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)

Could have saved some money

Could have saved some money using Google’s text to speech software instead of this emotionless robotic narrator, damn took me 2/3 of the book just to focus on the actual story instead of the lifeless voice that told it.

good book bad reading

book was great, the guy who read it was awful. couldn't get over the monotone voice and it took out some of the excitement in parts.

Great book!

Need to make Rama 2 available in this country. I waiting anxiously. Bring it on.

Awesome story. Terrible narration.

This was one of my first audiobooks and I remember LOVING it. So it’s been awhile since I’ve listened to it and from time to time I go back and listen to old audiobooks. I redownloaded this one, started it up, and couldn’t believe my ears. Since the first time listening to this I’ve listened to many, many books with amazing narrators. All those amazing narrators completely ruined this book for me, I literally couldn’t get thru it a second time. I turned it off. Which made me sad.

Brilliant classic, well-suited narration

Besides recommending this classic I want to make a comment regarding the narration.
I think, unlike many of my fellow reviewers, that the narration was solid. The monotonous, almost entrancing narration helped portray the vast and impersonal nature of Rama. The deliberate wording and steady pace complemented the sustained (and sometimes monotonous) tasks the characters had to undertake and fits well with imagery of astronauts moving slowly in low gravity environments.

Great story. Strange voice reading it.

I loved every moment of the story itself, however I think Siri or Cortana could have read it and sounded more human.

An excellent book, but a poor performance

This is a classic of Science Fiction, playing out in concise and plausible detail the reaction of future man to the intrusion of the extraterrestrial unknown. The characters are simple, stock one might even say, but they play their part admirably in a narrative that is firmly focused on set, setting, and the meta of politics and science. Very much worth reading.

Unfortunately the narration is droll and plodding beyond reason. It is not that he is not a capable performer, the character dialog is not bad, but rather that the inflection of the narration is cold and slow to the point that my partner asked me upon hearing it "is that a computer voice?" This really saps the excitement from the story.

Excellent work by Clarke

Vivid imagination and scientific knowledge build the fantastic "world" present in this story. Highly recommend.

Thoroughly enjoyable Arthur C. Clarke classic.

I read this novel years ago and wanted to revisit it. It was most enjoyable to do so. I'm going to get Rama 2 next. The narrator took a bit getting used to.

Narration

Have read this book at least once a year over the past 40 years. It's one of my favorites, along with "After Worlds Collide" ,"Earth Abides", and "A Canticle for Leibowitz". I have noticed many reviews trashing Peter Ganim's reading..."robot-like, sleep-inducing, terrible", etc.
Well, Ganim's reading is perfectly paced with perfect range, interesting, and engaging. He is right up there with the top pros in the field. Anyone who disagrees with this is probably a big fat meanie who snores and hates little children!