Other editions of book Rendezvous with Rama

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.Includes an exclusive introduction by Hugo Award-winning author Robert J. Sawyer

This is a special edition offered only to Ballantine Book Club members when originally released... FROM BACK OF BOOK: 'This is story-telling of the highest order... perpetual surprise... the sense of wonder, and ... breathless suspense.' (New York Sunday Times) 'Solid... written so that everyone can enjoy it... As always, Arthur Clarke pulls some totally unexpected and mighty fat rabbits out of the hat... while staying meticulously with known facts and future possibilities.' (Robert A. Heintein)

Rendezvous with Rama is a novel by Arthur C. Clarke first published in 1972. Set in the 22nd century, the story involves a 50-kilometre (31 mi) cylindrical alien starship that enters Earth's solar system. The story is told from the point of view of a group of human explorers, who intercept the ship in an attempt to unlock its mysteries. This novel won both the Hugo[3] and Nebula[4] awards upon its release, and is widely regarded as one of the cornerstones in Clarke's bibliography. It is considered a science fiction classic, and is particularly seen as a key hard science fiction text.