RENDEZ-VOUS WITH RAMA: 6/10
This book was extremely interesting. Innovative in it's treatment of both character, and perspective. The more basic concepts of space travel are approached in a democratic way. I quite liked the more technical moments, basic astro/physics not my forte however. My least favorite thing about this book was it's end. Rather anti-climactic it really just reaffirmed that the more important aspects of the books were it's style and treatment of content.
RAMA II: 4/10
This book was depressing. Clarke adheres to some of the stylistic qualities of his first, but moves in a direction I did not appreciate or expect. The science aspects still make the reader feel smart when they get them, and he includes some discussion of logic/problem solving that is quite fun. The book as a whole seems to be centered more on the human/moral dilemmas that were touched upon in Rendez-Vous with Rama. The religious discussion was pushed much farther, to the point where a Saint is created to provide a more dynamic range of tools. The introduction of Michael O'Toole, the scientist-catholic, was frustration. It's a sci-fi novel and unless the pope is some cool space-traveller I'd rather not have to deal with him. The moral dilemmas are completely acceptable, but I suppose I've been teaching myself to adore the more personal, post-apocalyptic style sci-fi. This early attempt at a space Opera seems strange, the six/seven main characters so fueled by their own endeavors. So overall I do not support the logic of what causes the events to happen. The crew seems inept at dealing with the alien ship/visitors from the beginning (bad sign).
To expect too much from an author seems a fault of mine. Though in reality it just means I have a creative mind. I just take things a little too far, so I'm comfortable embellishing the stories of others.
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