As long as we don't have the stupid premise of Garden of Rama, then I'm fine.

What was that, you ask? A selection committee was created to select only the finest of the finest 2000 of Earth scientific minds to take the return journey to the Rama Node. However, they can't get that many so they fill in the extras with ... convicts. Not only convicts but convicts with life sentences. The story then proceeds to not bother to mention the few scientific minds chosen to go on the mission.

Number one in my "all time disappointment sequel" list. Number two is the sequel.