Rama: Il ciclo completo

Rama #1-4

by Arthur C. Clarke, Marcello Jatosti (translator)

11 settembre 2077: un grosso meteorite si abbatte sulla Pianura Padana, devastandola. Per evitare che disastri del genere possano ripetersi, viene approvato d’urgenza il progetto Guardia Spaziale, con il compito di catalogare e studiare l’orbita degli asteroidi nel sistema solare. Poi, nel 2130, i radar della Guardia Spaziale individuano un oggetto che sulle prime viene scambiato per un grosso asteroide, ma che è in realtà un UFO. Il comandante Norton riceve l’ordine di esaminare da vicino, con la sua astronave Endeavour, il silenzioso colosso, chiamato Rama, e se possibile sbarcarvi. È così che inizia una delle più fantastiche avventure della fantascienza.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Classics, Ebooks, Aliens

1200 pages, Hardcover

First published October 14, 1993

About the author

Stories, works of noted British writer, scientist, and underwater explorer Sir Arthur Charles Clarke, include 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968).

This most important and influential figure in 20th century fiction spent the first half of his life in England and served in World War II as a radar operator before migrating to Ceylon in 1956. He co-created his best known novel and movie with the assistance of Stanley Kubrick.

Clarke, a graduate of King's College, London, obtained first class honours in physics and mathematics. He served as past chairman of the interplanetary society and as a member of the academy of astronautics, the royal astronomical society, and many other organizations.

He authored more than fifty books and won his numerous awards: the Kalinga prize of 1961, the American association for the advancement Westinghouse prize, the Bradford Washburn award, and the John W. Campbell award for his novel Rendezvous with Rama. Clarke also won the nebula award of the fiction of America in 1972, 1974 and 1979, the Hugo award of the world fiction convention in 1974 and 1980. In 1986, he stood as grand master of the fiction of America. The queen knighted him as the commander of the British Empire in 1989.

Reviews

[Christopher Richmond-Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would give this book ten stars if it were possible.
A friend brought me the first book (paperback) while I was in hospital back in 2003. I enjoyed it so much I got him to buy me the next two books. After leaving the hospital we couldn't find the next book in the series so I gave up.
A few years later while browsing amazon I came across them and ordered Book #4.
I then discovered this kindle omnibus, luckily I was in time to change the order and bought the omnibus and my very first Kindle.
Re-reading the whole saga from the beginning, I found it was even better than I remembered.

[Clemens · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book holds all four Rama books, but only the first one is actually written by Clarke himself, the rest by some d-level author that just screws it all up.

Recommendation: Read only the first book, skip the rest.

Spoilers might be below

Rendezvous with Rama (Rama, #1): Five Stars

This one was written by Clarke and it is fantastic, amazing, awesome, well written, great story, good characters and all above and beyond.

Rama II (Rama, #2): Two Stars

Because the Omnibus does not tell you when one book is finished I was first really confused on why the writing style has changed so much. It turned into some personal drama-lama. Soap Opera. Worse than than some schlock sci-fi b-movie. How such a crew was ever selected that acts like they are in some big brother house is just beyond understanding. While in the first book the mission came first here it is everyone for themselves.

The Garden of Rama (Rama, #3): Two Stars

Same crap as above but now we travel away from earth. Small parts are interesting, overall crap, especially when have that time on that alien space station and the return trip. Forgettable. You realize this book is bad when you start skipping parts and not missing anything.

Rama Revealed (Rama, #4)

One one hand it is the best of the three other books, on the other hand it is the same crap again. It has some nice interesting parts, but it gets all crapped on top with some super-mega-god alien that are behind this. This is just stupid. Also I had to skip over parts because this was just unreadable.

[Sandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the first in this series, "Rendevous with Rama". But the second left much to be desired. I felt it was preachy, overwritten and cliche. The characters were either irritatingly good or bad to the point of no redeeming features. I generally adore Arthur C Clarke, but I'd pass on this omnibus and just read the first novel, "Rendevous with Rama".

[Roberto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Questo libro è stata una lettura bellissima. Ma voglio cominciare la mia recensione con delle informazioni. Dei quattro libri solo il primo, "Incontro con Rama", fi scritto interamente da Clarke. In un prologo Clarke stesso afferma che avrebbe terminato la faccenda con il primo romanzo e non aveva intenzione di continuare e non aveva nemmeno sviluppato il continuo della storia. A quel tempi era molto più interessato al ciclo delle Odissee e stava sviluppando i seguiti (la serie è composta da quattro libri: "2001 odissea nello spazio", "2010 odissea due", "2061 odissea 3" e "3001 odissea finale"). Nel frattempo la società aveva fatto nuove scoperte scientifiche che destavanp l'interesse di Clarke. Rama quindi sarebbe stato un unico romanzo. Successivamente gli fu proposto di continuare la storia è la conoscenza di Gentry Lee portò alla stesura dei tre romanzi successivi ("Rama II", "Il giardino di Rama" e "Il segreto di Rama" tutti scritti con Lee. I due scrissero in città diverse dividendosi i compiti e inviandosi i capitoli dei libri. Clarke stesso dice che se avessero scritto insieme sulla stessa scrivania avrebbero sicuramente litigato. A voler essere pignoli l'intera opera è composta da sei libri perché successivamente ai successi ottenuti ne furono scritti altri due. Sono però dei sequel e sono inediti in Italia Clarke stesso considera il ciclo di Rama terminato con il quarto libro.
Alla fine della storia troverete uno scritto del curatore del libro molto interessante dove si spiega il concetto di fantascienza, si nominano i grandi scrittori, le opere fondamentali e le scoperte che avvenivano durante gli anni che hanno influenzato i loro libro.

Venendo al libro devo dire che l'idea è fenomenale! Ci tengo a sottolineare che il primo libro è stato scritto bel 1973 e solo una mente così creativa poteva immaginare determinate cose in quell'epoca. Mi ha colpito molto la conoscenza di Clarke della cultura europea (come sappiamo lo schianto di Rama avviene nella Pianura Padana). Sono nominati personaggi storici e avvenimenti storici. L'interesse di Clarke per Giovanna d'arco ed Eleonora d'Aquitania è bellissimo. Ovviamente non sono presenti nella storia ma vengono nominate più volte e il fatto di averle nominate mi è piaciuto in quanto in un romanzo di fantascienza ambientato in un futuro lontanissimo è strano nominare i pensieri di personaggi così antichi che non fanno neanche parte della storia del paese dello scrittore.
I personaggi non mi hanno colpito più di tanto perché fondamentalmente non sono molto funzionali alla storia in quanto Rama è il vero protagonista dei quattro libri. Devo dire che la differenza di scrittura tra Clarke e Lee si nota abbastanza. L'inizio del secondo libro infatti mi è piaciuto di meno in quanto è subentrato uno stile narrativo differente. Ma quando sono entrato in questo stile narrativo "doppio" non ne sono uscito più! Non posso rivelare i quattro finali ma posso dire che non sono finali con colpi di scena perché gli interi libri sono colpi di scena. Si scoprono continuamente cose nuove e pe descrizioni sono fantastiche. Bellissime anche le descrizioni dei luoghi. In un capitolo ridevo da solo perché ad ogni cambio di pagina c'era una scoperta nuova e ci si addentrava in un luogo nuovo.
All'inizio ero spaventato dalla mole di pagine ma posso dire che è un libro che si lascia leggere veramente bene, è scorrevole e chiaro e poi questo continuo scoprire da veramente curiosità al lettore. I concetti affrontati sono tanti e sviluppati molto bene.
Avrei altre mille cose da dire su questo libro in quanto è veramente bello! Ragazzi leggetelo perché ne vale veramente la pena! Che idee e quanta roba!
Classifica dei vokumi: 1,4,3,2.

[James Mays · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF second book. The first was inspiring, not perfect with weaker characters and some interesting pacing here and there but Rama itself is an inspired SF setting with a riveting core mystery.

Book 2 is a character drama where everyone is unstable despite them all being accomplished scientist, journalists, and astronauts/cosmonauts. Long exposition dumps, ages to establish the conflict unravelling why Rama has returned, and so much depth added to areas I was happy to take for granted in the first book (medical advancements, religious advancements, and the socio-economic, geopolitical state of earth). I refuse to believe this was primarily written by Clarke and attribute a lot of these problems to Lee who, as I understand, was the primary writer on this one - it shows.

While the central mystery of the first book is discovering what Rama is, which proves as existential and cerebral as you might expect, the second book devolves into a whodunnit. I haven't felt such a dissonance between books in a series since Forever War and Forever Peace and I'll be as happy to drop this series as I was there, even sooner it seems as the same red flags appear around the mid point.

I knew something was up when our narrative perspective STAYS WITH THE SHIP while Rama becomes pushed to the side in favour of a murder mystery. The arrival - approximately 150 pages in - just happens and all suspense is lost despite this being the first major story development beyond whether the team is medically fit for the mission which is as drawn out as it sounds - Lee definitely has an issue with too much backstory (an issue I understand continues into his later books in this series).

Furthermore, valuable pacing is sacrificed for a chapter-long flashback sequence of the protagonist's time surviving in the jungle as a child just so they can earn their confidence back. Was there no other way to do this other than breaking the pacing for a sequence that lasts a chapter in a way which seems to exaggerate the effects of herbal plants in a way disingenuous to genuine ideas around herbal treatments in uncontacted communities/tribes? At this point it is not sci-fi or speculative fiction, just strange adventure writing which is not what I come to Clarke for.

Awful. The first book deserves the two stars alone - at least the second has some interesting world building but all of this is just dumped in the lap of the reader in an early chapter.

SPOILER WARNING::::::



I feel the central mystery of Rama being left ambiguous at the end of the first novel is truer to the ethos of Clarke's work here and any idea of meeting them in book 4 (as the title suggests) sounds like adventure SF as opposed to the introspective, grounded nature of the first book which is infinitely more appealing. I'm fine simply not knowing and being left with something to think about.

[Jirnsum · Rating 5 out of 5]

I reread this over the summer after first reading Rendezvous with Rama and Rama II when I was 16 or so. It was an interesting experience going through all the books again some 20 years later. I took completely different things from all four books than I did all those years ago.

[Steverman · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first book was mind blowing, the second was written by someone who was not up to the task. I never even tried the last one, written by the same Gentry Lee. Skip it.

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

First book - excellent. Rest...meh

[Richard Spooner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A seriously awesome sci-fi book. The imagination of Clarke and Lee is astounding. You won't want to put it down. A must read.

[Eeva Lancaster · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is a must read for scifi fans.
An abandoned spaceship arrives in the solar system... Need I say more? Aren't you already thrilled with what that represents?

[Eros Fratini · Rating 2 out of 5]

Questo ciclopico volume raccoglie i primi quattro romanzi canonici del "Ciclo di Rama". Il primo è del solo Clarke, gli altri tre sono scritti in collaborazione con Gentry Lee.

Incontro con Rama:
E' considerato, a ragione, uno dei romanzi più importanti della storia della fantascienza.
L'avevo già letto anni fa, e tutte le sensazioni che ricordavo sono ancora lì, fresche e immutate. E' un romanzo molto tecnico, che abbozza appena i protagonisti umani della vicenda. Il vero protagonista è Rama, l'enorme astronave aliena, e i nostri esploratori sono come piccole formiche industriose che tentano di studiarlo e comprenderlo, hanno una personalità, sia ben chiaro, ma anche se tutto è narrato dal loro punto di vista sembrano quasi essere sullo sfondo di qualcosa di molto più grande di loro.
Il sense of wonder che Clarke riesce a trasmettere non ha probabilmente eguali in tutta la letteratura fantascientifica.
E anche se gli sforzi umani non giungono a una soluzione del mistero non siamo di fronte a un romanzo nichilista, lo stile di Clarke è ancora quello positivista del periodo della golden age. Si rimane sopraffatti dall'enormità del mistero, ma in ammirazione, non schiacciati.

Rama II:
O "Come non scrivere un sequel".
Tutta l'impersonalità e l'alienazione del primo romanzo scompaiono come neve al sole, ed è un sacrilegio considerando l'importanza del predecessore.
Ambientato circa 70 anni dopo gli eventi del primo incontro con Rama, ci troviamo ora di fronte ad una seconda astronave in ingresso nel sistema solare. A studiarla ci penserà questa volta un team di cosmonauti molto più emotivo e caratterizzato. Questa volta sembra quasi che Rama sia in secondo piano: il romanzo inizia (e prosegue, A LUNGO) con un'analisi dettagliata della storia personale di ogni membro dell'equipaggio, le loro aspirazioni, le loro bassezze, i moventi, sono descritti estensivamente in tediosi capitoli e capitoli di prologo. Una noia mortale.
La situazione migliora superata la metà del romanzo, quando l'esplorazione più profonda del secondo Rama comincia a prendere forma e si assiste finalmente a qualche scena interessante (no spoiler).
In linea di massima, però, siamo di fronte a un sequel molto debole, pieno di introspezioni e storie personali di cui, sinceramente, avrei fatto volentieri a meno.

Il Giardino di Rama:
Cercherò di essere il più vago possibile per evitare spoiler sulla trama.
Anche questo romanzo continua sulla scia del secondo: pipponi interminabili di storie personali (la prima parte è scritta in forma di diario), con qualche scorcio sul "succo" della storia, che dovrebbe aver a che fare con gli alieni, ogni tanto bisogna ricordarselo.
La cosa che mi ha disturbato più di tutte, in questo terzo capitolo, sono i dialoghi. Nessuno, e ripeto NESSUNO, al mondo ha mai costruito frasi come quelle che si scambiano i protagonisti di questo romanzo: sono pedanti, ridondanti e suonano completamente innaturali, e non sono sicuro sia solo colpa della traduzione. La narrazione in terza persona è ridotta all'osso, e i dialoghi (sia tra i protagonisti che le interminabili introspezioni) sono l'espediente per narrare le vicende, ma chiaramente è inevitabile trasformarli in spiegoni noiosissimi.

Il Segreto di Rama:
Quest'ultimo romanzo prosegue sulla linea già tracciata dal secondo e dal terzo, continuando a riproporci le menate mentali e le storie di vita dei protagonisti (e la cosa comincia a farsi veramente trita).
Inoltre mi ha lasciato una sensazione fortissima di sceneggiatura da soap-opera, complici, credo, i dialoghi dozzinali e le continue introspezioni della protagonista principale.
In compenso quì ci sono più descrizioni di alieni e tecnologia aliena, e finalmente si inizia a parlare più profusamente dell'unica cosa che realmente interessa a noi lettori: cos'è Rama? Perchè? Come? Dove?
Finale un po' deboluccio, dove si cerca di costruire un crescendo emotivo ma con risultati non completamente soddisfacenti.

La valutazione finale fa riferimento al volume nel suo insieme, ma nel dettaglio:
- Incontro con Rama: 5
- Rama II: 1
- Il Giardino di Rama: 1
- Il Segreto di Rama: 2

[William Mihalo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The underlying theme with these books is that faster than light travel is not possible. Therefore an advanced sentient civilization sends out a number of large robotic spacecrafts to explore star systems in the Milky Way that have sentient life forms that have acquired some form of space travel. The robotic spacecrafts act as a lure and attract sentient life forms to investigate each spacecraft as it visits a star system.

In effect, the concept of these books is a way of reversing the Fermi Paradox (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermi_p...).

Rama II, the Garden of Rama and Rama Revealed focus mostly on one character and describes her life on board versions of the Rama spacecraft. After the original Rama spacecraft visits and departs Earth's solar system, a second one returns some time later. A crew of 12 people visit the second Rama spacecraft. Nine of the crew leave Rama II and 3 become stranded. These books deal with the 3 astronauts who were left behind on Rama II. In the Garden of Rama, a rebuilt Rama II is sent to earth with the 3 stranded astronauts. They pick up 2,000 people from Earth and the rebuilt Rama II heads towards the Tau Ceti star system. The democratic government on the rebuilt Rama II is overthrown by an authoritarian ruler. The authoritarian ruler declares war on the various alien creatures that inhabit the spacecraft. The alien hosts on board the spacecraft are biological robots, "biots" and are forced to intervene. The humans are placed into a deep sleep until they arrive at a space station at Tau Ceti. The book ends with a long description of Arthur C Clarke and Gentry Lee's response to the underlying components of the Fermi Paradox.

[Doram Jacoby · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'll start by saying that Randevous with Rama is one of my all-time favourites.
I know it's dated but the focus on the joy of exploration and on facing the unknown and unknowable was something I found transformative.

So I had my doubts going into the sequels. I knew that they would provide too many answers and ruine the open ending I loved so much.

But after years of avoiding them my curiosity got the better of me and I decided to give them a go.

My review will focus on 2 things.

1. Rama plot.

I found the continuation of the Rama story interesting. I wasn't a big fan of where they took it but it was okay. I would have liked it better if they left it open but I did choose to read the sequels so there you have it...

2. Additional drama.

Arthur C. Clarke was of a generation of writers where the focus of the material was on the ideas and little attention was given to character development or overall "day to day drama".
This is something Arthur C. Clarke admitted as much himself. So I knew that I knew that Gentry Lee was going to add some of that.

However, the drama is terrible!

The characters are unrealistic, behave in ridiculous ways and makes no sense.
At times it's like the Kardashians and at other times it's much much worse (like a woman happily marrying her 13 or 14 years old daughter to a 73 years old man so that they can procreate based on the fact that they get along).

I had to skip forward quite a lot of the drama (something I never do in books) because it was so badly written.

My advice...
Read the original which is not perfect but is full of great ideas and avoid the sequels.

[Francesca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Se dovessi valutare solo il primo libro, "Incontro con Rama", darei senza ombra di dubbio 5 stelle. Il primo romanzo è qualcosa di spettacolare: è filosofico ma non risulta pesante, è interessante, curioso e ti accompagna verso domande che indagano l'esistenza stessa. I personaggi umani sono sullo sfondo, il fulcro è Rama: ciò che è, che rappresenta e che può essere. Semplicemente meraviglioso.

Purtroppo ci sono anche gli altri tre libri dove, oltre a notarsi notevolmente il cambio d'autore, il focus si sposta da Rama, l'astronave aliena, ai personaggi e alle loro vicissitudini. E, se fosse in equilibrio con il resto della narrazione, quella legata alla fantascienza, agli alieni e alla loro tecnologia, andrebbe anche bene, ma non lo è e questo abbassa di molto la valutazione.

Le vite personali dei personaggi, dal secondo libro in poi, vengono raccontate nei minimi dettagli e in modo noioso e banale, i dialoghi stessi, il più delle volte, sono privi di senso e forzati tanto da ricordare lo stile di una soap-opera tipo "Il Segreto" o "Beautiful".

Il quarto libro, nella sua seconda parte, un po' si riprende: il focus ritorna sugli alieni, la loro astronave e la loro missione, ma risulta comunque un tentativo tardivo e anti climatico per ritornare al succo della storia.

Un vero peccato, perché il primo romanzo è, a buon merito, un caposaldo della narrativa High Sci-Fi.

[Nabil Hussain · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and Passable Sci Fi

This omnibus was interesting to read as it differed slightly from the first book. The first book was a sci fi classic as it was written solely by Arthur C Clarke. The three remaing books was mainly written by Gentry Lee and edited by Clarke. The plot changed from a grand Sci fi start to include socio-political aspects of the characters involved. It was an interesting read enough for me to finish reading this Omnibus but did not feature the Sci-Fi epic that it could have been.It was not the best Sci Fi story ever created.
This was a shame.I was not impresed by Gentry Lee's contribution to the whole story. He stretched the socio-polictical elements a lot to progress the story of each book. There was not much development of Sci Fi elements in the story. There were some fron Arthur C Clarke but overall it was not a great Sci Fi epic.
Hence I give this whole effort three stars.

[Timothy Hughston · Rating 2 out of 5]

After re-reading Rendezvous with Rama and thoroughly enjoying it, Rama II was a bit of a disappointment, and the rest of the omnibus just got worse and worse. Far too long winded, and totally unlike ACC in its writing. I put this down to the co-author, who unlike Clarke, is obviously not a scientifically accurate Sci-fi writer. Too many technical errors for my liking. ACC could do no wrong fir me in the past, but I really could not wait to get the end of this. I truly believe I could have done better myself.

[Anthony O'Connor · Rating 3 out of 5]

The sequels are rarely as good

This is a review of the three sequels. Not the original - reviewed separately. Sequels not actually written by AC Clarke.
It was all Basically too long and a bit disappointing.
None of the sense of wonder that drove the original. A lot of overly sentimental domesticity - absent from the original. Advanced technology. Not so much. And when the final secrets of Rama are revealed it’s all disappointingly trite. I suppose one has to read them to find out how the story ends. And it’s a good story. Might be better off reading Wikipedia summaries.

[Stephen Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book still as good as I remember from nearly 40 years ago. Man a small part of the uncaring galaxy. 5 stars
Second book 200 pages to loooong. Needed a editor to cut down the back story of every character. 2 stars.
Book a link to arrive at the last 2 books. One story split into 2 parts. Very inventive and involved. A little surprised at the reason for it all in the slightly rushed ending. 4 stars.

[Sandra Sims · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first book was interesting and left me wanting to know more. The other books - written by this Lee character - just didn't deliver. There were some interesting ideas that weren't really expanded upon and themes and plot points from the first book were completely abandoned. The characters were so cliche it was like reading an Agatha Christie novel. The final book was so full of typos that I began to suspect that there was a secret code hidden within the pages.

[Michael Anderson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh.

I remember reading Rama many years ago and I'd so looked forward to reading it again along with the sequels.

Well what a major disappointment that turned out to be.

Rendezvous With Rama was again brilliant, amazing, spellbinding etc. But what followed was a bunch of absolute rubbish. I'm sorry I wasted my time with it.

Do yourself a favour and read Rendezvous With Rama, you absolutely won't be disappointed.

But stop there!

[Vince · Rating 5 out of 5]

An awesome and inspiring Quadrilogy

I read the original Trilogy as a teenager decades ago and recently felt the need to read it again. I did know of the the final part, Rama Revealed, until recently but it completed the series beautifully. What a marvellous story.

[Mauro De Zordo]

Nel primo libro, il migliore, il paradosso della claustrofobia nello spazio immenso di Rama. Gli altri tre svelano il mistero sui costruttori, ma inciampano nel romance, con scenari catabolici e personaggi importanti dei quali si perde colpevolmente ogni traccia.

[Mike Lisanke · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, in the end, I decided I liked the idea of an intelligent civilization flying through the galaxy collecting samples of species to memories/memorialize. But, yes, this story collection has many problems... it's best to evaluate the help before letting them design the future products. QED

[Nicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great believable sci fi about potential life on other planets. Easy to read and gripping. Cant ask for more!

[Michael Bryce · Rating 5 out of 5]

The series is a far reaching look at life in the universe as well as an introspective into human nature. Are we good only when someone is watching us? Are we good even then?
Like all good sci-fi stories, this is about the characters as much as the tech, but there is plenty of tech without too much magic. We're even bound by light speed! It has aged very well.

[Stefano T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bellissimo dragone urania che contiene tutti 4 romanzi.
Incontro con Rama 5 stelle
Rama II 4 stelle
Il giardino di Rama 4 stelle
Il segreto di Rama 3 stelle

[Marco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rama-1
Un buon racconto di fantascienza senza troppi salti strani. Molto tecnologico con accenni descrittivi dei personaggi. 4*
Rama-2
Molto più un thriller anche se il tema fantascientifico continua e intensifica. Parecchia biografia dei personaggi principali ed un finale davvero interessante 4*
Rama-3
Interessante l'inizio con la creazione del Nuovo Eden; poi si perde, come è forse naturale, sul trionfo dei cattivi senza scrupoli sui buoni. Il finale lascia in sospeso troppe cose che spero saranno chiarite nel prossimo libro 3*
Rama-4
Sociologia e biologia e sopratutto scienz e politiche e sociali di questo tartta la 4 parte del ciclio. In particolare una storia delle varie razze dla cui confronto quella umana ne esce con le ossa rotte. Interessanete la società degli octoragni e del loro sistema di comunicazione. Peccato alcuni personaggi muoiano ma anche il ciclo doveva pur finire. In somma un gran bel libro, 4* e qualcosa di più. All'autoere ed a meche lo ho letto tutto-

[Tristan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection contains the original Rendezvous With Rama (1973) by Arthur C Clarke and the subsequent trilogy by Gentry Lee under Clarke’s supervision, Rama II (1989), The Garden Of Rama (1991), and Rama Revealed (1993).

With the irruption of the elongated interstellar asteroid Oumuamua in the solar system 2016, Rendezvous cemented its position as a legendary work of true anticipation.

I have read Rendezvous a few times now and I am in awe of this book. It stands in the firmament of the books I have read, a truly exceptional “wow”. The main reason for this is the sense of wonder but also of reality that Clarke generates, paradoxically by paring the narrative down to the bare minimum without any of the normal histrionics of adventure thrillers. The writing has exceptional concision and clarity, but particularly it has clarity of vision. Everything in this book, every encounter, every action, every reaction makes absolute scientific sense in the context of what is going on, and follows logically from the progression of the step by step discovery on the inside, and from the progression of Rama’s trajectory on the outside. This story is purely one of exploration, conducted by highly competent, dedicated professionals. Everything in the narrative follows logically from that. Nothing is out of place. There are little or no distractions. This is a rare example of the high concept setting, the plot, the characters, the themes, all being perfectly consistent and well thought out from one end to the other. It’s a true piece of art.

Yes, there are a few false notes here and there. The story is entirely in the style of the Golden Age even though it was written in my lifetime (that still amazes me), and there are chauvinisms that fit with the style and mentality of that epoch (including an unwittingly hilarious passage concerning the effect of microgravity on breasts), but that all falls into the background, the minimal amount of character backstory and character interaction that is necessary to give some humanity to what would otherwise be mere cyphers, and also to give a sense of a futuristic society (however much that backfires). But it is thankfully minimal and by the by, and the only star of the story, the only focus, is Rama itself.

Yes, there are the obligatory bad guys and action scenes at the very end, but again their presence is a logical outcome of the presence of Rama, rather than a mere plot device. Everything has its place in this story, a logical rationale, and hence everything fits and nothing jars.

To conclude, Rendezvous is a perfect example of a five star book for me.

In contrast, I have never been able to get into the following trilogy, precisely because the style is the radical opposite: it concentrates on the normal histrionics of thrillers, with bickering caricatures as characters, and intrusive backstory exposition everywhere. It’s pure Hollywood B movie at best, straight to video dross at worst. Which is strange, considering Lee is a senior NASA scientist, who should have been ideal as a successor to Clarke. But his work is replete with 1980s character tropes, probably because that is what a “popular novel” was meant to contain. I’ll have to try again, but don’t look forward to it.

[Paolo Rotta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ho fatto un viaggio stupendo!! In questo ciclo non si parla solo di alieni, robot e cose futuristiche; si parla dell’umanità, si parla di vita, di morte, di universo, di famiglia. Si danno le risposte alle domande che non hanno risposta. Si analizzano le possibili reazioni dell’umanità a queste risposte oltre che ad analizzare l’umanità stessa (e ahimè spesso queste analisi non danno risultati di cui andare fieri).

Mi é piaciuto moltissimo e penso che chiunque ami la fantascienza debba leggere questa storia.

[Nadine · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found these books pretty hard going as they went on. I felt like I had to finish them because, a) it's Arthur C Clarke, and b) I heard so much about the Rama series. On the one hand, the different societies were interesting, the world is well described, but the characters were just very flat, and the books were strung out way too long. I actually came here looking for this book because I found it so bland. Read some different ACC, don't waste your time here, is my advice.