Rama Revealed (Bantam Spectra Book) [Paperback]

Arthur C. Clarke (Author)

Book Description

Series: Bantam Spectra Book | Publication Date: January 1, 1995

On its mysterious voyage through interstellar space, a massive alien starship carries its human passengers to the end of a generations-long odyssey. But the great experiment designed by the Ramans has failed, and Rama III has become a battleground. Fleeing a tyrant, a band of humans ventures into the nether regions of the ship, where they encounter an emerald-doomed lair ruled by the fabulously advanced octospiders. As the octospiders lure the humans deeper into their domain, the humans must decide whether the creatures are their allies of enemies. All the while, Rama III continues its inexplorable journey towards the node, where the climax of their voyage awaits the stunning revelation of the true identity of the beings behind this glittering trek across the cosmos.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This final volume of the Rama tetralogy chronicles the end of the spaceship's intergalactic odyssey; a five-week PW bestseller.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Publisher

On its mysterious voyage through interstellar space, a massive alien starship carries its human passengers to the end of a generations-long odyssey. But the great experiment designed by the Ramans has failed, and Rama III has become a battleground. Fleeing a tyrant, a band of humans ventures into the nether regions of the ship, where they encounter an emerald-doomed lair ruled by the fabulously advanced octospiders. As the octospiders lure the humans deeper into their domain, the humans must decide whether the creatures are their allies of enemies. All the while, Rama III continues its inexplorable journey towards the node, where the climax of their voyage awaits the stunning revelation of the true identity of the beings behind this glittering trek across the cosmos.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 624 pages
• Publisher: Spectra (January 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553569473
• ISBN-13: 978-0553569476
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1.4 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (106 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #35,537 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Possibly the worst conclusion to a SF series ever, January 8, 2005

By 

J. Minatel "jimmin" (Fishers, IN USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rama Revealed (Bantam Spectra Book) (Paperback)

I can't think of another series that started with so much promise and ended as such a dud. It's a shame that Arthur C. Clarke allowed his name to be attached to this. Clearly this Gentry Lee co-author person carried the bulk of the writing on this installment and it just wasn't up to Clarke's caliber. The plot, the premise, the writing, the "I can't think of any real answer to all of the Rama questions so I'll just wave my hands and make up some religious mysticism" - what a dud.
No matter how much you loved previous Rama books, you don't want to read this. Re-read the first book or two and make up your own ending. Anything you can construct will be better than this.

38 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Boredom, Enforced, January 25, 2005

By 

R. Bryan Harrison "Insatiable in Seattle" (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rama Revealed (Bantam Spectra Book) (Paperback)

Shallow, one-dimensional characters, an artifically convoluted plot that never satisfactorily resolves, and bombastic writing of the sort best edited with a shredder. What more could one ask for? Why, sententious spiritual pretensions, of course!

This is the sort of reading that makes you think longingly of scrubbing the bathtub grout with bleach and a baby toothbrush. I look at my stack of Rama books as I would five empty Pringle's cans - with a combination of nausea and self loathing.

Clark should be spanked, Lee caned, and the publisher fined.

20 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Is there less then 1 star?, June 20, 2006

By 

Mike D (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rama Revealed (Bantam Spectra Book) (Paperback)

I shan't repeat what has been said so viscerally before. Book one was a good and original book, not exceptional but very good; book two was not in the same vein filled with vapid, whiney and totally unappealing characters. Book three was an extension into absurdity of book two, and book four, well I have run out of adjectives to describe it. If I want to abase myself in the lives of self-centered brats with no redeeming qualities (for good or evil) I'll watch some reality tv. After re-reading all the books in the series I'm keeping book one and the rest go into the trash, I won't burden Goodwill with them. Save your money, you'd be better off spending it on toe nail clippers.