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Author Arthur C. Clarke booklist (click here)

Book Review By David Loftus
Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke

In the late 20th century, giant spaceships station themselves over Earth's great cities, and an alien spokesperson named Karellen begins to deal with the UN Secretary General about dismantling the various countries' aggressive weaponry. Peace comes uneasily to the planet and a century passes before the visiting Overlords' role becomes clear. A human being stows away on an Overlord supply vessel to find out where they come from, while a new generation of ostensibly human children begins to display wholly new mental capabilities and the human race as it has known itself learns that it is on the way out. Clarke's classic 1953 novel of "punctuated evolution" midwived by more powerful forces that are still subservient to a greater power is a bit dated, but still rings very true.


Plot & Themes
Tone of book - sensitive (sigh....)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story
Explore/1st contact/ enviro story Yes
Explore:
Cultural problems, alien culture Yes
Culture clash- - one culture tries to impose its culture on another group
Descript. of chases or violence - 0 %
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 50 %
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20 %
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 30 %

Main Character
Identity: - Male Alien
Profession/status:
Age: - long lived adults
If magical mental powers: - can see into the future - can fly - is very quick

Setting
Terrain
Earth setting: - medium future 22-24th century
Spaceship setting: - alien spaceship
Takes place on Earth? Yes
Takes place in spaceship? Yes

Writing Style
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
scientific jargon? (SF only) - a moderate amount of scientific explanation
Sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - vague references only
How much dialogue? - significantly more descript than dialog
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