The Rama sequels - any good?

[Thor]

Despite considering myself a sci-fi fan, a couple of weeks back I realised that I'd never read any Arthur C Clarke. That has now been recitifed. I read and thoroughly enjoyed Rendezvous With Rama. 

 

I've read briefly that the sequels aren't of the same quality, I'm just after the rllmuk collective opinion on that. 

[Mogster]

They're completely different, and were mostly (entirely?) written by Gentry Lee. I read them all when I was a teenager after loving Rendezvous to bits, but I don't think I'd have even made it through Rama II if I tried today.

[Plums]

I managed to finish the second one but it was pretty awful. So different in tone to the original that it's more like a spin off than a sequel. 

[Vespa Alex]

I thought the second was decent, and does have a reasonable amount in common with the original. The effect of Rama on human civilisation is very interesting too. 

3 and 4 are quite the change and not as good IMO. 

 

[charley farley]

I'd broadly agree with the sentiments above. 2nd is decent but not a patch on the first, 3rd was so bad I didn't bother with any more after that.

[Unofficial Who]

I quite liked them as a teen but they'd be a depressing read today being a not so veiled commentary about humans fucking up closed environments.

[JoeK]

I honestly think they're appalling. The second felt like one of those 'be careful what you wish for' type things. You really wanted to know what happens when the second ship arrives, but in reality you don't - because it was thoroughly disappointing and could never match the anticipation of your imagination.

 

Thankfully they don't ruin the wonder of the original.

 

 

[Plissken]

Agreed.  Some things don't have to be explained.