Rendezvous with Rama

I read this one back in high school, and often cite it as one of my favorite sci-fi books. I think it will keep that status, if mainly beause it was like nothing I had read up to that point. Interestingly, the technology in the book isn't very dated, but the characterization and limited plot do feel a bit dusty. (There is a paragraph explaining how boobs work in zero G, as if female astronauts wouldn't wear bras, just as a for-instance.) And yet, it's still a fun book–in a way it reminded me this time of the straightforwardness of Old Man's War by Scalzi.

It's still a fun, quick read, if one likes first-contact stories. I remember not loving the sequels much, and probably won't go on to them, but it was fun to revisit this one.

This is the kind of book that reads like a textbook. It is a detailed account of humankind first meeting with an object build by an alien race.

The story takes place in a near future, where other planets have already been colonized and we have probes stationed in space to monitor asteroids, to predict whether they will collide on populated areas.

One of this probes picks up a strange piece of rock in space, that turns out to be made by a long extinct, more technological advanced race.

I stopped reading as the the first chapters all detailed how this perfect spherical rock, that seems to be an artificial made planet, looks on the inside.

Read: 19%, 1:41/9:01 hours

It was my first Arthur C. Clarke book. And even though it is a classic I didn't have any spoilers before I read it. The idea of finding an unknown object in the sky with extraterrestrial suspicions, and going there to actually explore it was very thrilling. And well, it is hard sci-fi, so I expected a lot of scientific explanations and musings on the laws of physics.

I had some hard time trying to imagine the interior of Rama. The scale and complexity of what was inside was very difficult for me to grasp. But I tried to imagine Rama like “The Citadel” of the video game “Mass Effect”, at least to understand the cylinder design of the spacecraft.

I really expected there would be more answers in this book about the purpose of Rama and the “biots” inside. Of course, the author leaves a hint at the end indicating that there is more to the mystery.

After loving Childhoods End, I wanted to check out more by Clark. Rama is different book than I imagined. In a future earth where we've settled the solar system, a large cylindrical spaceship decides to make its way to us. The book explores the interactions with this unknown ship.

It is the first in a four-book series, but it could also be thought of as the first half of a story. I felt somewhat incomplete with the way it ended, although it is as likely an ending as any.

I feel like I read my book of the year within the first two days of 2022. It's exactly the type of sci-fi that I love. S-tier masterpiece.
Villeneuve said he wants to make it into a movie after he's done with Dune and while Dune is one of the best books within the genre I feel like Rama would translate onto screen much better. Another hit like Interstellar, Martian, Arrival.

It's a classic and it's easy to see how influential it was and how intelligent it is, and it's refreshing to read actual science fiction after spending a lifetime surrounded by science fantasy. But man is it dry and corny! The science is probably timeless, but the book feels like it must've been dated even when it was written.

I was intrigued at Rama at the beginning of the book. As the book went on, my interest waned considerably. Characters have no development or arcs, there is some blatant sexism in the writing that is a big turn-off, and the world of Rama is just not that fascinating. The science is well-explained and thought out, but I had not interest in the people or events it was affecting. I was bored, and rushed through the end just to finish it.

Oh boy that was awesome. I have never read something like this. It probably helps that my interest in space is pretty high, but this book set the bar high for other more scientific sci fi books. The descriptions how everything in Rama looks and works are breathtaking. I really could see it before my eyes. The whole idea of the first contact going differently than expected was nice. 5 stars.

Ah, Clarke, Clarke... For many years as a young adult, this was my absolute favourite author. And of all his books, this was my favourite. That was the first time I was introduced to the concept of a cylindrical multi generational ship. And I was blown away...

Interestingly enough, every other book in the series is beyond bad. I mean, BAD. Painfully hard to read. I can only imagine they were entirely written by the co-author, Gentry Lee (Clarke would never have done that!!!!)

Rendezvous with Rama: A Fascinating Concept, but Lacking in Depth

In “Rendezvous with Rama,” Arthur C. Clarke, the renowned science fiction author, takes readers on an intriguing journey through the cosmos. This novel, published in 1973, explores the concept of an alien spacecraft passing through our solar system, offering a unique and thought-provoking premise. However, despite its captivating premise, the book falls short in certain areas, leaving readers with a sense of unfulfilled potential.

The novel's strength lies in its central concept: a massive cylindrical spacecraft, named Rama, enters the solar system, prompting humanity to send an exploration team to investigate its mysterious origins and purpose. Clarke's vivid descriptions of Rama's awe-inspiring size and intricate internal structure captivate the reader's imagination. The sense of wonder and curiosity evoked by this enigmatic vessel is truly compelling, serving as the driving force behind the narrative.

However, while the concept itself is intriguing, the execution of the plot and character development falls somewhat flat. The pacing of the story can be sluggish at times, with extended periods dedicated to detailed descriptions of Rama's architecture and the explorers' scientific analyses. While these elements showcase Clarke's meticulous attention to detail and scientific accuracy, they can also detract from the overall momentum and emotional impact of the narrative.

The characters, while professionally competent, often lack depth and emotional resonance. Their interactions and personal arcs feel underdeveloped, leaving readers with a sense of detachment from the human elements of the story. This disconnect makes it challenging to fully invest in the characters' journeys and the stakes they face.

Additionally, the resolution of the novel's central mystery may leave some readers unsatisfied. While Clarke's approach to the enigma of Rama's origins and purpose is thought-provoking, the lack of definitive answers can be frustrating for those seeking a more conclusive resolution.

Despite these shortcomings, “Rendezvous with Rama” remains a notable work in the science fiction genre. Clarke's ability to conjure awe-inspiring concepts and his dedication to scientific plausibility shine through, making the novel a fascinating exploration of humanity's encounter with the unknown. The sheer grandeur of Rama and the questions it raises about the vastness of the universe are sure to resonate with readers who appreciate the sense of wonder and speculation that characterizes classic science fiction.

In conclusion, while “Rendezvous with Rama” may not be Arthur C. Clarke's most compelling or emotionally resonant work, it remains a noteworthy addition to the canon of science fiction literature. Its intriguing premise and thought-provoking ideas make it a worthwhile read for fans of the genre, even if the execution falls short of its full potential. For these reasons, “Rendezvous with Rama” earns a respectable 3 out of 5 stars.

After loving Childhoods End, I wanted to check out more by Clark. Rama is different book than I imagined. In a future earth where we've settled the solar system, a large cylindrical spaceship decides to make its way to us. The book explores the interactions with this unknown ship.

It is the first in a four-book series, but it could also be thought of as the first half of a story. I felt somewhat incomplete with the way it ended, although it is as likely an ending as any.

Story : Another take on alien's arrival... it's a great one! One cylindrical shape comes into our solar system and astronauts and scientists are sent to investigate it. It was so weird to read this because I was expecting something else, like aliens and you know... aliens, but this is just a look at what other creaturesc can create. The last pages where Rama goes to that star, I was like ,,Newton seems like a baby now”. Also, the descriptions of the places inside Rama were great and there are even some intense scenes... I don't want to go to New York now.

Characters : We have a lot of people inside Rama and Norton is our main protagonist. He seems like a cool guy and he doesn't risk his people's lives, so that's good. The others are there... friends and co-workers. We don't find things about them or very little, so if someone died, I didn't really cared, except from Norton, of course. There are also scenes with politcal stuff... ehh, I've seen a lot of them so...

Overall : I am so curious about Rama 2, but it seems like this story has ended perfectly... idk, maybe I'll check it out!

Am citit această carte prin generală și m-a dezamăgit foarte tare, pentru că nu are nici o revelație, tot cauți, și cauți, și nu găsești vreun răspuns.
Am reluat-o acum, ca să-i ofer o șansă și ca adult. Și e oribilă. Plictisitoare de moarte, într-un ritm infernal de lent, fără acțiune și poveste, doar excesiv de ingineresc-descriptivă (măsurători, gradiente, unghiuri, lungimi, lățimi, aaahhh!), cu personaje... ce personaje? Să fim serioși.
Eu m-am lămurit definitiv cu Clarke: nu-mi place deloc și îl consider și perimat, și grav supra-estimat. I-am reluat ca adult cărțile care nu mi-au plăcut când am fost copil și nu-mi plac nici acum, ba îmi displac și mai tare.
Am făcut același lucru cu ceilalți clasici, ca Asimov și Heinlein și, ce să vezi, ei mi se par cel puțin la fel de buni când îi citesc matur; deci gata cu Clarke pentru mine, definitiv.

“If such a thing had happened once, it must surely have happened many times in this galaxy of a hundred billion suns.”

Very enjoyable Novel and a unique take on ‘First Contact' with aliens. I enjoyed Arthur C. Clarke's writing style and will definitely read more by him in the future, the attention to scientific detail really helped set the scene and level of unknown.

The split POV was done well although I would have liked some of the smaller characters to have been more fleshed out, doesn't affect the story just personal preference.

If you've read Rendezvous with Rama and you enjoyed it I would highly recommend the Anomaly by Michael Rutger, I'll leave a link to my review below (I have it 5 stars).

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2507734857

The strength of this novel is the hard science. The story itself almost holds up, although the sparseness does feel a little dated; characterisation is limited, and some plot devices are a little too deus ex machina (seriously, that's what you'd choose to smuggle onto an entirely spaceship-based mission?). Also, although there is a stab at sexual equality, it does feel a very 1960's stab (at least polygamy is allowed both ways!).

But, leaving that aside, if you came for the science fiction you would not be disappointed. It's fast-paced and to the point.

Liked this quite a bit, and was surprised by how well it held up.

Rendezvous With Rama is a 1972 science fiction classic, about a future human society exploring an extraterrestrial... I guess I'd call it an artificially-made planetoid. It's light on what you or I might consider plot, preferring to cover the exploration and the challenges such explorers might encounter.

What strikes me about Rendezvous is how well thought out everything is. There are virtually no silly plot twists borne of a desire to artificially inject drama – no one acting irrationally, no decisions being made on the basis of barely-plausible emotion, no one incompetent. That is so rare it's striking when it happens.

This is one of the early sci-fi novels, so don't expect it to be different from what it is. It's a relatively self-contained work, content to explore within its boundaries. It does that beautifully.

TL;DR

This is one of the classics science fiction stories and I can see how it inspired other books. I liked a lot about this book. The only negative I have is that at the end you're left with a lot of questions. I felt a bit unsatisfied with it but I do believe that if this were to happen in real life it would go down like this and we would all have the same feeling.

My Scoring System

I have five things I look for in a book, if the book checks all five it's a 5/5 stars book, if it checks none it's a 1/5 stars and everything else is a combination:

✓ - Main Story: You don't need to know much because it's better to go in blindly. Know that while the story is good and it's well written, I think it will leave you unsatisfied because we don't get much answers.

X - Side Stories (if it applies):

✓ - Characters: I liked every crew member of the ship, they were all how I expect a crew of astronauts on a special mission to be. Methodical, calculating, calm under pressure, not doing dumb mistakes that probably cost them the life of other. Great job on the writing for them to the author.

✓ - Setting/Ambiance: The inside of Rama was amazing, I can't wait for Denis Villeneuve's vision of how Rama will look because the way I imagined it was breath taking. The author did a phenomenal job at describing it. Don't want to talk specifics so that you go into it blindly but know that it will be great.

✓ - Ending: At first I didn't like it but after a few days have passed and I kept thinking about it I think I like it more and more. I don't want to talk more about it to not spoil it but I think that if we had a first encounter with extraterrestrial beings it would probably go down like this ending. We're not the center of the universe as much as we humans like to think so.

Extensive Review

Even though it ticked all the boxes I can't give it a 5 star rating because...I don't want to spoil it but we're left with a lot of questions and I think that's exactly what the author wanted. I believe it's exactly how it would go down in real life if it happened. But this is not real life, it's a book and I like to feel some sort of fulfillment at the end of a story. It is frustrating because you constantly keep discovering new things about this object, more and more and you're thinking soon you will get the reveal but it doesn't happen. It did answer one of the biggest questions of humanity though, we're not alone in the universe.

One of my favorite books "The Last Astronaut" is literally this story but with a bit more answers, I didn't know it at the time but I'm thankful for this book to have inspired that one and probably many more that I haven't read yet. Great book if you into it knowing you probably won't get your questions answered, many people don't like that myself included but it was still a good story.