Rama Revealed

Infobox Book |
name = Rama Revealed
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption = 1996 Orbit paperback cover
author = Arthur C. Clarke and Gentry Lee
cover_artist =
country = United Kingdom
language = English
series = Rama
genre = Science fiction novel
publisher = Gollancz
release_date = October 14, 1993
media_type = Print (Hardcover)
pages = 480 pp
isbn = ISBN 0-575-05577-4
preceded_by = The Garden of Rama
followed_by =

"Rama Revealed" (1993) is a science fiction novel by Arthur C. Clarke and Gentry Lee. It is the last of three sequels to Clarke's "Rendezvous with Rama" by these authors, and as the title suggests reveals the mysteries behind the enigmatic "Rama" spacecraft.

Plot summary

The book picks up the story immediately after the end of "The Garden of Rama". The book follows the story of Nicole Wakefield and her escape from imprisonment left at the cliffhanger of the previous book.

As the human colony continues to degenerate with respect to living conditions and human rights, the members of Nicole's family escape to the region nicknamed "New York", where they come into contact with the third alien species, known as "Octospiders" living in the Rama spacecraft. The Octospiders were a simple species until a space-faring species made contact with them and forever changed their society. Undergoing genetic enhancements, the Octospiders were eventually able to form a utopia of sorts.

Eventually, the situation becomes dire enough that the Ramans, or at least their automated systems, intervened to end the conflict caused by the Humans onboard.

The Rama spacecraft docks with a Library Node, a place designed to research any intelligent life capable of spaceflight.

imilarities with other stories by Clarke

Origins of aliens operating Rama, as revealed at the end of this story, is very similar to origins of aliens in "Rescue Party" (1946), first published story of Clarke. Furthermore, aliens in both stories have similar galactic administration duties.

Another scene this story shares with "Rescue Party" is the use of a paralyzer on uncooperative humans by tentacled aliens. In "Rescue Party", the paralyzer is only a last resort weapon that is never used; in this story, it is actually used. Note that both stories have tentacled aliens.Also Rama and the alien spacecraft in "Rescue Party" are both cylindrical in shape, and with kilometer scale dimensions.

Books in the series

*"Rendezvous with Rama" (1972)
*"Rama II" (1989)
*"The Garden of Rama" (1991)
*"Rama Revealed " (1993)

Gentry Lee also wrote two further novels set in the same Rama Universe.

*"Bright Messengers" (1996)
*"Double Full Moon Night" (2000)

ee also

*Nicole des Jardins Wakefield