When the silent spacecraft arrived and took the light from the world, no one knew what to expect. But, although the Overlords kept themselves hidden from man, they had come to unite a warring world and to offer an end to poverty and crime. When they finally showed themselves it was a shock, but one that humankind could now cope with, and an era of peace, prosperity and endless leisure began. But the children of this utopia dream strange dreams of distant suns and alien planets, and begin to evolve into something incomprehensible to their parents, and soon they will be ready to join the Overmind . . . and, in a grand and thrilling metaphysical climax, leave the Earth behind.
Childhood's End (S.F. MASTERWORKS)
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"'There has been nothing like it for years' C. S. Lewis; 'The Colossus Of Science Fiction' New York Times"
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Book Description
Arthur C. Clarke's classic in which he ponders humanity's future and possible evolution.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
33 of 34 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
A brilliant book in which Clarke explores the theme of man's position within the universe. Unlike a lot of Clarke's work which draws heavily on scientific principles this is not a factually based novel.
A highly fantastic plot sees a race of aliens take control of earth and outlaw all immoral acts, instantly producing world peace, through use of their superior technology. Unlike many SF novels, however, they are here not to conquor the globe but to prepare humanity for the future. Some, of course are not willing to sit back and accept this life of blissful slavery from the moralistic aliens. They are determined to discover the truth behind the alien's plans, why noone has ever seen one an alien and precisely what this future holds. The nature of what is to come in the future may not be very believable but this is one of Clarke's space-fantasy novels not factual science-fiction. The end of the book will make you turn back to the front cover to double check it has Arthur C. Clarke's name on it.
The first few editions of the novel had the words "The views expressed in this book are not those of the author" printed on page 1. In the introduction to the later editions, Clarke explains why he insisted on those lines being included as the novel revolves around the idea that man's place is here on earth not in the stars.
This is a superb, thought provoking novel. While the plot may not be all that credible the themes discussed in this book: man's positition in the universe; whether enforced heaven is acceptable and whether man's place is on earth or in the stars are what makes it one of the best science-fiction novels ever written. It may have been written over thirty years ago but it is still relevant in today's world.
Not necessarily for all Arthur C.
... Read more ›19 of 21 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
For anyone who claims that science fiction is a genre that cannot produce classic literature, they should read Childhood's End. It provides, compact, readible philsophy of the first kind; something you rarely find. Childhood's end confront the value of mere survival for humaniy. A wonderful book.
37 of 43 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
It will now be hard to film Childhood's End because the opening, with the great ships suspended over the cities of the earth, was cribbed, intentionally or by coincidence, for Independence Day. That's a pity because it would make a tremendous film being a shattering and most skilfully written story. Here the visitors have not come to despoil our planet, indeed so well put together is the plot that we may well forget to ask ourselves why they have bothered to come along and preside over a golden age of universal peace, prosperity and others of Clarke's (and my) liberal preoccupations such as no cruelty to animals. The book is not 200 pages long but it combines Clarke's special narrative gifts as a short-story writer with a vision of the whole nature and purpose of the universe that I find staggering and intolerably poignant to this day, 30 years after I first read it.
Brian Aldiss has perceptively said that if Stapledon has a successor it is Clarke, and Clarke himself has told us how deeply Stapledon has influenced him. However this book resembles Stapledon in nothing except the scale of the concept. Childhood's End is written by a recognisable human being with power over our emotions -- power indeed! When the overlord first shows himself, I wondered whether the story could ever recover from such a dramatic coup so early on. I need not have worried. The story has not even begun: the truth, when we finally get it not far from the end, wrenches my innards to this day, and between times the crux of the narrative (the seance) is as brilliant a false clue as was ever laid by Agatha Christie.... Read more ›
Brian Aldiss has perceptively said that if Stapledon has a successor it is Clarke, and Clarke himself has told us how deeply Stapledon has influenced him. However this book resembles Stapledon in nothing except the scale of the concept. Childhood's End is written by a recognisable human being with power over our emotions -- power indeed! When the overlord first shows himself, I wondered whether the story could ever recover from such a dramatic coup so early on. I need not have worried. The story has not even begun: the truth, when we finally get it not far from the end, wrenches my innards to this day, and between times the crux of the narrative (the seance) is as brilliant a false clue as was ever laid by Agatha Christie.... Read more ›
11 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By C. Ratcliffe
Format:Hardcover
Ok where to start. Hmm, well, er. I thought I had read SF works till I could read and learn no more. Yes I know, I do feel a prat, and will never make this assumption again. Ever.
I have been moved to tears, by books such as "Enders' Game" and "Speaker For The Dead", and gasped in awe at Alistair Reynolds "Revelation Space" books.
However this has to be added to "Speaker For The Dead" and Philip Pullmans "Dark Materials" trilogy as life changing reads.
You may well read "Childhood's End", and as i did for 30 minutes, stand outside, I finished it about 01:30 one saturday morning, and i cried my heart out. Does it have a happy ending, does it make you sad. Maybe, but it will, i hope, make you feel special.
If you read nothing else this, I say read this.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Misc. Supplies
Though I don't beleive in paranormal phenomena, I really loved the story about aliens coming to Earth (end of wars, disappearance of religion) to assist humanity into the next stage of their development. The end of the book may be considered a bit strange, but in my opinion fits perfectly.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Humanity is about to launch its first manned mission to another world. Finally, the human race is about to escape its cradle and take its first step towards the stars. But on the eve of the launch the skies over the Earth's major cities are blotted out by the appearance of huge, alien spacecraft. The Overlords have arrived, and nothing will ever be the same again.
Arthur C. Clarke is one of the most famous writers the science fiction field has ever produced, thanks to his work on the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey and his role as a popular science commentator (he covered several of the Apollo moon landings for American television and had several successful TV series in the 1980s). Clarke's work is notable for its straightforwardness (he was never a great prose stylist) but also its scientific rigour. With a few exceptions, Clarke had little truck with what he considered to be some of the more fantastical concepts of SF (such as faster-than-light travel and artificial gravity) and did not use them in his work. In his view, the universe is vast, timeless and unknowable. Much of Clarke's work is notable for a certain melancholic optimism: the human race can be much more than it is now, but even so is unlikely to challenge the vastness of the universe.
Childhood's End was published in 1953 and was his fourth novel, although his first published in the United States, where it immediately established him as a major voice in the field. In many ways it is atypical Clarke. The aliens are comprehensible and easily relate to human beings, unlike the enigmatic entities of say 2001 or Rendezvous with Rama.... Read more ›
Arthur C. Clarke is one of the most famous writers the science fiction field has ever produced, thanks to his work on the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey and his role as a popular science commentator (he covered several of the Apollo moon landings for American television and had several successful TV series in the 1980s). Clarke's work is notable for its straightforwardness (he was never a great prose stylist) but also its scientific rigour. With a few exceptions, Clarke had little truck with what he considered to be some of the more fantastical concepts of SF (such as faster-than-light travel and artificial gravity) and did not use them in his work. In his view, the universe is vast, timeless and unknowable. Much of Clarke's work is notable for a certain melancholic optimism: the human race can be much more than it is now, but even so is unlikely to challenge the vastness of the universe.
Childhood's End was published in 1953 and was his fourth novel, although his first published in the United States, where it immediately established him as a major voice in the field. In many ways it is atypical Clarke. The aliens are comprehensible and easily relate to human beings, unlike the enigmatic entities of say 2001 or Rendezvous with Rama.... Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Superb and thought provoking but dated
I enjoyed this book. Written in the early fifties, it involves an alien invasion that turns out to be benign. Read more
Published 6 days ago by Brainman60
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Man before his time
Considering this book was written in the 1950's, the author A.C. Clarke, had an amazing insight into the possibilities of space travel and extra-terrestrial races and cultures. Read more
Published 26 days ago by Mr. E. J. Mcavoy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Masterpiece
No much else to say other than the Headline!.... Sci-Fi at its pinnacle. Great story, great characters and a very very poignant ending!...What more do you need?
Published 1 month ago by Delzx7r
5.0 out of 5 stars
a work of genius
This book was written in the early 1950s . It is the enthralling story of the invasion of the earth by a species called the overlords. Read more
Published 1 month ago by A. Browne
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good SF
Great Arthur C Clarke novel difficult to fault this as all of his books are always first class reading material
Published 1 month ago by R. Florance
5.0 out of 5 stars
Book
Read this book many years ago the first time, Still available and enjoying it very much service was very good thank you very much. TMAC
Published 1 month ago by Terry McAllister
4.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant for its time, a bit overrated now possibly?
Let me start by saying that this is a great book and i read it in 2 sittings, so that should give you some idea of the quality! Read more
Published 2 months ago by Daniel Hunter
4.0 out of 5 stars
Childhood's End
I can't think what to say about this book without spoiling it in one way or another. Even the various blurbs I looked at gave something or other away. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Steve D
4.0 out of 5 stars
short but sweet
great book that illuminates the inability of humans to change their morals irrespective of their technical progress It takes an alien to show us the way. Read more
Published 3 months ago by JP
5.0 out of 5 stars
great science fiction
This was the book that got me into science fiction when I first read it over 40 years ago. It's still a great story and Arthur C is still the master of Sci-Fi.
Published 4 months ago by Pat
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