Rendezvous with Rama

By: Arthur C. Clarke

Narrated by: Peter Ganim, Robert J. Sawyer - introduction

Length: 9 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

At first, only a few things are known about the celestial object that astronomers dub Rama. It is huge, weighing more than ten trillion tons. And it is hurtling through the solar system at inconceivable speed. Then a space probe confirms the unthinkable: Rama is no natural object. It is, incredibly, an interstellar spacecraft.

Space explorers and planet-bound scientists alike prepare for mankind's first encounter with alien intelligence. It will kindle their wildest dreams...and fan their darkest fears. For no one knows who the Ramans are or why they have come. And now the moment of rendezvous awaits - just behind a Raman airlock door.

BONUS AUDIO: Includes an exclusive introduction by Hugo Award-winning author Robert J. Sawyer, who explains why Rendezvous with Rama will make the listener "feel both humbled and exhilarated at the same time".

©1973 Arthur C. Clarke (P)2008 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

Hugo Award, Best Novel, 1974
Nebula Award, Best Novel, 1973
John W. Campbell Memorial Award, Best Novel, 1974

"A frighteningly logical, believable, and grimly prophetic tale...Clarke is a master." (Los Angeles Times)
"A first-rate tour de force." (The New York Times)

my favorite science fiction story

#FirstContact Clarke's best story, this novel features a team of explorers boarding an interstellar vehicle which passes through our solar system, they have a limited amount of time to learn as much as possible. This is the type of story which asks a million interesting questions, and leaves you to answer them for yourself. #tagsgiving #sweepstakes

i can't wait for them to do rama2 and 3

it was even better hearing it than when I read it myself. took me back to the wonders of childhood

Are you kidding me?!?

The book says, "interlude" as if it is only halfway over, but then it ends. Where is the other half of the book???

Rama

What is it? important but not critical to the story. This is about exploration and facing the unknown without destroying it. At least not yet?????

Good old school Clark

Would you listen to Rendezvous with Rama again? Why?

Possibly. The performances were good, and because this is some old school Clark, there is a lot of science I'd like to hear again.

If you’ve listened to books by Arthur C. Clarke before, how does this one compare?

There are two categories of Clark books. Old Clark and New Clark. His older books are more science driven, with the story wrapped around it. Then there are the newer books with the science wrapped around a strong story.

If I were comparing this to older style books, I'd say this is one of his best.

The narration is a dealbreaker

As others have noted the nearest in his monotonous, robotic, and just plain awful. Fabulous story that deserves a redo.

Excellent novel, boring narration

Well written story, had my imagination in overdrive. Unfortunately the narrator it's slow, precise, and very boring.

Underwhelming.

Outstanding story, apparently read by a human metronome incapable of expressing emotion. I thought the reader was Cdr. Data from Starship Enterprise, only Data had much larger emotional inventory than this reader used.

I forgot how good was this story

I first read this book as a young adult, and got me into Clarke’s science fiction narrative. Far away from today’s dystopian fantasies that crowd the genre. In today’s world it shows the make-dominated and western-culture dominated stereotypes of Clarke’s time. But overall as exhilarating, mysterious and optimistic as I remembered it

Lacking in emotion, but a good story.

I enjoyed it despite the flat, emotion-less characters. The ideas and the story itself are very enjoyable.