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A review by g_r_frank
Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke
3.0
had never read this classic Sci-fi novel, and felt that I should since I love the genre. I can clearly see why this was groundbreaking in its day. The more or less Hard sci-fi approach of the story, in regards to orbital mechanics, the way centripetal forces inside Rama would act, how liquids and air inside would react was amazing and probably very unusual in the time this was published. Those elements hold up well even today. I also love that the book lets the reader explore and incrementally discover many unknown mysteries in RAMA as the characters discover them, and leaves some mysteries totally unexplained, and to each reader's imagination.
One downside to the story is that the way characters are used and portrayed is very cold and distant. Except maybe for the main character, the commander of the ship, there is little character development or reason to care about them as might be done in more modern novels. I guess this is just a style of the era it was written in. I also felt like the "dangers" they faced were too easily overcome. The fact that everyone seems to come out of these life threatening problems alive and well is another premature tension release that I think would be handled differently in a more modern novel.
But I am glad I read it and I did enjoy it for its classic nature and hard physics / science components fit into the narrative of the story. I have heard that the sequels of Rama are different and co-written or written by other authors... most people who have read them don't like them as much as the original so I think this will be the only one I read. But I am glad I did read it and know it now.
One downside to the story is that the way characters are used and portrayed is very cold and distant. Except maybe for the main character, the commander of the ship, there is little character development or reason to care about them as might be done in more modern novels. I guess this is just a style of the era it was written in. I also felt like the "dangers" they faced were too easily overcome. The fact that everyone seems to come out of these life threatening problems alive and well is another premature tension release that I think would be handled differently in a more modern novel.
But I am glad I read it and I did enjoy it for its classic nature and hard physics / science components fit into the narrative of the story. I have heard that the sequels of Rama are different and co-written or written by other authors... most people who have read them don't like them as much as the original so I think this will be the only one I read. But I am glad I did read it and know it now.