Childhood's End

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Summary: Devilish plot twists
Review: This is a great story of human evolution, but has little character development. How does the earth react when "Guardian Angels" come down and establish peace? Do they establish utopia? Is peace enough .. or do the issues of freedom become more important? In the Utopia established by the "Overlords", a group of humans starts New Athens which is another attempt at Utopia. Are these Utopia's successful? --- read the book and find out!

The plots on this book all seem to develop around the concept of "Utopia", "Personal freedom", and ultimate human evolution, but there is also sadness for the evolutionary dead ends .. those left behind. After you've read the book, ask yourself if you would choose to be like Jeff or would prefer to be an individual?

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Summary: "Childhood's End" Review by PS Fan Club of BHS
Review: I enjoyed the book for it opens ones mind to the true strangths of the human race. The book is about aliens taking over earth and creating a utopia. But the costs are too high and few indivduals refuse to accept them. The book is undoubtably wonderful because I like the fact that it wasn't about one person, but a whole group; the human society. It was about their coming to terms with the Overlords. It showed all the human natural characteristics like curiosity, hatrid, and resentment. If you love sci-fi books then you should indubatively read this one. Peace, I'm out.
PS Fan Club of BHS

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Summary: and I don't even like science fiction!!
Review: I pick a new theme in books to read each month, and this month was Sci-fi month. Childhood's End was the second book I chose (the first being Rendezvous with Rama -- also a great novel -- by the same author). After I finished it, I could not stop thinking about the story, I was so incredibly moved. That sounds kind of hokey, I know, but a great book should not only provide the reader with entertainment, but should have the power to move the reader as well. This book (pardon the 70s expression) blew my mind.

In his introduction, Clarke states that the TV series "V" was an "impressive variation" on Childhood's End, so I was waiting for the Overlords to start gathering up people to process them as food. Mercifully, there is nothing like that in this book. The Overlords seem to display at least a modicum of humanity as the destiny of man's future on earth unfolds in the novel. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to begin their foray into the world of science fiction.

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Summary: Very Mixed Feelings About This SF Classic
Review: This review is difficult to write, as I have very mixed feelings about this book.

First, the positive: This book excels in every way. The writing is flawless, I found the characters engaging, and it poses ideas that are well worth contemplation.

But . . . it is also one of the saddest stories I have ever read. It is a perfect book that I have vowed to never read again.

The choice is yours. I choose to not return to the sorrow.

Rating:
Summary: One of the Best Ever
Review: What more can I say? Epic in scope, beautifully written, interesting throughout ... Clarke is just the best. I would rather read bad Arthur Clarke, where little happens, and the plot is hackneyed than good stuff from someone else. The guy just knows how to write. And this is one of his best, if not the best. I wish they'd make a movie of it now that the technology to do so exists.

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Summary: Interesting ideas, but an unsatisfying story
Review: Childhood's End is considered by many to be a classic. While it has some original ideas, the story itself has some flaws. Some chapters are simply a dry accounting of the changes to human society without showing the impact on the actual characters. Some characters I just found unengaging and really didn't care what happened to them.

I'm sure I'll never forget the ideas in this book, but I have very little interest in reading it again.

Rating:
Summary: An absolute classic. Unforgettable.
Review: This book, by master Arthur C. Clarke, is a startling and speculative look at the ultimate destiny of mankind. It begins by answering (or seeming to answer) the question of "are we alone?" The book proceeds plausibly enough by beginning with the arrival to earth of intelligent aliens who are as far advanced over mankind ethically as they are technologically. The book at first seems to end its speculation there, but there is far more to come. My only criticism is that Clarke's vision of our future is not uplifting, and is frankly somewhat depressing. Paradoxically, this does not take away from the quality of the novel. While many books are called "classics," this novel really is one.

This is a classic novel of intelligent speculation that belongs in every science fiction afficianado's library.

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Summary: My Favorite Scifi Classic!
Review: This is Arthur C. Clarke at his stellar best! Aliens resembling the devil land on Earth and everything changes. Religion is gone as well as man's place in the universe. One man tries to unravel the mystery of Earth's new masters. But it is the equivilent of trying to get a dog to understand nuclear physics.

Clarke's explanation of many of the old legends was probably the first to do so. Would have loved to see this story played out in an episode of The Twilight Zone.

Rating:
Summary: More Ideas Than a Story
Review: And don't misinterpret my title!
Let me explain ... there isn't one gigantic plot line and it's not one big action packed story. Reading this, you get the impression that Arthur C. Clarke wrote this book because he wanted to show the reader his ideas about other alien races being not necessarily superior or inferior, but just different. An alien life form, evolved on another planet, would obviously not come out being anything that we could comprehend or imagine, and we would be just as alien to them as they are to us. And I think Clarke is trying to make the point that humanity cannot even begin to imagine life on another world. So he does the best that man kind can do, by bringing up ideas that are so out of the ordinary, complecated, and creative that they seem alien to the reader.

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Summary: first timer
Review: On recommendation from my husband I read "Childhood's End." My husband mainly reads science fiction and I like reading cookbooks, so I did not expect to finish the first chapter of this book. I finished the book in one day, curled up on the bed under a cover, while dust bunnies multiplied under the furniture. The book also made me think about the way we treat children who are different. As a special education teacher I have seen how some adults dislike children who are labeled as "gifted and talented." And sometimes we need someone strong and honest looking over these children, so that their intelligence will not be "killed." ANy book that makes me stop and think about my inside and outside world is a book worth reading.That was my take on it.