Click on a thumbnail to go to Google Books.
Loading... Rendezvous With Rama (1973)by Arthur C. Clarke
» 24 more Top Five Books of 2020 (185) Nebula Award (18) Top Five Books of 2013 (1,279) Top Five Books of 2015 (658) SF Masterworks (38) Books Read in 2020 (1,206) 1970s (281) Books Read in 2017 (3,964) Books Read in 2011 (123) al.vick-series (301) Space Colonization (82) Loading...
Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book.
After many years I decided to reread this novel as modern sci-fi more than often lacks the lustre of the classic works. I was not disappointed. A. C. Clarke has always been a writer of ideas and in this book, we are faced with one of the most intriguing events there could be - a gigantic artifact of extraterrestrial origin entering the Solar system. There is not much in this book in terms of character development or even plot. But, what this book is full of is the most sincere sense of awe. Clarke is great at that, awe and wonder permeate the entire book. It is rare to see those emotions translated into the text as believably as here. I have to say, for a novel that asks so many questions and gives few answers, it is surprisingly satisfying. First, the book: I first read "Rendezvous with Rama" when it was first published while I was a teen-ager. Even at that time, I recognized it as being full of cool science, but largely void of real drama or character development. But it was on sale on Audible and I was in the mood for something like it, so I bought it. It was about as good as I remember, hence the three-star rating. [Audiobook note: I described to someone the narration as reminding of the Vulcan character Tuvok from Star Trek: Voyager, but having less emotion. Ganim gives the weirdest rhythm to this reading. And slow! I had to run the reader at 150% just to make it sound normal. (I typically listen to stuff at about 120% speed.) Obviously, the narration wasn't so bad as to make me abandon the book. But I will definitely think twice before buying anything Ganim narrates.] no reviews | add a review
Belongs to SeriesRama Universe (1) Belongs to Publisher SeriesBastei Lübbe Taschenbuch (24371) Bastei Science Fiction-Special (24371) Grandes Éxitos de Bolsillo (B-31) J'ai lu (1047) Nébula (45) — 6 more Is contained inArthur C. Clarke: 2001/A Space Odyssey, the City and the Stars, the Deep Range, a Fall of Moondust, Rendevous With Rama by Arthur C. Clarke Has the adaptationInspiredHas as a student's study guideAwardsDistinctionsNotable Lists
An enormous cylindrical object appears in Earth's solar system, hurtling toward the sun. A ship is sent to explore the mysterious craft-which the denizens of the solar system name Rama-and what they find is intriguing evidence of a civilization far more advanced than ours. They find an interior stretching over 50 kilometers; a forbidding cylindrical sea; mysterious and inaccessible buildings; and strange machine-animal hybrids, or "biots," that inhabit the ship. But what they don't find is an alien presence. So who-and where-are the Ramans? Often listed as one of Clarke's finest novels, Rendezvous With Rama has won both the Hugo and the Nebula Awards. A fast-paced and compelling story of an enigmatic encounter with alien technology, Rendezvous With Rama offers both answers and unsolved mysteries that continue to fascinate readers decades after its first publication. No library descriptions found. |
Current DiscussionsNonePopular covers
Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)823.914Literature English English fiction Modern Period 1901-1999 1945-1999LC ClassificationRatingAverage:
Is this you?Become a LibraryThing Author. |
I won't spoil anything here, but suffice it to say that nothing is as expected, and - while the book is marvellous as a kind of literary meditation on cultural differences, and timeless qualities of humanity - it most definitely leaves you wanting more. Surprisingly, Clarke hadn't really envisioned a sequel when he wrote it. Unsurprisingly, three would come to pass. Each of these would be a lesser novel than the one that came before, but they comprise a definite trilogy so I'd recommend either stopping after this book, or reading the whole series. ( )