Originally posted by Kosh
What is the series about?
I'll quote the summaries of the books:
Rendevous with Rama
by Arthur C. Clarke
The new celestial body that appears in the outer reaches of our solar system in 2130, believed at first to be an asteroid, and named Rama by earthlings, soon proves not to be a natural object. It is a vast cylinder-about thirty one miles long and twelve and a half across, with a mass of at least ten trillion tones-that is moving steadily closer to the Sun. The five-thousand-ton spaceship Endeavour lands on Rama, and when Commander Bill Norton and his crew make their way into it's hollow interior they find a whole self-contained world-a world that has been cruising through space for at least 200,000 years and perhaps for more than a million. They have, at most, three weeks to explore Rama: a dead world, as it seems at first, though not without it's perils, and with intensifying perils when it proves to be, in it's own astonishing way, very much alive. Yet in the end it is Homo sapiens who poses the greatest menace, and whose exploits bring a continuously absorbing narrative to it's highest pitch of excitement.
Rama II
by Arthur C. Clarke and Gentry Lee
Decades have passed since Commander Norton and his crew met with the enormous alien ship dubbed Rama and declared it an intelligent robot with no interest in the creatures of our solar system. In those years the world has undergone dramatic changes-from the wild prosperity immediately following the Raman visit to the cataclysm of the Great Chaos, also spurred by Rama. And then, near the dawn of the twenty-third century, a spacecraft is identified hurtling across our solar system. A crew of a dozen is assembled to rendezvous with the massive ship. And mankind has a second date with destiny.
Some of the best and brightest minds on Earth are assembled to intersect with Rama II just inside the orbit of Venus. Among them are the brilliant engineer Richard Wakefield, scientist Shigeru Takagishi (author of The Atlas of Rama), heroic life science officer Nicole des Jardins, stern commander in chief Valeriy Borzov, and the duplicitous video journalist Francesca Sabatini. But even though the crew is equipped with every piece of information that is known about Raman technology and culture, there is nothing that can prepare them for what they will encounter on board. For while Rama II appears to be much like its predecessor, the crew will discover startling-perhaps even deadly-differences.
The Garden of Rama
by Arthur C. Clarke and Gentry Lee
By the twenty-third century Earth has had two encounters with massive, mysterious, robotic spacecraft from beyond our solar system-the obvious handiwork of a technology that far exceeds our own. The first time we greeted a Raman vessel, it was with wonder. The second time, it was with weapons. And one scientific fact is incontestable: The Ramans do everything in threes.
Atomic warheads meant for the second Raman craft, dubbed Rama II, have detonated-with cosmonauts Nicole des Jardins, Richard Wakefield, and Michael O'Toole trapped aboard the astoundingly immense vessel. It's vastly superior technology has allowed Rama II to avoid nuclear destruction, but now the explorers are captive to an enigma, traveling at half the speed of light toward an uncertain destination.
For all it's dazzling wonders, life on Rama II is not easy or safe. Dangerous octospiders roam the vast corridors, and the bone-shaking course changes literally rock the foundations of hte humans' makeshift dwelling. It takes all their physical and mental resources to carve out an existence aboard a vessel whose purpose they still cannot fathom.
Then, some twelve years into their journey, the travelers must face the ultimate fear. For instead of being adrift on an endless interstellar cruise to nowhere, it becomes increasingly clear that they are headed for a Raman base-and the heretofore unseen architects of their galactic home. Will the Ramans seek revenge for the attack on their ship? Or are their goals more complex?
The cosmonauts have left behind families, friends, and possessions to live a new kind of life. But the answers that await them at the Raman Node will require and incredible sacrifice far beyond what they have already undergone. the potential reward is almost inconceivable-if humanity is indeed ready to discover the awe-inspiring truth.
Just as a note, Rama II and TGOR aren't anywhere near as good as the First, IMO.
http://www.sfreviews.netRendezvous with Rama: *****, including multiple awards, like the Hugo, nebula, and John W. Campbell memorial awards.
Rama II: ***
The Garden of Rama: **1/2
You don't even need to read the last 2. The first is pretty much totally separate from the others.
Oh, and I left one out: Rama Revealed. Haven't read it yet.
