A Desolation Called Peace vs Childhood’s End: Which Should You Read?
Both live on shelves: Human-alien encounters, Extraterrestrial beings, Science Fiction, Fiction
A Desolation Called Peace
More
Sequel to A Memory Called Empire. An alien armada lurks on the edges of Teixcalaanli space. No one can communicate with it, no one can destroy it, and Fleet Captain Nine Hibiscus is running out of options. In a…
Childhood’s End
More
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…
Side by side
The verdict
- Readers rate A Desolation Called Peace highest: A Desolation Called Peace 4.4 · Childhood’s End 3.8.
- Childhood’s End is the quickest read — about 4 hours vs 9 for A Desolation Called Peace.
- A Desolation Called Peace has the widest readership — 532 ratings behind its score.
Affiliate links: we may earn a commission on purchases.
Scores by source
| A Desolation Called Peace | Childhood’s End | |
|---|---|---|
| Hardcover | 4.3 (484) | — |
| Google Books | 5.0 (1) | — |
| Apple Books | 4.5 (532) | — |
| Check price → | Check price → |
Reception
| A Desolation Called Peace | Childhood’s End | |
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | 532 | 31 |
| Editions | 6 | 81 |
| Film adaptations | 1 | — |
| Wikipedia attention | 3585 | — |
| Pages | 496 | 225 |
| Check price → | Check price → |
Questions readers ask
Which is rated higher: A Desolation Called Peace or Childhood’s End?
A Desolation Called Peace has the higher combined reader rating across sources (A Desolation Called Peace 4.4/5, Childhood’s End 3.8/5).
Which is shorter to read: A Desolation Called Peace or Childhood’s End?
Childhood’s End is the quickest read. Estimated at 225 words per minute: Childhood’s End (225 pages, ≈ 4 h 10 m); A Desolation Called Peace (496 pages, ≈ 9 h 11 m).
Which is harder to read: A Desolation Called Peace or Childhood’s End?
Estimated difficulty, based on era, reader shelves and length — A Desolation Called Peace: Moderate; Childhood’s End: Moderate.