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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
For anyone who has not yet experienced the magic of hard science fiction.
adventurous
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Delightfully engaging hard SF. Despite lots of technical details, I couldn't put this one day. What is Rama? Why is it here? How should we respond to it? The book doesn't tell us much about the aliens that sent Rama, but it reveals a lot about human nature. It was like reading a video game; the reader, like the characters, remain restlessly inquisitive.
For a SciFi masterwork, there is not a lot to talk about Rendezvous with Rama. It doesn't have a plot (other than the big dumb object trope), and although the characters have distinct flavours (e.g., one is a sportsman and another is a film buff), they don't have any motivation other than that of just doing their job. What I'm saying is: it's not a good novel.
But what Rendezvous with Rama fails in is eclipsed by the sheer sense of awe it inspires in the reader. The prose is decidedly simple which makes it read like a thriller/adventure. And the description is clearcut, scientific, and direct. I personally had a problem visualizing the locations described, but that actually adds to the vertigo effect the extraordinary scenery is supposed to produce. Nevertheless, I would've liked it better if a blueprint of Rama—blueprint, not a map—was provided. I could then keep track of which part of the spaceship(?) is where.
One other thing worth mentioning is the inspiration Rendezvous with Rama provided for Christopher Nolan's Interstellar. From the slingshot-maneuver to the cylindrical space stations, any reader of this book will see definite traces of Clarke's inventions (Clarke created Rama before O'Neil cylinders were a thing) in Nolan's interstellar.
But what Rendezvous with Rama fails in is eclipsed by the sheer sense of awe it inspires in the reader. The prose is decidedly simple which makes it read like a thriller/adventure. And the description is clearcut, scientific, and direct. I personally had a problem visualizing the locations described, but that actually adds to the vertigo effect the extraordinary scenery is supposed to produce. Nevertheless, I would've liked it better if a blueprint of Rama—blueprint, not a map—was provided. I could then keep track of which part of the spaceship(?) is where.
One other thing worth mentioning is the inspiration Rendezvous with Rama provided for Christopher Nolan's Interstellar. From the slingshot-maneuver to the cylindrical space stations, any reader of this book will see definite traces of Clarke's inventions (Clarke created Rama before O'Neil cylinders were a thing) in Nolan's interstellar.
3.5 - Recommendation: Walk into this book expecting classic hard sci-fi (science fiction that, while very imaginative, attempts to stay grounded in proven logic). This novel prioritizes instilling wonder and curiosity rather than developing substantial character arches or engaging you with climactic action. Be patient with it and you'll have a good time.
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is my shit right here you guys. Most of Rendezvous With Rama is devoted to the exploration of an enormous alien ship, its strange nature and fantastic proportions demanding a meticulous effort. It's rare to find a sci-fi or fantasy novel that doesn't eventually succumb to the tempation to continually raise their stakes, and I sometimes feel like the tendency shows a lack of confidence in the initial story setting. Clarke knows better -- exploring an immense, unknowable and impossibly powerful spacecraft is story enough.
informative
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No