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  • Rendezvous with Rama

  • Rama Series, Book 1
  • By: Arthur C. Clarke
  • Narrated by: Toby Longworth
  • Length: 7 hrs and 21 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (271 ratings)

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Rendezvous with Rama

By: Arthur C. Clarke
Narrated by: Toby Longworth
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Publisher's Summary

This audiobook was re-recorded with a new narrator, and the new product uploaded on 25th June 2014. Please note that written reviews prior to that date refer to a different narrator.

Winner of the 1973 Nebula and BSFA Awards and the 1974 Hugo, Campbell, and Locus Awards.

At first, only a few things are known about the celestial object that astronomers dub Rama. It is huge, weighing more than 10 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’.

Arthur C. Clarke was born in Minehead in 1917. During the Second World War he served as an RAF radar instructor, rising to the rank of Flight-Lieutenant. After the war he won a BSc in physics and mathematics with first class honours from King's College, London.

One of the most respected of all science-fiction writers, he also won Kalinga Prize, The Aviation Space-Writers' Prize and The Westinghouse Science Writing Prize. He shared an Oscar nomination with Stanley Kubrick for the screenplay of 2001: A Space Odyssey, which was based on his story, 'The Sentinel'. He lived in Sri Lanka from 1956 until his death in 2008.

©1973 Arthur C. Clarke (P)2013 Audible Ltd

Critic Reviews

“Arthur C. Clarke is awesomely informed about physics and astronomy, and blessed with one of the most astounding imaginations ever encountered in print.” ( New York Times)
“Arthur C. Clarke is one of the truly prophetic figures of the space age ... The colossus of science fiction.” ( New Yorker)
“Quite memorable and at times magical… We glimpse our own future in this technological artifact - a future as magical as it is mysterious.” (Brian W Aldiss)
“For many readers Arthur C. Clarke is the very personification of science fiction.” ( The Encyclopaedia of Science Fiction)

What listeners say about Rendezvous with Rama

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Incredible, simple yet facinating

it's hard to believe this book is 40+ years old, there is not a single "dated" part in it, every mention of technology is matter of fact and subtle as though it's just part of every day so it doesn't distract from the story in any way.
The story is simple and easy to follow not trying so hard to be impressive or over the top, as if not wanting to distract from the fascination that is at play here the true character of the story that is Rama itself.
The science is great, interesting and accurate making you wonder what it would be like to be witnessing such things and truly wishing you were inside Rama yourself.
I have gone through 197 audiobooks from audible 185 of which are science fiction in the past 2 years (yes I have no life) and I am blown away that the one to have grabbed my undivided attention from start to finish is this classic from before the invention of modern computers, before the invention of the smart phone and dozens of other modern technologies that have sparked our imaginations.
Clark truly was ahead of his time.
If you haven't read this or even if you have read it but not heard this brilliantly read audiobook I can't reccomend enough for you to give it a try.
One last thing...
I'm a space nerd from Brisbane Australia Oceana.. so I felt a special something for the captain in this one 🤣

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great novel, fantastic narration

The dynamism of the narrator’s accents took an already phenomenal story to another level. Highly recommended

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Lively Read

Eye opening tho passive drama. This story whilst complete effectively leaves you with many questions...

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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Oscar Donmez

Really enjoyed the storyline

Also reminds me the Oumuamua.
Who knows maybe they were just here.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
  • JT
  • 12-01-2022

Pure Wonderous Exploration

A story of exploration, nothing more, there is no conflict or drama of any kind, but it still had me listen through it in 2 sittings.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great narration for classic sci fi!

Toby Longworth is one of the best narrators I have come across, with a great gift for accents. He does one of the best science fiction novels of all time great justice. Fantastic!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great book

really easy to finish. Reader could do with a little more enthusiasm at times but all in all a good read

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent

Absorbing as only Arthur C Clarks novels can be, can wait to hear Rams 2

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Classic Science Fiction

Excellent story and will always be considered on of the genre's best.

shame about the rest of the series...

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Good story with a new perspective

Having read the book several times over the years I was surprised how much I enjoyed the story as an audio book. The written story was getting dated but as an audio book it was fresh and invigorating. Recommended to anyone who enjoyed the book and would appreciate a refresh of the excitement from reading the book for the first time.

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