Clarke let another writer take over for much of the book (the prologue does not say how much, but leads me to think "most of it"). You can see the influence of Clarke, and the later author's desire to both continue the story and keep the writing style. If this is mostly Clarke, that's fine. If this is mostly the later author, then this is very impressive.

Whereas the first Rama, [b:Rendezvous with Rama|112537|Rendezvous with Rama (Rama, #1)|Arthur C. Clarke|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1405456427s/112537.jpg|1882772], was a pretty pure science fiction that raised some "big picture" questions, this one goes more of the action/mystery/puzzle genre. The sci-fi is there, but not intrusive (and it was written later so some of the dead technology from the first one is gone, leaving 2018 readers less likely to laugh). Think of this as almost an Indiana Jones Discovers Another Civilization, and goes poking his head around, without all of the stupid alien crap from the 4th Indiana Jones movie that was never made (thank goodness). It also introduced me to a bit of poetry that, while not dealing mainly with mortality and death, I think would serve well as an epitaph. From Robert Herrick:
Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old Time is still a-flying;
And this same flower that smiles today
To-morrow will be dying.
The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun,
The higher he's a-getting,
The sooner will his race be run,
And nearer he's to setting.
That age is best which is the first,
When youth and blood are warmer;
But being spent, the worse, and worst
Times still succeed the former.
Then be not coy, but use your time,
And, while ye may, go marry:
For having lost but once your prime,
You may forever tarry.