Mass Market Paperback, 243 pages
English language
Published Aug. 13, 1990 by Bantam Books.
"At first, only a few things are known about the celestial object that astronomers dub Rama. It is huge. It weighs more than ten trillion tons. And it is hurtling through the solar system as 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 man's first encounter with alien intelligence." P. [4] of cover.
... that is, it's 50% description of a docking maneuver, and 50% setup for an exciting book.
I guess that makes it one of those books you should read once, but I didn't manage to enjoy it much.
the characters were a bit no-nonsense and technical, but the setting was immensely good
One of the first sf novels I read as a kid. 2018 reread in honor of ʻOumuamua. Much like The Martian, each chapter deals with a new mystery or problem. Scant character development but loads of hard science fiction - no wormholes or instant communication here.
Unlike Star Trek or Star Wars, the hard SF aspect put the story in reach of us - this is the sort of space exploration we were likely to see in our lifetime. The crew is not hand-picked, the exploration ship is not designed for this - but that only adds to the urgency of this tale. Each new puzzle or problem keeps the pages turning right to the end.
This novel won the Nebula, Campbell, Hugo, BSFA and Locus in it's day, and has been added to every list of influential or top rated books since. From Alien to Interstellar, its impact can …
One of the first sf novels I read as a kid. 2018 reread in honor of ʻOumuamua. Much like The Martian, each chapter deals with a new mystery or problem. Scant character development but loads of hard science fiction - no wormholes or instant communication here.
Unlike Star Trek or Star Wars, the hard SF aspect put the story in reach of us - this is the sort of space exploration we were likely to see in our lifetime. The crew is not hand-picked, the exploration ship is not designed for this - but that only adds to the urgency of this tale. Each new puzzle or problem keeps the pages turning right to the end.
This novel won the Nebula, Campbell, Hugo, BSFA and Locus in it's day, and has been added to every list of influential or top rated books since. From Alien to Interstellar, its impact can be felt on Hollywood science fiction as well. 45 years after initial publication, it doesn't feel at all dated. Highly recommended!
