Childhood’s End
About this book
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.
Reader Profile
3.9/5 · 29 readers · 225 pages · ≈ 4 h 10 m · Moderate
How long does it take to read Childhood’s End?
About ≈ 4 h 10 m — 225 pages, assuming roughly 250 words per page at 225 words per minute.
How many pages is Childhood’s End?
225 pages in its most-read edition.
What genre is Childhood’s End?
It sits on the Science Fiction, Fiction shelves.
Is Childhood’s End in the public domain?
No — it is still under copyright.
Who are the main characters in Childhood’s End?
The main characters include Rikki Stormgren, Karellen, George Greggson, Jan Rodricks.
Who wrote Childhood’s End?
Arthur C. Clarke.