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Childhood's End

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About this listen

 The Overlords appeared suddenly over every city - intellectually, technologically, and militarily superior to humankind. Benevolent, they made few demands: unify earth, eliminate poverty, and end war. With little rebellion, humankind agreed, and a golden age began.

But at what cost? With the advent of peace, man ceases to strive for creative greatness, and a malaise settles over the human race. To those who resist, it becomes evident that the Overlords have an agenda of their own.

As civilization approaches the crossroads, will the Overlords spell the end for humankind...or the beginning?

BONUS AUDIO: Includes an exclusive introduction by Hugo Award-winning author Robert J. Sawyer, who explains why this novel, written in the 1950s, is still relevant today.

©2001 Arthur C. Clarke (P)2008 Audible, Inc. Classics Fantasy Fiction Hard Science Fiction Science Fiction Space Opera Childhood Trauma Recovery

What the critics say

"In Eric Summerer's capable hands, the plot of Childhood's End is smoothly presented and fully credible. He highlights the patient nature of the Overlords, which has caused humans to become ever more complacent. Summerer excels at delivering the aliens' quiet and intensely engaging dialogue with people. His nuanced performance creates a growing feeling of uneasiness in the listener as the Overlords' insatiable curiosity and watchfulness begin to suggest something less than benign at work." ( AudioFile)
All stars
Most Relevant
I really enjoyed the story. I wish there was more to explore in this storyline, as there's a lot of unanswered question. if there was a sequel with what happens next, I'd be 100% in.

Definite bonus points for some scientific accuracy mixed in with the scientific fiction.

 #Audible1

Great book

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I have heard that some people think this is the best of Authur C. Clarke's science fiction. I've read a number of his books over the years and have to agree with that assessment while not criticizing his other works.

The Best:

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super original story and the performance suits the characters well. I need to go find more Clarke

fantastic scifi novel

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To begin with, the narration of the book was pretty good. The narrator sounds a bit overly formal in his speech but you get used to it and overall he did a good job. He does not do a great job with accents however. Throughout the book there are several characters with different European accents and they all sound vaguely similar and not exactly accurate. Still, he makes an effort which is worth something.

For me, the book was very interesting at the beginning and end but drags in the middle. There is a lot of description of what life is like under the Overlords which I found to be unnecessary. There are also some parts of the book which I find hard to believe, mostly in how Clarke thinks humans would behave in the circumstances.

One aspect to be aware of is that based on the way the book is structured from the beginning there is very little suspense. There is no real expectation that things in the book will turn out in radical or unsurprising ways. The book gives the sense of a preordained plot slowly playing out. In this way, the true joy in reading the book is in watching how things play out. The way they play out may not be what the audience expects but it always plays out how the Overlords expect.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and it is certainly a different kind of book compared to something like Rendezvous with Rama.

Worth listening to but not breathtaking

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prophetic beyond comprehension, true brilliance unparalleled in the modern era. Huxley's brave new world is completed with Clarke's mysticism and ponderings of the ultimate mystery.

Best all time

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