Customer Reviews

Rama Revealed: The Ultimate Encounter

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In the foreword for Rama II, Clarke explains that-in spite of what clearly appeared to be a lead-in to a sequel ("the Ramans always do things in threes", suggesting that there would be two similar craft to follow)-he never intended for the story to go beyond "Rendezvous with Rama." That allowed Clarke to do what he does best, to conjure fantastic worlds, and present compelling questions-without ever having to answer them. As I discovered with "2061" and "3001", the mysteries Clarke weaves and the questions his stories pose, are far more compelling than any answers he can present for them. Like 3001, the conclusion to the Odyssey series, this ending is simply abysmal. I'd have been better off letting my own imagination fill in the gaps, and ponder the unanswerable questions. Instead, characters that I had come to truly know and care about-having followed their entire adult lives-are led through situations that are both tedious and implausible. It left me feeling that the lives of the characters had been an absolute waste, that the hardships, struggles, even the joys of their unique odyssey were utterly pointless. That, for me, was even harder to swallow than the absolutely ludicrous suggestion that God would need spacecraft to shuttle people around. If you were captivated by the Rama universe as I was, do yourself a favor and stop with the third book ("Garden of Rama"). Discovering what happens to Nicole is not worth it (and her fate is quite possibly worse than you might imagine).

With messages of duty, responsibility and the value of family, it's likely that this book will apeal to a more mature reader. While this last installment of the RAMA tales holds all the magic of the past 3 books, it also holds some very real, if disapointing truths about mankind. We are not the creators chosen race, indeed, we are simply an eliment in one universe of many by which the creator seeks a simplicity only a god may aspire to. Some refreshing ideas on the origins, purpose and existance of the universe and our place in it.

That's pretty much how I felt after finishing the final installment of the Rama series. Sure, there were a lot of interesting ideas brought up in the end, but I was very disappointed with the theological aspect of the novel. As the character of Michael O'Toole had mentioned earlier, mankind cannot put restrictions on God, and yet that's exactly what happens. One would think that God doesn't need to experiment and tinker around before getting creation right. And why would nodes be required to collect his data? I was hoping the novel wouldn't end with the explanation being as it was. I was hoping for an alien face behind Rama, not the fantastical idea that stewed in Clarke's brain and seemed a little out of his grasp. I just believe that with such an emphasis on religion in the books, including the character of St. Michael, the theology aspect could have been handled better in the end.

As for Nicole's fate. . .I was disappointed. I kept feeling that there was something big about to happen in the end. A more plausible and yet astounding discovery that would explain Rama's purporse and origins. But that feeling was never satiated, and I was disappointed with Nicole's choice in the end. There were so many critical moments when Nicole had returned to the dreams of her grandfather, and yet that theme was never completed or touched upon in the end. Maybe I was hoping for the story to not end there, but for Nicole to go on and experience something after. Why pump so much into spirituality in the book if it doesn't pay off in the end? All what we're left with is a cold, machine-like termination.

A long story that does not satisfy the intellect, but a good ending for the time being. Perhaps one of the new guns will pick up the tale.....

This was a terrible disappointment. The cover promises "... the unforgettable revelation of the true identity of the beings behind this strange glittering trek across the cosmos". By the time it reaches the end we know nothing more about the "Eagle" then when it started. Who built Rama and the Nodes? What is the ultimate purpose? Never explained (perhaps he had none). Nicole's decision to commit suicide (partly because of the existence of a robot image that could have been removed) is entirely against character. She is a strong personality with much yet to give and see, but leaves with a pity party, all those who care about her without regard to their needs or wishes (which they conveniently surrender).

I have been reading SiFI since the 1950's and have never spent so much time reading so many pages in order to get to a sloppy, sentimental, uninformative ending. I regret that Clark is gone so there is no way to beg him to make a last second save of Nicole and carry on with a fourth book that would would answer the questions he promised to but never did. It seems obvious that Clark had a genuine hatred for the human race. The only creatures in the known universe that are worse are primitive lizards. And then Nicole talks about humans as "unique" as though that were a good thing. There is no argument about the actions of the humans on Rama, it is typical human history--the desire to conquer and destroy, and the inherent believe of "moral" and physical superiority despite the evidence all around them. To emphasize he starts a new dictatorship as soon as they get on the Node that concentrates on hating all other species.

(Aside--if you want to read the most prescient and frightening story ever written, get a copy of Jack Williamson's "With Folded Hands" {published in Astounding in '47 and available in collections).

The parts with the octospiders are interesting and also the ending part about the cosmic philosophy. But there is too much soap opera again...Bulls*** again! Read the first Rama book!