Seemingly abandoned ship at the edge of our solar system...

[SueGale]

The whole book is about the exploration of this alien ship that shows up out on the fringes of our solar system and the conflict between the two "groups" exploring (Russians vs US type scenario as I recall). I think I must have read it in the 70's or 80's, have run across it once since then long long ago, and now can't for the life of me recall the author or title.

Folks usually come up with Ringworld.. also a fascinating exploration of an abandoned ship of sorts, but not the same one. The one I am looking for was a space ship, not at all planet-like.

Any ideas would be most appreciated!

 

[ktabic]

The one I thought of is Greg Bear's Eon. It was released in 1985. But it's more of an asteroid than a ship, and you didn't mention the end of the world. So probably not that one.

 

[SueGale]

Don't think I've ever read that one (adds it to her read list) but sounds good. Close, but not what I am looking for.

I do recall the explorers learning about the aliens from the giant spacecraft and that there was a nursery. Seems that I recall the aliens weren't all dead... there was at least one room where the humans were attacked by robots or something.

I've been trying to find this book again for years now! It is sooo frustrating!

Thanks for your reply. It at least gives me something new to read.

 

[iansales]

Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C Clarke?

 

[Ian Whates]

Ian and ktabic have come up with the two I'd have suggested, with Eon favourite due to the US vs Russian conflict.

 

[Urien]

Bah. I saw the headline and for one brief flare of a moment I hoped it might be a real breaking news item. Now that'd change our outlook on this mudball.

 

[clovis-man]

Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C Clarke?

That would be my guess also. If so, you've got a few sequels to wade through.

 

[tangaloomababe]

Originally posted by AVP

Bah. I saw the headline and for one brief flare of a moment I hoped it might be a real breaking news item. Now that'd change our outlook on this mudball

Your not alone there Andrew, I had the same thoughts, I got very excited, then realised it was a book.

 

[SueGale]

lol.. sorry! Didn't mean to get anyone's hopes up.

And no, sadly its not anything in the Rama series either... though another excellent play on the same theme. I have re-read both the Rama series and the Ringworld books while looking for this one.

As for US-Soviet, that is a very vague memory so I might have it mixed up with something else. The think I recall most was the room by room discovery as they explored and learned about the civilization that had once occupied the ship. There were no wide open spaces such as found in both Rama and Ringworld. It was a ship with rooms.. more like you'd find on a Star Trek ship.

I am beginning to think it must have been a pretty obscure author! When I was younger, sci fi was harder to come by and I read everything I could find whether it was particularly good or not! haha

Thanks for your help anyway!!

 

[gully_foyle]

How about Half a Life by Kirill Bulychev? In it a Russian crew are exploring an abandoned alien space ship that has been collecting life forms around the galaxy. One of the life forms collected was a Russian woman and the explorers find her memoirs. There is no political tension. But the exploration of the alien craft fits your description, and there was a nursery for the specimens that the woman ended up working in. Its a novella, and the version I have has a few short stories as well. It's a great example of communist era Russian SF writings.

 

[iansales]

In FirstFlight by Chris Claremont, they find an alien ship, but it turns out it's not deserted.

 

[SueGale]

Hmmmm... I shall have to check out Half a Life and see. Neither the title nor the author's name strike a chord of remembrance, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything. The authors I orginally thought it might have been have all turned up empty.

Thanks for the help!!

 

[Boneman]

I know it's 2 months later, but I was just browsing....It sounds a lot like Gateway by Frederick Pohl, there was sequel - Beyond the Blue event Horizon, and a third called Heechee Rendezvous....