Childhood's End

by Tony Mulholland (Adapter), Arthur C. Clarke, Peter Jeffrey (Narrator)

Arthur C. Clarke's novel of the same name is the basis for this full–cast radio drama, starring Steven Pacey as Jan Rodricks. As mankind began to take its first faltering steps into the vast darkness of space, huge ships appear over every city on Earth. They bring the Overlords, seemingly benign but vastly superior in technology and intelligence. So begins their rule of our planet, bringing peace, prosperity, and a new world hope. But when mankind begins to question the purpose of the Overlords, it seems that they themselves may be in thrall to an even greater power.

This adaptation was first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 from 2 to 9 November 1997.

Genres: Science Fiction, Audiobook

2 pages, Audiobook

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Gort · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perferendis cumque eum qui magnam ducimus quia. Ut cumque autem atque. Deleniti et reiciendis molestiae.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Childhood Ends reminded me of the Twilight Zone that I used to watch as a child. The stories were real enough that it captured your imagination before they made a left turn that leaves you with a feeling of morose. I enjoyed every bit of it and I wondered what was the aliens’ purpose is in inhabiting the earth and what they wanted. I loved the BBC reading of this story. It made me think of those weekly radio programs where families gathered around the radio to listen to that story that leaves you on the edge of your seat. : ) This is what Childhood Ends did for me. I was kept in the perpetual suspense of expectation wondering what was going to happen to the human race and what did the aliens have to do with that demise. I liked how Mr. Arthur wrote the story that it was through no fault of the aliens or the human race, but through evolution humans surpass their earthly bodies to achieve the ultimate change and that is to be of one mind and one body. It is very Utopian concept with a morbid ending.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe I am in the minority here, but I was never one to pray for World Peace. On some level, I have always understood the need for struggle, war, conflict, and the inability to please all the people all the time.

Simply put, I enjoy being human. I want to be pushed, to create, to tear down obstacles, to yell at my oppressors demanding for my rights to just be.

As much as I respect Zen Buddhism, I could never be a practitioner simply because I don't want to let things go and be at peace. That would be boring. That would leave me nothing to do. No opinions to argue. No doubts to be questioned.

So we come to this book...It is not the end of childhood, but the end of humanity.

[Gypsy Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read a lot of scifi and Clarke, and don't mind scifi that is more philosophical than science - Clarke and Heinlein. Good scifi inexorably touches on religion, culture, philosophy, economics, etc. - Herbert. I had never read this book and wanted to before the Syfy show starts - and it is a little gem. While it leaves me unsatisfied in several ways (that's not bad, I'm just still pondering questions), its pearls of wisdom have left me quite introspective. One in particular that haunts me is: "No one of intelligence resents the inevitable."

[Peter Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! An amazing book that deserves the title of classic. I listed to the audible book (hooray for sales!) and was just blow away by the gripping story of the path of humanity from the time of almost space flight onward.

[JulesQ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the finest century-spanning novels I have ever read (listened to). Go Arthur C. Clarke! I wish there were more science fiction of this caliber.

[Tom-Kenneth · Rating 3 out of 5]

The original novel is fantastic, but this BBC adaption is luckily only two hours long...not terrible,but at times annoying and slighty confusing.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only was the narrator really good but the book totally blew my mind even with the sad ending I'd give this one a 10 if I could

[Abhishek · Rating 5 out of 5]

It shows a glimpse into the possible future for mankind.
Kept me hooked till the end and left me with a strange feeling of both emptiness and being a part of something greater than mankind!