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Arthur C. Clarke

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Rama II Kindle Edition

by Arthur C. Clarke (Author), Gentry Lee (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.1 4,067 ratings

Book 2 of 4: Rama

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In the sequel to the multi-award winning sci-fi novel Rama, a second Raman spaceship enters our solar system and “offers one surprise after another” (The New York Times).

Years ago, the enormous, enigmatic alien spacecraft Rama sailed through our solar system as mind-boggling proof that life existed—or had existed—elsewhere in the universe. Now, at the dawn of the twenty-third century, another ship is discovered hurtling toward us.

A crew of Earth’s best and brightest minds is assembled to rendezvous with the massive vessel. They are armed with everything we know about Raman technology and culture. But nothing can prepare them for what they are about to encounter on board Rama II: cosmic secrets that are startling, sensational—and perhaps even deadly.

“A masterpiece . . . one of the year’s best hard SF epics.” —The Houston Post

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In 1973, Clarke's Rendezvous with Rama won the Hugo, Nebula and Campbell awards. This new novel is the second in a trilogy about the mystifying world-ships and their flybys of our solar system. Unfortunately, the focus is no longer on alien mysteries, but on the petty concerns of an unlikely assortment of cosmonauts. The 12 specialists chosen to explore a second Raman craft passing through human space 70 years after the first are more involved with adultery, religion and media contracts than they are with scientific advancement. Not only are their actions unrealistic, but the chapter titles telegraph what comes next. The excitement of discovery that was present in the first book is altogether missing from this soap opera plot.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Offers one surprise after another." -- The New York Times.

"A masterpiece ... one of the year's best hard SF epics." -- The Houston Post

From the Paperback edition.

From the Publisher

Years ago, the enormous, enigmatic alien spacecraft called Rama sailed through our solar system as mind-boggling proof that life existed -- or had existed -- elsewhere in the universe. Now, at the dawn of the twenty-third century, another ship is discovered hurtling toward us. A crew of Earth's best and brightest minds is assembled to rendezvous with the massive vessel. They are armed with everything we know about Raman technology and culture. But nothing can prepare them for what they are about to encounter on board Rama II: cosmic secrets that are startling, sensational -- and perhaps even deadly.

"Offers one surprise after another." -- The New York Times.

"A masterpiece ... one of the year's best hard SF epics." -- The Houston Post

From the Inside Flap

he enormous, enigmatic alien spacecraft called Rama sailed through our solar system as mind-boggling proof that life existed -- or had existed -- elsewhere in the universe. Now, at the dawn of the twenty-third century, another ship is discovered hurtling toward us. A crew of Earth's best and brightest minds is assembled to rendezvous with the massive vessel. They are armed with everything we know about Raman technology and culture. But nothing can prepare them for what they are about to encounter on board Rama II: cosmic secrets that are startling, sensational -- and perhaps even deadly.

From the Paperback edition.

From the Back Cover

Years ago, the enormous, enigmatic alien spacecraft called Rama sailed through our solar system as mind-boggling proof that life existed -- or "had existed -- elsewhere in the universe. Now, at the dawn of the twenty-third century, another ship is discovered hurtling toward us. A crew of Earth's best and brightest minds is assembled to rendezvous with the massive vessel. They are armed with everything we know about Raman technology and culture. But nothing can prepare them for what they are about to encounter on board "Rama II: cosmic secrets that are startling, sensational -- and perhaps even deadly.

About the Author

Arthur C. Clarke has long been considered the greatest science fiction writer of all time and was an international treasure in many other ways, including the fact that an article by him in 1945 led to the invention of satellite technology. Books by Clarke—both fiction and nonfiction—have sold more than one hundred million copies worldwide. He died in 2008.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07X8ZQKJQ
Publisher ‏ : ‎ RosettaBooks (November 29, 2012)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 29, 2012
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 678 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 510 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #33,672 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #132 in Hard Science Fiction (Kindle Store)
- #152 in Alien Invasion Science Fiction
- #260 in Hard Science Fiction (Books)

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4.1 4,067 ratings

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Arthur C. Clarke

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SIR ARTHUR C. CLARKE (1917-2008) wrote the novel and co-authored the screenplay for 2001: A Space Odyssey. He has been knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, and he is the only science-fiction writer to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. His fiction and nonfiction have sold more than one hundred million copies in print worldwide.

Photo by en:User:Mamyjomarash (Amy Marash) (en:Image:Clarke sm.jpg) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

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LoneGrayWolf51

Very Good Book

Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2024

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This was a very good book. I really enjoyed the story. The characters were very well written and well developed. The story just ends with the three remaining cast members surviving the ordeal. There is no indication of what will happen to them. It will be interesting to see if these three survivors end up in the next book. The way that this book just ends, leads me to believe that the next book will continue their story.
I highly recommend this book, as well as, the other books in the series.

Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2023

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I gave 5 stars to Rama; I did not find II to be at that level. A lot more characters, and much more character development than was necessary to support the basic plot, which to me is the continued exploration of the ship Rama. As is increasingly true in a series novel, Rama II doesn't reach a conclusion, it just stops....to be continued in book 3.

2 people found this helpful

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hist1700

Confusing

Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2023

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Scenes and structures were intricately described, so much so that I was lost for whole chunks of the book. The publisher knew, since it was partially Clarke, that it would sell well. It could easily afforded a few illustrations to help the reader. Hesitant to take on the one after this.

One person found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

What Would You Do

Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2024

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This book has you asking many questions of what you would do in the circumstances facing the characters in this book. Ultimately you still know not a lot about the Rama spacecraft. It takes you on a series of emotions. Good read. Big D

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Wiggins

Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic

Reviewed in the United States on November 28, 2017

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I’ll reserve my final review thoughts and commentary until after I’ve finished the series. In the meantime, I’ll list a few of my favorite lines in RAMA II, of which I believe are pertinent to the series as a whole:

• “Do we humans thus represent an evolutionary paradigm that has been repeated over and over throughout the universe?” (General O’Toole, pg. 60)

• “I don’t think anyone has figured out Rama yet. My personal belief is that the lights will not follow any pattern. They will go on and off at random times to keep us guessing.” (Reggie Wilson, pg. 204)

• “We are over our heads here. I can feel it in the air. We are being warned of danger by powers that none of us can begin to understand. But we are ignoring the warnings.” (Reggie Wilson, pg. 217)

• “The technology of an advanced extraterrestrial species will be indistinguishable from magic.” (Arthur C. Clarke’s third law, as quoted by Nicole des Jardins, pg. 329-30)

• “Imagine what it would be like to be in the true library, one that combined the knowledge of all the species in the universe.” (Richard Wakefield, pg. 336-37)

• “Maybe they’re testing us in some way. To find out what we’re like.” (Nicole des Jardins, pg. 454)

• And for shitakes and giggles, and food for thought: “…you couldn’t hurt those things if you dropped them from the top of the Trump Tower.” (Janos quote in reference to jostling the yet-to-be armed nuclear weapons, pg. 406)

2 people found this helpful

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Burning down the house

The past, the future, science and religion

Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2014

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Rama II is not merely an excellent science fiction story; it’s more of a counterpoint of politics, intrigue and murders all turning around a basso continuo of the main theme.
Whereas the first Rama book delved just slightly into history and culture with Norton’s respect for Captain Cook, Rama II enthralls us with 3 small robots who recite Shakespeare, Beethoven’s 6th, rites of the Senoufo people of Africa and a bit of Alice in Wonderland thrown in as well. Mathematics, physics, probability also have their part in this story.
While the story is progressing, we also get a look into past incidents that shaped the characters into what they are at the time of the mission.
Science fiction in its most pure form almost always predicts future in the way of technology. In Rama II, what we know of today as a 3D printer is ably described.
Literary tools are skillfully used, “…weird sound, like dozens of unshod baby feet on a linoleum floor.”
In the land of biots in the shapes of crabs, sharks, octopods and centipedes, of pure running water and manna melons there are still seemingly primitive creatures which we never find out if they are biots or just plain bio.
The author has some clever commentary on governments “…beauracracies are the same. They drain the life out of the truly creative people and develop mindless paper pushers as their critical mass.”
There are views on the relationship of science and religion “…wasn’t it He who had provided the impetus for the cataclysmic explosion known as the Big Bang…”
Rama II has all the elements of a good movie script: the incredible worldlet of Rama itself; the courageous and the cowardly, the good guys and the bad guys (and girls). There is life and death, technology, politics, religion and science. There are adventures with strange creatures and stranger architecture. We get to know fear, anger, treachery, love and pure joy.
Then there’s the crew of twelve, all so intelligent as to be in the top ten percent of the top 1 percent of the population. However, smart doesn’t always mean good or looking out for one’s fellows.
The evil, conniving Italian vixen and her plans that go awry in the very worst way.
The bullied American scientist who got where he was through just a bit of, shall we say, cheating?
The French woman, a quiet investigator and somewhat of an intuitionist.
The token black guy.
The Japanese scientist with a serious heart condition.
The deeply religious general.
The English Shakespearean.
The Russians…
The German…
Compromised crew members…
I could go on, but really, just read it – you won’t be disappointed.

9 people found this helpful

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John Urban

Great deal!

Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2023

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This was a gift and was fully enjoyed by a family member.

Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2024

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Disappointed. Rama, as a concept and as a ship is interesting, as is the alien “life.” But the characters were cliched — and both poorly written and overwritten, with some truly cringe-worthy dialogue. I liked (but didn’t love) Book 1, but I’m stopping at Book 2.

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Mario frank

Continua inovador

Reviewed in Brazil on December 22, 2023

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Digna seqüência do 1º livro.

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Trent Simmons

Great condition

Reviewed in Germany on November 24, 2022

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Perfectly fine book

J . A . H

My old paperback Rama II is falling apart, read it several times , New arrived no problem

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 10, 2022

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Nothing to dislike, Arthur Clark my favourite author

2 people found this helpful

Cliente de Amazon

Sorprendente, ágil y buena continuación a la primera historia de Cita con Rama

Reviewed in Mexico on October 20, 2017

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Una buena continuación de la primera historia, con unos personajes cautivadores, la trama no decae en esta ficticia aventura. Muy recomendable para los amantes de la Ciencia ficción

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jayakrishnan

More of a drama than science fiction.

Reviewed in India on August 11, 2018

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Let me say that even though the style of writing was not the usual ACC style, I was able to enjoy the read. Certainly not among his best works, he tried to give more dimensions to his characters which sometimes feel unnecessary as it negates the science fiction element. Each character is given own background and science elements are much lesser. It feels like a drama rather than a science fiction. Don't expect the awe you felt while reading the 'Rendezvous with Rama' in this one. I wanted to complete the series, hence continued with this.

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Rama II Kindle Edition

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