Author: Arthur C. Clarke File Type: pdf In the spellbinding Arthur C. Clarke tradition, here is an exhilarating adventure into the hearts of both the Universe and mankind...By the twenty-third century Earth has already had two encounters with massive, mysterious robotic spacecraft from beyond our solar system--the incontestable proof of an alien technology that far exceeds our own. Now three human cosmonauts are trapped aboard a labyrinthine Raman vessel, where it will take all of their physical and mental resources to surviv. Only twelve years into their journey do these intrepid travelers learn their destination and face their ultimate challenge a rendevous with a Raman base--and the unseen architects of their galactic home. The cosmonauts have given up family, friends, and possessions to live a new kind of life. But the answers that await them at the Raman Node will require an even greater sacrifice--if humanity is indeed ready to learn the awe-inspiring truth.From Publishers WeeklyIntroduced in Clarkes 1973 Hugo- and Nebula-winning Rendezvous with Rama and most recently seen in Clarke and Lees Rama II , the massive spacecraft Rama is back, but the luster and sense of wonder generated by its first appearances have eroded. The once-exciting vessel, a cylindrical worldlet, has been turned into a cheaply painted backdrop for an equally garish exposition of vice-lord politics. When Rama returns to earth and demands a sample of humanity for observation, a lying, corrupt government hands over 2000 citizens. These individuals serve as a microcosm to reflect most of todays big sociological problems, thus implying that in 300 years no existing problems will have been solved nor will any others have been created. Clarkes unmistakable style is sadly lacking. Essentially, the book suffers from an imbalance between what occurs onstage and what offstage. Minor characters are built up with detailed introductions and then generally ignored. Major events, about which reader interest has been piqued, are skipped, then given a one-sentence review. Potentially captivating interactions with aliens and advanced technology are ignored. Readers are advised to give this voyage a miss and wait for Ramas next adventure. 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Library JournalTrapped aboard the massive Raman spacecraft as it leaves Earths solar system, three cosmonauts begin a 13-year voyage toward an unkown destination. Combining the best of space adventure (as the spacefarers encounter other life forms within the multi-habitat vessel) with human drama (as children are born and raised in an unearthly environment), this third novel in the Rama cycle asks as many questions as it answers. Recommended, along with Clarkes classic Rendezvous with Rama ( LJ 873) and Rama II (Bantam, 1989, coauthored with Lee), for most libraries. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 51591 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Author: Wayde Brown File Type: pdf Historic reconstructions have been a consistent part of the historic preservation and heritage conservation movements in the United States and Canada. Indeed, reconstruction has been the primary tool at the most influential historic sites, for example the Governors Palace and the Capitol at Colonial Williamsburg, USA,and in Canada, the Fortress of Louisbourg. Dozens of other reconstructions have appeared during the past century in North America, undertaken by individuals, communities, states, and provinces, and by national agencies responsible for cultural heritage. Despite this prevalence, historic reconstructions have received little scholarly attention and the question of what motivated the proponents of these projects remains largely unexamined.This book explores that question through detailed studies of ten historic reconstructions located throughout Canada and the United States, ranging from 1908 to 2011. Drawing upon diverse archival sources and site investigations, the proponents of each site are given voice to address their need to remake these landmarks, be it to sustain, to challenge, or even subvert a historical narrative, or with reference to contemporary heritage studies to reclaim these spaces.Reconstructing Historic Landmarksprovides a fascinating insight into these shifting concepts of history in North America and will be of considerable interest both to students and scholars of historic preservation and indeed to heritage professionals involved in reconstructions themselves.**ReviewCogent and consistently engaging, this book greatly enriches the discourse of heritage conservation. Wayde Brown lays bare its inevitable admixture of atavism, alienation and appropriation while acknowledging changing endeavour to capture temporal and cultural authenticity. He deserves particular praise for his articulate review of theory as well as practice, and attention to dominant settler but also indigenous patrimony through his adept selection and interrogation of a sequence of major reconstruction projects across North America. The analysis of these projects properly acknowledges the importance individual actors, and thus the play of prejudice and presumption in the staging of touristic historical recall through place and artifact.- Rhodri Windsor-Liscombe, The University of British Colombia, CanadaWayde Brown provides offers a fascinating look at reconstructing historic places that have been destroyed. Opinion has been divided over the value of rebuilding lost heritage. Some favour it for providing a clear picture of what has vanished, while others complain that it introduces new, and sometimes incorrect, ideas about the past. Brown treats this controversial subject generally, while also focussing on well-selected past examples.- Harold Kalman, private scholar, CanadaReconstructing Historic Landmarks Fabrication, Negotiation, and the Past is evocative and broadly documents the reconstruction processes and the struggles to align with the public narrative in Canada and the United States. With this book, Wayde Brown invigorates the discussion on reconstruction and authenticity. He clearly illuminates the dichotomy between the opportunities and constraints of evidence-based approaches and the romantic poignancy of the public narrative that arise when reconstructing historic buildings and contexts.- Robert A. Young, University of Utah, USAFor more than a century, reconstruction of lost and demolished historic buildings has been a significant manifestation of the historic preservation movements in the United States and Canada. Reconstruction of historic buildings is arguably a peculiarly North American expression where colonial experiments, migration, geo-political conflict, and economic and technological change left abandoned places and buildings in their wake. Wayde Brown has gathered here the fascinating histories of the reconstruction of several dozen historic buildings and places in Canada and the United States. Browns investigation of a transcontinental sample of reconstructed buildings is a welcome reintroduction to the powerful allure these places exerted and the individuals and organizations who mounted efforts to return them and the history they witnessed to visibility and visitation. Browns broad ranging inquiry reminds us that the resurrection of lost buildings not only reconnected past and present but reflected the renewal, and sometimes the invention, of privileged narratives. In an era of fake news, Browns artful summaries of the research and wrangling that lay behind the reconstruction of historic buildings he explores deepens our understanding of how reconstructions have made lost history real for generations of historic sites visitors. Brown acknowledges criticisms leveled at reconstructions in the past but draws new attention to their ability to shed false narratives for new ones that bring attention to the agency of historical groups often overlooked in breezy narratives that mask the complexities of historical processes.- Carter L. Hudgins, Clemson University, USAAmong the remarkable achievements of this highly readable work is Browns success in demonstrating the power of the individual to shape collective memory. As much as reconstructed historic landmarks such as Fort Ticonderoga represent group (and often state) action, Brown adeptly illustrates how such sites have frequently been the work of a few key actors, whose personal goals and motivations still permeate these re-created historical spacesand thus continue to communicate which historical narratives deserve to be prioritized and celebrated.- Philip Herrington, James Madison University, USA**About the Author Wayde Brown is an associate professor at the University of Georgia, USA,teaching within the historic preservation program. He holds a PhD from the Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff, UK, a post-graduate degree in conservation studies from the University of York, UK, and a professional degree in architecture from Dalhousie University, Canada. He is a member of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada. Wayde Browns research has been focused on the history of the historic preservationheritage conservation movement, and especially the motivation to make historic sites. He is currently exploring the use of place in the United States to memorialize the AIDS epidemic.