Rendezvous with Rama Audiobook By Arthur C. Clarke cover art

Rendezvous with Rama

Preview

Get this deal Try for $0.00
Offer ends January 21, 2025 at 11:59PM ET.
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 3 months. Cancel anytime.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Rendezvous with Rama

By: Arthur C. Clarke
Narrated by: Peter Ganim, Robert J. Sawyer - introduction
Get this deal Try for $0.00

$14.95/mo. after 3 months. Offer ends January 21, 2025 11:59PM ET. Cancel anytime.

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $24.25

Buy for $24.25

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

At first, only a few things are known about the celestial object that astronomers dub Rama. It is huge, weighing more than ten trillion tons. And it is hurtling through the solar system at inconceivable speed. Then a space probe confirms the unthinkable: Rama is no natural object. It is, incredibly, an interstellar spacecraft.

Space explorers and planet-bound scientists alike prepare for mankind's first encounter with alien intelligence. It will kindle their wildest dreams...and fan their darkest fears. For no one knows who the Ramans are or why they have come. And now the moment of rendezvous awaits - just behind a Raman airlock door.

BONUS AUDIO: Includes an exclusive introduction by Hugo Award-winning author Robert J. Sawyer, who explains why Rendezvous with Rama will make the listener "feel both humbled and exhilarated at the same time".

©1973 Arthur C. Clarke (P)2008 Audible, Inc.
Fiction First Contact Hard Science Fiction Science Fiction Solar System
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Critic reviews

Hugo Award, Best Novel, 1974
Nebula Award, Best Novel, 1973
John W. Campbell Memorial Award, Best Novel, 1974


"A frighteningly logical, believable, and grimly prophetic tale...Clarke is a master." (Los Angeles Times)
"A first-rate tour de force." (The New York Times)

Featured Article: The best audiobooks about aliens for curious humans


Throughout the history of storytelling, we humans have been curious about the possibility of worlds beyond Earth and its inhabitants. Thanks to our endless fascination with extraterrestrial life, there is a mountain of literature, from novels to memoirs, exploring the potential outcomes of interacting with creatures from other planets. Without further ado, here are 20 of our favorite listens about alien life.

What listeners say about Rendezvous with Rama

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    5,972
  • 4 Stars
    3,135
  • 3 Stars
    1,099
  • 2 Stars
    215
  • 1 Stars
    117
Performance
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    4,287
  • 4 Stars
    2,476
  • 3 Stars
    1,350
  • 2 Stars
    494
  • 1 Stars
    384
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    5,919
  • 4 Stars
    2,127
  • 3 Stars
    730
  • 2 Stars
    162
  • 1 Stars
    59

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Superb Sf

I cannot imagine why I've never run across this gem before now...it is one of the best novels I've read in a long time, and the top book that I've read from Arthur C. Clark. Two brief comments: the science element is a bit dated; I knew without looking at the description that it was decades old (turns out it's from 1973). The explorers have to overcome obstacles that would be easily solved by 21st century technology. Second, the other reviewers are down on the narration, that it is dry and "robotic". Folks...to put it simply, that is how one should narrate an Arthur C. Clark novel. It's about the science, never about the human characters. I thought Peter Ganim's measured reading was right on the money. If you want human stories with good sf, read Orson Scott Card.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Are you kidding me?!?

The book says, "interlude" as if it is only halfway over, but then it ends. Where is the other half of the book???

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful book, very strange narration

If you could sum up Rendezvous with Rama in three words, what would they be?

Really Great Story

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The narrators cadence is really odd. It distracts completely from the story.

Any additional comments?

I couldn't believe a real person spoke with this cadence. Peter Ganim has a very pleasant voice, but the cadence was beyond strange. I went to listen to some of the other books he's narrated and they sound very normal, so I have to wonder if the producers asked him to do this. Either way, I hope Audible re-records this, it's an amazing book, one of the great science fiction stories, but the performance really hurts audible version.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great

this book is a great hard science fiction book. Deeply based in orbital mechanics and other space technologies

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

great story

a really great story in the classic style. the way the story was written reminded me of an R.A. Heinlein novel.
the vocal performance leaves a bit to be desired but it's ok.
overall a great experience.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

BDO

Although my opinion of the author has diminished over the years since I first read this book in the 80s, this book is an example of ACC at the peak of his writing career.

Characterisation is paper thin, but the description of the Big Dumb Object that is Rama is excellent and thought provoking.

Narration was good.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

5star read

After hundreds of hours of listening to audiobooks (I do all my exercising, housework and driving listening) this is the first book I've ever given 5 stars to!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Wishing

They would bring out the rest of the Rama books on Audible. ACC writes great descriptions of an awe inspiring construct.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

one of the greatest books written!

I love this book. Arthur C. Clark has an unique voice. His books inspire the mind, sometimes it makes the audio version a challenge as something he has written will set you mind to wonder . Be prepared to think.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

timeless story

Read this book many years ago. Thoroughly enjoyed listening to it again. There's so much detail the story was just as great this time around.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!