Childhood's End

Arthur C. Clarke

Mar 2012 · S.F. MASTERWORKS Book 76 · Hachette UK

About this ebook

Arthur C. Clarke's classic in which he ponders humanity's future and possible evolution

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.

Ratings and reviews

One of the Sci Fi Master's masterpieces...a must read for sci fi fans or noobs alike. I keep re-reading it every now and then, and marvel at his imagination.

Best sci-fi books I've read, amazingly Clarke main road ideas doesn't break with time, where reading something in War of the world's does. The idea of alien controlling human just to ensure the end complies with their own master is interesting... another page turner for me

Why such low ratings? Christ this is one of the best books I have read in my life! It kept my heart beat faster from the moment it started till the very last word. This is an absolute terrifying story where you witness things happen and there is no way to go back. It keeps you guessing what when and why. I personally had two theories, both of them false. If you read 'On the beach' then this book delivers an ending that is ten times worse. It leaves you with a sense of total helplessness and hopelessness. No it doesn't answer all questions but that's the beauty of it. Hopefully, when you have read it, you'll share my enthusiasm for it. P.S. People who have watched the movie are complaining about this book. Well let me tell you something - the movie by Syfy is so bad it turns everything in the book around. It leaves nothing for your imagination and uses the same terrible cliche of being loaded with emotions. That's all you see in the movie - emotions. There are unforgivable mistakes in the movie that take away the logic that the book so beautifully presents. The first episode is kind of ok but the next two are tragically bad.

About the author

Arthur C. Clarke (1917 - 2008)
Arthur C. Clarke was born in Minehead in 1917. During the Second World War he served as an RAF radar instructor, rising to the rank of Flight-Lieutenant. After the war he won a BSc in physics and mathematics with first class honours from King's College, London. One of the most respected of all science-fiction writers, he also won the KALINGA PRIZE, the AVIATION SPACE-WRITERS PRIZE,and the WESTINGHOUSE SCIENCE WRITING PRIZE. He also shared an OSCAR nomination with Stanley Kubrick for the screenplay of 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, which was based on his story, 'The Sentinel'. He lived in Sri Lanka from 1956 until his death in 2008.To discover more about how the legacy of Sir Arthur is being honoured today, please visit http://www.clarkefoundation.org