Rendezvous with Rama discussion

When I first read Rama I was completely floored, potential and imagination-wise. Here was a story that offered no answers but allowed me to completely open my own imagination to what I thought the Ramans were, indeed might be. Instead, we were followed by a trilogy of sub par sequels that not only diminished the mythology or Rama but destroyed and in fact belittled it.

Would you rather have had, no sequels, or the sequels we had? I know that people are split on Rama 2,3 and 4 but I am pretty sure that even the most inexperienced storyteller could have mastered a better ending to the tale than what we were given.

Should Rama be have left alone? I for one tell all my friends only to read the first book, no matter what their curiosity tells them to do.

the first book was a classic but yeah you're right, it is diminishing returns after that

so i'd say stop at book one, but no one will. same with The Dark Tower, stop at book 3 - no one will

Sandyboy wrote: "i'd say stop at book one, but no one will."

Not true. I did. :-P

The first book is a master piece, no doubt about it.

The second (and probably the third) had worthwhile moments, I did enjoy the parts about them marveling out the alien language for example, but in hindsight I wish I'd rather not read them - and good God, was the last part a let down to what had been build up.
I surely advise people to stay clear of that.

Funny how we read things differently... perhaps it depends on age? I was 15 when I read Rendevous, and spent the whole book waiting for something to happen. I did enjoy the mystery, but to be left with n o actual answers annoyed me. I cannot tell you, however, if this was because of the nature of the ideas therein, or the skills of Clarke in presenting it.

So when the 2nd one came out, I was pleased.
I thought the third book - Garden of Rama, was the culmination of the series. But yes, with all the build-up, the final revelations needed to be superb... and they were not.

Having recently read Clarke's last book, I have the feeling his skills weren't up to it...

I just read the Rama series at the age of 69 and agree with those who feel that we would have been better off if only the first had been written. I am perhaps blaming the co-writing too much

There was a sequel? lol.

Lee had a very different vision to Clarke. I didn't like or read much of his work. You have to be wary of these sorts of 'sequels'.

Lee did handle the mythology poorly but from I've read Clarke was at least invovled in the early planning stages of the general story outline. It still seems odd that this is the direction that he would choose. Especially with the humans, we were either benevolent or horrific people.

Rama was almost pushed into the background in the sequels, it's mysteries lost and the focus pushed onto the people and the entire point of interest was gone.

Clarke filled Rama with so much adventure on half the amount of pages it took Lee to fill his books with rambling.

And I think the biggest let down was the reveal. After four books of dying to see or meet a Raman we find out, there are no Ramans, never were. Instead we get God (never really explained what God is in that universe) is looking for perfection? Why, why can't god create it out just use his infinite powers to reach out to it. Why does god need Rama and the Nodes?

I'd love a crack at rewriting it into a trilogy.

You guys will make sport of me but I adored Ray Bradbury for the depth of his human understanding and I also loved it in the early Heinlein and in Clarke's "Songs of Distant Earth" and "Childhoods End".

I agree with the consensus that "Rendezvous with Rama" should have begun and ended the story. I have always found that book strangely inspiring and uplifting, a story of ordinary people doing extraordinary things, and I have enjoyed it over and over. The character of Francesca Sabatini in Rama II, on the other hand, so sullied the experience of that book, that I've never re-read it, and the subsequent sequels never regained the clarity and shine of the first book.

There are sequels that are part of a larger plan by the author and there are sequels that are demanded by a successful first book. Rendezvous appears to be the latter. For if the author was planning a sequel, there would have been at least a hint of who the aliens were since they would figure highly in the next books. But then again this is just conjecture.

most sequels are not as good as the original because the magic of original books is the idea is new and unexpected.

With sequels you have an idea of what is going to happen

Ric wrote: "There are sequels that are part of a larger plan by the author and there are sequels that are demanded by a successful first book. Rendezvous appears to be the latter. For if the author was plann..."

That is very true. My own series of books was planned as a series, if you were to just read the first book and stop there, you'd miss out hugely. To be honest I'd recommend missing out the first of my series and start with the second if you're going to just read one.

I really enjoyed the first Rama book, but then I've always been a fan of Arthur C Clarke's writing. Gentry Lee has never been in the same league for me. His writing is okay, but not good enough to make me want to try anything else he's written. Stick with pure Arthur C. Clarke and I don't think you can go far wrong.

Rendevous with Rama was great. The sequels were beneath contempt. I read somewhere that Clarke never intended to write any sequels. He saw the first book as complete. But then Gentry Lee came to him with an idea for a sequel. I actually read the first two though I soon started skimming. They read like Clarke had nothing to do with them and it's all Gentry Lee's work. But Clarke was involved in expensive and worthwhile projects and I'm guessing the money helped fund his projects.
Okay, I'm being cynical but the sequels are truly not worth reading. If they didn't have the Rama name, I'm guessing they'd be published as very minor, mediocre work that would quickly fade away.

Kevan wrote: "Darren is bang on target. The first book showed great scope and potential of the Rama universe. Clarke should have made is something large and grand like Asimov did with Robots or the Galactic Empi..."

Well, Asimov fucked up his 'universe' as well, in my opinion. But at least you can tell wether one of his books is good, by checking out the publishing date first. If it's old, it's good.

But thanks for the warning concerning the sequels. I was weary of them, even when I began reading the series. I really liked 'Rendezvous...', but after just a few chapters of 'Rama II', I just ditched it. It lacked something essential, I didn't really care for whatever was happening.

I loved the first and hated the second. As a result the remainder, although bought and sitting on my shelves, have never been read and I think are unlikely to be. A shame...

The first was the best. I read the first one then listened to the audio books on the next three. Enjoyed them more than if I would have read them. Run a few miles and before you know it you are finished :)

Reading Rendevous with Rama was a fantastic experience.

Why oh why did I waste my money and time in reading those dreadful sequels...they were awful beyond description.

I cant wait for the new one.

Jesse wrote: "I cant wait for the new one."
The new one? There is no new one. The series finished tears ago.

Still can't wait.

Jesse wrote: "Still can't wait."

Ahh, so you can't wait for a seqqel to a book series that finished years ago and was terrible anyway? Niiiice.

Why not write some fan fiction yourself?

I've never liked the "co-author" concept, with the original (respected) author's name on the book just for the sales it will bring. Lee was simply BORING.

That happened, sadly, with a lot of top authors. Andre Norton's Time Traders series was spoiled in the same way.

I read the original way back in the 1970's and I agree it was far better than the sequels. That said, I enjoyed large parts of Rama II. I think Clarke had less and less input as the series continued though and I found the final two books rather a chore to read. I like a book to be plot driven, and not keep exploring the back stories of the characters. The endless description of Nicole des Jardin's African roots added very little to the story. By the time it had finished I'd literally lost the plot !