I wish Arthur C Clarke had still been with us when Oumuamua passed through the solar system a few years back. I know that 'Rama' was the first thing I thought of at the time.
The lack of damage from the asteroid hit could be ascribed to self-repair facilities in the ship. In addition, if you can play with gravity and inertia, you can build some pretty stiff materials. Clarke has done the best thing here, he doesn't describe technology, just apperance.
Think about what ablative armor will be like in a million years. It has also occurred to me that it could have been some other civilization using a nuke or other advanced bomb either destroy it or nudge it away from their planet.
I read this book when I was 18, this was in 1987 when I was about a month out from going in the Army and I was killing time. Loved this book, as I'd read several Clarke books in my previous teen years. I read the second book in my early 20s and liked it, but I stopped there. I'm 53 now and just decided to read the rest of the series so I've bought book 3.
Wow! I was out of the Army 3 years when I bought the first one. Things didn't work out so well for me after ETS but eventually I got my footing and developed stability. But in that meantime, I seriously enjoyed the first book and the first half or so, of the second. The third really got a bit campy and kinda silly. If they do a triple feature of RAMA, I hope they make some changes towards the ending of it.
I saw that as well when Denis was asked if he wanted to direct an entire series of Dune. He said no obviously and showed interest in adapting Rama to film.
@Anne O'Nymous It’s not, but tell us why you say this is ‘propaganda’. (His science fiction films are not only some of the best of the genre, he is one of the most gifted filmmakers working today. You are of course free to show us *your* filmography of feature length science fiction films). Besides, how are you planning on preventing him from making movies?
wow an adaptation from Denis would surely be amazing! I saw an enterview with Morgan Freeman some time ago and he assured that he was pushing to make the movie ("oh, we ARE making it")
@@naxxer-nha I think I saw that interview! Freemen’s been trying to get this made for almost 20 years! He must feel wonderful now that Denis Villeneuve’s attached to direct!
Rendezvous with Rama is written by AC Clarke, not with Gentry Lee, only in Rama 2, 3 and 4 did Gentry Lee collaborate in writing. I hope they finally will make this story into a film.
lol, was just talking about this in another comment. I left Gentry Lee in because he basically took over the universe. A lot of people dont know this but after Rama Revealed, he wrote 2 more novels in this universe solo. Bright messengers, and Double Full Moon Night. So I didn't feel it was right to not mention him at all. But If I keep getting these comments, I might just change the title for confusions sake.
Ok thanks yeah just mentioned for clarification but Gentry Lee did add a lot more to the Rama Series from Rama 2 onwards, so he definitely deserves to be mentioned as I enjoyed the more emotional content he probably added after, Might look at those books too, thanks I hope you didn't mind too much.
I read this back when I was young. I would be very surprised if every reader of this book did not reference it automatically when Oumuamua was first sighted. And then when Elon Musk Suggested a plan to catch it ? It made me smile . I couldn't help but reference Rama.
First "Sci Fi," book I've ever read. Mind blowing for teenage me. I try to imagine being inside. 8-10km is 30,000 feet +/-. So look up at any airliner flying over and you are seeing the the approximate center hatch as standing on Rama's interior.
Lesser known? "Rendezvous With Rama" was one of my favorite books of all time. Left with time to kill in a public library as a kid who knew that science fiction was a genre I would love, mainly based on "Star Trek" on TV, and little more at that point, this book was also my introduction to Arthur C. Clarke. ("A Scanner Darkly" was my introduction to Philip K. Dick in that same public library.) As for the lack of serious damage for the astroid impact on Rama, the sequel of the "Rama" trilogy co-written with Gentry Lee credits whatever aliens designed Rama with having the level of advancement to produce "Clarke-tech" which is so far more advanced that to us it is indistinguishable from magic. So such a civilization credibly could have produced such a resilient O'Neil cylinder spacecraft.
You wouldn't believe how few people have heard of "Rendezvous With Rama". Not all people are Sci-Fi nerds like us. But that will all change soon. "Rendezvous With Rama" will be Denis Villeneuve's (Arrival, Dune) next project.
Finished this today! Such a great first contact book. Not over the top and sensational, left me with more questions about Rama than it answered. Cant wait to read the sequels. New sub by the way!!
Liked your upload so much that I instantly became a subscriber. Read this novel nearly 45 years ago and was captivated. Best ending ever ... "comes in threes"!
I purchased this book when it was released. Yes, hardback! I still remember the excitement - and shock - when they were descending the long ladder and the lights can on. A magic moment in science fiction. . . .
The whole point of not describing the hull material solved two problems for Clarke. One, he didn't have to invent a sci-fi material and two, it just adds to the mystery which is the whole point of this story. We were never going to get a satisfying answer. That's what makes this book so thought provoking. Example; here we are discussing decades after its introduction. IMHO, the hull was biologically grown diamond, lifted from Ben Bova's novels. (ain't I a stinker?)
This has long been one of my favorite stories. A. C. Clark is brilliant; full stop. Gentry did great with the stories as well, if in a slightly different emphasis. I must have re-read them all at least four or five times over the years.
With all the progress in CGI technology I've been waiting for someone to put this incredible "inside-out" world onto an IMAX screen. Now, Denis Villeneuve has expressed interest in filming Rw/R after he's done with DUNE!
So glad to find this video! Rama was my first Arthur C. Clarke book, and it made me a fan. I read in in the late 70's. And of course the 2017 flyby of Oumuamua recalled this book.
I am looking across the Kaipara Harbour at the enclosing south head peninsular which I know is 10km away. These graphics do the size of Rama no justice - the curvature of the cylinder would be far greater.
My favorite book. I'm 66 and I read it many times and then later on listened to the audio book (a version many complain about that I just love) more than that. It feels like I've waited for 20 years for a movie. It's a shame about the sequels (although some like them).
I've read the book a couple of times, the last time was about 30 years ago. I still remember my favorite line from the book. "In a soundless concussion of light, dawn burst upon Rama."
Could Biots patch up a hole in the hull? If so then a collision may have left damage that was fixed. The stain could be from applied younger material of the fix.
Still have the paperback (1973) I bought, with the 'double cover'. A 2 1/4" hole on the cover, below the title revealed an interior illustration of Rama. Open the cover and you have a fold out, double-page spread of the interior length with three visitors on the edge of the cylindrical sea looking toward the southern spikes. That is what prompted me to pick it out of the rack of a bookstore in Marysville, California. An intriguing cover design. Have reread this book many times and still marvel at how quickly the story unfolds. Remember the last words of this great work? The Ramans do everything in threes.
Read this sifi book years ago and it has stayed with me ever since. It's my favorite and I was blown away. This short peek into ACC's mind was wonderful and I think I have to reread it.
*Regarding the external impact.* After reading all comments on that, I would suggest any object traveling with tangential momentum of about 900 km/h would act as a deflector, similar to a bat swiping away a ball. (Like hitting a mass from the side, its angular momentum would deflect most of its kinetic energy at an obtuse angle away from the cylinder. As long as the impact was below a certain velocity. This would leave a smear on the surface of the cylinder.
there was a desktop pc video game made in the mid-late 1990s based on this novel. i am a bit surprised you did not mention it. the visuals are stunning and the gameplay challenging. i was never able to finish it due to getting stuck on a couple of tricky puzzles. but what was most amazing to me about the game was how accurately it depicted the mental imagery generated by reading the story. it was uncanny. i really need to re-read that fantastic novel, and boot up the game again. RwR is a stand-out piece of work; the most memorable of all the sci-fi i have read. and i have consumed A LOT. my father was a consummate devourer of the genre, and a subscriber for many years to several pulp fiction periodicals in the 1940s and 1950s, including galaxy, f&sf, astounding stories etc. i still have most of that.. an entire reference library of classic sci-fi and fantasy. the covers alone are timeless works of art. a proper movie adaptation of RwR would be fantastic, and immensely challenging, although perhaps less so with today's cgi capabilities. i hope i live long enough to see it on the big screen.
Excellent presentation. I really enjoyed this book and gave it two back to back readings. I would love to see it made into a QUALITY movie or miniseries.
This is a great book! A.C. Clarke was an amazing author. I read this years ago and like all of my faves, I still have it. Time Among the Stars is also amazing. He wrote a lot of great stories.
One thing that impressed me when I read this book years ago was how realistically Arthur C. Clarke describes how hard it is to execute a delta vee in deep space to put a spaceship onto a target trajectory for an unplanned intercept. It is extremely costly in the fuel consumed, even when assuming the propulsion systems of the future will have evolved to be far more energetic. This is no multiyear journey with low thrust and gravitational assists like current deep space probes, a huge impulse is needed in a short time! Science fiction often makes use of faster than light drives to allow for interstellar travel within a short time relative to a human lifespan. I came away from this novel reflecting upon how hard it is just to scoot around a single solar system! Spoiler alert: there is a revelation late in the book that Rama's propulsion system operates via something other than the mechanical action-reaction principle. A discovery of such a "space drive" would be a breakthrough indeed.
I thought the problems of how to get endeavor to rama were pretty cool too... But then at the end a dude takes a scooter and casually intercepts a missile headed for them (and it only took 4 min at i think 1g!) Makes me think clarke waaaay underestimated missile's closure rate
Having attended a midnight screening of "2001" in '91, I was 'primed' with HAL's "inception date" that was not far off. When the calendar read 12 Jan 1992, on a lark I tried calling Columbo, and was amazed that it took only 3 attempts before I, a geeky mortal, was speaking with Clarke, himself... He wasn't pleased, but was gracious, when I explained the silliness of calling him to wish HAL a "happy zeroth birthday"... Kubrick used 1992 in the movie, but Clarke's book clearly says HAL booted up in 1997. Oops! We chatted for about 10 minutes. Told him my favourite of his writings, apart from 2001, was Childhood's End. He said he was most pleased with how Rendezvous with Rama came out, even though it wasn't as popular as other of his works. Funny that our brief conversation likely involved a satellite link... I like to imagine it did, even if it did not... Funny to think that Clarke's HAL would be blowing out 25 birthday candles today...
@@SciFiSecrets The real LOL was the event of that screening back in '91. My 2nd home was the local pizzeria with its friendly staff... I mentioned the upcoming midnight event to Simon (the delivery driver) who said he was interested. With Simon's interest, beautiful, young, sweet Melissa (the waitress) joined-in, saying she was curious about this movie that was made before she was born... Melissa & I met in the theatre foyer, but Simon didn't show... I couldn't stop smiling through the entire movie! And, like Rama, the Hindu god, Melissa was delivered home at 3AM with all the gentlemanly respect she was due. Our "Rendezvous with Rama"... 🙂
The title of this video is misleading. Gentry Lee was *not* involved with “Rendezvous With Rama”. That was solely Arthur C Clarke. Lee was only involved with the sequels
I read the first edition paperback when it hit the rack almost fifty years ago. I remember being fascinated with the story. Guess I’ll be reading it again.
I received my copy from ebay yesterday ! Looking forward to getting into the series . This is also my first Arthur C Clarke book , at 26 years old . If anyone has other recommendations let me know
10:50 two-and-a-half minutes nitpicking the math of the person whom Clarke Orbit (geosynchronous) is credited. Perhaps the author of Rama chose readability once he had put down his slide rule, perhaps his editor suggested it. And if nitpicking editorial choices is fair game, what's with the volume control of the noise around 4:00? 15:08 the scar on the hull, I took it to refute the Mercurian's hydrogen bomb plan.
@@SciFiSecrets I just watched that video, and now I know where that missing chip is that I couldn't find 25 years ago... I never made it across the ice to the skyscrapers.
this video took me back instantly maybe 40 years when i first read this book maybe longer, i had forgotten it was clarke who wrote it i thought it was possibly greg bear are that may a similar story thanks for the suprise.
I read Rendezvous with Rama as a 14 year old, turned the radio on and discovered the BBC were serialising the book. I like Arthur C Clarke's characters as they're usually stoic and taciturn, no doubt based on the WW2 officers Clarke knew when he served in the RAF. I enjoyed his short stories, some were quite amusing for someone with a British mindset. Seek out his 1970s British TV on genuine mysteries, e.g. Tunguska, Antikythera..who better to present all that than him?
Just finished this one in audio book form. I liked the descriptive ending of Rama's departure. Then there is this Interlude that touches on "the end of mission orbital orgy" kind'a took me out of the wonderous SiFi head space. I get that there was a bit of a running gag that the ships captain was a bit of a playboy, must have been of its time though like those cringy older James Bond endings. I hope Denis Villeneuve's movie adaptation of Rendezvous with Rama gets off the ground after the second Dune installment. Should be a visual feast Greg Bear's similarly themed "Eon" is another good read for those who enjoyed Rendezvous with Rama.
I read every SF (Not Fantasy) book I could get my hand on as a kid. Rama was a memorable book, it stretched the imagination and possibilities. Looking forward to your analysis on all the books I've read.
This is the 2nd book I ever read straight through. When I began reading in ernest, i came across the whole series at the library. I read the first, then finished the series. I felt Clarke's co-writer added warmth to the story. The characters had personalities, and there was more emotional contributions. I liked the sequels... and the series as a whole. Thanks for finding the artificial gravity calculator. I would've chosen B for the flight, but your calculation makes better sense.
As a teen, I was mesmerized by Clarke's fiction. Living near his hometown, I never met him. But later, I was lucky to meet and chat with his brother Fred. I did a double take. A mirror image...
@@bradleynoneofyourbizz5341 Was he just doing the one Dune movie or is he turning the entire series into multiple movies? I cannot wait another twenty years.
@@matthewhuszarik4173 From the speculation I've heard he's ending at DUNE II which starts filming this year with a 2023 release date. Both The Hollywood Reporter and Variety reported that Morgan Freeman has teamed up with Alcon Entertainment to produce R w/ R and Alcon wants Villeneuve to direct. So, four years, maybe?
A book with a similar premise is Eon by Greg Bear. A Rama like world is found inside an asteroid, but they then find at the far end another circular corridor, where humans from the future have manipulated space to create and infinity long corridor called The Way.
Best part is 14:00 or so. I always wondered about that. Artificial gravity of this type would only seem to work for me if there was some sort of physical connection to the rotating interior surface. Otherwise, why wouldn't you just simply float along? But your explanation referring to atmosphere makes a lot of sense.
No. The perceived gravity varies from zero gee at the center axis to 1/6th gravity at the cylinder surface. It it solely dependent on the distance from the center.
I actually read Rama Revealed first before reading Rendezvous with Rama because it was the only book that caught my attention while looking for one to bring on a long flight
One of my favorite SF novels. I agree with you that the sequels were not as good. I am disappointed that many of the illustrations chosen for this video clearly do not match Clarke's written descriptions. Anyway, thanks for sharing one of the best stories in modern SF.
@@SciFiSecrets I realize that you needed to use illustrations available to you; my criticism was perhaps unfair. Your comments were good, and, since it is a video, you have to have visuals, be they as they may.
Rw/R is a great story of exploration. No battles. No tentacled space aliens in love with human women. Just a continued exploration of a fantastically large alien spacecraft.
The book's interpretation of 'centripetal gravity' was such a red flag for me. It made perfect sense when they used the ladders bc they're in contact with a solid object that's spinning them in a circle. If they're flying, the air isnt a solid, rotating lock-step with the hull. It is free to lose energy. I think there's something similar again when they throw objects from the middle down to the ppl on the ground. I got confused if they were throwing it thru the air or rolling it along "walls". Along walls would feel the full effects of centrip+coriolis. But in the air it's more point A to point B with some wind from coriolis. I cannot believe flying lower increases his "gravity" as he's not grabbing hold of anything. Imagine floating in a tube on the ISS. Suddenly the tube starts spinning unbeleievably fast. Ur just gonna keep on floating!
In addition to what you already mentioned, centrifugal force doesn't behave exactly the same way as the way gravity does, specially when moving. There have been some experiments that show humans will have problems with their motorics in such artificial gravity situations (and that's the main reason why it hasn't been implemented in any space station). Nevertheless, this book is great and it had a lasting effect on how I see life in general. I think we are all biots.
I think you are being pedantic about the Rhama data. It a lot of years since I read it but as far as I remember these are all approximations, not precise measurements. Arthur C. was an engineer and would have fully understood the forces involved in his design. He was also an intelligent author and it would not surprise me if he deliberately introduced inaccuracy to make the characters more plausible as human beings.
For sure, all possiable. The only thing that was surprised me about the numbers is they say "over 1,000 kph" at least twice for the surface speed. But for all the other numbers to work, it has to be slightly below 1,000kph. Not a big deal. Just stood out to me. Could just be a rounding error too, since he didn't have easy access to a spin calc like we do now. ...of course for all I know, the spin calc I used is off. Lol
He had access to computers -- he mentions in one book using them to determine if his own UFO sightings (he mentioned having 10) had to be explained as alien spacecraft. His conclusion in every case was no. And of course he was gifted by friends with an HP-9100A that he christened “HAL Jr”.
I wish Arthur C Clarke had still been with us when Oumuamua passed through the solar system a few years back.
I know that 'Rama' was the first thing I thought of at the time.
Exactly. That's what I was thinking, too.
I thought of The Starglider, from Clarke's _The Fountains of Paradise._
Yea...they should have called it "Rama".
that was on my mind also
Same here!
The lack of damage from the asteroid hit could be ascribed to self-repair facilities in the ship. In addition, if you can play with gravity and inertia, you can build some pretty stiff materials. Clarke has done the best thing here, he doesn't describe technology, just apperance.
Think about what ablative armor will be like in a million years. It has also occurred to me that it could have been some other civilization using a nuke or other advanced bomb either destroy it or nudge it away from their planet.
I read this book when I was 18, this was in 1987 when I was about a month out from going in the Army and I was killing time. Loved this book, as I'd read several Clarke books in my previous teen years. I read the second book in my early 20s and liked it, but I stopped there. I'm 53 now and just decided to read the rest of the series so I've bought book 3.
Wow! I was out of the Army 3 years when I bought the first one. Things didn't work out so well for me after ETS but eventually I got my footing and developed stability. But in that meantime, I seriously enjoyed the first book and the first half or so, of the second. The third really got a bit campy and kinda silly. If they do a triple feature of RAMA, I hope they make some changes towards the ending of it.
This is awesome man. As a lover of sci-fi for more than 60 years, if you dont run with this idea, I will. Well done.
Awesome book! I really enjoyed reading it. I'm a big fan of Arthur C.Clarke. I heard film-director Denis Villeneuve wants to make a movie-adaptation!
I saw that as well when Denis was asked if he wanted to direct an entire series of Dune. He said no obviously and showed interest in adapting Rama to film.
@Anne O'Nymous It’s not, but tell us why you say this is ‘propaganda’. (His science fiction films are not only some of the best of the genre, he is one of the most gifted filmmakers working today. You are of course free to show us *your* filmography of feature length science fiction films). Besides, how are you planning on preventing him from making movies?
Thanks for that very good news!
wow an adaptation from Denis would surely be amazing! I saw an enterview with Morgan Freeman some time ago and he assured that he was pushing to make the movie ("oh, we ARE making it")
@@naxxer-nha I think I saw that interview! Freemen’s been trying to get this made for almost 20 years! He must feel wonderful now that Denis Villeneuve’s attached to direct!
Rendezvous with Rama is written by AC Clarke, not with Gentry Lee, only in Rama 2, 3 and 4 did Gentry Lee collaborate in writing. I hope they finally will make this story into a film.
lol, was just talking about this in another comment. I left Gentry Lee in because he basically took over the universe. A lot of people dont know this but after Rama Revealed, he wrote 2 more novels in this universe solo. Bright messengers, and Double Full Moon Night. So I didn't feel it was right to not mention him at all. But If I keep getting these comments, I might just change the title for confusions sake.
Ok thanks yeah just mentioned for clarification but Gentry Lee did add a lot more to the Rama Series from Rama 2 onwards, so he definitely deserves to be mentioned as I enjoyed the more emotional content he probably added after, Might look at those books too, thanks I hope you didn't mind too much.
@@rayspore Not at all! Always nice to talk to another fan!
Also the Gentry Lee part is jus soooo boring, I suffered through those pages ....
I agree some parts did drag on from Gentry
I read this book decades ago and I never forgot it.
This could be an outstanding movie.
Great work, especially without spoilers!
I read this back when I was young. I would be very surprised if every reader of this book did not reference it automatically when Oumuamua was first sighted. And then when Elon Musk Suggested a plan to catch it ? It made me smile . I couldn't help but reference Rama.
Yes I did exactly the same 😊
I remembered and thought the same.
Same here LOL.
First "Sci Fi," book I've ever read. Mind blowing for teenage me.
I try to imagine being inside. 8-10km is 30,000 feet +/-. So look up at any airliner flying over and you are seeing the the approximate center hatch as standing on Rama's interior.
I think it was my first hard sci-fi book as well.
Me to! :)
Your mission is a holy one, my friend. So numerous the treasures of decades of scifi!
Oumuamua has rendezvous with Rama.. ☄
Lesser known? "Rendezvous With Rama" was one of my favorite books of all time. Left with time to kill in a public library as a kid who knew that science fiction was a genre I would love, mainly based on "Star Trek" on TV, and little more at that point, this book was also my introduction to Arthur C. Clarke. ("A Scanner Darkly" was my introduction to Philip K. Dick in that same public library.)
As for the lack of serious damage for the astroid impact on Rama, the sequel of the "Rama" trilogy co-written with Gentry Lee credits whatever aliens designed Rama with having the level of advancement to produce "Clarke-tech" which is so far more advanced that to us it is indistinguishable from magic. So such a civilization credibly could have produced such a resilient O'Neil cylinder spacecraft.
You wouldn't believe how few people have heard of "Rendezvous With Rama". Not all people are Sci-Fi nerds like us. But that will all change soon. "Rendezvous With Rama" will be Denis Villeneuve's (Arrival, Dune) next project.
I'm sure Villeneuve will pull it off, especially after Dune.
Finished this today! Such a great first contact book. Not over the top and sensational, left me with more questions about Rama than it answered. Cant wait to read the sequels. New sub by the way!!
TY! Yeah the sequels are very interesting.
(By 'bright messengers' tho it gets a little weird imo. lol)
I did not get drawn into the sequels, and never finished them, but rama is epic and I re read it several times.
Liked your upload so much that I instantly became a subscriber.
Read this novel nearly 45 years ago and was captivated.
Best ending ever ... "comes in threes"!
Rendezvous with Rama was one the first novels of Arthur C Clarke that I read, back in 8th grade in about 1975. I loved it. Thanks for your channel.
I purchased this book when it was released. Yes, hardback! I still remember the excitement - and shock - when they were descending the long ladder and the lights can on. A magic moment in science fiction. . . .
Read Rama nearly 35 year ago and love it. A first encounter novel that truly captures the imagination.
The whole point of not describing the hull material solved two problems for Clarke. One, he didn't have to invent a sci-fi material and two, it just adds to the mystery which is the whole point of this story. We were never going to get a satisfying answer. That's what makes this book so thought provoking. Example; here we are discussing decades after its introduction.
IMHO, the hull was biologically grown diamond, lifted from Ben Bova's novels. (ain't I a stinker?)
well if we are gonna use another authors material, I'll say its scrith from the ringworld. That stuff puts your diamond to shame! lol
This has long been one of my favorite stories. A. C. Clark is brilliant; full stop. Gentry did great with the stories as well, if in a slightly different emphasis. I must have re-read them all at least four or five times over the years.
The Rama Trilogy is one of the best reading experiences ever!
With all the progress in CGI technology I've been waiting for someone to put this incredible "inside-out" world onto an IMAX screen. Now, Denis Villeneuve has expressed interest in filming Rw/R after he's done with DUNE!
Yeah the magic propulsion and magic force field are not physics breaking at all.
Read this as a kid. Never forgot it. Arthur C Clarke was visionary.
So glad to find this video! Rama was my first Arthur C. Clarke book, and it made me a fan. I read in in the late 70's. And of course the 2017 flyby of Oumuamua recalled this book.
I am looking across the Kaipara Harbour at the enclosing south head peninsular which I know is 10km away.
These graphics do the size of Rama no justice - the curvature of the cylinder would be far greater.
Oh I know, I was thinking the same thing. If Villeneuve can get the scale right that movie will be mind blowing.
My favorite book. I'm 66 and I read it many times and then later on listened to the audio book (a version many complain about that I just love) more than that. It feels like I've waited for 20 years for a movie. It's a shame about the sequels (although some like them).
Thank you for your quality narration , enjoyed it
I've read the book a couple of times, the last time was about 30 years ago. I still remember my favorite line from the book.
"In a soundless concussion of light, dawn burst upon Rama."
Could Biots patch up a hole in the hull? If so then a collision may have left damage that was fixed. The stain could be from applied younger material of the fix.
Still have the paperback (1973) I bought, with the 'double cover'. A 2 1/4" hole on the cover, below the title revealed an interior illustration of Rama. Open the cover and you have a fold out, double-page spread of the interior length with three visitors on the edge of the cylindrical sea looking toward the southern spikes. That is what prompted me to pick it out of the rack of a bookstore in Marysville, California. An intriguing cover design. Have reread this book many times and still marvel at how quickly the story unfolds. Remember the last words of this great work? The Ramans do everything in threes.
Read this sifi book years ago and it has stayed with me ever since. It's my favorite and I was blown away. This short peek into ACC's mind was wonderful and I think I have to reread it.
*Regarding the external impact.* After reading all comments on that, I would suggest any object traveling with tangential momentum of about 900 km/h would act as a deflector, similar to a bat swiping away a ball. (Like hitting a mass from the side, its angular momentum would deflect most of its kinetic energy at an obtuse angle away from the cylinder. As long as the impact was below a certain velocity. This would leave a smear on the surface of the cylinder.
Hey there! great video. This novel reminds me of the other related book "Ringworld" by Larry. Niven
One of my all time favorites!
there was a desktop pc video game made in the mid-late 1990s based on this novel. i am a bit surprised you did not mention it. the visuals are stunning and the gameplay challenging. i was never able to finish it due to getting stuck on a couple of tricky puzzles. but what was most amazing to me about the game was how accurately it depicted the mental imagery generated by reading the story. it was uncanny. i really need to re-read that fantastic novel, and boot up the game again. RwR is a stand-out piece of work; the most memorable of all the sci-fi i have read. and i have consumed A LOT. my father was a consummate devourer of the genre, and a subscriber for many years to several pulp fiction periodicals in the 1940s and 1950s, including galaxy, f&sf, astounding stories etc. i still have most of that.. an entire reference library of classic sci-fi and fantasy. the covers alone are timeless works of art. a proper movie adaptation of RwR would be fantastic, and immensely challenging, although perhaps less so with today's cgi capabilities. i hope i live long enough to see it on the big screen.
I never read the book but enjoyed the game.
I wish I still had that game... I also got stuck at one point and never finished.
Excellent presentation.
I really enjoyed this book and gave it two back to back readings.
I would love to see it made into a QUALITY movie or miniseries.
Brilliant novel! A true gem of hard sci-fi, unfortunately diluted in the sequels.
Just subscribed. This is my first sci fi novel and my favourite. It blew my mind. Liked the sequels too.
This is a great book! A.C. Clarke was an amazing author. I read this years ago and like all of my faves, I still have it. Time Among the Stars is also amazing. He wrote a lot of great stories.
This was one of my favorite books. Read it decades ago.
I love the book - but I would say it is not a "novel" so much as it is a "travelogue" of a trip to an alien ship. I absolutely loved it!
The glider part was my favorite scene as a kid
One thing that impressed me when I read this book years ago was how realistically Arthur C. Clarke describes how hard it is to execute a delta vee in deep space to put a spaceship onto a target trajectory for an unplanned intercept. It is extremely costly in the fuel consumed, even when assuming the propulsion systems of the future will have evolved to be far more energetic. This is no multiyear journey with low thrust and gravitational assists like current deep space probes, a huge impulse is needed in a short time! Science fiction often makes use of faster than light drives to allow for interstellar travel within a short time relative to a human lifespan. I came away from this novel reflecting upon how hard it is just to scoot around a single solar system!
Spoiler alert: there is a revelation late in the book that Rama's propulsion system operates via something other than the mechanical action-reaction principle. A discovery of such a "space drive" would be a breakthrough indeed.
I thought the problems of how to get endeavor to rama were pretty cool too... But then at the end a dude takes a scooter and casually intercepts a missile headed for them (and it only took 4 min at i think 1g!) Makes me think clarke waaaay underestimated missile's closure rate
Having attended a midnight screening of "2001" in '91, I was 'primed' with HAL's "inception date" that was not far off. When the calendar read 12 Jan 1992, on a lark I tried calling Columbo, and was amazed that it took only 3 attempts before I, a geeky mortal, was speaking with Clarke, himself... He wasn't pleased, but was gracious, when I explained the silliness of calling him to wish HAL a "happy zeroth birthday"... Kubrick used 1992 in the movie, but Clarke's book clearly says HAL booted up in 1997. Oops!
We chatted for about 10 minutes. Told him my favourite of his writings, apart from 2001, was Childhood's End. He said he was most pleased with how Rendezvous with Rama came out, even though it wasn't as popular as other of his works.
Funny that our brief conversation likely involved a satellite link... I like to imagine it did, even if it did not...
Funny to think that Clarke's HAL would be blowing out 25 birthday candles today...
lol
@@SciFiSecrets
The real LOL was the event of that screening back in '91. My 2nd home was the local pizzeria with its friendly staff... I mentioned the upcoming midnight event to Simon (the delivery driver) who said he was interested. With Simon's interest, beautiful, young, sweet Melissa (the waitress) joined-in, saying she was curious about this movie that was made before she was born... Melissa & I met in the theatre foyer, but Simon didn't show... I couldn't stop smiling through the entire movie!
And, like Rama, the Hindu god, Melissa was delivered home at 3AM with all the gentlemanly respect she was due.
Our "Rendezvous with Rama"... 🙂
The title of this video is misleading. Gentry Lee was *not* involved with “Rendezvous With Rama”. That was solely Arthur C Clarke. Lee was only involved with the sequels
Maybe the mark on the outside is where water ice was left from a commet. Ice would also reflect light against metal and make it easier to spot.
I read the first edition paperback when it hit the rack almost fifty years ago. I remember being fascinated with the story. Guess I’ll be reading it again.
I received my copy from ebay yesterday ! Looking forward to getting into the series . This is also my first Arthur C Clarke book , at 26 years old . If anyone has other recommendations let me know
What about a protection field on outside of the cyclinder, that would have lessened the impact of the hit. Like a force field. Or magnetic field.
10:50 two-and-a-half minutes nitpicking the math of the person whom Clarke Orbit (geosynchronous) is credited. Perhaps the author of Rama chose readability once he had put down his slide rule, perhaps his editor suggested it. And if nitpicking editorial choices is fair game, what's with the volume control of the noise around 4:00? 15:08 the scar on the hull, I took it to refute the Mercurian's hydrogen bomb plan.
If you liked the book you’ll love the computer game , I played it many years ago and was addicted
I was just skimming a 4 hr video of a playthrough!
@@SciFiSecrets I just watched that video, and now I know where that missing chip is that I couldn't find 25 years ago... I never made it across the ice to the skyscrapers.
Great clip. Couldn't agree more. Looking forward to a film adaptation.
Nah, it was a great book. Loved it. Clarke's book 'Childhood's End' introduced me to science fiction.
I've read all the books in the series, love every scene!!!
this video took me back instantly maybe 40 years when i first read this book maybe longer, i had forgotten it was clarke who wrote it i thought it was possibly greg bear are that may a similar story thanks for the suprise.
I read Rendezvous with Rama as a 14 year old, turned the radio on and discovered the BBC were serialising the book. I like Arthur C Clarke's characters as they're usually stoic and taciturn, no doubt based on the WW2 officers Clarke knew when he served in the RAF. I enjoyed his short stories, some were quite amusing for someone with a British mindset. Seek out his 1970s British TV on genuine mysteries, e.g. Tunguska, Antikythera..who better to present all that than him?
Just finished this one in audio book form. I liked the descriptive ending of Rama's departure.
Then there is this Interlude that touches on "the end of mission orbital orgy" kind'a took me out of the wonderous SiFi head space.
I get that there was a bit of a running gag that the ships captain was a bit of a playboy, must have been of its time though like those cringy older James Bond endings.
I hope Denis Villeneuve's movie adaptation of Rendezvous with Rama gets off the ground after the second Dune installment. Should be a visual feast
Greg Bear's similarly themed "Eon" is another good read for those who enjoyed Rendezvous with Rama.
I honestly barely noticed after some of the stuff Larry Niven has written. lol.
and then there is Orson Scott Card... Sometimes I wonder about that guy...
One of my favorite books. Accidentally left at my house by a friend in1978.
I read every SF (Not Fantasy) book I could get my hand on as a kid. Rama was a memorable book, it stretched the imagination and possibilities. Looking forward to your analysis on all the books I've read.
Calcs on dimension to gravities will have been performed on a slipstick. Errors can be in keeping with Clarke's numbers.
Slide Rule ?
Read this series of books nearly 30 years ago still my favourite
I read this book many years ago when I was into SF. I can't remember too much about it.
This is the 2nd book I ever read straight through.
When I began reading in ernest, i came across the whole series at the library.
I read the first, then finished the series. I felt Clarke's co-writer added warmth to the story. The characters had personalities, and there was more emotional contributions. I liked the sequels... and the series as a whole.
Thanks for finding the artificial gravity calculator. I would've chosen B for the flight, but your calculation makes better sense.
As a teen, I was mesmerized by Clarke's fiction. Living near his hometown, I never met him. But later, I was lucky to meet and chat with his brother Fred. I did a double take. A mirror image...
Would love to see this on the big screen. Read decades ago as a teenager.
Denis Villeneuve has announced he intends to make it his next project when he's finished with DUNE.
@@bradleynoneofyourbizz5341 Was he just doing the one Dune movie or is he turning the entire series into multiple movies? I cannot wait another twenty years.
@@matthewhuszarik4173 From the speculation I've heard he's ending at DUNE II which starts filming this year with a 2023 release date. Both The Hollywood Reporter and Variety reported that Morgan Freeman has teamed up with Alcon Entertainment to produce R w/ R and Alcon wants Villeneuve to direct. So, four years, maybe?
@@bradleynoneofyourbizz5341 Thanks. Looking forward to it. I hope to see it in iMax.
A book with a similar premise is Eon by Greg Bear. A Rama like world is found inside an asteroid, but they then find at the far end another circular corridor, where humans from the future have manipulated space to create and infinity long corridor called The Way.
Good video but you should specify at the beginning whether you’re going to get into spoilers.
I read this about 40 years ago, shortly after it came out. So, it probably worth a reread.
I have been waiting a lifeti me to see a movie based on this book.
I'm glad its being done by someone who, I hope, will do the visuals justice.
well told! really liked it
Best part is 14:00 or so. I always wondered about that. Artificial gravity of this type would only seem to work for me if there was some sort of physical connection to the rotating interior surface. Otherwise, why wouldn't you just simply float along? But your explanation referring to atmosphere makes a lot of sense.
No. The perceived gravity varies from zero gee at the center axis to 1/6th gravity at the cylinder surface. It it solely dependent on the distance from the center.
I actually read Rama Revealed first before reading Rendezvous with Rama because it was the only book that caught my attention while looking for one to bring on a long flight
That must have been interesting. Lol
@@SciFiSecrets yeah but enjoyed it though
Don't forget about the mass of the ship
It creates its own gravitational pull not just the centrifugal effects
One of my favorite SF novels. I agree with you that the sequels were not as good. I am disappointed that many of the illustrations chosen for this video clearly do not match Clarke's written descriptions. Anyway, thanks for sharing one of the best stories in modern SF.
Yeah, the pics dont do it justice. I need to find an artist willing to work for free... lol
@@SciFiSecrets I realize that you needed to use illustrations available to you; my criticism was perhaps unfair. Your comments were good, and, since it is a video, you have to have visuals, be they as they may.
Rw/R is a great story of exploration. No battles. No tentacled space aliens in love with human women. Just a continued exploration of a fantastically large alien spacecraft.
The book's interpretation of 'centripetal gravity' was such a red flag for me. It made perfect sense when they used the ladders bc they're in contact with a solid object that's spinning them in a circle. If they're flying, the air isnt a solid, rotating lock-step with the hull. It is free to lose energy. I think there's something similar again when they throw objects from the middle down to the ppl on the ground. I got confused if they were throwing it thru the air or rolling it along "walls". Along walls would feel the full effects of centrip+coriolis. But in the air it's more point A to point B with some wind from coriolis. I cannot believe flying lower increases his "gravity" as he's not grabbing hold of anything. Imagine floating in a tube on the ISS. Suddenly the tube starts spinning unbeleievably fast. Ur just gonna keep on floating!
It took only 5sec for the loud music to make me so the video... Well done 👍
I read this and it's a great story. Arthur C. Clarke was a great author. I heard it's being considered for a movie treatment.
This is a very good review!!!
Fantastic!
It's one of my favorites, too.
I read both rama books. Loved them both
In addition to what you already mentioned, centrifugal force doesn't behave exactly the same way as the way gravity does, specially when moving. There have been some experiments that show humans will have problems with their motorics in such artificial gravity situations (and that's the main reason why it hasn't been implemented in any space station). Nevertheless, this book is great and it had a lasting effect on how I see life in general. I think we are all biots.
I enjoyed the novel when I read it decades ago.
Wowwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!! love these videos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ty!
Are you the guy from Resurrected Starships?
maybe a anti debris measure reduced the closing speed and render the impactor into a cloud of fine particles before it hit with it's full energy
Thats actually in the sequel.
GREAT WORK
I. LOVE. THIS. BOOK.
This story reminds me of the interstellar visitor Oumuamua we had in our solar system a few years ago.
I think you are being pedantic about the Rhama data. It a lot of years since I read it but as far as I remember these are all approximations, not precise measurements.
Arthur C. was an engineer and would have fully understood the forces involved in his design. He was also an intelligent author and it would not surprise me if he deliberately introduced inaccuracy to make the characters more plausible as human beings.
For sure, all possiable. The only thing that was surprised me about the numbers is they say "over 1,000 kph" at least twice for the surface speed. But for all the other numbers to work, it has to be slightly below 1,000kph. Not a big deal. Just stood out to me. Could just be a rounding error too, since he didn't have easy access to a spin calc like we do now.
...of course for all I know, the spin calc I used is off. Lol
He had access to computers -- he mentions in one book using them to determine if his own UFO sightings (he mentioned having 10) had to be explained as alien spacecraft. His conclusion in every case was no.
And of course he was gifted by friends with an HP-9100A that he christened “HAL Jr”.
Thank - you .
Some of the imagery you use in this video does not resemble Rama's description in the book at all.
This was a great read.
I have the original first print edition in hard cover. Mind condition. Great Story!
This book was awesome.
Just like the Robot and Foundation series by Asimov, you must read the whole Rama series. It is a fantastic story.
The question I've never figured out is .... where does the waterfall originate, as after it's first mention, it's never talked about again.
how did I never catch that?!?!?!
I think I read this when I was a kid. Is this the one where there are 2 species of aliens, Avian and Octopus?
Later in the series.