Po pierwszym spotkaniu z Ramą ludzkość oczekuje następnego. Wie, że Ramianie robią wszystko potrójnie. I rzeczywiście. W roku 2200 drugi statek kosmiczny obcej cywilizacji przybywa do Układu Słonecznego. Ziemia wysyła natychmiast zespół naukowo-badawczy, którego celem jest znalezienie klucza do rozwiązania zagadki Ramy. Niektórzy z naukowców zamierzają kontynować badania nie zważając na jakiekolwiek zagorożenia…

70 years after the events of Rendezvous with Rama, a second Raman vessel enters our solar system. Its arrival is expected and an expedition is sent to unlock more of Rama’s mysteries, but the crew are unprepared both for what they find and for the conflicts that arise between them. Rama II brings new characters into a new story and is mostly unrelated to the original and largely serves to set up its own sequels. It ends with three of the twelve astronauts stranded inside Rama as it travels out of the solar system, Nicole des Jardins Wakefield, Richard Wakefield and Michael O’Toole.Unlike Rendezvous with Rama, which depicted a utopian future and focused almost entirely on the hard science fiction elements regarding the scientific wonders of the alien spacecraft, Rama II and its sequels deconstruct Clarke’s vision of human colonies throughout the solar system through a global economic crisis that forced their almost total deactivation. Then follows a very different storytelling that brings forward contemporary issues like abortion, racism, drug abuse and organized crime.WikipediaIn 1973, Clarke’s Rendezvous with Rama won the Hugo, Nebula and Campbell awards. This new novel is the second in a trilogy about the mystifying world-ships and their flybys of our solar system. Unfortunately, the focus is no longer on alien mysteries, but on the petty concerns of an unlikely assortment of cosmonauts. The 12 specialists chosen to explore a second Raman craft passing through human space 70 years after the first are more involved with adultery, religion and media contracts than they are with scientific advancement. Not only are their actions unrealistic, but the chapter titles telegraph what comes next. The excitement of discovery that was present in the first book is altogether missing from this soap opera plot.(Publishers Weekly)

…În 2197, omenirea știa deja că obiectul care străbătea Sistemul Solar și se apropia de planetele centrale era o a doua navă spațială extraterestră. Agenția Spațială Internațională (ASI) își concentră resursele în vederea pregătirii unei misiuni organizate, capabilă să intercepteze intrusul în interiorul orbitei venusiene, la sfârșitul lui februarie 2200. Umanitatea privi iarăși în afară, spre stele, iar profundele probleme filozofice ridicate de primul Rama își reluară locul în dezbaterile populației Pământului. Când noul vizitator se apropie, iar caracteristicile sale fizice fură și mai precis stabilite de către senzorii îndreptați în direcția sa, se confirmă faptul că această navă spațială străină era identică cu predecesoarea sa — cel puțin în privința exteriorului. Rama se întorsese. Omenirea se afla la a doua sa întâlnire cu destinul…

“Rama Revealed” (1993) is a science fiction novel by Arthur C. Clarke and Gentry Lee. It is the last of three sequels to Clarke's “Rendezvous with Rama” by these authors, and as the title suggests reveals the mysteries behind the enigmatic “Rama” spacecraft.The book picks up the story immediately after the end of “The Garden of Rama.” The book follows the story of Nicole Wakefield and her escape from imprisonment left at the cliffhanger of the previous book.As the human colony continues to degenerate with respect to living conditions and human rights, the members of Nicole's family escape to the region nicknamed “New York”, where they come into contact with the third alien species, known as “Octospiders” living in the Rama spacecraft. The Octospiders were a simple species until a space-faring species made contact with them and forever changed their society. Undergoing genetic enhancements, the Octospiders were eventually able to form a utopia of sorts.Eventually, the situation becomes dire enough that Rama's controlling intelligence intervenes to end the conflict caused by the Humans onboard.The Rama spacecraft rendezvous with an enormous “Tetrahedron” near the star Tau Ceti, at a place designed to research any intelligent life capable of spaceflight.

A. C. Clarke 1973-ban adta közre jelen regényét, mely azonnal óriási világsikert aratott. Címét arról az űrhajóról kapta, melyet a XXII. Század közepén fedeztek fel a Jupiteren túl. Az Endeavour napkutató űrhajót küldik a Ráma felderítésére…Clarke minden tud, amit egy sci-fi írónak tudnia kell. Fantáziája valóságos tudományos tényekre alapozva szárnyal, és mint Kuczka Péter a kötet utószavában megállapítja: mindig az emberség, az emberiesség oldalán áll. Kitartó tudásvágy élteti minden regényét, és ezzel fogja meg olvasóit is.

…In ultimele patru zile, grupuri mici de oameni au intreprins misiuni de recunoastere la sol, iar cele doua elicoptere, misiuni similare in aer. In regiunea cercetata de oameni se afla aproape treizeci la suta din rezervele noastre de hrana, energie si apa. Nu au avut loc lupte…. Totusi, am plasat indicatoare in locuri cheie, folosind ceea ce cunoastem din limba voastra, pentru a-i informa pe soldatii oameni ca intregul semicilindru sudic este taramul unei alte specii avansate, dar pasnice si pentru a le cere sa se intoarca in regiunea lor. Indicatoarele noastre au fost ignorate. Acum doua zile s-a petrecut un incident neplacut. De aceea, am aratat in mod clar ca orice alt comportament similar va fi considerat un act de razboi…

Venant de l'espace interstellaire, un objet pénètre dans le système solaire. Au début, il n'intéresse guère les astronomes et encore mois les journalistes ; les astéroïdes et les comètes caractérisés par des orbites très excentriques sont innombrables.Mais cet objet n'est pas ordinaire. Une observation poussée montre qu'il est parfaitement cylindrique. Ses dimensions sont imposantes : une trentaine de kilomètres de long, une quinzaine de diamètre. Pour la première fois de mémoire d'homme, un navire venu d'une autre étoile traverse le système solaire.Avec un souci méticuleux de la vraisemblance, Arthur C. Clarke rend compte de la brève exploration de Rama, la planète artificielle. Il décrit de façon étonnamment convaincante l'agencement interne d'un engin qui voyage depuis des millions d'années et qui obéit à certains principes déjà découverts par notre science bien que l'habileté de ses constructeurs dépasse de très loin nos connaissances — ou plutôt celles de nos descendants du 22e siècle.

In anul de gratie 2130, un obiect straniu este descoperit insurubandu-se in spatiu, pe ceea ce ar putea constitui un curs de coliziune cu Pamantu.Ce este? de unde vine? Si, cel mai important, ce doreste?

Das rätselhafte Objekt, das die Astronomen auf den Namen Rama tauften, gab allen Rätsel auf. Es war noch weit entfernt, deutlich außerhalb der Jupiter-Umlaufbahn. Etwas, das auf eine solch große Entfernung auf dem Radar erschien, musste gigantisch groß sein. Während das Objekt durch das Sonnensystem raste, zeigte sich bald, dass es geformt war wie ein perfekter Zylinder. Offenbar stand die Menschheit im Begriff, ihren ersten Besucher von den Sternen zu empfangen…

Autor cunoscut mai mult pentru «Odiseea spatiala 2001…2010», precum si pentru inventarea satelitului artificial, Clarke este un scriitor bland, care nu socheaza, nu sperie si nu nelinisteste. In «Sfarsitul copilariei», viziunea lui despre viitor este una optimista. In fata tuturor razboaielor ce macina oamenii de mii de ani, in fata poluarii, a amenintarii nucleare, a mutatiilor genetice, a urii rasiale si a multor altor nenorociri, Clarke viseaza frumos si, prin cartile lui, ne facem sa speram.«Sfarsitul copilariei» are un final trist, dar plin de speranta. O carte ce loveste adanc in mandria omului redus la cotidian, dar care glorifica acelasi om care isi doreste un viitor mai bun pentru copilul sau. O carte clasica, nerecomandata iubitorilor de nave spatiale, lasere si batalii galactice. O carte ce merita citita.

Autor cunoscut mai mult pentru «Odiseea spatiala 2001…2010», precum si pentru inventarea satelitului artificial, Clarke este un scriitor bland, care nu socheaza, nu sperie si nu nelinisteste. In «Sfarsitul copilariei», viziunea lui despre viitor este una optimista. In fata tuturor razboaielor ce macina oamenii de mii de ani, in fata poluarii, a amenintarii nucleare, a mutatiilor genetice, a urii rasiale si a multor altor nenorociri, Clarke viseaza frumos si, prin cartile lui, ne facem sa speram.«Sfarsitul copilariei» are un final trist, dar plin de speranta. O carte ce loveste adanc in mandria omului redus la cotidian, dar care glorifica acelasi om care isi doreste un viitor mai bun pentru copilul sau. O carte clasica, nerecomandata iubitorilor de nave spatiale, lasere si batalii galactice. O carte ce merita citita.

Ludzkość 2130 roku opanowała już cały Układ Słoneczny i szykuje się do lotów ku bardziej odległym gwiazdom nie mając nadziei na odnalezienie “braci w rozumie”. Nieoczekiwanie w obszar obserwacji ziemskich astronomów trafia zadziwiający obiekt o idealnie równym kształcie walca. “Rama”, bo tak nazwano planetoid, okazuje się dziełem istot rozumnych. Straż Kosmiczna wysyła natychmiast ekspedycję z misją zbadania gwiezdnego przybysza. Dowódcę, komandora Nortona i innych uczestników wyprawy czekają niezwykłe przeżycia i doświadczenia…Powieść otrzymała nagrodę Nebula w 1973, nagrody Hugo, Campbell, Locus i Jupiter w 1974.

Szef wielkiej stacji telewizyjnej dokonuje epokowego odkrycia — znajduje metodę tworzenia mikrotuneli podprzestrzennych, które pozwalają zajrzeć kamerze w każde miejsce w teraźniejszości i przeszłości... W przezroczystym świcie nic nie ukryje się przed kamerą. Ludzie zaczynają szukać sposobów na ukrycie swojej prywatności i swoich zbrodni…

Rok 2142. Upłynęło dziesięć lat od chwili pojawienia się Ramy, tajemniczego statku kosmicznego Obcych. Ziemia i jej pozaplanetarne kolonie pogrążone są w Wielkim Chaosie. Siostra Beatrice i inżynier Johann Ebehardt zauważają niewytłumaczalne zjawisko — zmiennokształtne chmury świetlistych mikroskopijnych kulek. Tylko oni dwoje przeczuwają związane z nimi nadciągające niebezpieczeństwo…

Explosive and provocative battles fought across the boundaries of time and space—and on the frontiers of the human mind.Science fiction's finest have yielded this definitive collection featuring stories of warfare, victory, conquest, heroism, and overwhelming odds. These are scenarios few have ever dared to contemplate, and they include:-"Superiority": Arthur C. Clarke presents an intergalactic war in which one side's own advanced weaponry may actually lead to its ultimate defeat.-"Dragonrider": A tale of Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern, in which magic tips the scales of survival.-"Second Variety": Philip K. Dick, author of the short story that became the movie Blade Runner, reaches new heights of terror with his post apocalyptic vision of the future.-"The Night of the Vampyres": A chilling ultimatum of atomic proportions begins a countdown to disaster in George R. R. Martin's gripping drama.-"Hero": Joe Haldeman's short story that led to his classic of interstellar combat, The Forever War.-"Ender's Game": The short story that gave birth to Orson Scott Card's masterpiece of military science fiction.. . . as well as stories from Poul Anderson, Gregory Benford, C. J. Cherryh, David Drake, Cordwainer Smith, Harry Turtledove and Walter John Williams.Guaranteed to spark the imagination and thrill the soul, these thirteen science fiction gems cast a stark light on our dreams and our darkest fears—truly among the finest tales of the 20th century.