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A review by eiion
Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Ramans do everything in threes.
Rendevous with Rama is a fascinating sci-fi book that deals with the concept of the unknown. A comet enters the solar system, unsuspecting at first, but quickly catches the eyes of scientists for its key difference: it‘s not a comet at all, but a quickly rotating cylinder, hollow, and host to alien construction and fragments of life.
This story focuses more on what we don‘t know than what we do. There is so much that is never explained to us, and there is no reason it ever needs to be. Theories are tossed around, science is explored, but we are never given a definitive answer because we do not need it, and because there is not enough time to pick Rama apart and understand it. Clarke challenges the idea of human understanding, focusing Rendezvous with Rama on an almost spiritual journey about the curiosity of the human race and the answers that they do not have time to get.
Following Norton and his crew, we get glimpses into their lives, into how the world and the solar system has changed, but they are not the main characters of this story. The humans serve as plot devices, to communicate to the audience rather than to serve an integral part of the plot. Instead, Rama is the main character, filled with secrets and lore that no one, not even the best scientists, could ever begin to understand. We, the audience, are just as much in the dark about the mysteries of Rama as anyone else.
This wasn‘t a fulfilling book. We did not learn secrets of an alien race, or even get to understand Rama‘s purpose at the end of the story. It simply flew off into space, to continue its journey elsewhere, and we will never know its origin or destination. We are not meant to know. But that‘s the entire fun of it - I loved the fact that Clarke so unapologetically just… didn‘t tell us what was going on.
Everything that they brought back was (and would continue to be) analysed, the Ramans will, of course, be „understood“ as much as is possible by humans, but that isn‘t the point of the book. The point of it was to highlight a moment, and the adventures within Rama, the existence of life forms that we do not understand and that the characters didn‘t have time to understand.
We are left with more questions than answers, but that‘s the entire purpose, and I loved it. Clarke‘s writing draws you in, and he is amazing at describing structures, worlds, and connecting pieces. His world building and science is unparalleled, and I don‘t even mind that my questions will never have answers - I just loved reading it, and being taken along with the Endeavour on the journey of a lifetime.
Rendevous with Rama is a fascinating sci-fi book that deals with the concept of the unknown. A comet enters the solar system, unsuspecting at first, but quickly catches the eyes of scientists for its key difference: it‘s not a comet at all, but a quickly rotating cylinder, hollow, and host to alien construction and fragments of life.
This story focuses more on what we don‘t know than what we do. There is so much that is never explained to us, and there is no reason it ever needs to be. Theories are tossed around, science is explored, but we are never given a definitive answer because we do not need it, and because there is not enough time to pick Rama apart and understand it. Clarke challenges the idea of human understanding, focusing Rendezvous with Rama on an almost spiritual journey about the curiosity of the human race and the answers that they do not have time to get.
Following Norton and his crew, we get glimpses into their lives, into how the world and the solar system has changed, but they are not the main characters of this story. The humans serve as plot devices, to communicate to the audience rather than to serve an integral part of the plot. Instead, Rama is the main character, filled with secrets and lore that no one, not even the best scientists, could ever begin to understand. We, the audience, are just as much in the dark about the mysteries of Rama as anyone else.
This wasn‘t a fulfilling book. We did not learn secrets of an alien race, or even get to understand Rama‘s purpose at the end of the story. It simply flew off into space, to continue its journey elsewhere, and we will never know its origin or destination. We are not meant to know. But that‘s the entire fun of it - I loved the fact that Clarke so unapologetically just… didn‘t tell us what was going on.
Everything that they brought back was (and would continue to be) analysed, the Ramans will, of course, be „understood“ as much as is possible by humans, but that isn‘t the point of the book. The point of it was to highlight a moment, and the adventures within Rama, the existence of life forms that we do not understand and that the characters didn‘t have time to understand.
We are left with more questions than answers, but that‘s the entire purpose, and I loved it. Clarke‘s writing draws you in, and he is amazing at describing structures, worlds, and connecting pieces. His world building and science is unparalleled, and I don‘t even mind that my questions will never have answers - I just loved reading it, and being taken along with the Endeavour on the journey of a lifetime.