Years after the first encounter with a mysterious alien spacecraft in Rendezvous With Rama, a second spaceship enters the solar system-and a team of Earth's most accomplished scientists and cosmonauts is sent to intercept it.The human crew is no stranger to Raman culture and technology. But Rama II offers surprises not encountered on the first ship-surprises that could turn out to be deadly. Set against a backdrop of economic crisis that threatens all human settlements throughout the solar system, Rama II tells the story of an advanced scientific team dealing with the unexpected both on an enigmatic alien spacecraft and within their own psyches.