Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Childhood's End  By  cover art

Childhood's End

By: Arthur C. Clarke
Narrated by: Eric Michael Summerer, Robert J. Sawyer - introduction
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $24.25

Buy for $24.25

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

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.

Critic reviews

"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)

Featured Article: Our Editors Reveal—The Listens that Got Us Hooked


Our editors have quite the impressive libraries, but where did it all begin? They've thought back to their own very first listens or the audiobook that took them from audio amateur to totally Audicted, all the while recommending accessible favorites for new listeners to find a starting point for themselves. From time travel to true crime to tech exposés, these are the listens that got us hooked—and a few of the very best audiobooks for first time listeners.

What listeners say about Childhood's End

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    4,910
  • 4 Stars
    2,938
  • 3 Stars
    1,299
  • 2 Stars
    296
  • 1 Stars
    160
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    4,338
  • 4 Stars
    2,569
  • 3 Stars
    871
  • 2 Stars
    153
  • 1 Stars
    67
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    4,421
  • 4 Stars
    2,205
  • 3 Stars
    996
  • 2 Stars
    288
  • 1 Stars
    140

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

listen 1000x

I love this story so much! it tricks you into loving the end of the world in such a peaceful way.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

wow

I watched a made for television production of this book years ago. The show was interesting but corny. Fortunately it did not discolor my opinion of the book. I highly recommend anyone that enjoys science fiction to read it. I am pretty sure this has giving me food for thought for years to come.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great!

I had no idea what to expect because I had never heard of this book, but I loved it. The performance was just enough to keep characters distinguishable, but not over the top. And the story, or stories, are incredible, the book made me feel many different emotions, and I love the way it portrayed time.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A timeless glance at our future

A great experience and well perform by Eric. What an interesting glance at the human race. A true classic piece.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Read many times...listening added a whole new dimension!

Bits of the book are dated now, but the story is absolutely timeless... (the recent movie demonstrates this.)
Summerer's narration was spot-on!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

great start, slow finish

I enjoyed the development of character and story....then it trailed off, got muddled and slowly withered to an ending. Still a thought provoking read and worth the time

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A Spectacular Epic

I enjoyed it immensely, would recommend to any sci-fi lover or anyone looking for a good place to start the genre.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

From atoms to aether

Incredible story. Very well performed. Only suggestion is matching audiobook chapters with actual chapters more closely, to make navigation easier.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Ok book,

What did you like best about Childhood's End? What did you like least?

Interesting concept and idea.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I would have explain what happen to the human race and what happen next

Have you listened to any of Eric Michael Summerer and Robert J. Sawyer (Introduction) ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

nope did not or if I did I don't remember

Do you think Childhood's End needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

yes but a short story to explain what happen to the next stage of human evolution.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The devil is in the details....

Would you listen to Childhood's End again? Why?

Yes, it's a completely different from the typical "man meets alien" Sci Fi

Which scene was your favorite?

The party scene with one of the aliens reading books in a dark room

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!