Childhood's End

By: Arthur C. Clarke

Narrated by: Eric Michael Summerer, Robert J. Sawyer - introduction

Length: 7 hrs and 43 mins

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)

Wow. I'm speechless. What a grand story!

I've read "entertaining".
I've read good books.
I've read great books, classics, and books that were the crowning achievements of an author's career.
And then I read Childhood's End. Wow!

Maybe it's the shock of the finale, the newness of this 1953 masterpiece that I finally got around to reading in 2021, but this is probably the best book I've read to date in my life. I'm speechless.

Read it. Please. Read it. Don't doubt it. If ever you start a chapter and wonder "where is this going?" just know that it all fits, it all has a purpose.

I am flabbergasted by a book that in so few pages managed to tackle issues of the individual, of the personal, and yet paint a tapestry of such cosmic scale. This is mastery. Clarke is indeed a genius. Mr. Clarke, wherever your consciousness now rests, I salute you.

The audiobook narration is also excellent. Some of the European accents (like Stormgren's) can be a bit weak, leading to some confusion when several speakers are having a dialogue, but I love the voice and tone when an Overlord speaks. Overall it's a great performance.

holds up

the story holds up yeah some of our tech is missing but the story itself holds

Excellent Story!

Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke receives 5 stars from me due to the use of themes and the interesting vision.

I feel this is one that will take some time, and possible a few readings, in order to parse out the layers of meaning. However, what I liked about it is the use of theme, the limited charcaters, and the suspense that the Clarke creates. Through out the novel one has a burning question what is it that the Overlords are up to? What is their motivation? Even when it is revealed I asked repeatedly, is this it? Was I wrong in my feelings about the Overlords. I like how Clarke pushes me, the reader / listener to question my own preconceived notions of what I thought the Overlords were and their motivations.

I looked up the themes in the book and I got Power, and technology. There are others but these two remain in mind. Also, I felt that there was a touch of religion in the book without being religious. More of a questioning the idea of belief in the unkown. For me, the Overlords appear much like gods to the humans, and once they take over, it seems that humanity stops growing. This is addressed by Clarke. For me, the parallel to religion stopping human growth was clear. When god is the answer, then there are no question worth asking.

Clarke's style is very clear and concise. I felt that for listening, his style is a good fit.

The narrator for this audio was Eric Michael Summerer. I found his reading to be excellent. His voice is clear, good rhythms and interpretations of the work overall.

Recommended: yes! highly.

high octane classic sci-fi.

Certified must read. I dont know why this book isn't as popular as 2001. it left me breathless and emotionally shattered.

Expected Better

Any additional comments?

The narration was fine and the story was easy to follow, but I expected better from Arthur C. Clarke's

intetesting

I had to read this book as an assignment for my college English class. I found it very interesting!

Epic Concept But Flawed Execution?

This is not a book you'll forget which is annoying since it's greatness lies in its one main idea but I didn't enjoy the execution of the story. For instance I've already forgotten the lead characters names and the subplots seemed like time fillers. There were too few characters to support a novel. It would have been a better novelette. I would encourage others to read it though if they are interested in early science fiction. That's why I read it. The reader did a good performance and his voice works well on the 2x setting on my player!

one of the best scifi books I've ever read

the scope of this book is huge. he writes so completely and in such engaging detail that no stone is left unturned. this meant for me that it not only felt like an amazing ride but that the end was so complete as to leave me sitting quietly for a very long time. i neither needed more from the story not did i need a new story to replace it. it is lingering with me like the memory of really great sex. i feel deeply satisfied.

Easy to see why it's a Classic!

I very seldom like older sci-fi books. I usually find it distracting when they talk about an invention that has already came and the novelty has worn off. Childhood's End, however, is not like that. Arthur C. Clarke had a way of building his fantastic world in a way that it came alive but he was vague enough that it wasn't distracting. The concepts at the end are harder to grasp, by design, but the book is a wonderful read. I was shocked to find myself saddened by the end. The narrator does a very good job, as well, though almost all his accents have the same sound. Considering the cast of characters come from every corner of the Earth, however, he did a good job at making the voices distinguishable, even if they did have the same accent.

Most depressing SciFi book I've ever "read"

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

It was very well spent till the final 30 minutes. Then it descended into a very sad and depressing plot.
I'll try not to give away the ending, but the end of the earth comes without violence but just a loss of its most precious people and then the slow death and destruction of others.
The other beings that have taken over earth are never truly explained and we really don't care about them.
The book covers 100 years So characters that are developed in early chapters just disappear as the book jumps forward in time.
The author had so many places he could have gone, but chose a monumental ending. I'm sure he thought he was moving mankind over to a metamorphic change. But I was so sad to see my race end.

Has Childhood's End turned you off from other books in this genre?

Not science fiction. I will always love it. But I probably will not listen to any other Arthur C. Clarke. I hadn't ever read his books and now don't want to risk others.

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

Hadn't listened to others.

Was Childhood's End worth the listening time?

As I said before, the start was great. The end depressed me. I was sad it happened.

Any additional comments?

From T.S. Eliot's "The Hollow Men" poem:

This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper.