authors
data
Product: Book
ISBN-10: 0-553-28789-3
ISBN-13: 9780553287899
Publisher: Spectra
Country:
Year: December 1, 1990
Size: 10.59 x 17.40 x 2.21cm
Number of pages: 288
Weight: 141gr
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ISBN-10: 0-553-28789-3
ISBN-13: 9780553287899
Publisher: Spectra
Country:
Year: December 1, 1990
Size: 10.59 x 17.40 x 2.21cm
Number of pages: 288
Weight: 141gr
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
editions
Arthur C. Clarke, Dr. Elizabeth Walker
Macmillan ELT; 2003
Paperback
22.) Rendezvous With Rama
Arthur C. Clarke, Hawyard Morse (narrator)
Chivers Audio Books; 1997
Audio Cassette
order
catalog
description
Amazon.com Review
An all-time science fiction classic, Rendezvous with Rama is also one of Clarke's best novels--it won the Campbell, Hugo, Jupiter, and Nebula Awards. A huge, mysterious, cylindrical object appears in space, swooping in toward the sun. The citizens of the solar system send a ship to investigate before the enigmatic craft, called Rama, disappears. The astronauts given the task of exploring the hollow cylindrical ship are able to decipher some, but definitely not all, of the extraterrestrial vehicle's puzzles. From the ubiquitous trilateral symmetry of its structures to its cylindrical sea and machine-island, Rama's secrets are strange evidence of an advanced civilization. But who, and where, are the Ramans, and what do they want with humans? Perhaps the answer lies with the busily working biots, or the sealed-off buildings, or the inaccessible »southern« half of the enormous cylinder. Rama's unsolved mysteries are tantalizing indeed. Rendezvous with Rama is fast moving, fascinating, and a must-read for science fiction fans. Clarke collaborated with Gentry Lee in writing several Rama sequels, beginning with Rama II.
An all-time science fiction classic, Rendezvous with Rama is also one of Clarke's best novels--it won the Campbell, Hugo, Jupiter, and Nebula Awards. A huge, mysterious, cylindrical object appears in space, swooping in toward the sun. The citizens of the solar system send a ship to investigate before the enigmatic craft, called Rama, disappears. The astronauts given the task of exploring the hollow cylindrical ship are able to decipher some, but definitely not all, of the extraterrestrial vehicle's puzzles. From the ubiquitous trilateral symmetry of its structures to its cylindrical sea and machine-island, Rama's secrets are strange evidence of an advanced civilization. But who, and where, are the Ramans, and what do they want with humans? Perhaps the answer lies with the busily working biots, or the sealed-off buildings, or the inaccessible »southern« half of the enormous cylinder. Rama's unsolved mysteries are tantalizing indeed. Rendezvous with Rama is fast moving, fascinating, and a must-read for science fiction fans. Clarke collaborated with Gentry Lee in writing several Rama sequels, beginning with Rama II.
Product Description
At first, only a few things are known about the celestial object that astronomers dub Rama. It is huge, weighing more than ten trillion tons. And it is hurtling through the solar system at inconceivable speed. Then a space probe confirms the unthinkable: Rama is no natural object. It is, incredible, an interstellar spacecraft. Space explorers and planet-bound scientists alike prepare for mankind's first encounter with alien intelligence. It will kindle their wildest dreams … and fan their darkest fears. For no one knows who the Ramans are or why they have come. And now the moment of rendezvous awaits –- just behind a Raman airlock door.
At first, only a few things are known about the celestial object that astronomers dub Rama. It is huge, weighing more than ten trillion tons. And it is hurtling through the solar system at inconceivable speed. Then a space probe confirms the unthinkable: Rama is no natural object. It is, incredible, an interstellar spacecraft. Space explorers and planet-bound scientists alike prepare for mankind's first encounter with alien intelligence. It will kindle their wildest dreams … and fan their darkest fears. For no one knows who the Ramans are or why they have come. And now the moment of rendezvous awaits –- just behind a Raman airlock door.
reviews
Rendezvous with Boredom 
I recently read the classic science-fiction novel, »Rendezvous with Rama.« The actual plot revolves around a mysterious alien spacecraft (nicknamed Rama) that enters the Solar System, and the expedition sent to intercept and explore the ship. I must say that, from a technical standpoint, the novel is incredible. Rama is described in detail with a lot of interesting and intricate structures to explore and discover. If someone wanted to imagine what it would be like to stand on a generation ship (i.e. a spaceship designed to support generations of life during centuries-long travel from one solar system to another), this novel is the best I've ever seen. Unfortunately, I didn't come to this book to see what it was like to walk around on a generation ship. I came to read an actual story. In that sense, the novel fails miserably. There's no real plot, other than »astronauts dock with Rama, astronauts explore Rama, astronauts leave Rama with data.« Sure, there are some minor moments of tension when they first board Rama, a crew member seems to be lost, and a human government tries to destroy Rama. But those moments are few and far between, and are really just gimmicks that are resolved far too quickly. I'm going to spoil a major part of this novel because it's critical to my point; there are no living alien beings on Rama. It's a dead ship. That's established fairly early on in the novel, taking away a major portion of interest and tension for me. Besides losing out on the classic »human meets alien« moment, the novel then becomes a frustrating mystery that is never resolved. We never do find out who built Rama or why, because there's no one to answer the question. This leaves the novel showing astronauts wandering around a dead ship. There are some creatures that they encounter, but all of them are »biological robots« that literally have no brains, and do not interfere or interact with the astronauts in any significant way. Another missed opportunity – the robots could have added some tension if they attacked the astronauts as intruders or even accidentally injured them in the course of their duties. I didn't even think Rama was that realistic as an alien spacecraft. It's constructed perfectly and logically from a human standpoint, but it's an alien ship. Everything on Rama seems designed and constructed for human life forms. Even the handles on hatches were designed for human-like hands. For a moment in the novel, it looked like there was an explanation for why that might be … but that turned out not to be the case. So we have to believe that Rama's alien creators function in exactly the same way as humans. That stretches credibility for me, especially given the extremely realistic approach the rest of the novel had. The idea that extraterrestrials beings would be physically similar to humans seems, to me, an idea that's more convenient for sci-fi writers than realistic. »Rendezvous With Rama« is considered a classic in science-fiction and has won both the Hugo and Nebula Awards, the highest awards in science-fiction. Some would argue that proves that this is a solid novel. I would argue the opposite. I think the fact that such a dull novel is so popular proves that sci-fi is headed in the wrong direction. This book is Exhibit A on what's wrong with science-fiction today. I would argue that everyone who praises this novel is praising the realistic and detailed portrayal of the spaceship, not the actual novel. »Rendezvous with Rama« is not really a science-fiction novel. It's a dramatization of a schematic for a generation spaceship. This could have been an essay published in a science magazine and would have achieved the same effect. Scientists writing novels and short stories that are focused more on proving or describing their scientific theories than telling an actual story are taking the fun out of science-fiction.
I recently read the classic science-fiction novel, »Rendezvous with Rama.« The actual plot revolves around a mysterious alien spacecraft (nicknamed Rama) that enters the Solar System, and the expedition sent to intercept and explore the ship. I must say that, from a technical standpoint, the novel is incredible. Rama is described in detail with a lot of interesting and intricate structures to explore and discover. If someone wanted to imagine what it would be like to stand on a generation ship (i.e. a spaceship designed to support generations of life during centuries-long travel from one solar system to another), this novel is the best I've ever seen. Unfortunately, I didn't come to this book to see what it was like to walk around on a generation ship. I came to read an actual story. In that sense, the novel fails miserably. There's no real plot, other than »astronauts dock with Rama, astronauts explore Rama, astronauts leave Rama with data.« Sure, there are some minor moments of tension when they first board Rama, a crew member seems to be lost, and a human government tries to destroy Rama. But those moments are few and far between, and are really just gimmicks that are resolved far too quickly. I'm going to spoil a major part of this novel because it's critical to my point; there are no living alien beings on Rama. It's a dead ship. That's established fairly early on in the novel, taking away a major portion of interest and tension for me. Besides losing out on the classic »human meets alien« moment, the novel then becomes a frustrating mystery that is never resolved. We never do find out who built Rama or why, because there's no one to answer the question. This leaves the novel showing astronauts wandering around a dead ship. There are some creatures that they encounter, but all of them are »biological robots« that literally have no brains, and do not interfere or interact with the astronauts in any significant way. Another missed opportunity – the robots could have added some tension if they attacked the astronauts as intruders or even accidentally injured them in the course of their duties. I didn't even think Rama was that realistic as an alien spacecraft. It's constructed perfectly and logically from a human standpoint, but it's an alien ship. Everything on Rama seems designed and constructed for human life forms. Even the handles on hatches were designed for human-like hands. For a moment in the novel, it looked like there was an explanation for why that might be … but that turned out not to be the case. So we have to believe that Rama's alien creators function in exactly the same way as humans. That stretches credibility for me, especially given the extremely realistic approach the rest of the novel had. The idea that extraterrestrials beings would be physically similar to humans seems, to me, an idea that's more convenient for sci-fi writers than realistic. »Rendezvous With Rama« is considered a classic in science-fiction and has won both the Hugo and Nebula Awards, the highest awards in science-fiction. Some would argue that proves that this is a solid novel. I would argue the opposite. I think the fact that such a dull novel is so popular proves that sci-fi is headed in the wrong direction. This book is Exhibit A on what's wrong with science-fiction today. I would argue that everyone who praises this novel is praising the realistic and detailed portrayal of the spaceship, not the actual novel. »Rendezvous with Rama« is not really a science-fiction novel. It's a dramatization of a schematic for a generation spaceship. This could have been an essay published in a science magazine and would have achieved the same effect. Scientists writing novels and short stories that are focused more on proving or describing their scientific theories than telling an actual story are taking the fun out of science-fiction.
Classic SF 
A classic SF novel that was well ahead of its time. I really enjoyed the future vision of Clarke as well as his ideas of the Ramans. I kind of wish we had found out more about the Ramans, but I guess that is why you read the sequels.
A classic SF novel that was well ahead of its time. I really enjoyed the future vision of Clarke as well as his ideas of the Ramans. I kind of wish we had found out more about the Ramans, but I guess that is why you read the sequels.
This is NOT the Arthur C. Clarke Novel 
This is an abridged, re-worded, and re-phrased version of the Arthur C. Clarke novel as retold by Elizabeth Walker. This book is intended for consumption by an Elementary School audience and to that end fulfills a need. This is not what was represented in Amazon's advertising. I ordered a classic novel and got the the Classic Comic book or Cliff's notes version. The illustrations look like comic book art. Not what I expected and was very disappointed as I had to wait a month to get the book. If I'd known, I'd canceled and just have gone to our public library.
This is an abridged, re-worded, and re-phrased version of the Arthur C. Clarke novel as retold by Elizabeth Walker. This book is intended for consumption by an Elementary School audience and to that end fulfills a need. This is not what was represented in Amazon's advertising. I ordered a classic novel and got the the Classic Comic book or Cliff's notes version. The illustrations look like comic book art. Not what I expected and was very disappointed as I had to wait a month to get the book. If I'd known, I'd canceled and just have gone to our public library.
Stunning Sci-Fi Book
In a stunning science fiction book set a hundred years in the future when a huge monolith shoots through the solar system. A committee decides to send a team of astronauts to the body which has been christened Rama. The scientists learn as much of the space traveler and as Rama moves closer to the sun, it wakes up from an intergalactic sleep and comes alive. In a thrilling, page-turning sci-fi thriller, Arthur Clarke creates and entertains the idea of other intelligence in this universe. Along with his other great sci-fi books, Arthur C. Clarke make relatable characters and you can tag along with their thoughts as the explore the futuristic world of Rama. But remember: the Raman's do everything in three's.
In a stunning science fiction book set a hundred years in the future when a huge monolith shoots through the solar system. A committee decides to send a team of astronauts to the body which has been christened Rama. The scientists learn as much of the space traveler and as Rama moves closer to the sun, it wakes up from an intergalactic sleep and comes alive. In a thrilling, page-turning sci-fi thriller, Arthur Clarke creates and entertains the idea of other intelligence in this universe. Along with his other great sci-fi books, Arthur C. Clarke make relatable characters and you can tag along with their thoughts as the explore the futuristic world of Rama. But remember: the Raman's do everything in three's.
Could have been better 
»Rendezvous with Rama« by Arthur C. Clarke is a novel about the exploration of an alien artifact that drifts (?) into our solar system. It is a decent novel. It could have been better. If you have read a bunch of science fiction, you have come across a short list of types of places that can hold humans, while traveling through space. One such place is a planet, such as our Earth, with humans and their air supply held to the surface by gravity or some equivalent. Another such place is a ship that has a hull wrapped around the humans and their air supply. This, second, category includes all 'space ships' up to generation ships. Robert Heinlein wrote about these types of places. Rama is the next size up, a huge metal cylinder, with room inside to hold more people than the Earth can hold. Clarke did a good job of describing such a place when he described Rama. However, Larry Niven has described a fleet of worlds, and »Ringworld«, a larger and more highly populated structure than Rama, and »Smoke Ring« which is a bunch of small places held in orbit with an acompanying ring of atmosphere, and, if my memory is correct, has described an even larger environment that might be described as a monster bowl of spagetti, without the bowl. Rama is an interesting place. However, at the end, I am not so sure that we have a satisfactory tale. The characters are, about, the same. The artifact is, about, the same. We know more about the artifact. We know that the human race in this novel is no longer 'alone'. But, I was left with wondering why there wasn't something more. I felt that Clarke missed an opportunity for a more satisfactory tale.
»Rendezvous with Rama« by Arthur C. Clarke is a novel about the exploration of an alien artifact that drifts (?) into our solar system. It is a decent novel. It could have been better. If you have read a bunch of science fiction, you have come across a short list of types of places that can hold humans, while traveling through space. One such place is a planet, such as our Earth, with humans and their air supply held to the surface by gravity or some equivalent. Another such place is a ship that has a hull wrapped around the humans and their air supply. This, second, category includes all 'space ships' up to generation ships. Robert Heinlein wrote about these types of places. Rama is the next size up, a huge metal cylinder, with room inside to hold more people than the Earth can hold. Clarke did a good job of describing such a place when he described Rama. However, Larry Niven has described a fleet of worlds, and »Ringworld«, a larger and more highly populated structure than Rama, and »Smoke Ring« which is a bunch of small places held in orbit with an acompanying ring of atmosphere, and, if my memory is correct, has described an even larger environment that might be described as a monster bowl of spagetti, without the bowl. Rama is an interesting place. However, at the end, I am not so sure that we have a satisfactory tale. The characters are, about, the same. The artifact is, about, the same. We know more about the artifact. We know that the human race in this novel is no longer 'alone'. But, I was left with wondering why there wasn't something more. I felt that Clarke missed an opportunity for a more satisfactory tale.
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Arthur C. Clarke, Gentry Lee
Spectra; 1990
Mass Market Paperback
© 1994–2010 Sascha Hendel
last update: 3/19/2010
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