by Simon Wright

Created on: May 10, 2008   Last Updated: May 11, 2008

Arthur C. Clarke was one of the great luminaries of science fiction writing, and has often been quoted as one of the great visionaries in terms of what advancements humankind might expect to make in future generations.

Rendezvous with Rama was published in 1972 and is a compelling read. It is set in the year 2077, so just a hundred years after the novel's publication date. The Earth has suffered from asteroid impacts and has therefore been forced to develop a sophisticated surveillance set-up to monitor any objects that may be on a collision course. Scientific excitement begins when a new object appears on the radar and increases when images show that it is a perfect cylindrical shape and cannot therefore be a naturally occurring object. Despite its huge size, therefore, it appears to be some sort of space craft rather than an asteroid or comet. The space craft becomes known as Rama. The name is given as scientists had, by this stage, exhausted Roman and Greek mythological figures to name space bodies after.

A solar survey vessel, named Endeavour, is launched to intercept Rama. Captain Norton and has crew gain entry to Rama and begin to explore it. Initially it appears dark and completely lifeless though there are some wondrous sights to behold. These include a massive staircase leading to a plain' upon which there are several cities' and a frozen sea.

The setting makes for great reading and will be familiar to many sci fi readers, namely that of a small group of humans making contact with an alien space craft and wondering whether they're going to encounter some sort of threat or calamity around every corner. However, Clarke ratchets up the tension by virtue of the fact that Rama is speeding towards a close encounter with the Sun. Captain Norton and his colleagues could happily spend years studying this amazing place. However they only have a matter of days before they will have to make their escape or risk being burned to a cinder.

Alongside this human challenge and the excitement of what might be revealed, we learn that although some things have changed, human nature is still largely the same. Mankind (through terraforming) has colonised several planets and moons including Mercury, Mars, and the Moon. Some level of co-operation exists but rivalries and tribal tensions still lurk menacingly. Mercury, in particular, feels threatened by the presence of Rama and argues that rather than passing by our solar system the space craft may make a braking motion and change

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