Sci-fi and Heroic Fantasy discussion

This is our discussion of the classic science fiction novel...


Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke
1953

Great book!

One of my favourites. Definitely a classic.

I think of all the ACC books I have read, this one was the most concerned with the human spirit. Too many ACC books tend to neglect the characters as cardboard cutouts, but I remember Childhood's End actually having some human drama in it, which is unusual for Clarke. Then again, it's been probably 15 years since I read it, so I could be mistaken.

2001 is probably my favorite Clarke book, but I associate it so much with the terrific film that it's hard for me to remember where one stops and the other begins. Childhood's End is probably my second favorite ACC book, maybe tied with or just a shade ahead of 2010. After that I haven't really been knocked out by his novels. I prefer his short stories, which are excellent.

I read this for a project in high school. I really enjoyed it and it made me think.

Somehow it has remained the only Clarke I have read.

My first Arthur C. Clarke experience. I still have a few pages left to go, will finish tonight but I think I've just got some wrapping up to do, the big event has occurred.

Must admit it wasn't what I expected, thought the Overlords had some nefarious thing in mind, but the fact that they not only were benelovent and even envious of us, it was probably more shocking and...well, depressing. Not sure how I'd react if I were to be told that was the future of the human race and I was the last of my kind.

I don't have any kids of my own but didn't realize how much I cared that our species keeps going.

The copy I picked up from a used bookstore was probably used in someone's course, it had some sections underlined (like the early bits about religion and it's objection to the Overlords) and I knew from the first page that Karellen would be exposed on page 61 :)

The first time I read this book, the twist at the end surprised me

(view spoiler)[The last man asks the Overlords when they had visited Earth in the past that humans knew the devil appearance and incorporated it into their culture. Instead, he is told that the familiarity comes from foreknowledge of this event stretching back through the ages somehow. Not anything I expected. And it essentially makes for a closed time loop without actually having any time travel, which seems a bit unusual. (hide spoiler)]

Mike wrote: "The first time I read this book, the twist at the end surprised me

[spoilers removed]"

I found that a very interesting twist too.
(view spoiler)[Sort of like, no matter what humanity did, that was where it was always going to end. And in a way, we always knew it. (hide spoiler)]

I forgot to say that anytime I read a sci-fi story where a benevolent race of advanced aliens visits Earth, I'm always disappointed when the story doesn't end with the line: "IT'S A COOKBOOK!"

I'm actually very emotinal attached on this book since it's the first sf novel i read, or the second it's been a very long time. It was a cheep pocket book edition in Greek and i do, 40 years later, still remember how awed i was. When the visitors show themselfs at last... woaou!
Since then i read thousands of sf but this first love it cannot be forgotten.

You would have thought that the human population would not have so readily accepted their fate as a collapse into a hive mind state. Not just give in and go suicidal. Is that supposed to be great that all minds are to be absorbed into one singular "Overmind". That is a sure damnation in my opinion. Not a good. Was that supposed to be a "good" thing or not? That all beings of a race are to become part of that "Overmind" , seems the Overlords are lamenting that they cannot become part of that. But they should be rejoicing that they have not all become sucked into slavery under the "Overmind"

I think I understand all sides:

Regular humans - there is nothing they can do, I suppose you could try to look for a cure for your children but how do you cure what is essentially a giant leap in evolution? And you've only got one generation in which to solve the problem

Evolved humans - they can't fight it, it is what they are, and by definition they don't even think of themselves as individuals, nor even as human. Just as many humans don't care that the great apes are now endangered and at risk of extinction

Overlords - they clearly believe (rightly or wrongly) that this Overmind is the next step in evolution, a higher state of being that they cannot achieve, a sort of union with the very universe itself...kind of how Buddist try to reach Nirvana so they can escape the cycle of rebirth everyone else is trapped in.

I like how Arthur C. Clarke leaves the reader to decide if the Overmind is a good or bad thing to become. Is it our greatest achievement or our ultimate downfall?

I got the feeling that ACC wanted to be one with the universe. That the vast, yet ultimately logical movements of matter and energy in space were the most beautiful thing you could be a part of.

Phil wrote: "I got the feeling that ACC wanted to be one with the universe. That the vast, yet ultimately logical movements of matter and energy in space were the most beautiful thing you could be a part of."

That's the gist I got from the end of the 2001: A Space Odyssey movie with that space fetus thing. One of these days I'll read the book, see if it makes more sense than parts of the movie did :)

Andrea wrote: "see if it makes more sense than parts of the movie did"

I strongly recommend 2001, and it definitely made more sense than the movie.

I thought it was good too. Not great, but good. I think I gave it a 3.5 in my review. I will say though, the man was before his time. Genius.