Rendezvous with Rama

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An all-time science fiction classic, Rendezvous with Rama is also one of Clarke's best novels--it won the Campbell, Hugo, Jupiter, and Nebula Awards. A huge, mysterious, cylindrical object appears in space, swooping in toward the sun. The citizens of the solar system send a ship to investigate before the enigmatic craft, called Rama, disappears. The astronauts given the task of exploring the hollow cylindrical ship are able to decipher some, but definitely not all, of the extraterrestrial vehicle's puzzles. From the ubiquitous trilateral symmetry of its structures to its cylindrical sea and machine-island, Rama's secrets are strange evidence of an advanced civilization. But who, and where, are the Ramans, and what do they want with humans? Perhaps the answer lies with the busily working biots, or the sealed-off buildings, or the inaccessible "southern" half of the enormous cylinder. Rama's unsolved mysteries are tantalizing indeed. Rendezvous with Rama is fast moving, fascinating, and a must-read for science fiction fans. Clarke collaborated with Gentry Lee in writing several Rama sequels, beginning with Rama II.

Book Description

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, incredible, 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.

Customer Reviews:

ark or vessel of the alien .......2007-07-05

Soft science fiction tale of man's first encounter with alien life forms. How did it get here and what can we expect? The space vessel, Rama enters the solar system traveling at a great rate of speed; future astronauts explore Rama which appears to be some kind of ark or vessel of the alien lifeforms.

There is certainly some suspenseful areas as well in book besides exploring Rama's mysteries. This book ended with a sequel in mind, certainly one I'll be reading soon

whirlwind tour leads to very little detail.......2007-06-28

Arthur C. Clarke will drive you hard though this book, all the while bombarding you with exotic ideas and profound imagination. It's dizzying and dazzling curious... but wholly lacks juicy details that'll satisfy a sci-fi geeks lust for specifics. That'll sum it up.

A few ideas about the Rama ship were difficult to grasp from his writing. For example, I never pictured the descending stairs very well, and what I did picture didn't seem right. Perhaps another idea should have been explored here. Anothet item I had a hard time dealing with were the squares closer to the south-side pole. Why were radically different squares there and what purpose did they serve? They certainly didn't serve a purpose in the story... it just led me to confusion. More things whihc needed explaining: the deep wells, the entombed "library" and the dismantling of the "sabotage." Most of the above items were mearly grazed upon and left behind in the authors duststorm, which was kicked up by his rapid fire speed of ideas and intelligence. Just wish all of it was conveyed more easily.

Must read.......2007-06-12

If you are after some fast-paced sci-fi action, this is not the book for you. This book is not about events or people, instead, this book is about an exploration into an unknown environment. There are no heroes, people take well calculated risks. If all those events were real, a lengthy but well-written report about the whole exploration might be pretty close to this book. That said, it is a very exciting story. Somewhere after the middle, I just could not stop reading until I felt that all important developments are done, and read well into the early morning hours. Next morning when I picked it up again, I was surprised to see that the story ended within a few pages, and the remaining of the book was excerpts from other Clarke books.

In my opinion, two things make this a must-read: first, the story itself, that is, the environment it describes, the politics, people's behaviors, etc. Second, the way that these are described. None of the characters feel phony (even though they are not fully developed by the story), and the descriptions are so alive that when I saw one of the illustrations of Rama by an artist in Wikipedia, very few things were not as I expected. I believe almost everybody who read this book have very similar mental images of Rama, and can find their ways in it without much difficulty if it really comes this way.

The Rama books are a great series.......2007-06-07

If you like Si Fi you like Arthur C. Clarke!

One of the Best Science Fiction Novels.......2007-05-05

This novel about an encounter with a stupendous alien spaceship inspired in me more daydreams than I can count. Rama is the perfect design for spaceship that can travel between the stars. It's in the shape of a tin can, protected from the harmful radiation of space by thick walls, and rotating to produce artificial gravity. This cylinder world, complete with an ocean, streams, forests, is a mini-Earth. Ah, the dreams!--and so intellectually stimulating.

It is explored by astronauts as it approaches the earth.

Another irresistable story is the "Far Arena," by Richard Ben Sapir. Click here, then scroll down to read by review. The far arena

Average customer rating:

Good details
Throrough, but not a light read

Distributed Event-Based Systems
Gero Mühl , Ludger Fiege , and Peter Pietzuch
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 3540326510

Book Description

In today’s world, services and data are integrated in ever new constellations, requiring the easy, flexible and scalable integration of autonomous, heterogeneous components into complex systems at any time.

Event-based architectures inherently decouple system components. Event-based components are not designed to work with specific other components in a traditional request/reply mode, but separate communication from computation through asynchronous communication mechanisms via a dedicated notification service.

Mühl, Fiege, and Pietzuch provide the reader with an in-depth description of event-based systems. They cover the complete spectrum of topics, ranging from a treatment of local event matching and distributed event forwarding algorithms, through a more practical discussion of software engineering issues raised by the event-based style, to a presentation of state-of-the-art research topics in event-based systems, such as composite event detection and security. Their presentation gives researchers a comprehensive overview of the area and lots of hints for future research. In addition, they show the power of event-based architectures in modern system design, thus encouraging professionals to exploit this technique in next generation large-scale distributed applications like information dissemination, network monitoring, enterprise application integration, or mobile systems.

Customer Reviews:

Good details.......2007-01-12

I think it is a good read. I had to refresh some math to better understand the presented material, but it was interesting. It is theoretical and far from practice, but was what I was looking for in the book so I am satisfifed. I enjoyed the objective view i which the material was presented.

Throrough, but not a light read.......2006-08-17

Caveat: I have not finished reading yet, but since no one has posted yet, wanted to share my impressions so far.
Springer has made a name for itself with books that appeal to both academics and professionals with a little academic edge. This book is no exception. It provides a very precise and thorough treatment of event-driven systems. If you are afraid of Greek letters this is probably not for you - Chapter 2 "Basics" uses temporal logic to define the precise semantics of event-based systems. On the other hand you gain in-depth insights into some of the design challenges and options when implementing your own event-driven system.

Yoda - Dark Rendezvous (Star Wars: Clone Wars Novel)

Average customer rating:

Five Stars
Interesting story line
Yoda is not really the main character
One of the best
Excellent all around

Yoda - Dark Rendezvous (Star Wars: Clone Wars Novel)
Sean Stewart
Manufacturer: Del Ray
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0345463099
Release Date: 2004-11-23

Book Description

As the Clone Wars rage, Jedi Master Yoda must once again face one of his greatest adversaries: Count Dooku. . . .

The savage Clone Wars have forced the Republic to the edge of collapse. During the height of the battle, on Jedi Knight escapes the carnage to deliver a message to Yoda on Coruscant. It appears that Dooku wants peace and demands a rendezvous. Chances are slim that the treacherous Count is sincere but, with a million lives at stake, Yoda has no choice.

The meeting will take place on Djun, a planet steeped in evil. The challenge could not be more difficult. Can Yoda win back his once promising pupil from the dark side or will Count Dooku unleash his sinister forces against his former mentor? Either way, Yoda is sure of one thing: This battle will be one of the fiercest he’ll ever face.

Customer Reviews:

Five Stars.......2007-08-07

A great Clone Wars book. We got to learn more about Yoda which is always interesting. Count Dooku has requested a meeting with Yoda. Although Yoda knows its most likely a trap he decides to meet Dooku anyways because Yoda thinks it might put an end to the war. Its was very interesting as Yoda reflected on his former padawan which is very interesting. You have to wonder what a master would think and reflect on a padawan who ends up taking the wrong path despite all of the training. Dooku also takes the time to reflect on moments from his Jedi pasted which gives us an insight into Dooku and perhaps what lead him to the Dark Side of the Force. We also get more of a veiw inside the Jedi Temple which I enjoyed and a sense of how overwelhemed the Jedi are with Jedi masters fighting in the war or dying this is leaving a void for the padawans for their are far too many padawans and not enough masters. We got to meet Scout a Jedi who has a limited amount of the Force in her. This was an interesting twist as most of the Jedi we read about are very strong in the Force. Scout's worried that her limited connection in the Force will leave her to be a Jedi washout. I enjoyed reading about her. The same with Whie a padawan who's been having dreams of being killed by a Jedi. We of course know this is Anakin's future raid of the Jedi Temple when he turns to the dark side. I found it very interesting that a padawan was actually having a premontion of Anakin's future Sith deeds as we see in Revenge of the Sith Whie will be seen being killed on the security hologram. But to Whie this must mean he his evil because he can't think of any other reason why a Jedi would be trying to kill him. It also raises the question that if Whie had told someone else could anything had been changed? Could the Jedi Purge had been prevented? We'll probably never know the answers.
Scout and Whie go with Yoda and their masters in order to sneak Yoda out of the Temple and off Courscant without anyone finding out. The meeting between Yoda and Dooku was predictable after all Dooku can't be saved but it was still very good.

Interesting story line.......2007-05-31

I really enjoyed the story line. It fleshed out a lot of Yoda history that we've never encountered before. It also made Count Dokue (sp??) more human by providing an interesting back story.

This book is a good quick read. One of the better of the recent Star Wars books. It's not spectacular or overly deep but it is entertaining.

Yoda is not really the main character.......2007-05-22

Yes, Yoda is featured heavily, both in his training role in the Jedi Temple and also as he takes action in leading some padawans without masters through the adventure. And a fairly strong attempt was made to portray Yoda as both the wise master saddened by the harsh realities of war and also as the mischevious little green elf who tests Luke's patience in The Empire Strikes Back.

But like a lot of Star Wars novel, author pride doesn't allow them to just create new supporting characters, they have to feature their own creations as main protagonists, in this case a couple of padawans. Obi-Wan and Anakin are barely present at the end of this book.

And even though this novel shows Yoda's only confrontation with Count Dooku since Attack of the Clones, I still came away disapointed that it was over so briefly. Another Yoda/Dooku fight cut short.

Overall this novel wasn't a bad book. I guess I can accept this as canon, but it is simple not an exciting part of canon. But this is yet another author's entry into the Star Wars Expanded Universe, and not extremely relevant to the film saga.

Instead of this book, I highly recommend the following 5-star novel to fans of the movies:

Labyrinth of Evil (Star Wars, Episode III Prequel Novel)

One of the best.......2007-02-07

Hands down, the best Star Wars novel from the Clone Wars era. The added information about Dooku and his relationship with Yoda is crucial to understand his turn into the darkness. And, unlike most Star Wars novel, there is actually an elegance to the writing in this novel that simply isn't present in most others. The bad part---or, shall I say, the dark side?---is that, after reading this one, my standards have been much higher for other Star Wars novels ... and most of them, while enjoyable, simply haven't delivered.

Excellent all around.......2007-01-05

I was very pleasantly surprised by this novel. Having read a couple of slower-paced Star Wars novels, I was beginning to despair of finding one that was really well-written, but this one had it all: good characterization, action, writing. An all around winner. Highly recommended.

Rama II: The Sequel to Rendezvous with Rama

Average customer rating:

I couldn't stop reading
Underrated, if VERY different, sequel to Rendezvous with Rama
A bit of a let down.
Not as bad as you might think
The Rama II & III books are awful

Rama II: The Sequel to Rendezvous with Rama
Arthur C. Clarke , and Gentry Lee
Manufacturer: Spectra
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0553286587
Release Date: 1990-11-01

Book Description

Years ago, the enormous, enigmatic alien spacecraft called Rama sailed through our solar system as mind-boggling proof that life existed -- or had existed -- elsewhere in the universe. Now, at the dawn of the twenty-third century, another ship is discovered hurtling toward us. A crew of Earth's best and brightest minds is assembled to rendezvous with the massive vessel. They are armed with everything we know about Raman technology and culture. But nothing can prepare them for what they are about to encounter on board Rama II: cosmic secrets that are startling, sensational -- and perhaps even deadly.

Customer Reviews:

I couldn't stop reading.......2007-04-19

Several years ago I read Rendezvous with Rama and really enjoyed it. Just last week, I was poking around in my dad's large book collection and found Rama II and decided to give it a try. For the first 100 or so pages I couldn't seem to get into it because it was so different from the orriginal that I remembered. However, once I said to myself "This is a different kind of book", the problem was gone, and I found myself glued. I relised it was a charicter-driven book, unlike most of Clarke's, and I thought it was very well done. You get a selfish, sex-crazed villian Fransesca Sabatini, who you love to hate. You get the unassuming brilliant engineer Richard Wakefield, and most of all you get Nicole. I really loved the charicter of Nicole and enjoyed following her through her adventures. I was delighted when Richard came to find Nicole and they paired up. I remember being on the edge of my seat as I pleaded with Michael O'Toole not to agree to blow up Rama, and was happy when his own moral compass overcame the pressure he was getting from dang near everyone. I rooted for the three of them as they went against the will of their corrupt crew and politicians who left them to die, and was finally happy when they managed to save Rama and in awe as they were left stranded on the ship as it floated out of the solar system. I finished this entire book in two days and immediately went rooting around in the basement for the next book.

I was a bit suprised that well over half of Arthur C. Clarke fans tend to hate this book and the other two. Indeed, Gentry Lee did write the book and Clarke only made minor revisions and suggestions. I very much love Arthur C. Clarke's work and I loved the orriginal very much. But Gentry Lee adds a different dimension to the book. Okay, there are a few stumbling blocks here and there, and there are a few chilches here and there. But he really creates charicters you can fall in love with. Many people also had a problem with the fact that the story centered more around the drama of the charicters than of Rama itself. I understand that can be a turn-off to many, but I thought the humanity of the story over the magnificent backdrop of Rama was a great way of looking at ourselves.

A full five stars for this one. If your interest is in deep, hard science fiction alone then this book isn't for you and you should stick to the orriginal. But if you don't mind drama and humanity, then you will really enjoy this book.

Underrated, if VERY different, sequel to Rendezvous with Rama.......2007-04-04

As a quick survey of the reviews of this book indicate, this book has been panned as a poor sequal to Clarke's classic Rendezvous with Rama. Many of the other reviews contain plot summaries, which I won't repeat. In this review I want to make the case that this book is not as bad as some of the most negative reviewers make it out to be. First, RWR was one of best sci-fi novels ever written, and I think that it would have been nearly impossible for any sequel to have lived up to the first novel. If Rama II seems like a poor second child, this is due, in part, to the unparalleled heights achieved by its elder sibling. Second, and perhaps more importantly, Rama II is very different from its predecessor in two important ways that have turned off many readers. First, Rama II is character driven, whereas RWR was `exploration' driven. In the first novel, each chapter revealed some new and interesting facts about Rama. It was really as if we were exploring the alien artifact for ourselves simply by turning the pages. In Rama II, we learn about the characters, their lives, their thoughts, their dreams. It is almost 2/3 of the way through the book before we really learn anything new about Rama. We learned very little about any of the characters in RWR. Second, Rama II contains significant religious overtones (both Catholic and traditional African). These play a key role in the development of the story, particularly near the end. I suspect that centrality of religion (and its importance to the main characters) is very offputting for many readers of sci-fi, and clearly represents a significant change in tone over RWR. If you are looking for a sequel that is written in the style of RWR, you will be sadly disappointed. Rama II is a decent, if not uniquely outstanding, story, but it is VERY different in style and tone than RWR. This work is probably more comparable to `The Grand Tour` series of Ben Bova in style (with a very different spin on religion, of course) than to other works by Clarke alone. Contrary to one of the most negative reviews, I didn't find the characters to be cliched, and I certainly wasn't expecting a peglegged Pirate or an Eskimo! Finally, don't expect a clean, well-defined conclusion at the end, this book lead right into the next in the series, the Garden of Rama.

A bit of a let down........2006-12-22

I tend to agree with the people putting down this book. Even though it does have it's moments of revelations about Rama, they are just too few.

I bought all 3 Rama sequels expecting more of the great writing from Rendezvous With Rama (RWR). I admit it was a let down. RWR sort of had Rama as the main 'character'. Well, the sequels just plays out in (and around) Rama, but the main characters are the humans now. It's an ok novel with the usual plot of imperfect people, but it isn't an Arthur C. Clarke novel.

If I could I would give it 2½ stars. It's not a great novel, but it does have some reading value. Although I do feel it could have been written in 2 books in stead of 3, with more focus on Rama and less on the humans.

I guess it tries to tell us: Humans still behave like an immature race, no matter what enviroment we are put in.

Not as bad as you might think.......2006-09-19

I just read Rama II. I read the first one back in college in 1990.
I see why people are giving it bad marks because of the characters
but I felt it still held my attention. The excessive character stuff did keep it
from being as good as it could have been but I still recommend it.
Now I going back to re-read the first one.

The Rama II & III books are awful.......2006-08-23

Rama II and Rama III are awful. I'm embarrassed to see Mr. Clarke's name associated with these so-called sequels. They reflect nothing of the science fiction wonder and imagination seen in Rendezvous with Rama and most of his other stories. Rama II & III are completely polluted with political, sociological & religious nonsense and modern emotionalism. Not worth reading. Certainly not worth adding to a fine collection of Clarke books.

Average customer rating:

Predictable Romance.
The Question of Personal Sacrifice
Exciting Story about Choices
Romantic Suspense
Save your money......

Whitewater Rendezvous
Kim Baldwin
Manufacturer: Bold Strokes Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1933110384

Customer Reviews:

Predictable Romance........2007-06-24

If you're expecting a fast paced adventure novel like "Hunter's Pursuit," you won't find it in "Whitewater Rendezvous," Kim Baldwin's third novel. Although it's set against the background of an Alaskian kayaking vacation, the journey is not as thrilling as I expected considering the rapid speed excitement of Ms. Baldwin's first novel.

The story centers around Megan, a workaholic lesbian from New York who has to be convinced to take a vacation with her friends to Alaska, where she meets Chaz, a lesbian biology professor and one of the guides who leads the group on a whitewater kayak trip. Chaz is the spitting image of Megan's ex who left her for another woman, and so Megan immediately despises Chaz and gives her the cold shoulder. Chaz is so easy going and laid back I kept wondering when she was going to grow a back bone. Of course, these two will eventually get together in the end, there's no surprise there. I was hoping there would be some twists and turns along the way that would make their impending romance fun to watch unfold, but the rush of the whitewater was more of a trickle.

Kim Baldwin is an excellent writer. However, she should leave the romance novels to all the other lesbian novelists out there and do what she does best -- the action adventure with a bit of mystery thrown in. It's not that she can't write romance, just that there are few who can write the lesbian adventure novel like Ms. Baldwin that it's a waste for her not to go against the norm.

Originally, I gave this three stars because her third book did not measure up to the first. However, after reading a different author's work I realized just how good a writer Kim Baldwin actually is. So, I'm upgrading this to four stars because it's well written. But, it still loses a stars because it could have been so much better.

The Question of Personal Sacrifice.......2007-05-21

Opposites attract in this thrilling story, in which two women must discover if it's worth it to change their lives to be with each other.

Exciting Story about Choices.......2007-04-06

Whitewater Rendezvous is a good book. It tells the story of Chaz Herrick of Alaska, a Biology Professor and dedicated environmentalist, and Megan Maxwell of Chicago, an executive in the entertainment industry with a six-figure income. Other reviewers have laid out the plot, so I'll skip that part and go directly to my thoughts about the subject matter and how it's handled.

Because of their widely divergent value systems, the two protagonists could not possibly be any different. But when they meet, their mutual fascination is compelling. Eventually, as much as they struggle against the inevitable, fascination becomes enchantment and they fall in love. Although at first neither is ready to deal with the consequences of what has happened or to face the possibility of quantum shifts in their chosen lifestyles, they are finally forced to face a tough situation and tough choices.

A basic question both women must deal with (and one that many of us have struggled with at one time or another) is whether their love for one another justifies compromising the lives that they have built for themselves at great personal sacrifice. Can a person give up so much of herself and find happiness? It's a difficult situation to be in and a difficult situation to write about. Kudos to Ms. Baldwin for her thorough and insightful writing, as well as a wonderful love story.

Romantic Suspense.......2007-04-01

Chaz Herrick, Ph.D., is dedicated to her work as a biologist in the Alaskan wilderness. Megan Maxwell is entrenched as a power player in the high-stakes world of television news production. Whitewater Rendezvous is the beautifully told story of two intelligent, successful women whose lives are as different as night and day.

What happens when women like this are attracted to each other and ultimately find themselves falling in love? The author does an outstanding job of delving into the hearts and minds of both women as they navigate the conflicts of their respective lifestyles. I particularly liked watching Megan gradually change as she re-examines her value system.

The descriptions of the setting of the story, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, are captivating and powerful. As a preservationist-type myself, I appreciated the depiction of Chaz's love of and respect for the Alaskan environment, even when it is cruel and survival cannot be taken for granted.

This book has it all: an adventure story told against a backdrop of breathtaking wilderness, and a love story that is as emotionally sensitive as it is physically, well, hot, hot, hot. It's definitely a keeper for me.

Save your money.............2007-03-09

Bad, bad and bad. This book could have been condensed down to 5 chapters to tell the story. It was dragged out for no other reason then to make it a full book. I have enjoyed this authors other books, but this was was very disappointing. Save your money on this one ladies.

Average customer rating:

Rendezvous With Destiny: A Sailor's War
Theodore C. Mason
Manufacturer: Naval Institute Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1557505802

Automated Rendezvous and Docking of Spacecraft (Cambridge Aerospace Series)

Average customer rating:

Great as Far As It Goes

Automated Rendezvous and Docking of Spacecraft (Cambridge Aerospace Series)
Wigbert Fehse
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0521824923

Book Description

This definitive reference for space engineers provides an overview of the major issues governing approach and mating strategies, and system concepts for rendezvous & docking/berthing (RVD/B). These concerns are addressed and explained in a way that aerospace engineers, students and even newcomers to the field can acquire a basic understanding of RVD/B.

Download Description

The definitive reference for space engineers on all issues related to rendezvous and docking/berthing (RVD/B), Automated Rendezvous and Docking of Spacecraft answers key questions such as: * How does the docking vehicle accurately approach the target spacecraft? * What technology is needed aboard the spacecraft to perform automatic rendezvous and docking, and what systems are required by ground control to supervise this process?* How can the proper functioning of all rendezvous related equipment, systems and operations be verified before launch?The book provides an overview of the major issues governing approach and mating strategies, and system concepts for rendezvous and docking/berthing. These issues are described and explained such that aerospace engineers, students and even newcomers to the field can acquire a basic understanding of RVD/B.

Customer Reviews:

Great as Far As It Goes.......2006-07-13

This volume covers a lot of territory and the depth of coverage varies.

The strong points are:
1. The discussion of open-loop rendezvous maneuvers is excellent in general.
2. The discussion of required accuracies for rendezvous is generally quite good.
3. The book contains a lot of information on current and proposed/developing systems which is useful.
4. Appendix A on motion dynamics is good with the errors caveat below.
5. The entire book forms an excellent framework in which to think about rendezvous.

The weak points are:
1. There are a number of errors in the equations throughout the book.
2. Even when the equations are correct, the author is tepid at best in defining things like signs.
3. The guidance, navigation, and control sections and the GPS sections are broadbrush overviews containing mostly information copied from elsewhere such as handbooks. It is still useful from a systems point of view however.
4. The entire book is oriented towards rendezvous in near circular or circular orbits and the entire presentation rely's on the Clohessy-Wiltshire equations. Nothing wrong with that, but those looking for a discussion of coelliptic rendezvous. or the exact solution of Berreen and Crisp, or rendezvous around another planet or the moon without GPS/relative GPS, are going to be disappointed. There is not even a thought in any of those directions. The book is completed dominated by ISS rendezvous culture.

All in all, not a bad effort. Another edition later with updates and more advanced thinking about non-ISS rendezvous would not be out of place.

Average customer rating:

A Great Continuation Of The Heechee Saga
Filling in blanks, removing question marks...
Disappointing after "Gateway" and "Beyond..."
This book deserves 9080457623 stars out of 5...
enjoyable at the least

Heechee Rendezvous
Frederik Pohl
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0345300556
Release Date: 1985-03-12

Book Description

"The Heechee are one of the great creations of science fiction."
Jack Williamson
After millennia had passed, Mankind discovered the Heechee legacy (an alien culture that fled to the reative safety of a black hole)--in particular an asteroid stocked with autonavigating spacecraft. Robinette Broadhead, who had led the expedition that unlocked the many secrets of Heechee technology, is now forced once more to make a perilous voyage into space--where the Heechee are waiting. And this time the future of Man is at stake....
A SCIENCE FICTION BOOK CLUB SELECTION
THE HEECHEE SAGA
Book One:GATEWAY
Book Two:BEYOND THE BLUE EVENT HORIZON
Book Three:HEECHEE RENDEZVOUS
Book Four:THE ANNALS OF THE HEECHEE

Customer Reviews:

A Great Continuation Of The Heechee Saga.......2002-11-01

Heechee Rendezvous is a gripping continuation of Pohl's Heechee Saga. Once again, Robinette Broadhead returns as the main character, this time within a world that suffers from strife; from frequent terrorist activities, to mass hunger, the world is detailed as flawed, in light of the advancements made possible by the technology of the Heechee. However, the main thrust of the book lies in the greater revelation of the Heechee. In Gateway, not much is known about this mysterious race, but much is explained in Heechee Rendezvous. Gone are the Herter-Halls of the previous book, replaced by a few new characters. Besides Broadhead and his wife, whose relationship is wonderfully developed, a couple of older characters return. One of these 'characters' is Broadhead's computer generated advisor/confidant/friend, Albert Einstein. Suffice it to say that Pohl does a good job at developing the theme of artificial intelligence, to the point of trying to bring people back from the dead via computers. Each book in the Heechee Saga is a direction continuation of its predecessor, so reading book 4 is a must after this one is finished. Unfortunately, this leads to an unsatisfying ending since the book reads like a cliffhanger. My first inclination is to pick up the next book to see what happens.

Filling in blanks, removing question marks..........2000-08-11

The purpose of the last half of the Gateway series, it seems, is to explain all of the mysteries acumulated over the space of the first two books. There are a mountain of them, but sometimes such mysteries are much more facinating as such: mysteries.

If you are not interested in what becomes of the universe at large, but rather the band of travelers we have all come to know through Gateway and Beyond the Blue Event Horizon, the last two books may not be what you are after. For those who want final answers to the questions of who the Heechee are, and where they went, this book will provide those answers. Unfortunately, stopping here may not be an option. New questions which simply cannot be hung out to dry as "unsolvable mysteries" arise, compelling one to read the final book, The Annals of the Heechee.

Less time is spent on character development and psychology in this work than the previous two books, which was a bit of a dissapointment. Still, for those who want the answers and want to see the final destination of the Gateway series, this is a gate that must be passed through.

Disappointing after "Gateway" and "Beyond...".......2000-04-07

I returned to read the gateway trilogy after a 15-year absense (!) and I found this one to be the most disappointing. Gone is the sense of mystery and struggle, in this third book Robinette seems like an annoying Richie Rich character surrounded by exotic Heechee toys and and annoying friends and helpers dredged up the first two books in the series plus a few new ones. Klara even makes a comeback, but it's disjointed, unbelievable and emotionless. Pointless, even; I'd say Robinettes longing and guilt for Klara is best left unresolved. I recommend Gateway (the best) and Beyond the Blue Event Horizon (quite interesting, especially when you figure out what the artifact is and its history), but then stop it there because this book is pretty much a loser.

This book deserves 9080457623 stars out of 5..........2000-01-12

At 17 years old, I haven't read a whole lot of books. Although I read quite a lot, I don't quite have all the experience that these other critics do. But I do know one thing. When I first got a book by Fred Pohl, I couldn't put it down. Now I'm 3 books into this saga, and I can't find the last part. Either way, Fred Pohl has made an awesome story. Too bad nobody knows who this guy is around here, he's my favorite author.

enjoyable at the least.......1999-11-24

i could not put this book down. when i was about to start this book i thought that i would hate it or at the very least be very bored with it but i really liked it. the only thing that i didn't really get drawn into was the thrown over 70's influence. you could really tell that the book was written around then with how it deals with leagalized drugs and open relationships. i did however like how it realistically portrayed homosexual relationships in society. most books would either preach for or against homosexuality take it to the extreme either one way or the other but this book portrayed them simply as people in love not as an overdrawn character thrown in to get a point across and i think that is probably the best way to do anything.

Average customer rating:

Entertaining Romance; Obvious Subplots
disappointing
A Great Read
Once again she didn't let me down!
Not Quick's best...

Rendezvous
Amanda Quick
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0553293257
Release Date: 1991-10-01

Book Description

From the elegently appointed drawing rooms of London's most exclusive clubs to an imposing country estate in the heart of Dorset, comes a provocative tale of a free-thinking beauty, a dignified lord, and a mad impetuous love that defied all logic...

Customer Reviews:

Entertaining Romance; Obvious Subplots.......2006-02-24

The book has one of the standard pairings--the outrageous female (Augusta) and the male (Harry) attempting to save and reform her. In this case, the hero's not really as proper or prudish as society or the book's hype tries to lead one to believe. The heroine, while somewhat improper at times, has excellent social skills and flair, and is hardly on the verge of being outcast from society. Their coming together isn't as strange as it first appears, although they still struggle sometimes to find middle ground. He holds on to most of his beliefs and doesn't wholeheartedly adopt her agenda, and she gains a new appreciation for propriety. This romance is certainly one of the better incarnations of this sort of pairing.

Some details in the depictions of the primary and secondary characters seemed slightly off, which can be jarring to some readers. Augusta primarily reads novels and poems, yet mysteriously happens to be rather well educated about history, and then while reading a few drier history books, suddenly discovers females are underrepresented in history?

There is a lady's club (Pompeia), which is set up as a parody of men's clubs, which is very clever and is a very enjoyable feature of the novel. There is also an intrigue plotline featuring retired spies and mysterious pasts, but it is distressingly weak and obvious. This is not one of Quick's better efforts, alas. Quite readable, but not a keeper.

disappointing.......2006-01-30

A good start with a promising plot but, like a previous reviewer said, a very predictable end. Weak characters with 'watered-down' emotions. I found myself jumping paragraphs and struggled to finish it.

A Great Read.......2006-01-21

This book has everything I like in a Regency romance. The hero is a real hero, the supporting characters are strong and interesting, and there is some mystery involved. This one is on my keeper shelf; I have reread it many times!

Once again she didn't let me down!.......2003-08-17

rendezvous was ofcourse everything i expected it to be, ive read about 6 Amanda Quick book and loved them all. I loved this book because from the beginning you could see the romance and love Augusta Ballinger and the Earl of Graystone had for each other, no matter how great ther differences were. The mystery plot at the end leaves you wanting more! Even if from the beginning you suspect whos not excatly the best character you have an adventure finding out how it all fits together along with the main plot( and trust me, it all DOES fit together)!!!! And ofcourse the romantic ending keeps you wanting more !:-)
AS ALWAYS SAID- AMANDA QUICK HAS THE HEROINES
YOULL LOVE TO BE AND THE HEROES YOULL LOVE TO MEET!

Not Quick's best..........2003-05-19

First of all....I looove Amanda Quick, but this book just failed to move me..for the life of me I could not understand what Augusta saw in Harry. I was far more interested in Peter and Claudia. Harry was way too domineering. I struggled to finish this book... Not awful, but not great either..medoiocre at best.

Average customer rating:

Nice addition to my OSX UNIX library
The Definitive Guide to Panther
Hefty, deep and well written
Comprehensive and authoritative

Mac OS X Panther in a Nutshell

Manufacturer: O'Reilly Media, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0596006063

Book Description

An instant success among newcomers, longtime Apple® fans and serious Unix® users alike, the Mac OS® X operating system combines stability, simplicity and elegance, and a stunning user interface. What more could Mac users want or need? The answer, of course, is Mac OS X Panther--a sleek and powerful overhaul of Mac OS X that promises to revitalize your Mac with improved views of the system, significant improvements to favorite applications, and numerous added conveniences. As with its predecessor, Jaguar, Mac OS X Panther offers plenty of new territory to explore. To show the way, O'Reilly's latest Nutshell book, Mac OS X Panther in a Nutshell, 2nd Edition offers all audiences--both longtime Mac users and hardcore Unix users--the most complete guide to this remarkable operating system. The latest edition of this all-purpose reference leads power users through the newly changed landscape of Mac OS X. Mac OS X Panther in a Nutshell, 2nd Edition provides details about the user-interface elements, system and network administration, and scripting and development. If you want to probe more deeply into the BSD Unix side of Mac OS X, there's a section that delves "under the hood." The book also includes the most complete Unix command reference found in print--with each command and option painstakingly tested and checked against Panther. Even the manpages that ship with the system can't compete in accuracy! Mac OS X Panther in a Nutshell, 2nd Edition offers a thorough treatment of Mac OS X Panther, from its BSD Unix foundation to the finer points of its user interface. It familiarizes readers with the Finder™ and the Dock, file management, system configuration, network administration issues, and more, including a clear picture of what's new Other topics covered in the book include:

Filesystem overview
Running Java® applications
System and Network Administration
Directory Services and NetInfo
Scripting on Mac OS X Panther
Using CVS
Unix Command Reference
An overview of the Apple® X11 distribution

Mac OS X Panther in a Nutshell, 2nd Edition is the indispensable guide for anyone who wants to know Mac OS X Panther inside and out.

Customer Reviews:

Nice addition to my OSX UNIX library.......2005-09-25

Since I converted I have found OS X UNIX is amazingly friendly and accessible. Some people who had never used it before type commands and work with the operating system directly as a "cool guys" in movies! This book is very helpful and well written and it is serves as a very nice reference. I paired this book with that "UNIX Essentials" DVD I found here on Amazon and it is complete OS UNIX course recorded and this book and a video they contribute one another greatly. You improve the reading and by reading you improve what you have seen.
The book is very particular about the subjects that related to OS X and because there are some differences between OS X and other UNIXes it is nice to have a book that deals with it.

The Definitive Guide to Panther.......2004-08-31

The publisher, O'Reilly Media, seems dedicated to covering Apple's OSX operating system, OSX, from every conceivable vantage point. Its "Missing Manual" series on Panther is a user's reference on how to use the operating system and its applications for productivity and fun. Its "Hacks" series provides dozens of tips, guides, and project ideas. In the "Nutshell" series iteration, "MacOSX Panther in a Nutshell" designs to provide in-depth, comprehensive information about the inner workings of the OS. It is for power users and developers who want to master the OS and have the fullest description and explanation of OSX.

This book starts out detailing the multi-layered architecture of OSX and illuminates its power and elegance. In great depth and detail, it explains the Unix components, Aqua elements, OS9 and Classic, the Finder, and the multitude of Unix services, daemons, and applications.

This is terse, descriptive prose. The authors focus a sharp telephoto lens on the skeleton, sinews, and pores of OSX, starting with basic elements and probing deep into the details of the file system, networking components, directory services, printing configurations and more. This in-depth description and large handfuls of guides and tips totals over 1,000 pages.

A separate part of the book is devoted to Applescript, X-code tools, and Java. The X-code tools are for developers. Part IV is all about Unix, including three chapters on "shells" alone, plus sections on text editors, the X-Window system, and a full 262 pages of Unix command references, touted as the most complete such source in print publication.

No mere user manual would have ten pages devoted solely to understanding and managing preference files, or five pages on using the Colorsync feature with Quartz filter scripts.

Surprisingly, only ten pages are dedicated to security issues. Although the Mac is known to be extremely secure, recent news shows even the Mac is vulnerable to sophisticated exploits.

For those with a need to know, this is the definitive source for deep knowledge of OSX.

Hefty, deep and well written.......2004-07-29

It's tough to tell this from Amazon, but this book is a thousand pages, which makes it quite a hefty tome. But that doesn't make it a doorstop. There are screenshots, but they are, by in large, useful and relevant, and the book doesn't use them to tell a click by click story of the interface.

The book is organized into four parts that start at the user interface and continue to peel away levels of the system until, in chapter four, the author covers the command line unix shell at a surprising level of detail. A level of detail which rivals O'Reilly's other command line exclusive books. In fact, this book gives a fine introduction to scripting bash and tcsh. It does as good a job there as it does covering printing, or the vagaries of the new Finder in the chapters that precede it.

This is a quality piece of in-depth work about the unmodified Panther operating system. It's well worth the price for those who are more interested in understanding than hacking (though I admit a love for the new Mac OS X Panther Hacks book as well.)

Comprehensive and authoritative.......2004-07-22

Do any of you remember the O'Reilly books from the late 80s on X Windows? Those became the definitive guides to X11, and probably were crucial in putting O'Reilly on the map as a prominent technical publisher.

Well, this book on Mac OS X Panther captures some of that early O'Reilly spirit. In its comprehensiveness and heft. But also in its terseness. Turn to a random chapter and start reading. The authors try to get to the point, without wasting time. They write at a technical level that assumes you don't know the specifics of that chapter, but that you are no novice to computing.

It should be noted that the second half of the book is essentially a standard unix reference. As you may be aware, OS X is now a unix variant. Which is neat. But also accounts for much of the book's size. Unix has built up a massive set of utilities in 20 years, and the length of the unix sections here reflects this.

Don't let this put you off either the book or OS X. On the contrary! The building of the Mac operating system on top of unix gives you more power and stability (against crashes) on the Mac.

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