An instalment in the saga which began with the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning "Rendezvous with Rama" and "Rama II". Rama II, the giant alien artifact, is to be turned into a habitat suitable for human beings. The colony starts well, but soon disintegrates under mounting political tensions.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Arthur C. Clarke is awesomely informed about physics and astronomy, and blessed with one of the most astounding imaginations ever encountered in print (NEW YORK TIMES )
For many readers Arthur C. Clarke is the very personification of science fiction (THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OR SCIENCE FICTION )
Arthur C. Clarke is one of the truly prophetic figures of the space age ... The colossus of science fiction (NEW YORKER ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
For many readers Arthur C. Clarke is the very personification of science fiction (THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OR SCIENCE FICTION )
Arthur C. Clarke is one of the truly prophetic figures of the space age ... The colossus of science fiction (NEW YORKER ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
Book Description
Following RENDEZVOUS WITH RAMA, RAMA II and RAMA REVEALED, the next instalment in the classic Rama series
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Colin Neal
Format:Paperback
This tremendous series continues with the third book in the Rama series. At the end of Rama II three astronauts we left trapped in a huge cylindrical spacecraft heading off towards one of our closest stars.
The first fifth of the novel is presented in the form of Nicole des Jardine's diary and is probably the highlight. It tells of their 12 year journey to "The Node" - a giant space station built by the creators of Rama. There are no warp-drive shortcuts here, Clarke and Lee brilliantly tell the story of how the astronauts start a family, not knowing how long their journey will last and their efforts (often painful) to create genetic diversity amongst their offspring.
As the returned and refitted Rama craft returns to pick up more human specimens, the book takes a breather for about 100 pages, delving you into the lives of many new characters through deep and often uninteresting characterisation. The completed colony accelerates off into space again, but 'New Eden' is not without it's problems as the des Jardine descendents and cross sections of global society struggle to integrate.
With an excellent plot, but pondering middle section "The Garden of Rama" succeeds overall, but you're left wondering about the sudden change in the colony with Nakamura takes power. We're back to full form in the last 100 pages with Wakefield investigating the other species on the ship while other events unfold in the human habitat. This is where the story picks up again but is rushed. The conclusion is pretty moving and makes you instantly want to pick up the final book "Rama Revealed."
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Disappointing when compared to the sheer imaginative, fantastical brilliance of the first book and, to a lesser extent, the second. Hated the direction it took, the whole colony thing and that...the mystery wasn't so much lost as put aside. And the mystery was the story for me! But once over it was a good read and it recovered a little towards the end.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
It's often said of certain authors that they could write a shopping list and still get an advance of £100K for it. I must say this is not Mr. Clarke at his best and certainly this third instalment of the "Rama" series is no where near as good as the first book - however, it's still head and shoulders above "Rama II". The begining of this story of three marooned astronauts on an alien craft heading out of the solar system is slow, plodding and singularly without any excitement (plot or science wise) at all. Those less than avid Clarke readers will probably be very tempted to give up before the book finally starts to move in the middle to end section of the novel when the writing and plot development certainly move back towards what you would expect from on the best SF writers of the 20th century. This is not a book to read as a "stand alone" novel and in some places a working knowledge of it's predecessors is essential, however, it is still worth the effort to wade through the shakey start. Overall a passable effort by messrs. Clarke & Lee but one cannot help thinking that this books primary purpose is only as a foretaster of the real meat in the last book in the series "Rama revealed" and is not designed to be a story in itself.
Not bad but could have been shortened by about 100 pages without significant loss to the reader.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very good value book
A really excellent book, which carries on really well from the prequel. Well worth reading. Should be made into a film with the other 3 in series.
Published 1 month ago by Brian Outten
2.0 out of 5 stars
Someone has tried to write a 'chariacter' novel- big mistake
Loved the first Rama novel; number 2 something of a disappointment- this one is a major let down. What I liked in the first 2 is the mystery and the sense of weird erieness; the... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Beanson
1.0 out of 5 stars
Such a let down.
I don't normally feel compelled to write reviews, however I will make an exception for Garden of Rama which is a phenomenal let down compared to the first two Rama Books. Read more
Published 12 months ago by J. M. Gledhill
1.0 out of 5 stars
Garden of Rama
Very Disappointing. Story could have taken place in any small town. Babies, children, relationslips , politics with very little sci-fi. Typical Woman's book!
Arthur C. Read more
Arthur C. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Goaboy
2.0 out of 5 stars
completely ruins the entire concept
This continues the continuation. It gives details of the ship, keeping its purpose a mystery and developing the personalities in depressingly predictable ways. Read more
Published 23 months ago by rob crawford
4.0 out of 5 stars
Trilogy
As good as Rama II though still not as good as the 1st novel. I particularly enjoyed the accurate portrayal of the human species behaviour so true. Agent Smith was so right.
Published on 8 April 2011 by Glass
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good quality, good price, but be patient
Very please with the quality of the book and the price. I can accept that essentially the price of the book is included in the postage, and to appear competitive the book price is... Read more
Published on 4 Oct 2010 by A. J. Stephenson
4.0 out of 5 stars
Book Purchases
Book was delivered on time and in mint condition - have not read it yet as I only read on holiday - roll on November. Read more
Published on 27 Sep 2010 by Jumbojim
5.0 out of 5 stars
A MUST BUY
The best and most beleivable sci fi I have ever read. A truly excellent book series.
ONE WARNING! Make sure you buy the 1st book Rama Revealed first. Read more
ONE WARNING! Make sure you buy the 1st book Rama Revealed first. Read more
Published on 11 Jan 2010 by Mr. R. M. Jones
3.0 out of 5 stars
Least favourite of the series
I would just like to reassure people wo are possibly reading the series out of order that this book is not representative of the others. Read more
Published on 5 Mar 2008 by C. Parry
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