Science Fiction Aficionados discussion

July's Themed Read is the classic Childhood's End, by SciFi Grand Master Arthur C. Clarke.

enjoy!

I am about 75% done with this, and liking it better than I thought I was going to. At first it seemed like a lot of telling not showing, but the world is really opening up now!
and I think my hypothesis on the ending will be proven wrong...always a good thing!

I finished it last week, and quite enjoyed it! Clarke really does seem to like to play with the idea that humans are potentially irrelevant to the larger universe, and that makes for an unsettling but fascinating read.

i thought your review of the novel was excellent, Megan.

I really enjoyed this. The ending was not what I 'expected' at all! This book really grew on me!

Thanks, mark! Apparently I either didn't get or didn't see the notification for this one way back when.

I was blown away by the ending too, Maggie. It collapsed everything into something that made total sense, given everything that had gone before, but upended everything at the same time.

Good way to explain it!

At the beginning of the book, I was imagining some sort of malevolent intent by the overlords, and had a lot of different scenarios in my head that would have put the twilight zone to shame, so the way it really ended made me very happy

My library hold on this just came through (Finally! I only put in my request a month ago... But I'm glad someone else locally was actually reading it!) so I'll be starting it tomorrow, if not tonight. Better late than never!

just finished this; mind blown. wow! what a book. my thoughts are a bit scattered now but hopefully i can come back and give more of a detailed reaction.

This is one of my favorite Clarke novels. I love how the story progresses, and the ending was amazing. :-)

I've been nibbling away at this for a couple of days now, and although I expected to love it, I'm finding myself struggling with it. I am pretty sure it's me, not the book, as I'm down for the count with illness right now (and on immune-suppressant meds with arguably worse side effects than the disease, which seems to often be the way) and can't seem to enjoy the tableau the book presents. I normally like/love dark fiction and cautionary tales, etc., but right now it's bumming me mightily. I think I'm going to move this to my Paused shelf until I'm less under-the-weather so I can give it a fair shot. (I think I nominated this, so I feel guilty, and I want to treat the book fairly!)

I'll be over on the couch with the soothing Agatha Christie mystery that seems about the only speed I am up for right now. But I'll be back, Mr. Clarke. :)

Candiss-I had trouble getting into it at first too, but when things started becoming clearer, I became entranced!

i almost forgot to check back in. i'm sure folks were waiting with bated breath, ha! anyway, now that i've had a week or so to let this one sink in... i'm not sure my opinion has changed. i can see why it is a classic. cleanly written, interesting and mysterious narrative, various mind-boggling concepts coming into play. i love the questions this book asked and answered. after this book, i really admire Arthur C. Clarke.

but man it was depressing to me on a personal level. on a spiritual level. hard to get past that. it expanded my mind while getting an emotional reaction from me, so that's pretty good. some amazing imagery and even more amazing ideas... but definitely not one i'll be reading again.

sorry to hear about your illness, Candiss! i hope you are feeling better. this may have not have been the best book to try to get into while feeling down.

Yeah John, I totally agree. Next to Rendezvous With Ramma, this was my fave ACC book. And the ending was earth shattering (pun intended). And yup...I'm 2 years late on this thread.

mark wrote: "but man it was depressing to me on a personal level. on a spiritual level."

While I do not agree with the religious views in this or any of Clarke's books, Childhood's End worked for me on every level. It was a powerful vision of the possibilities of the human species and our relationship to the universe. Getting me on board in spite of ideological differences is a sign of a great book.

If there was a "loyalty oath" or litmus test for being a "true" fan of science fiction, this book should be part of it.



"Are you now or have you ever been a John Norman fan?"

oh God, John Norman. I guess the best thing that could be said about him is that he certainly has persistence of vision.