Rendezvous with Rama

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.