Customer Reviews

Rama Revealed

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(18)

 

 

Will people please stop comparing this book to "Rendezvous with Rama"? Of COURSE the 3 sequels in this series aren't the original. Let's move past that.

When I read Rama II, I was disappointed in many ways, but pleased in others. ACC is fantastic at what he does, but character development isn't it. So I was happy to have characters with some sort of depth to them. Sadly, these characters seem to lose depth with time. (Aside: Why is it that middle-aged scifi authors always write about exotic women with French accents who just happen to be amazing in bed?)

As another reviewer noted, the "revelation" of Rama was a bit of a cop-out. That's okay, because I'd known for years that ACC and Gentry Lee had painted themselves into a corner with the Ramans. Nobody could have pulled off a genuine revelation of the Ramans. Really, disappointing though it was, a cop-out was the best way they could have handled the revelation.

So, if the characters were terrible and the plot disappointing, why 3 stars? Simply because it was a valiant attempt, as was the entire series. ACC never intended to write a sequel to "Rendezvous," and the book on its own did not deserve one. He presented us with a mystery of stupendous magnitude, but nothing else. The sequels are worth reading simply because they attempt to put the mystery into HUMAN terms. We might not like or believe the characters, but it's good to see that they at least have names.

The book arrive in good shape and was devoured as soon as the wrapings were off. I had read these books many years ago and my original copies had gone astray, was glad to have had a chance to reaquaint myself with the authour.

Even though the series had its weak spots and rough chapters, in the end it turned out to be and amazing conclusion to an epic adventure.

The subject title refers to both this book itself and the series as a whole. The entire drama with Nicole grew and evolved to become one of the central foci of the book. For that awesome scene at the end - and the realization of the meaning of the Universe - it almost deserves a "*****". But Nicole's other self seems so human like in her wants and desires. We got to this point and the authors seem to be saying, "OK, we know the secrets of the cosmos. What do we do now?"

I would have loved to have seen this idea in the hands of a Frank Herbert or a Pamela Sargeant.

After the pathetic ending of "Garden of Rama" there really was nowhere to go but up. This book went up. Some. Not much.

The crisis situation in the human colony on Rama has been mitigated (and the humans are pretty pathetic); everyone goes to sleep again for a long, long time; Nicole is reunited with family members she never thought she'd see again (and a rather weak reunion it is, too!); a final "segregation" is made between the "good guys" and the "bad guys" based on a strange, Raman determination which preaches free choice on the one hand -- and no taking of personal responsibility for behavior on the other; -- AND Rama is revealed for what ACTUALLY is.

Again, Clarke and Lee delve into theological suppositions in which, frankly, they demonstrate that they are WAAAY over their heads. This was a serious mistake.

Finally, Nicole makes some choices at the end of the book -- which I won't spoil in this review -- which, frankly, reveal her to be as selfish and shallow as most of the rest of the characters -- a real disappointment.

Why the 3rd star? Because it was better than "Garden" which received 2!

My suggestion? Read "Rendevouz" -- and skip the rest of the series.

rendezvous with rama rocked big time. Gentry lee destroys the other three sequels... the storyline becomes progressively worse . things becmae so bad and boring that I couldnt even read the last book and a half properly.. i just skipped through the pages and belive me it was boring .. boring.. boring... more like a melodramatic soap opera on cable tv

J

Arthur C. Clarke is known as one of the most outstanding and awe-inspiring science fiction writers of all time, but this time he's really outdone himself.

In this climactic fourth novel in the Rama series, we find ourselves again in the bizarre world of Rama, but with some unexpected surprises--not that we've ever EXPECTED anything to happen that we thought would.
This novel is fantastic, so why not give it a shot?

One of the worst possible endings to a series, ironically which began with one of the best sci-fi stories Ive ever read(Rendezvous with Rama). I really dont know why Clarke had to invoke god in order to explain the alien constructs - couldnt something like just a very advanced alien civilization or something do? And for that, you come across one of the weakest, most powerless gods youve ever read about anywhere! I mean this god thingy is creating multiple universes to conduct his experiments, and he cant even manage faster-than-light travel? The guy defines the very physical laws thatd govern the universe, and he has to cart his observers and subjects around in a huge arkship pondering along for generations just to reach from one star system to another? You almost groan out loud at the lack of imagination of god(or is it Clarke?) So if you are thinking of buying the book, definitely skip it - better to construct your own explanation than read this pathetic ending

These people writing the reviews above this one have not one bit of literary taste. I read this book first, and enjoyed it so much, that I read the other three. ACC has done a wonderful job with the Rama series and I think he deserves an award. Contrary to the warped views of the people that wrote the reviews before me, I would recommend this book, and the other Rama books to any person who even slightly enjoys Sci-fi. The story is very interesting starting from Nicole's escaped from a despotic ruler's prison, to discovery by the humans of the true identities of the Ramans. This is the United States and people have the right to be wrong, but I implore that anyone reading the aforementioned reviews not pay the least bit of attention to them, and buy all these books NOW!!!

I skimmed this just to see how they would explain the whole thing. Well, while I won't state it outright, just imagine the most boring, fallback explanation that falls into the category of metaphysics as opposed to hard sci-fi, and you will guess.

I was so disappointed in this series that I am embarassed to admit that I got the whole way through it. WHile the other two knockoffs were medicore if fairly good stories, this one is truly bad and utterly ruins the entire concept.

Does Clarke not care if his name attached to such [stuff]?