Bright Messengers: A New Novel Set in the Rama Universe [Paperback]

Gentry Lee (Author), Arthur C. Clarke (Introduction) (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1996

To Sister Beatrice, a priestess of the global Order of St. Michael, the cloud of tiny white particles is a message from God.  To Johann Eberhardt, a German systems engineer, it is an anomaly of physics.  But to the Rama society, it may; be the long-awaited proof of nonhuman intelligence.  On Mars, Johann and Beatrice will meet, drawn together by a fabulous account of a vast city lost beneath the red planet's harsh landscape.  Joined by none Martian colonists, the mystic and the skeptic will board a strange craft that will hurtle them toward the truth behind the mysterious bright messergers and a startling journey into the heart of the unknown.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Lee's first solo mission (his collaboration with Arthur C. Clarke yielded the three latest Rama novels: Rama II, The Garden of Rama and Rama Revealed) continues in the Rama universe, beginning on Earth in 2141 during a depression called the Great Chaos. Using visits by the bright messengers (who may be angels or aliens), Lee brings together the lives of agnostic engineer Johann Eberhardt and Sister Beatrice, a devout nun of the order of St. Michael of Siena. The ensuing venture to Mars, to the messengers' ship and to the beyond is classic SF?a tale that exhibits Lee's firm control of character and dialogue and, in the best tradition of the genre, one in which love and sex play major roles. Although the resolution of Sister Beatrice's struggle with chastity lacks any unique insight, she is otherwise a remarkable religious figure, both admirable and accessible. And in solidly fleshing out Johann's professional, filial and uxorial roles, Lee may well have created a new hero.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

An American nun and a German engineer share an otherwordly vision that leads them to a fateful encounter on the planet Mars, where a small group strives to create a new world out of the shattered remnants of a decaying Earth. This solo effort by the coauthor (with Arthur C. Clarke) of several novels in the "Rama" cycle focuses on the theme of spiritual reawakening and moral responsibility. Despite an unfortunate tendency to stereotype both cultures and individuals, Lee's maiden voyage maintains a compelling interest in the story's grand design. Fans of the "Rama" novel will appreciate the vision that unfolds in this new series.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 447 pages
• Publisher: Bantam (April 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553573292
• ISBN-13: 978-0553573299
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (52 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #871,292 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a good effort overshadowed by a masterpiece, September 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Bright Messengers: A New Novel Set in the Rama Universe (Paperback)

If I had not read the Rama series, I would have been tempted to give this book 5 stars, although I probably would have resisted that temptation. The characters are well-written and fairly deep, and the plot is complicated yet coherent enough. What kept bothering me, though were the frequent parallels to the Rama books - parallel characters, parallel themes, and even parallel scenes. I could never decide if these parallels were stylistic and simply reflected the fact that Mr. Lee co-wrote the last three Rama books, if he was intentionally creating these parallels, or if he was just not original enough to really create a different story from the Rama story. If you have not read this book or the Rama series, I would advise you to read this one first, to avoid the overshadowing effect. Also, maybe I was dense at the time (or always), but I didn't realize that I was reading Part 1 of a sequel until almost the end, when I realized that nothing could get resolved in the fifty or so pages I had left. I hope the sequel answers my questions.

15 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Looks like Sci-Fi is too much for Lee Alone, October 5, 2004

By 

Charles Child "Amateur Sci-Fi Critic/Connoisseur" (Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bright Messengers: A New Novel Set in the Rama Universe (Paperback)

Up until page 212, this seems like an acceptable science fiction story. Tantalizing hints, solid science, and interesting characters. I admit, some of them are two dimensional, but at least they are interesting, and their firm viewpoint is well portrayed.

After that we have inexplicable aliens giving our main characters increasingly pointless tours, while removing carefully all the other characters from the situation, for no explicable reason. We have situations described as 'zero gravity' with: Walking, shuffling, floors, cielings, climbing (Even tiredness while climbing), a RIVER, a BOAT in the river, SEATS in the boat, Earthlike scenes with trees, and squirels, while our carefuly segregated main characters sitting and eating a picnic . . .. All still in a zero G setting, with no explanations, adaptation, nothing.

From the before mentioned page 212 on, this book continues downhill, into a train wreck. If you are serious about your Sci-fi, and care about motivations, I would reccomend skipping this one, and looking to Niven, or Clarke, or Heinlein, or, above all, Spider Robinson.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Insipid plot with page turning effect, July 3, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Bright Messengers: A New Novel Set in the Rama Universe (Paperback)

Just like watching a train wreck, I couldn't help but to finish reading this book. I read and enjoyed the RAMA books--more so earlier in the series before Gentry Lee really added TOO MUCH to the stories. By the end of this book I was really tired of "Sister Bea". She should have been named Sister Perfect. The characters were shallow despite the mountains of dialogue that was spewed. I found the book easy to read but I found little to no connection with the characters as they were 2D. Sister Beatrice was extremely annoying. When I completed reading this book, I was happy. No more Sister Bea.