Rendezvous with Rama

This novel was written by Arthur C. Clarke who is very famous science fiction writer around the world. When I was junior high-school student, more than 30 years ago, I read his novels and watched his film, e.g. 2001: A Space Odyssey.
This is the first time for me to read Rendezvous with Rama. Rama is a kind of space colony and I’m sure that Space colony like Rama will be put to practical use within this century, but it’s striking that he wrote this novel in 1972, around 40 years ago.

Points for Understanding


15-1: The Raman biots always ignore the human visitors. Norton has an idea about why this happens. What is his idea?

Earthmans breathe oxygen, and the Ramans breathe oxygen too. The biots probably can’t see any difference between one kind of oxygen-breather and another.

15-2: ‘Is this place some kind of Raman church or temple?’ Mercer asks. Why do you think he asks this question?

I think it was Mercer’s desire, that is to say, Ramans took care of church or temple as same as Earthmans. It was good for him to know that.

Koa