside her storyline.

I really enjoyed this book, and highly recommend it to anyone wanting to escape to another, somewhat better, and far more connected universe, as envisioned by Heather Murata in Koraalen.

[Elizabeth Mamukwa]

Once you start reading this book you will hardly have the discipline to put it down. Murata weaves a tapestry of three striking themes that yarn themselves through the book. The first one is the unity of man and environment, to the extent that Nerissa could “think-talk” with the coral. This love and unity displayed here has the benefits that include mutual care as well as love and protection between man and environment. Indeed man and environment look out for each other and, where necessary, fight to protect each other. The closeness that exists between man and environment transcends all imagination. It leaves one feeling that if you look after your environment, it will look after you – if the environment is safe, man is safe. It also shows that if you are alert to the needs of your environment, it will show you when it needs your help.
The second theme is the love and unity of family, which we see in Nerissa and her family. We see how Nerissa is nurtured by her family, seen in the small things. Her father taught her to dive in the coral and to care of it. Her mother mentors her and ensures she stays in communication with (and under protection of) the coral by giving her coral jewelry which enables the coral to stay close to her. Her brother and his wife take the effort to visit at a time when she is home in order to spend quality time with her. Even as she goes to a new job and there is need to bring the greater community together for a symposium to address the environmental challenges, both Shan and Nerissa’s parents come, partly because they are interested in the subject of the conference, but also because it presents an opportunity for the parents to see their children. We sense the parents’ suppressed joy when they see that both their children had found love in each other.
The final theme if the love and unity of man and woman, seen through Nerissa and Shan’s spontaneous reaction to each other when they meet, fast developing into deep love for each other. This is further endorsed by the personal risk Shan takes to find Nerissa and bring her back to safety when she is abducted.
When all this is put together, we see that the environmental crisis takes precedence over everything else, sending the message to the reader that without a safe environment, all else is not sustainable. Solving the environmental problem takes priority over all else. In the process, family plays a critical role, with Nerissa’s mother donating the solution to the environmental challenges. When everything is sorted, we finally see the two love-birds now focusing on one another.
This is an amazing story of love; love for the environment, for the family and between man and woman.

[Sandeep · Rating 5 out of 5]

Koraalen, is an ecological science fiction novel, which revolves around the journey of Nerissa, who aspires to become a marine biologist, the connection that she shares with the Koraalen’s coral reefs, her friends and family and the beautiful environment that she is part of. The plot sets a great platform describing how the Koraalen’s ecological balance is maintained and the importance of taking every minute steps in order to preserve the nature. It was time for Nerissa to say good bye as she was about to start her career. The plot shifts to her entry into a firm, getting to know Shan, her mentor and her colleagues. Soon before she settles into the workplace a dreadful illness starts spreading and it was left to them to find a solution. Journey from her home to the work location extends further to the highly skilled troubleshooting and scientific research. Every sources points to the problem in water. But even the highly calibrated equipment can’t figure out the fault. What next ? How do they solve the mystery ? Amidst all these chaos, a beautiful love story starts developing between Nerissa and Shan.

During the course of this story many ideas pop up. When we are ill, we or our loved ones can convey our feelings to the Doctor and necessary action can be taken. What about the nature? If nature starts getting ill, how do we get to know ? In this context the story unfolds the concept of inter species communications and the deep bond that the coral reefs shares with some trusted humans and other species. The story line also highlights the importance of biodiversity. We all know how important it is to inhale fresh open air, how important it is to live close to the nature ? However due to the nature of our work quite often we are not able to do so. But what if the same effect is being facilitated in house ? The concept of fresh air being pumped in at a faster rate and old air being flushed out not only highlights healthy living but also the possible direction in advancement of technology. In today’s digital age we often talk about seamless communication and data access at high speeds. We talk about high data rates, high computational facilities, then why not the air we breath ?. Electric cars, hydrogen powered vehicles, interstellar flights, active contribution by Robots etc highlights the possible advancements in future direction. During the journey of the entire story line, many cultures across the world are covered and I myself felt at home when specialties from planet Indara were introduced.

We all know that there is an undesirable climate change happening gradually and steadily and going ahead this change is accelerating. We know that our environment is getting polluted and that we need to save our earth before she dies. However we have not yet started acting as per the demands of the situation and the more we delay, the time might run out for us. This story line started with the importance of taking small measures and it expanded into a threatening problem. This led to exploring thoughts and innovative ideas, collaboration, leadership, presence of mind and teamwork and after persistent efforts came up with a solution and finding the root cause. Any research person will find the story line engaging. Another aspect I would like to highlight is that in most of the people and families discussed in this book both women and men have equal importance. This again is a big step in the future direction. With a slight mix of love and romance the entire content is made more interesting to read.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves nature and who loves to read science fiction stories, and who love to track and explore latest updates in technology, innovation, team building, and research. We all find various self help books highly motivating and they are our friends during challenging times. They motivate and inspire us, gives us valuable lessons on leadership, team building, working in teams, presence of mind and many more. Koraalen has almost all the ingredient of those books and those are presented in an engaging story line. That makes this book even more interesting and appealing. It greatly appreciate the amount of research put in towards this book by Heather. To put it in a nutshell, I will define the contents of this book in a single sentence as – Heather has conveyed a great message in a very simple manner through a very interesting, innovative and thrilling story line.

[Jhuma Khan · Rating 3 out of 5]

When the talking coral reefs of Koraalen contracts a mysterious disease that no one knows anything about. It's up to marine biologist Nerissa and Shan to figure out what's wrong with them and find a cure.

As they journey across Koraalen to figure out the problem with the coral reefs, Nerissa and Shan can't help but look at each other as a little more than just colleagues.

As they approach closer to figuring out the problem, there is someone who will stop at nothing to hide the truth.

____________


The author did a great job creating the world of Koraalen, and the plot. It was a good simple story that people can enjoy for a bit of light sci-fi/fantasy reading.

I did wish the dialogue to be a bit better in the first few chapters. The writing was good, it could've been better, but seeing that it's an indie book I decided to cut it some slack. There was also a lot of usage of adverbs, that I think could've been avoided. And I wished the chapters to be a little shorter. But despite all of that, I still enjoyed this book.

[Amber Benbow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. It takes place on an earth-like planet where the coral reefs are telepathic. The main characters are biologists working to discover what is making the reef ill and navigating their own romance. I enjoyed the blend of romance, mystery, and actual hard science. The front half of the story was a little slow focusing mainly on the romance (which was fun and delicious by the way, but could have alternated more strongly with the mystery). Having the reef communicate with people and react to them was great. Absolutely loved it! I could see how this could be spun into a series exploring the relationship between humans and their planet. It was nice to read something light-hearted and that focused on the positive aspects of the human/nature relationship instead of always spelling out the doom and gloom.

I look forward to reading more by Heather Murata.

[Adina Grey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of Koraalen in exchange of a honest review and I loved the book.. the Hawaiian influences made me relive some good memories..
Nerissa is a well built character who can interact with corals.. how ?! Telepathically !! Through the book the author gives us a strong message about our environment and ecology..
I can't spoil much, you must read it because it is fabulous !!

[Amorina Carlton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some books are fast-paced whirlwinds of action you can't put down. This is like an ocean current that carries you along at a gentle pace; the surprising climax a storm brewing in the background waiting to pour down on you out of nowhere.

Author Heather Murata bills "Koraalen: Planetary Symbiosis" as a "science fiction fantasy novel with an environmental twist," and I agree with her assessment. It's also sweet, gentle romance. The main character, Nerissa, is a fresh marine biology graduate on the planet of Koraalen. She is about to embark on her first job posting, achieving the coveted — and rare — honor of being placed at her first choice, the guild in the capital city. Nerissa holds a special relationship with the sentient Coral off her home island of Coralia, and before she heads to work they tell her they've heard from the other Coral about a "sickness." Despite being brand new to the job, she's chosen to accompany her new boss, Shan, to travel the world in an attempt to solve this ecological disaster before it's too late.

The world Murata created is beautiful — somewhere most of us would enjoy visiting if we could. This is a beautiful, atmospheric read — taking us everywhere from a beautiful Hawaiian-type island to the North Pole. Considering the majority of us are stuck in one place right now, this is an especially enjoyable aspect of this novel. The sentient Coral that share a connection with Nerissa are a unique, intriguing concept that make the world one-of-a-kind, even within Murata's universe.

Plot-building is also one of Murata's strengths. She slowly built a strong plot with a surprising twist and a climactic conclusion. The ending leaves room for a sequel, which is a preference of mine. Life isn't tied up in perfect bows, so leaving the readers wanting more is a solid choice. The beginning was a little slow, and perhaps a touch overwritten. But, once you get past that, the plot — and the romance subplot — start to pick up. So, whichever one you're interested in will deliver.

Thematically, the story is clearly about saving the world and how we all need to do better. Few can argue with this fact. However, here, Murata is a little heavy-handed, especially in the first chapter. On page one, Nerissa laments to the Coral that "Traditionally it has always been every citizen's duty--no, more than that--our honor to protect and nurture your colonies, the rain forests and all the ecosystems on Koraalen. But it seems the old ways are slowly fading in the hearts and minds of our people. The guilds have done studies regarding career choices on Koraalen and the results are not encouraging." Some may be turned off by the heavy-handed nature of the commentary, paralleling the mismanagement of the Earth's resources today. It's reminiscent of "Fern Gully," which was enjoyable as a child, but a recent rewatch revealed the obvious propaganda, which took away from the enjoyment. The entire plot of "Koraalen" could be ripped straight from Earth's headlines, albeit with a less interplanetary, science fiction slant.

The two main characters, Nerissa and Shan, are bright, enthusiastic, intelligent, and open to love. However, Nerissa — beloved by her entire village, immediately adored by her entire office, unreasonably amazing at everything she did — is just a touch too perfect to be believable. All the characters, except for the obvious bad guys, are likable, and most are relatable. Shan, the second main character, is also rather perfect, but we see enough of his internal conflict to make him more human.

Another concern is the handling of the interoffice romance. It's possible the times have made us more sensitive, but it happens so fast and without even a hint of scandal. It is a little uncomfortable how no one seems concerned about a boss and his subordinate dating. Though, the world Murata built is almost utopian, so perhaps Koraalen is beyond these social issues. If so, many of us truly would enjoy visiting.

If you love atmospheric stories, this is definitely for you. I'm a big fan of Elly Griffiths Ruth Galloway novels, and this is similarly atmospheric. If ecological/environmental mysteries are your thing, pick up a copy. And definitely check this one out if sweet romance is your genre.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I gave it four out of five stars because I really enjoyed the story, in spite of the few moments where my suspension of disbelief was challenged.

For more reviews, check out my website at amorinacarlton.com.

[Tricia Morris]

If more books were like this one, I'd read more fiction. This is a beautiful book with a strong message. It avoids being righteous or pious, which I personally appreciate. And it's a joy to read.

Koraalen teaches us about relating to our home planet in a gentle way, teaching us what leadership and teamwork can accomplish with a Vision of a world in dominion and balance. Because few of us have these kinds of models, it is important that books lead the way toward a better, healthier and more connected future. Unfortunately, most Authors take the violence and negativity route, which isn't the future I want. I appreciate Heather Murata's attention to the message that she wants to convey and the impact that it can have.

In addition to feeling consistently happy when reading Koraalen, I feel more optimism after reading it. Heather details how working together and true problem solving can resolve issues. We've lost sight of this in our culture and a new path forward is certainly welcome.

Koraalen is easy to read, in fact fun to read. It has just the right amount of romance, intrigue and thoughtfulness. My relationship with my environment has been enhanced. I will never relate to coral in the same way again.

I appreciate the research that Heather put into the book. This detail is important, as it keeps it from being "too light". Koraalen can be a compass for the future. It can be a map for the future of relationships, of leadership, of teamwork and our environment. This is a future I can get behind. I am deeply touched by this book. I look forward to future books by this author.

[Jessica Elam · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received a PDF of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This story takes place far in the future when humanity is spread out among the stars. Unlike many science fiction novels, this vision of our world is almost utopian in its idealism.

At times it felt slightly overly-optimistic but it's quite possible that it only revealed my lingering cynicism. There were many times when it's optimism and hope for who we could be, was the balm that I needed in the midst of this tumultuous year.

The world that we are in can seem like a harsh place, and I liked the idea of a world where everyone honestly wants to make the world better. Koraalen is a place where the collective is as important as the individual, where there are always solutions, and people are good more often than they are not.