Published in 1973, it is the only sf novel ever to scoop all the major awards - five in the English language, including the Hugo, the Nebula and the British SF Award. It told of how, in the year 2130, a mysterious and apparently untenanted alien spaceship, Rama, entered our solar system. By the end of the novel, many wonders had been uncovered but few of its mysteries had been solved...

Now, the Ramans return - in an enthralling and long-awaited sequel as brilliantly imaginative as its predecessor. RAMA II is set in 2200, four years after the second approacing spacecraft has been detected. But this time, Earth is ready...

And now, with the arrival of Rama II, some of the questions posted by Rama may at last be answered.