Paperback, 192 pages

English language

Published Nov. 7, 1970 by Ballantine Books.

ISBN:
978-0-330-10573-6
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4 stars (28 reviews)

Childhood's End is a 1953 science fiction novel by British author Arthur C. Clarke. The story follows the peaceful alien invasion of Earth by the mysterious Overlords, whose arrival ends all war, helps form a world government, and turns the planet into a near-utopia. Many questions are asked about the origins and mission of the aliens, but they avoid answering, preferring to remain in their ships, governing through indirect rule. Decades later, the Overlords eventually show themselves, and their impact on human culture leads to a Golden Age. However, the last generation of children on Earth begin to display powerful psychic abilities, heralding their evolution into a group mind, a transcendent form of life.

47 editions

TV and Radio are outdated, but this book is not

5 stars

Childhood’s End, by Arthur C. Clarke, is a book about the fate of humanity after they make contact with a benevolent alien race, that helps them reach a Golden Age of progress and peace. So, what if aliens invaded the planet, but they actually helped us build a utopia? And why?

Compared to the previous two books I read, that also deal with Humanity making contact with alien life. Childhood’s End takes place in Earth itself, in a time where humans are barely getting started in the space race, and right when they’re about to take their first steps, they realize they already lost—they are not alone.

These aliens, known as the Overlords, do not come to cause havoc, but they seem to want to help us. They end war, they end animal cruelty, they end racism, divisions and countries. They intend to help humanity achieve a united planet, a …

Review of "Childhood's End (Arthur C. Clarke Collection)" on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

This is my first time reading this classic from the golden age of science fiction. I had to remember to make alowances for the way our standards have shifted in the almost seventy years since the time it was published in order to appreciate it for what it did. the first two thirds of the book sets up the payoff in the last third, to the extent of feeling like two different stories. The first part is exposition-heavy, with all the worldbuilding lovingly placed on display, with a mystery which is paid off about halfway through the book. I liked the viewpoint character of Stormgren best of all, the United Nations secretary general who was the sole point of contact between the unseen and powerful Overlords and the human race that played a part in the plot which was essential but rather far from the climax. he had an awareness …

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  • Fiction in English

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