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A review by slowreaderpeter
Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
I’m not gonna lie, this book is a hard one to review if for no other reason than Chapter 11.
I found this book creative and unique, a very vibes-based book, that gave off a strong air of mystery and intrigue, and of genuine curiosity. Clarke’s writing style was both efficient and elegant, very of the time, and I appreciated the way it managed to be both simplistic and intelligent at the same time.
One of the biggest surprises I had for this book was its inclusion of queer characters or relationship dynamics (even if only briefly mentioned), and of multiple polyamorous relationships. I was not expecting either, to be quite honest, and appreciated the inclusion of both.
As to be expected from works of the time, there was some degree of sexism and minimization of female characters, especially near the beginning section of the book. Though I found their inclusion and purpose to be expanded on as the book went on. On the whole, it still felt rather male-centric and of the time.
What bothered me the most, as mentioned above, was Chapter 11. The first 10 chapters were completely normal, and then Chapter 11 decides to be bizarrely sexist and racist, rather abruptly, for almost 5 straight pages. This coming from a book in the 1960s is not surprising, tragically. But what was surprising was the manner in which it happened. The first 10 chapters were nothing like this, and the rest of the book afterward likewise absent these features. But for some reason Clarke felt the need to include this chapter, for which I will never understand unless he felt a desperate need to put forth his own personal beliefs ardently. Still, I will never not be baffled by the need to break up your own book for the inclusion of a racist and sexist chapter that also has zero bearing on the rest of the story, ever at all.
Without that chapter, I would have likely given the book a 4.25, or there abouts. But with the inclusion of it, I have to knock the rating to a 3.5. I know it is a product of its time, but no other chapter hinges on the information presented in Chapter 11, nothing for the narrative or other characters. And so I can infer nothing else than the purpose was to exclusively be racist and sexist. And part of me feels lenient in making the retraction so minimal.
I found this book creative and unique, a very vibes-based book, that gave off a strong air of mystery and intrigue, and of genuine curiosity. Clarke’s writing style was both efficient and elegant, very of the time, and I appreciated the way it managed to be both simplistic and intelligent at the same time.
One of the biggest surprises I had for this book was its inclusion of queer characters or relationship dynamics (even if only briefly mentioned), and of multiple polyamorous relationships. I was not expecting either, to be quite honest, and appreciated the inclusion of both.
As to be expected from works of the time, there was some degree of sexism and minimization of female characters, especially near the beginning section of the book. Though I found their inclusion and purpose to be expanded on as the book went on. On the whole, it still felt rather male-centric and of the time.
What bothered me the most, as mentioned above, was Chapter 11. The first 10 chapters were completely normal, and then Chapter 11 decides to be bizarrely sexist and racist, rather abruptly, for almost 5 straight pages. This coming from a book in the 1960s is not surprising, tragically. But what was surprising was the manner in which it happened. The first 10 chapters were nothing like this, and the rest of the book afterward likewise absent these features. But for some reason Clarke felt the need to include this chapter, for which I will never understand unless he felt a desperate need to put forth his own personal beliefs ardently. Still, I will never not be baffled by the need to break up your own book for the inclusion of a racist and sexist chapter that also has zero bearing on the rest of the story, ever at all.
Without that chapter, I would have likely given the book a 4.25, or there abouts. But with the inclusion of it, I have to knock the rating to a 3.5. I know it is a product of its time, but no other chapter hinges on the information presented in Chapter 11, nothing for the narrative or other characters. And so I can infer nothing else than the purpose was to exclusively be racist and sexist. And part of me feels lenient in making the retraction so minimal.