Young Legionary is the tale of the life, training and experiences of the youth Keill Randor on his home planet. For any fan of the Last Legionary series this is a fantastic book, especially when considered that it was written after the closure of the series in which this character appears - the finish on the well made product. Well-written, the book fills in the gaps from the original series, documenting the events and people who shaped the life of Keill Randor. It is a satisfying experience, to be likened to learning about the life of Superman on Krypton before it's destruction - a tale which often is left by the roadside, but which all are facinated to know about. Keill Randor suffers the same lonely fate as Clark Kent, the only survivor of his people, only he never finds his new home, and he is left to wander the universe in search of the source that destroyed his world. This is the reason for which Young Legionary is such a valuable book, because in describing the triumphs, trials and pitfalls of the young Keill Randor, it develops him into something which before hand was not as apparent or as complex - "We know the man, but what made him so?" It is melancholic to think about this marvelous world which Hill has created for his character, as it already set that it is doomed to be forever lost. A book for youths or children with good language and description, which can be read before reading any of the series of Last Legionary books, but better read last, as it will renew the original series. It contains a maturity which often lacks in other books for this age group, such as the Hardy Boys, who are sometimes too clean cut, optimistic and ridiculously intelligent for children to imagine as real people. A highly recommendable book, as with all in the same series.

Read Barber & Pykitt's book, JOURNEY TO AVALON, and read their criticisms of this one. And read it because those two have done a bit more work (i.e., a hell of a lot more work) than this fantasy.

Remember: Geoffrey of Monmouth might have been making it all up! There is NO WAY we can know!

Nennius' compilation or "heap" is regarded by most historians as UNRELIABLE, as are the Welsh annals (Annales Cambriae)!

Where does that leave us? With a few lines of pseudohistory from which the entire body of work regarding the "historical" Arthur emanates.

We should all be reading the works of FICTION, literature, regarding Arthur, which are more beautifully written beyond comparison to this book, the so-called "truth".

This book is utter nonsense!

Mostly flawed exploration, based on documents that they treat far more seriously than they should. It is a success, as an introductory work for new readers in this genre. It covers all the main points of the main legends. But as history? My favourite chapter, was the one on Vortigern, though it didn't reveal anything new. I always like to see this historical character gaining wider exposure in these pop-paperback pseudo-histories: the popular culture has never embraced him, as much as Arthur, Merlin, etc. This book, at least, goes someways to addressing that. Otherwise, the highpoints of the book are the maps, photos, and some great black and white drawings (page 196!). The chronology at the back of the book was useful. Some dates however, seem to differ, from author to author, on some events. But, its strength lies in following the times the events may have happened, through cultural changes, until the times they became popularized by now famous authors. If by chance, I seem harsh at all with this book, it is perhaps because I have all the books in their bibliography already.

Myths and legends span around the life of King Arthur and what the truth really is is hard to tell. Phillips and Keatman did a marvelous job compiling the scarce information available and let the reader participate in how the data was compiled and put in order.

Of all the books I read on the historical King Arthur this is by far the best. If there are errors in their reasoning it might attribute to the fact that not many reliable sources on the subject are out there but so far this is the most convincing attempt at getting the most out of it.

I am a big fan of A.C. Clarke, and admittedly, I have read more books by him than any other author. I was in the euphoric wake of 3001 when I found Dolphin Island in a used book store, and since it was only 140 pages long I thought it'd be a quick and enjoyable read. Well, I ended up finishing Paul Cook's 341 page "Fortress On The Sun", before I finished Dolphin Island.

It appears to me that while Dr. Clarke was exploring the Great Barrier Reef and being mesmerized by some of the sea's most intelligent creatures, he decided to combine his observations into one descriptive essay. However, as that may have been too boring and definitely quite uncharacteristic of his personality, he decided to put a couple of characters together and make up some sort of a story. Unfortunately, he spends so much time on describing how the corral reefs look like that the pace of the story slows down to a crawl. There are as always lots of interesting ideas proposed and he has always been in the forefront of future technologies but none of the characters like Johny Clinton, Mick, or Dr. Kazan ever develop enough to become memorable. In fact, the dolphins (Suzy and Sputnick) are better developed than their human counterparts. Therefore, this book is not quite up to par with what I'd call the Clarke standard, but if you've ever wondered what the Great Barrier Reef looks like, then you should give this book a try; if you can actually find it!

When I first read this book I was young, in my early early teens. I found the book took me along with it. Hiding away as a stowaway, burning in the sun and thirsting desperately after the crash.The dolphins miraculous. The wonders of the reef spellbinding and wonderous. I could go on but dont want to give away the whole story. I found the book excellent reading material, and while my taste now borders on the more intricate, this is high adventure and good reading for our young people.

Dolphin Island-A Story of the People of the Sea is a wonderful book! This futuristic tale seems like a reality, and the characters have vived personalities. You are drawn into the story. The ending leaves you yearning to read more! It's a Must Read!

This book may be of use to a high school or college student but was of no use to me, living in Japan and looking for some tips to improve my fluency.

I recommend to read this book before even starting your foreign language class. Some of the tips are about things obvious that you do not notice. Most of the advice is very useful and comes from someone which a vast experience in the area. I will use all his experience and wisdom when I take Italian and Russian next semester. It has helped me so far with my English. Thanks to the author for such a great tool for the student

This book is great for taking advantage of any language course. The vast experience of the author helps you to recognize the most common difficulties you will face when learning a foreign language. I have used many of his tips for my English and I will use them also when I take Italian and Russian next semester. A MUST HAVE !

Well, the perfect companion to La Morte d'Arthur...

Twain completely dissects the "good ol' days" of Arthurian Britain by exposing the vicious social practices of the time: white slavery, le droit de seigneur, confiscation of property in event of suicide, the complete lack of impartial justice, the degrading influence of the Church on the mass, etcetera etcetera etcetera...

The Arthurian legends are wonderful tales, but they are a mythic literary production; Twain deals with the brutal reality of daily living in the Dark Ages, and points out that the good ol' days were not so good, anyway.

As for its applicability to modern America, I am not fit to judge. Perhaps it's there. But "The Connecticut Yankee" is a wonderful tonic for those prone to romanticizing the past. Twain seems to agree with Tom Paine that the English nobility were "no-ability", and simply the latest in a series of robbers.

And, of course, the book is stuffed with wonderful Twainisms... My favorite is his observation that a conscience is a very inconvenient thing, and the significant difference between a conscience and an anvil is that, if you had an anvil inside you, it would be alot less uncomfortable than having the conscience.

Twain also mentions the beautiful mispronunciations of childhood, and how the bereaved parental ear listens in vain for them once children have grown.

You'll never look at castles the same again...

"A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" is one of those rarest literary treasures: a comedy that, for all it's hilarity, actually has both a heart and a brain. Not just a set of cheap laughs, as most comedy of any sort is, Mark Twain's classic novel enlightens as it entertains, throwing an unflinching spotlight on the darker elements of human nature both in the Utopian (to our eyes) Camelot and of modern capitalism and the American Dream.

The plot is a familiar one in our age of sci-fi and fantasy, though it was innovative when Twain conceived it: Hank Morgan, an enterprising 19th-century engineer, is knocked unconscious and comes to in King Arthur's fabled Camelot. Bewildered but determined to make the best of the situation, Morgan uses his knowledge of history and mechanical skills to convince everyone he is a super-magician greater than even Merlin. Once ensconced as the King's right-hand man, Morgan sets about reforming the country into a republic, a sort of prototype America. Most of the book follows Morgan through a series of haphazard adventures which Twain uses to illuminate the great but often forgotten evils of the Dark Ages, including the abuses of the Catholic Church, the ignorant and useless ruling body that inevitably arises from a monarchy, and the pitiful working conditions of the medieval peasant or slave.

Nor is Twain's critical eye trained only on the far-flung past. Though Morgan is essentially a sympathetic figure, he struggles to find anything the least bit admirable about the knights and nobles he must live with, and considers the chivalric code merely fit for derision. Meanwhile, Morgan's own capitalist code is in full effect, and he takes advantage of every opportunity to cash in his advanced education for the big bucks.

Colorful and sublimely written, Twain's time-travel masterpiece is both a magical fantasy and a stinging dystopian satire. Don't be fooled by the several movie versions of this story, some of which are great fun in their own right. Yes, the novel is funny, often riotously so, but the humorous skin hides a deadly earnestness beneath, and the finale is far less optimistic than one who has first seen the film versions will doubtless expect. A deservedly immortal literary gem.

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court is an interesting novel written by Mark Twain. This is a fantastic book for the high school level reader, but would be entertaining to adults as well. In this novel the main character, Hank Morgan, is mysteriously transported from the nineteenth century in Connecticut back to the fifth century in England. During his time in medieval Britain, he keeps a journal which is what most of this book is. The preface and afterwards are both the narration of Mark Twain who writes as if he has found Hank's journal, and is merely writing it down in a book. As the journal starts out, Hank is introduced to King Arthur and after narrowly escaping death and becomes the country's most powerful advisor. Hank introduces many modern wonders to this feudal society. He is hailed a magician, being able to perform wonderful "miracles" and "magic", when it really is only modern science. It is very entertaining to read about how the feeble-minded people of that time react to these feats. In the end, there is a tremendous battle with many exciting episodes leading up to it. If a reader is partial to battle scenes of high caliber, this is a book for him! Of course, Hank has many other battles as well. Once of his biggest enemies is the Church of England. The big question the reader asks themselves during this book is "Will Hank return to his time and if so, how?". It was exciting for me to ponder this question throughout the novel. During Hank's travels through medieval Britain, he meets many people. The people he meets who think a government ruled by the people in Britain (his ultimate goal) would be a good idea, he sends to Camelot where he has schools set up which teach people about modern governmental ideas. Schools were also set up to teach people how to produce his wonders of modern science. These few enlightened people remain loyal to Hank until the very end. I thought it an entertaining notion that people, who were trained from birth to believe in one thing, could realize its faults and begin to believe another things. I really enjoy this book because it brings a lot about human nature into question. It discusses the vast differences of beliefs, manners, and life styles between one hundred years ago and fourteen hundred years ago. I also thought the differences between classic Arthurian legend and Mark Twain's perspective of the time was very interesting. Hanks training of these idealistic people he runs across plays into the large political aspect of this book. Since Hank's ultimate goal is to transform Britain into a country ruled by the people, he starts factories producing modern goods, which greatly changes the lives of the Britons. I enjoyed the descriptions of the people's reaction to these modern products of science thirteen centuries before they would be invented. Throughout the entire book commentary and philosophizing concerning the comparison of the fifth century feudal system of Britain and the nineteenth century democracy of the U.S. by Hank Morgan is common. This political aspect is typical of Twain's works. It gave me great pleasure to read this aspect of the book and to comprehend it's meaning. Through Hank Morgan, Mark Twain is able to depict vivid images in the readers mind. Whether it is a person, scene, or sensation felt by Hank Twain describes it in a way that puts a solid picture in the imagination of the reader. I have not seen the movie of this novel, but I have heard it isn't very well done and it is nothing compared to the book. I believe this is because Mark Twain paints such a realistic picture in the mind of the reader, it is nothing compared to what some director can film. From Mark Twain's great descriptions and writing style to the unique ideas presented, the novel A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court is a fantastic novel. There are so many aspects of it to enjoy, and it is just an all around entertaining book. I give this book four out of five stars and I recommend it to any one interested in fantasy, especially if they want a different perspective on King Arthur.

BY: Christian J. Vazquez

King Arthur and his Brave Knights
King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table by Roger Lancelyn Green, were a whole bunch of different stories. They were how Arthur was raised and became king, how each of the knights came apart of the round table and how each of the went on their quest for the Holy Grail, and the departing of King Arthur and his kingdom.
The author, Roger L. Green, emphasized some differences to the original tale. For instance, Launcelot never loved Elaine. Elaine loved Launcelot very much but she was sad because Launcelot did not love her back. So Elaine went to Brysen who was a sorcerer and she made Elaine appear as Guinevere (Launcelot's love). When Launcelot saw Elaine that appeared as Guinevere he asked her to marry him and she said yes. The next morning when Launcelot saw Elaine in bed with him instead of Guinevere he went mad and started to live in the forest. Another change in the story was that the author called the Lady of the Lake, Lady Nimue. This book took place in the 6th century and the narrator is in 3rd person. The themes of the book were basically stories of each knight on their quest for the Holy Grail.
I would recommend this book to avid readers and people who enjoy fantasies. This reason because it is hard to understand some of the words are difficult to understand.

Who hasn't heard of King Arthur and the knights of his Round Table? In this book you meet them all - including the magician Merlin, and the brave knights Sir Launcelot, Sir Gareth, Sir Tristam, Sir Bors, Sir Kay, and Sir Galahad. All the old favorites are included - Arthur drawing the sword out of the stone, Arthur receiving the sword Excalibur from the Lady of the Lake, and Arthur's marriage to Guinevere. But this is just the beginning of excitement - followed by numerous quests and adventures of the knights, including the Quest for the Holy Grail. This book is chock-full of entertaining adventures involving knights in shining armour, damsels in distress, fierce jousting and sword fights to the death, battles against hoards of enemies and giants, tournaments and miracles.

The medieval setting is painted in a rather idealized fashion, limited to the nobility and figures of the court, who embrace all that is beautiful, brave and noble. These virtues are sometimes portrayed rather simplistically, as unknown knights engage in mortal combat, and only after they have virtually killed each other do the introductions begin: "What is your name?" Behind this medieval mayhem is a heightened sense of chivalry more reflective of legend than fact, where knights battle to the death for the sake of a woman - even one they have only just met. But isn't that what the Arthurian legends are all about? Nobody is under the illusion that they are to be taken too seriously. Journeying to Arthur's Camelot is a form of escapism - suspend your sense of disbelief, watch the flashing swords and fearful battles, and enjoy.

That's not to say that the Arthurian tales do not reflect any reality. Arthur's world is in many respects a real medieval world. Medieval beliefs in paganism and Christianity are evident throughout. Witchcraft and enchantment is presented as alive and deadly, and conversely the true religion - in this case the beliefs of the medieval Catholic church - is evident throughout as knights commend themselves to God in prayer, thank him for his help, and even repent from their sins. The whole notion of the Holy Grail is of course a very Christian tradition - although a tradition that represents more fiction than fact. And the moral virtues of justice, truth and right for which the honorable knights fight are still noble ideals of virtue today. Arthur's kingdom is presented as a kingdom blessed by the grace of God, a beacon of light symbolizing all that is good and true and right, and a worthy model for kingdoms in today's world because it revolves around timeless virtues. Tales that promote dignity, courtesy, courage, respect for right, respect for female dignity and purity are as ennobling as they are entertaining.

How much truth there is behind the Arthurian tales will always be the subject of debate. The fact remains that there is an extensive and confusing body of legend to wade through. In this work, Green has essentially followed Malory's fifteenth century classic "Morte d'Arthur." But unlike most other writers, such as Sir James Knowles, Green has made some significant improvements:
1. Firstly, the traditional Arthurian tales are a confusing mass of legends. But Green consciously weaves all the tales together as part of a single pattern. He needs to take some liberties with legend in order to achieve this, but these alterations are minor, and the end result is a plausible reconstruction with a clear development, revolving around the establishment of Arthur's kingdom, its climax with the successful quest for the Holy Grail, and subsequent downfall.
2. Secondly, most other collections slavishly follow the body of legend inherited by Thomas Malory. Green follows Malory in the main, but has researched the legends carefully for himself, and also incorporates some Arthurian legends not found in Malory.
These innovations of Green result in a very readable and successful version of the Arthurian tales, and yet one that does not significantly sacrifice faithfulness to legend. Those looking for a more historical reflection of the Arthurian tales would do well to turn to a version of Malory, such as that by Sir James Knowles. And those looking for a more developed and extensive modern version where the author has taken liberties beyond the original legends, would enjoy the classic work by Howard Pyle. But as a faithful, plausible and enjoyable introduction to the tales, you can't go wrong with this superb effort by Green.

Most readers looking to be introduced to the Arthurian legends need look no further than this collection by Green. It's not as grand as Malory, but it's a better read. There is no end to the accomplishments of sword and sorcery, adventures and quests. To our sorrow, Arthur's kingdom ends in darkness and disgrace, but not before it has shone with a wonderful and memorable light. Along with the tales of Robin Hood, the tales of King Arthur are the most exciting tales that British history has produced. This is the stuff of legend, and it's worth a read.

This copy of the brought down story, King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table is by Roger Lancelyn Green. This book is the book that you must get for the holidays. This book has everything that a reader could ask for. The times were mischievous. Evil was waiting brake out through the cracks of the darkest parts. Morgana Le Fe, a woman educated in wizardry, who used her powers in the good. When the squire, Arthur went looking for a sword for his brother, Sir Kay, he came across a sword stuck in stone. Unaware of its power, Arthur pulled it out. Then England knew who their king was.Following the advice of Merlin, his wise counselor, Arthur created a round table for his knights. The knights went on quests, fighting evil and seeking the Holy Grail, Only the purist could see the Grail. This book is about many knights ' adventures. come up often or you'll see the chronicles of Merlin. The reason you may not see this book being reviewed because almost every American has read King Arthur. Some people do not like the mystical aspects in this book or the old English. There are battles with dragons and wizardry but that's the type of book it is. I recommend this book to families in America for it is not just a book your kids will enjoy but is also for the whole family. King Arthur is historical and adventurous. The battles are realistic and the writing is "encouraging" for it keeps, you the reader yearning to read on.

Brave and Bold

Neil Philip writes the book, The Tale of Sir Gawain. He also is a critic who has written many other books such as: Guteesh and the King of France's Daughter and Drakesdail Visits the King. The story is made up of many different tales and legends that tell about Sir Gawain numerous ventures. The tales vary from quests, to banishment, marriage and death. Although it does have a few differences, the book doesn't have many contrasts. For one, it's the fact that the story is not based on King Arthur, but the brave and loyal knight Sir Gawain and the hardships he journeys through. He tells the story of his years at the round table, from his perspective.
I would not recommend this book for younger children because I think that the story is confusing and with so many of the tales, you can't tell who is speaking. I also believe that the word choice is also confusing from the way we speak today. I may not have enjoyed this book but they're still others who would be delighted to read this book.

The Amazon.com entry for this book recommends it as reading for ages 4-8. This book is grossly inappropriate for young children. This novel tells the entire cycle of Arthurian legend from the point of view of the dying Sir Gawain who is dictating his memoirs to his young squire. As such, the novel focuses on the violence and sexuality inherent in the subject matter and uses sophisticated language appropriate for the young adult (12-14 and above), but not for the pre-school and elementary school set. For the right audience, this is a very interesting and unusual take on the legend of Arthur and well worth the reading. And Charles Keeping's illustrations (too intense for the very young) are a bonus for those old enough to appreciate them.

This is a great book! I being an adult enjoyed it and I feel that it would be enjoyed just as much by a young child as well. This book gives the reflections of Sir Gawain as he lies dying outside Lancelot's castle towards the end of the time of arthur

This was a mediocre book relying on the success of the other two books to boost sales. I don't think it would have gone very far on its own. The writing was much more shallow than most of Clarke's other books, and the characters were even more uninteresting.

One thing I really love about Clarke's books, especially 2001 and 2010, is the description. 2061 didn't have much of that; there was a sense that we had already seen these things before so they didn't need to be described again.

The book wasn't all bad. The redeeming feature is the premise. In the beginning Dr. Heywood Floyd (who I was glad to see again) was on a ship that landed on Halley's comet, which was an interesting twist. I've never read a SF book about landing on Halley's comet before. In the meantime, another ship is hijacked and ends up stranded on Europa, a moon of Jupiter that mankind has been forbidden to land on. The ship that Floyd is on is sent to rescue the other ship. It was an intriguing plot line and more could have been done with it. As usual the characters are uninteresting, and there seem to have been more useless characters in this book than in most of Clarke's books.

I certainly wouldn't call this a must-read for anybody. It's a fast book to read and somewhat entertaining while it's being read, but I doubt I'll remember it very long.

It was a bit odd that the first trip to the Halley comet (the reason why the story is in 2061) was in a space ship full of tourits instead of astronauts, but it was interesting anyway. The depiction of the new melted Europa were good as well, and the adventures happened there fun as well.
But as a continuation of 2001 and 2010, it is a bit disappointing. It lacks the uncanny riddles of 2001 and simply repeats part of the ideas of 2010. The end of 2010 made buy 2061 in the following week, but 2061 didn't make me buy 3001 that fast.

It's true that 2061 doesn't add much to the series in terms of learning about the monoliths or Bowman -- in fact, it would probably be LESS confusing to skip this book and read 3001 instead (the "Trinity" and "3001" chapters don't mesh well with what comes later). But if you truly appreciate Arthur C. Clarke's writing, you'll probably enjoy this book. Just like with 2001, 2010, 3001, and Rendezvous with Rama, Clarke takes you on a voyage into a world of his creation, giving you the chance to explore it and marvel at it. Although the voyage to Halley's comet is completely unnecessary in plot terms, it is a classic example of Clarke acting as a tour guide on a fascinating voyage through his world. Also, this book is another milestone in Clarke's progress as a character author -- a change that can be seen as you move through Clarke's 2001 saga. Don't expect any answers to questions you may have about 2001/2010, but if you enjoy Clarke touring you through the universe, it is definitely a worthy read.

Arthur Byron Cover's "Night of the Living Rerun" is my least favorite book in the series to date. As a fan of the television show, I found numerous discrepancies when reviewed in parallel. Not only was the book difficult to read (I had to go back and reread portions of the book to follow the plot), but I think some of the characters were not portrayed accurately when compared to the television series. The plot centers around past lives and recurring history... basically a plot that has been gone over many times before. History repeats itself and so on. I do have to mention that Cover mentioned Cordelia and Angel, which seems to be a first in the history of this series... of course, the mentions are small and don't contribute to the plot. If you're a collector of the Buffy series, you'll want to get this book, but others might find it a hard read with an unsatisfactory plot.

Night of the living rerun is a book based on the tv series buffy the vampire slayer. the book is very well written and portrays the charcters of the show well. the best part about the book is that it deals with the gang (minus willow) all of dreams that they are people from the past. the book is great but probably better for the buffy fans who have been there from the start as its based around series 1-2 time.

This book was excellent. I have read every Buffy book up to date, and this was one of my Favorites. Also I enjoyed Child of the hunt very much. The reason I enjoyed Night of the Living Rerun because it showed the characters from a diffrent point of view. This book went into their pasts and showed them together. I think my favorite part of the whole book was when throughout the whole book Willow wasn't having any dreams like the others, and then at the very end of the book Willow has a dream that puts her and Xander together in the past. I think that that was an excellent ending to the book, and it was an exellent book. I have gone back and read it two more times. Out of all the books this one is my favorite, because of history it brings out, also I now know alot more about the Salem witch trials then I did before. I love the movie, I love the show, and I love the books, I'm obssed with BtVS!

This book is a mess. If you read RAMA you should avoid this book. Gentry Lee has the skill of a third rate romance writer. He plops in all the drama of a TV soap opera with abandon. How much did Arthur Clarke had to do with this? Who can say but not much since all that made RAMA such a good and interesting book is gone. Silly one dimensional people populate the book and keep doing cringe worthy things thorough. They would seem to be more at home on a NBC movie of the week then in a book like this. I was disappointed that someone could take a simple and classic book like RAMA and mess it up so badly. A shame really.

I enjoyed rendevous with rama, and therefore thought I would like this book. No such luck. The writing is really bad and the characters are one dimensional. About 50 pages into it I realized that around 30 pages were missing from the book. I put it down, disgusted, but not disappointed. I'm glad I didn't waste my time finishing it.

In the year 2200, a second of the alien spacecrafts designated "Rama" enters our solar system, sparking another expedition to try to learn the secrets of its mysterious purpose and origin. This book is the sequel to Arthur C. Clarke's landmark First Contact novel Rendezvous with Rama, that showed an intrepid team of Earthmen exploring an apparently abandoned alien spacecraft that passes through our system. This is the second book in a series that will continue with The Gardens of Rama, and Rama Revealed. This time around Clarke is writing with NASA scientist Gentry Lee, whose knowledge of space engineering adds some details that the first novel had missed.

The first half of the book is fairly interesting, showing how the beautiful, ambitious, unscrupulous newscaster Francesca Sabatini manipulates the decision-makers who are nominally in charge of the racially, religiously, and nationally diverse expedition. Squared off against her is the heroine, Nicole des Jardins, the French-African Life Sciences Officer, who has secrets of her own. Once underway, a deadly accident causes a shift in the expedition's power structure. Then, once the remaining crew is aboard the Rama spacecraft, Clarke and Lee's scientific skills come to the fore, describing the peculiar features of this enormous vessel, and the seemingly inexplicable activities of the creatures (?) found within.

The second half functions as a more straightforward space adventure story, featuring Nicole des Jardins' perils aboard the Rama. All the intrigue gets lost in the excitement of wondering how Nicole will escape her doom on Rama, and while the resolution may be satisfactory enough for some, perhaps, it does require a good stretch of the imagination. Unfortunately, this book's ultimate conclusion really cuts the entire first half adrift, and the whole is less than satisfying. Perhaps the next volume, The Gardens of Rama, will once again pick up the plot threads that are left dangling in Rama II. One can hope so, at least, and the three-star rating reflects that expectation to a considerable extent, because without any further resolution this book would be very weak indeed.