Rendezvous with Rama

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Arthur C. Clarke: Rendezvous with Rama (Paperback, 1974, Ballantine Books)

Mass Market Paperback, 276 pages

English language

Published Aug. 13, 1974 by Ballantine Books.

ISBN:
978-0-345-31560-1
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4 stars (2 reviews)

Written in 1973, a massive 50 kilometre long alien cylinder begins to pass through the solar system provoking a hurried effort to intercept it. The closest available ship rushes to rendezvous so as to have a quick study before it gets too close to the sun. Able to enter via an airlock on one end of the ship, the crew explores the huge world found inside, a world full of wonder and mystery. As usual, the science is spot on. This is the best novel of Clarke's since 2001 and Childhood's End and is a truly grand adventure full of puzzles and ideas that lead you asking more questions than are answered. Enough questions in fact to lead to numerous inferior sequels, but enough answers to leave you satisfied. Don't pass up this gem of hard science fiction.

48 editions

There is a reason it is still known

5 stars

Very little sci fi is still talked about decades later. And often, that which is, how the author was a huge asshole/sexist/etc. is a part of that conversation.

I haven't heard any of that about Arthur C. Clarke. And the book is still solid both in it's sci fi and its politics. If anything, it's more optimistic than more modern fair.

I really enjoyed it, albeit that it took a bit to get though.

Subjects

  • Future in literature
  • Science fiction