Years ago, the enormous, enigmatic alien spacecraft called Rama sailed through our solar system as mind-boggling proof that life existed -- or had existed -- elsewhere in the universe. Now, at the dawn of the twenty-third century, another ship is discovered hurtling toward us. A crew of Earth's best and brightest minds is assembled to rendezvous with the massive vessel. They are armed with everything we know about Raman technology and culture. But nothing can prepare them for what they are about to encounter on board Rama II: cosmic secrets that are startling, sensational -- and perhaps even deadly.
Rama II
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From Publishers Weekly
In 1973, Clarke's Rendezvous with Rama won the Hugo, Nebula and Campbell awards. This new novel is the second in a trilogy about the mystifying world-ships and their flybys of our solar system. Unfortunately, the focus is no longer on alien mysteries, but on the petty concerns of an unlikely assortment of cosmonauts. The 12 specialists chosen to explore a second Raman craft passing through human space 70 years after the first are more involved with adultery, religion and media contracts than they are with scientific advancement. Not only are their actions unrealistic, but the chapter titles telegraph what comes next. The excitement of discovery that was present in the first book is altogether missing from this soap opera plot.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Review
"Offers one surprise after another." -- The New York Times.
"A masterpiece ... one of the year's best hard SF epics." -- The Houston Post
"A masterpiece ... one of the year's best hard SF epics." -- The Houston Post
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
This book is *not* written by Arthur C Clarke, it was written by Gentry Lee alone. The promotion of the book as an ACC book is highly misleading.
Gentry Lee belongs on the slushpile. His writing is full of magic and fantasy rather than science fiction. This book contains lengthy, irrelevant asides. The SF component is trivial; the book is basically a large character study.
It is astonishing how bad this book is by comparison to the excellent, simple narrative "Rendezvous with Rama"
By A Customer
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Exploring the original Rama was an quietly stunning experience of wonder; the dark, cold, sterile environment; watching as the alien world awoke. The Ramans completely ignored our explorers, considering them merely trash to be swept away by their bots. The central sea was mysterious and fascinating when frozen, it was mysterious and fascinating when the lights came on and the sea began to melt, the unexplored metal buildings were fascinating, the bots were fascinating. The exploration of Rama was stark, quiet, and beautiful.
Now, take these wonderful things, remove them from the story, add some obnoxious characters whom you will hate, study every aspect of the obnoxious characters in painful detail, and call it a sequel.
The contrast between this and the original leaves me at a loss for words. Terribly disappointing.
By Egoman
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I was a huge fan of the original "Rendezvous with Rama". It presented the reader with an incredible scenario and allowed him/her to simply explore it along with the characters- not getting bogged down in cliched details or unrealistically large personalities. At all times it felt like anything could happen, and it was one of the rare instances in which I literally couldn't put the book down.
This book, and the two that follow it, are almost completely opposite of the original in every way. This is a story all about the characters- more so than their mission. I was still interested in returning to the world of Rama and possibly discovering more, and this book didn't disappoint in that regard. However, there were so many cliches and naked plot-devices that it really detracted from my enjoyment. I was especially disdainful of the somewhat hokey "mysticism" with regard to the character of Nicole des-Jardins. That part seemed far more in the realm of fantasy than serious science-fiction.
However, I have read the succeeding books, which I thoroughly enjoyed (though not as much as the original), and "Rama II" is a required read before delving into the third and fourth installments. One must bear in mind that the three sequels are, basically, a separate series from the first book.
This book, and the two that follow it, are almost completely opposite of the original in every way. This is a story all about the characters- more so than their mission. I was still interested in returning to the world of Rama and possibly discovering more, and this book didn't disappoint in that regard. However, there were so many cliches and naked plot-devices that it really detracted from my enjoyment. I was especially disdainful of the somewhat hokey "mysticism" with regard to the character of Nicole des-Jardins. That part seemed far more in the realm of fantasy than serious science-fiction.
However, I have read the succeeding books, which I thoroughly enjoyed (though not as much as the original), and "Rama II" is a required read before delving into the third and fourth installments. One must bear in mind that the three sequels are, basically, a separate series from the first book.
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2.6 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
It Is A Dirty Rotten Shame
At some point in the last 10-15 years it became fashionable for well-known and somewhat less well-known authors to co-write novels. Read more
Published on Feb 17 2004
4.0 out of 5 stars
Really, It's Pretty Good...
I love Arthur C. Clarke, most of the time. I loved "Rendevouz", but felt that it was a little too austere. The sequels went the other way and I welcomed the change. Read more
Published on Dec 28 2003 by Radical Progress
1.0 out of 5 stars
Read book 1, but not the rest
I loved "Rendezvous with Rama," and as a child, I'd spend time thinking about what it would be like to get left behind. I was excited to find this book - until I read it. Read more
Published on Dec 13 2003 by tollick
4.0 out of 5 stars
The return of Rama
This is the sequal to Rendezvous with Rama. It was written by Gentry Lee, based on Sir Arthur C. Clarke's ideas and editorial input. Read more
Published on Nov 25 2003 by Robert Holm
4.0 out of 5 stars
A lesser Rama
Something - or someone - was a little out of focus here. I had expected a continuation of the extraordinary saga started in RAMA but instead the story seems diminished. Read more
Published on Oct 21 2003 by Avid Reader
4.0 out of 5 stars
A weaker. . .
. . .yet still enjoyable book based on the scenario presented in "Rendevouz with Rama".
Another "Rama" style spacecraft has been sighted. Read more
Published on Sep 30 2003 by David Zampino
5.0 out of 5 stars
I really enjoyed it, it isn't rubbish like everyone says!!!
This review covers the three books "Rama II", "Garden of Rama" and "Rama revealed". Arthur C. Read more
Published on Sep 24 2003 by "martinezz"
1.0 out of 5 stars
Astonshingly Bad
It's been at least ten years since I read a book by skipping a couple of pages, reading a few lines, skipping a few more pages, reading some lines, and so on. Read more
Published on Aug 1 2003 by RaDadIndy
2.0 out of 5 stars
Spare yourself the agony and disappointment!
Man oh man!
Since it is now over six months since I finished the series, I can now look back in retrospect. Read more
Published on July 23 2003 by Richard Harris
3.0 out of 5 stars
Entertaining sci-fi intrigue, but doesn't stand on its own
In the year 2200, a second of the alien spacecrafts designated "Rama" enters our solar system, sparking another expedition to try to learn the secrets of its mysterious purpose and... Read more
Published on May 25 2003 by Dave Deubler
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