Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke

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?

Arthur C. Clarke was one of the most important and influential figures in 20th century science fiction. (view spoiler)[He spent the first half of his life in England, where he served in World War Two as a radar operator, before emigrating to Ceylon in 1956. He is best known for the novel and movie 2001: A Space Odyssey, which he co-created with the assistance of Stanley Kubrick.

Clarke was a graduate of King's College, London where he obtained First Class Honours in Physics and Mathematics. He is past Chairman of the British Interplanetary Society, a member of the Academy of Astronautics, the Royal Astronomical Society, and many other scientific organizations.

Author of over fifty books, his numerous awards include the 1961 Kalinga Prize, the AAAS-Westinghouse science writing prize, the Bradford Washburn Award, and the John W. Campbell Award for his novel Rendezvous With Rama. Clarke also won the Nebula Award of the Science Fiction Writers of America in 1972, 1974 and 1979, the Hugo Award of the World Science Fiction Convention in 1974 and 1980, and in 1986 became Grand Master of the Science Fiction Writers of America. He was awarded the CBE in 1989. (hide spoiler)]

I guess it's not too early to put this up.

Childhood's End is my favorite Clarke story.

I've read this twice. The story makes you think, for sure.

I'm in if I can get a copy.

I read this book last October and really liked it! I took 2 pages of notes on the plot and am glad that I did since I forgot everything about it! I’m pretty sure that I did not see that ending coming. This is the only book I’ve read by Clarke.

I'll be reading this one in September.

I'm a brand new member of NTLTRC and this will be one of my reads for September. I'm looking forward to getting started!

I'll read this too. I'm not a Sci-fi fan and rarely read the genre. But I'll take this the opportunity to read my first Arthur C. Clarke. I kind of feel ashamed not to have read any work of a renowned author who lived half of his life in my country.

This will be my first Clarke as well! "2001: A Space Odyssey" is one of my favorite films, so it's about time I read one of his books.

I had no idea Clarke lived in Sri Lanka! Apparently he moved there to pursue scuba diving, which is really interesting.

I hope you guys like it.

Amanda wrote: "This will be my first Clarke as well! "2001: A Space Odyssey" is one of my favorite films, so it's about time I read one of his books.
I'm not a fan of the movie, I much prefer the book. You should read it and see what you think. It counts as a classic too.

Piyangie wrote: "I'll read this too. I'm not a Sci-fi fan and rarely read the genre. But I'll take this the opportunity to read my first Arthur C. Clarke. I kind of feel ashamed not to have read any work of a renow..."
I didn't know that either.

I loved this as a teen and have always remembered it, but sadly am no longer a fan of most of this era of scifi. I hope you all like it! It is a powerful book, IMO

Book Nerd: I should definitely do that. From what I've read, Clarke and Stanley Kubrick collaborated on the novel. It apparently follows early drafts of the film, which Kubrick ended up changing later on. It would be interesting to see the differences between the two versions!

I started this and finished part 1. For a non sci-fi fan, I'm truly enjoying this. :)

I've started it also Piyangie. I've never had much success with Clarke, but like you, I'm really enjoying it.

I think this is the third "alien contact" book we've read in the last year; they have all been very different and, at the moment, this is my favourite.

John wrote: "I've started it also Piyangie. I've never had much success with Clarke, but like you, I'm really enjoying it.

I think this is the third "alien contact" book we've read in the last year; they have ..."

Glad to hear that, John. I'm assuming you've read 2001: A Space Odyssey. If you have, let me know of your thoughts. I'm not very comfortable in trying out the genre, but if it's good, I'd like to try.

John wrote: "I've started it also Piyangie. I've never had much success with Clarke, but like you, I'm really enjoying it.

I think this is the third "alien contact" book we've read in the last year; they have all been very different and, at the moment, this is my favourite."
Yeah, I find his sequels really weak. 2001 and Rendezvous With Rama were great and mysterious and gave just enough information. The sequels were pointless.

Piyangie wrote: "I'm not very comfortable in trying out the genre, but if it's good, I'd like to try."
I'm glad you're giving it a try. I love books about possibilities beyond typical human stuff.

I like that Arthur Clarke says that animation the ultimate art form. :)
Especially at the time when it was considered childish.

Any of you listen to podcasts? There is a one called A Readers History of Science Fiction. Episodes #17 and 30 are discussions on Arthur C. Clarke. Episode 17 mentions A Childhoods End. I don’t remember how much detail the host goes into. I’ll have to revisit that one! The host isn’t very dynamic as a speaker but, as a SF fan, I like the content.

I'll have to check that out.

Pam wrote: "Any of you listen to podcasts? There is a one called A Readers History of Science Fiction. Episodes #17 and 30 are discussions on Arthur C. Clarke. Episode 17 mentions A Childhoods End. I don’t rem..."

Thanks for that information, Pam. I'll check it out, as I've almost finished Childhood's End

Finished Childhood's End and thoroughly enjoyed it.

I just finished too! I wasn't expecting to read it so quickly, but I was very much engaged throughout the whole story.

What did you think about the ending? (view spoiler)[Throughout the book it implies that the overlords have been to earth before. Then at the end it turns out they hadn't. To me it seems like Clarke changed it at the last minute. (hide spoiler)]

I liked the ending, but I can see where you’re coming from. (view spoiler)[If the story had ended where the Overlords had been to earth before, it would have landed with me about the same. But, I think there was that bit of misdirection because Clarke was trying to make a bigger point about the concept of a “universal consciousness” of humankind, and somehow they had seen the Overlords in the future, instead of the past: “You feared and recognized us, as we knew that you would. It was not precisely a memory. You have already had proof that time is more complex than your science ever imagined. For that memory was not of the past, but of the future–of those closing years when your race knew that everything was finished.” I guess the implication was that there was always the potential for great powers of the mind with humankind, it just had to be “nurtured” by the Overlords. (hide spoiler)]

Amanda wrote: "I liked the ending, but I can see where you’re coming from. [spoilers removed]"
Yeah, that makes sense. I'm just thinking about the part where he said (view spoiler)[If they make a mistake they have to wait and try again. (hide spoiler)]

Book Nerd wrote: Yeah, that makes sense. I'm just thinking about the part where he said [spoilers removed]"

That's a good point. (view spoiler)[I re-read that exchange between Karellen and Stormgren. So, either he meant in this particular instance they would try again at some point in the future or he was referring to trying with a different species other than humans. He does say towards the end of the book, "This is the fifth race whose apotheosis we have watched. Each time we learn a little more." So, yeah, maybe that truly was the first time they ever intervened with humans, but they would come back again if they failed. It is a bit unclear. (hide spoiler)]