Rating: 
Summary: Betrayed by Dreck
Review: Why, oh why, did he have to take such a jewel of the storyteller's art and drown it in such dreck? This sequel is brutally bad. It is worse than bad. It is a betrayal.If Rendezvous With Rama is the high point in Clarke's career, then this sequel is most certainly his nadir. It sacrifices everything that makes its progenitor such a classic. The mystery and inspiration of the Ramans are turned into a cheap stage prop for an episode of Survivor. We are treated to the Roman spectacle of a bunch of worthless misfits, each conniving to remain the last one standing. We neither know nor care about their fate. Halfway through, I found myself praying that the Ramans would just show up and ray the lot of them. To understand how bad this novel really is, one must understand why the original is so good. The best science fiction gives us something no other genre can: a cosmic perspective that is vastly greater than the merely human. In offering this, it teaches us valuable lessons like humility, tolerance and understanding. And it teaches us these things not at the personal level, but at the universal one. For example, suppose we meet an alien species that is nobler than we. Nobler in every way and in every detail. In art, science, philosophy, morality. What if, due to some cosmic calamity, only one race could survive? Should it be the alien's or ours? Is there a higher cosmic ethic than survival of our species? This is just a poor approximation to the kinds of reflections that good science fiction can provoke; yet it gives you a sense of the thoughts that the original novel stirred. Such a book cleaves to your heart and to your mind and just won't let go. Now, take this theme and trivialise it. Consider instead a supermodel who is prettier than we. Prettier in every way and in every detail. In hair, shape, flounce and pout. What if, due to some catering disaster, only one of us could enter the pageant? Should it be the supermodel or we? Is there a higher standard of display appeal than that of the runway? My analogy may sound like a caricature, but it is not. The trivialisation that occurs in Rama 2 is exactly of the kind that I have expounded. We go from contemplating the majesty of the cosmos to wallowing in the pettiness of twits. It is no good pretending that this travesty is not the work of Clarke; that it is Gentry Lee's fault. Mr. Clarke has a duty to defend the integrity of his visions. By putting his name to trash, he implicitly if not explicitly participates in the destruction of what is magnificent. Avoid this sequel like a case of herpes. It will do nothing but destroy whatever mystery and intelligent reflection as made the first book so sublime.
Rating: 
Summary: A soap opera in outer space!
Review: It's sad to see how the marvellous story started by Clarke's "Rendezvous with Rama" gets spoiled by the most unbelievable characters and their long-winded personal histories totally irrelevant to the plot. And anyway, as another reviewer has sensibly asked, who on earth chose such a crew of lunatics for such an important mission? Most of the happenings inside Rama II are totally unrealistic. Rama II is hard to read through and rarely gets down to the point, namely, the Raman spaceship and its inhabitants. Be prepared to skip pages, especially those about Nicole's preposterous dreams. If I made it until the end it's because, after Clarke's Rendezvous, I can't get off the Raman story any more and I want to know how the story goes on and ends. However, as I have been warned, I might be in for two more books of cosmic soap opera that's hard to digest.
Rating:
Summary: Probably not worth the one star I'm giving it...
Review: My worst problem with the first Rama book was the over technical language and he general lack of deep characters. This book seems to be trying to fix this flaw, but instead of doing that it went too far and this over - characterization - and depth seems worse than the lack of it. There were too many insignificant details - like a description of Nicole's dress and hair style before the 'big' party, or too much romance that distracted my mind from the SF part of the book. Being fimiliar with AC Clarke's usual SF books, I can only guess all these unecessary additions were Gentry Lee's contribution. Reading a chapter from his own book at the end emphasises it - especially since he seems to be fascinated wit religion, which is not AC Clarke's strong suit... I'm sure many of the people who read and loved the original Rama book had a lot of questions in mind, and many of these were answered in this book, and many of Rama's secrets were revealed. This might make the one star rating I was forced to give it.
Rating: 
Summary: Insipid characters trapped inside a great idea
Review: I have to agree with some of the other reviewers. Clarke probably got some flak about the cardboard characters encountered in "Rendezvous with Rama". So he decided - with Co-Author Gentry Lee, to flesh out the "human side" the next time he would visit his great idea. (the basic story is one of the greatest I have read- pure and imaginative science fiction. Unfortunately, the author is not quite up to his idea). So he sends us off to the Second Encounter with this unique cylindrical world. The crew Clarke and Lee came up with consists of the most insipid, cliché-ridden types that ever disgraced a science fiction novel. They seem to have come straight out of the worst soap operas. The notion that our civilization has no one else to go to encounter an extraterrestial spaceship is appalling. Who hired tis bunch of lunatics? In dubio pro reo- In Doubt, I`m for the Accused- perhaps it was a statement by the authors. The Earth they show us in RAMA II is not the usual glib and optimistic view of a unified and wealthy planet. Quite a departure for Arthur C. Clarke. It shows a world that just came out of a long depression. Perhaps there REALLY was no one else around to go on this mission. Also interesting: The strong religious overtones. In previous Arthur C. Clarke books, the notion of Religion was sometimes dismissed as "pious gibberish". Clarke always struck me as the typical scientist whose ratio cannot admit the psychological crutch of religion. In secret, he longs for a "supernatural" or "divine" explanation of all the mysteries encountered by the scientists. Here, the basic moral questions- should we destroy the things we don't know or cannot understand? surfaces again. But why does it have to be so heavy-handed? Again: the basic idea is great. Perhaps with todays computer graphics we will see a movie of the RAMA books that can do justice to the concept. I 'm looking forward to it! Please excuse my English-- I have not used it for a long time.
Rating: 
Summary: Ignore the Myopic Critics; It's Superb!
Review: Rama II is a worthy continuation of the original Rama novel by A.C. Clarke, regardless of the oversimplified synopses presented by some of the reviewers here. I have read and reread Rama II and have thrilled to the skilled development of the characters in the series, most especially Nicole des Jardins and Richard Wakefield. Clarke and Gentry spared no effort in provided thorough characterization as well as plot integrity. The reader learns much about the fascinating alien races and species aboard the Rama craft and will be amply rewarded for continuing through the fourth and final (?) installment. Yes, there are unsavory characters in this novel and unpleasant incidents in Rama II (and in Garden of Rama and Rama Revealed), but these are credible and make the story much more interesting. This is not a Disney-like, Star Wars shoot'em up or "little space friends" story but good, engrossing science fiction. Read and lose yourself in the Rama universe.
Rating:
Summary: It's not that bad; Good for those who really CARE
Review: The bottom line is, this book is good as long as you're one of those people who really enjoyed the first book and want to know what's gonna happen next. I would say that a LOT of the plot is complete ... and, sadly, many of the characters and subplots are completely irrelevent and unnecessary... Frankly, I could have written better. HOWEVER, once I reached the last third of the book, I honestly did find it very engaging and interesting. It was the first two thirds of the book that made it difficult to continue reading... Hope that helps some people when considering this book. I'm getting ready to read Rama III, so here's hoping it's better.
Rating:
Summary: Rama undone...
Review: Seventy years have passed since Rama's passage through the Solar system. Mankind has experienced a series of cataclysmic setbacks and withdrew itself from all celestial bodies save Earth itself. On the dawn of the twenty-third century, a second Rama craft is sighted. And while it is ostensibly identical to the first ship, the human emissaries to the extrasolar hulk come from a civilization ages removed from the original crew... "Rama II" is quite a puzzle. The first book was a complete artistic statement, with a well-defined ending that tied up what loose ends there were. Why the second part in the "series" was written at all is a mystery. It's like painting a second Mona Lisa, or at least trying to: the Clarke-Lee tandem fails spectacularly. Superpowers, deception, magical visions, you name it - it's here, and none of it fits together. The authors addressed the complaints about the first book's dull characters by reducing the cast to an even dozen and making each member a Certifiably Life-Like Character. Namely, they endowed each with a single trait and exaggerated that trait to an absurd extent. The second Rama crew seems to be on the verge of a fistfight. They visit the Pope and abort fetuses and poison each other. Oh, and they're all drunkards to boot. Francesca Sabatini is an especially noxious character: she is ruthless, backstabbing, markedly verbose, irritable, impulsive, and bloodthirsty. Why people like Francesca are on the crew at all is beyond me. Earth has definitely regressed since the first book. Instead of a "solar federation" the reader gets a xenophobic Earth recovering from a crippling internal collapse. Sadly, the first institutions to revive are the church and the media. Most of the plot is governed by the two. Two out of the twelve crew members are reporters (driven by monetary incentives to make the expedition as melodramatic as possible) and one is the Catholic emissary (who in the course of the book receives a divine revelation). Oh, and we also get all the requisites: the Honest Altruist, the Embodiment of Scientific Genius, the Kindly Soul, the Panicked Madman, and the Happy-Go-Lucky Heli Pilot. The anachronisms are as obvious, if not more: Earth of the twenty-third century seems to run on transistors and audio casettes. The Soviet Union also seems to have survived everything, including a global cataclysm and its own collapse two years after the book was written. Even the majestic Rama spacecraft has lost its grandeur. In fact, the alien ship is mere trimming for the failure of a character-driven plot that this book has. Furthermore, the authors gave Rama a decisively low-tech twist (surveilance cameras?), and overequipped the characters (helicopters? land rovers? chairlifts?). There is much crawling through corridors and gawking at the buttons and switches. Apparently, Lee forgot that this is "Rama", not "Sphere". The desert island romance borders on the absurd. A marginal book utterly destroyed by childish skulduggery.
Rating: 
Summary: Giant "species scoop in space" makes for fascinating reading
Review: This novel has an incredible concept - a giant, seemingly dormant cylindrical space craft is sent off by an advanced civilisation to investigate other space faring life forms. While the first book was meant to be a mysterious one off, Rama II starts to create a larger story arc to be resolved in the further 2 sequels. Characterisation is also a lot stronger in this although the first fifth of the book is laden with slightly unnecessary "preparatory background." At the end, you'll find yourself wanting to know more, there are many unanswered questions. This isn't a bad thing, the 2 sequels expand on the concept but the sense of wonder still remains. Essential reading if you've ever seen or read "2001 a Space Odyssey." This series is probably better. Although not as strong as the first or final 2 books, it's best to view the series as a whole.
Rating:
Summary: Just about worthwhile
Review: Don't know if it was Gentry Lee's influence, but this sequel to the marvellous Rendezvous with Rama is rather short on the mind-boggling wonder that we have come to expect from Arthur C Clarke. The extensive politics and ponderous characterisation gives Rama II distinctly soap-opera like overtones and, on several occasions, I was reminded more of the Ben Bova style of goodies and baddies in space, rather than the visionary genius of ACC. Rama II does, admittedly gather much pace in its later stages and the breathtaking conclusion will reward the reader for their perseverance. Furthermore, I am aware that it is easy to be over-critical, given the very high standards set by the original novel. On the whole though, I must admit to finding Rama II a little disappointing. It piqued my interest sufficiently however, to make me add Rama III to my future reading list.
Rating:
Summary: Patience required, but worth it
Review: In this continuation of the Rama series, Clarke and Lee introduce a new set of characters, add the old set, and have to populate the previously barren "world" of Rama. They do it admirably. The entire series requires patience, as the authors are devoted to detail. You end up feeling like you know these people and that you've been there. And the writing is flawless. When will they get around to doing the movies? The computer technology must be about ready to catch up to the story and the writing.
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