In the year 2130, a mysterious and apparently untenanted alien spaceship, Rama, enters our solar system. The first product of an alien civilisation to be encountered by man, it reveals a world of technological marvels and an unparalleled artificial ecology. But what is its purpose in 2131? Who is inside it? And why?
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In the year 2130, a mysterious and apparently untenanted alien spaceship, Rama, enters our solar system. The first product of an alien civilisation to be encountered by man, it reveals a world of technological marvels and an unparalleled artificial ecology. But what is its purpose in 2131? Who is inside it? And why?
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It has just arrived, well ahead of the waiting time limit which is January 30th and today is January 11th. So good experience regarding weather, actually I thought I was going to arrive much later and the conditions are as good as I could imagine at best
77Eagle
Jan 14, 2010
First Contact, Clarke Style
IF you are a Fan of Arthur C Clarke, you will recognize his ability to present a realistic view of the future. The characters have depth.
The story line keeps you wondering what is going to happen next. The following three sequels build on what happens in this story line. At the end of this book, the human race is shown as the very small speck in the Universe that it really is.
qhjr
Nov 19, 2009
One of the best ,...
For fans of science 'fact'ion (had science) this one is hard to beat. In a league with Niven-Pournelle's ringworld. It helped usher in the contemporaries (McDevitt, and others).
Great, fast, fun read.
DaveJW
Oct 5, 2007
First Contact! Clarke does it well.
In 2131 a programme is set up to find asteriods that may cross the Earth's orbit. However, an object is detected that exhibits unusual behaviour as it enters the solar system. A space ship is confirmed: Rama. A crew is sent to discover the mysteries of Earth's first contact before it speeds out of the solar system.
Arthur C. Clarke, rightly (in my opinion) won the Hugo and Nebula Award for this book, which stands the test of time.
A powerful account of a first contact with a star faring race. Within the book, Clarke develops his favourite themes; advanced technology that is indistinguishable from magic, an inability of humans to understand other intelligence. And, recognising that most space exploration is going to be mechanical probes and robots 20 years before it becomes accepted reality.
A powerful story that shows the spirit of exploration, that mankind has demonstrated over the centuries on their own planet, in the local solar system, and the ingenuity needed to survive in new environments.
oursaladbowl
Apr 4, 2007
awe inspiring account of a new world
As the mystery of Rama unravels it leads the reader to realize that much much more is unknown than that which is reveled so far.
The complex inter workings of the vast Rama suggest a great deal of thought on the part of the author.
The book is well written and easy to read and follow. At the end of the book the reader may suddenly realize that the book has finished without him learning very much at all. A rather gripping tale that leaves the reader begging for more.
