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Rama II: The Sequel to Rendezvous with Rama Mass Market Paperback – November 1, 1990
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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.
“Offers one surprise after another.”—The New York Times
“A masterpiece . . . one of the year’s best hard SF epics.”—The Houston Post
- Print length480 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherSpectra
- Publication dateNovember 1, 1990
- Dimensions4.2 x 1.03 x 6.7 inches
- ISBN-100553286587
- ISBN-13978-0553286588
- Lexile measure970L
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“Offers one surprise after another.”—The New York Times
“A masterpiece . . . one of the year’s best hard SF epics.”—The Houston Post
From the Publisher
"Offers one surprise after another." -- The New York Times.
"A masterpiece ... one of the year's best hard SF epics." -- The Houston Post
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From the Back Cover
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Spectra (November 1, 1990)
- Language : English
- Mass Market Paperback : 480 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0553286587
- ISBN-13 : 978-0553286588
- Lexile measure : 970L
- Item Weight : 9.2 ounces
- Dimensions : 4.2 x 1.03 x 6.7 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #97,220 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #857 in Hard Science Fiction (Books)
- #990 in First Contact Science Fiction (Books)
- #3,403 in Classic Literature & Fiction
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
SIR ARTHUR C. CLARKE (1917-2008) wrote the novel and co-authored the screenplay for 2001: A Space Odyssey. He has been knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, and he is the only science-fiction writer to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. His fiction and nonfiction have sold more than one hundred million copies in print worldwide.
Photo by en:User:Mamyjomarash (Amy Marash) (en:Image:Clarke sm.jpg) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.
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I highly recommend this book, as well as, the other books in the series.
• “Do we humans thus represent an evolutionary paradigm that has been repeated over and over throughout the universe?” (General O’Toole, pg. 60)
• “I don’t think anyone has figured out Rama yet. My personal belief is that the lights will not follow any pattern. They will go on and off at random times to keep us guessing.” (Reggie Wilson, pg. 204)
• “We are over our heads here. I can feel it in the air. We are being warned of danger by powers that none of us can begin to understand. But we are ignoring the warnings.” (Reggie Wilson, pg. 217)
• “The technology of an advanced extraterrestrial species will be indistinguishable from magic.” (Arthur C. Clarke’s third law, as quoted by Nicole des Jardins, pg. 329-30)
• “Imagine what it would be like to be in the true library, one that combined the knowledge of all the species in the universe.” (Richard Wakefield, pg. 336-37)
• “Maybe they’re testing us in some way. To find out what we’re like.” (Nicole des Jardins, pg. 454)
• And for shitakes and giggles, and food for thought: “…you couldn’t hurt those things if you dropped them from the top of the Trump Tower.” (Janos quote in reference to jostling the yet-to-be armed nuclear weapons, pg. 406)
Whereas the first Rama book delved just slightly into history and culture with Norton’s respect for Captain Cook, Rama II enthralls us with 3 small robots who recite Shakespeare, Beethoven’s 6th, rites of the Senoufo people of Africa and a bit of Alice in Wonderland thrown in as well. Mathematics, physics, probability also have their part in this story.
While the story is progressing, we also get a look into past incidents that shaped the characters into what they are at the time of the mission.
Science fiction in its most pure form almost always predicts future in the way of technology. In Rama II, what we know of today as a 3D printer is ably described.
Literary tools are skillfully used, “…weird sound, like dozens of unshod baby feet on a linoleum floor.”
In the land of biots in the shapes of crabs, sharks, octopods and centipedes, of pure running water and manna melons there are still seemingly primitive creatures which we never find out if they are biots or just plain bio.
The author has some clever commentary on governments “…beauracracies are the same. They drain the life out of the truly creative people and develop mindless paper pushers as their critical mass.”
There are views on the relationship of science and religion “…wasn’t it He who had provided the impetus for the cataclysmic explosion known as the Big Bang…”
Rama II has all the elements of a good movie script: the incredible worldlet of Rama itself; the courageous and the cowardly, the good guys and the bad guys (and girls). There is life and death, technology, politics, religion and science. There are adventures with strange creatures and stranger architecture. We get to know fear, anger, treachery, love and pure joy.
Then there’s the crew of twelve, all so intelligent as to be in the top ten percent of the top 1 percent of the population. However, smart doesn’t always mean good or looking out for one’s fellows.
The evil, conniving Italian vixen and her plans that go awry in the very worst way.
The bullied American scientist who got where he was through just a bit of, shall we say, cheating?
The French woman, a quiet investigator and somewhat of an intuitionist.
The token black guy.
The Japanese scientist with a serious heart condition.
The deeply religious general.
The English Shakespearean.
The Russians…
The German…
Compromised crew members…
I could go on, but really, just read it – you won’t be disappointed.