

The Rama colony is established with remarkably little strife, but as the new Rama departs our system again, an unpleasant criminal element arises to challenge Nicole's peaceful, enlightened leadership. After a 12-year trip, during which Nicole bears five children, the family arrives at the Node, a giant space station where they undergo extensive tests before being sent back to Earth in a refurbished Rama vessel with accommodations for 2000 human specimens. Nicole, Richard and Michael-the three cosmonauts trapped on the Rama II ship as it headed out of our solar system-muddle along together as the ship accelerates toward Sirius. Picking up where Rama II (1989) left off, this latest effort from Clarke and Lee is as disappointing as their others.
