Childhood's End Audiobook By Arthur C. Clarke cover art

Childhood's End

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Childhood's End

By: Arthur C. Clarke
Narrated by: Eric Michael Summerer, Robert J. Sawyer - introduction
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The Overlords appeared suddenly over every city - intellectually, technologically, and militarily superior to humankind. Benevolent, they made few demands: unify earth, eliminate poverty, and end war. With little rebellion, humankind agreed, and a golden age began.

But at what cost? With the advent of peace, man ceases to strive for creative greatness, and a malaise settles over the human race. To those who resist, it becomes evident that the Overlords have an agenda of their own.

As civilization approaches the crossroads, will the Overlords spell the end for humankind...or the beginning?

BONUS AUDIO: Includes an exclusive introduction by Hugo Award-winning author Robert J. Sawyer, who explains why this novel, written in the 1950s, is still relevant today.

©2001 Arthur C. Clarke (P)2008 Audible, Inc. Classics Fantasy Fiction Hard Science Fiction Science Fiction Space Opera Funny Scary Childhood Trauma Recovery

Critic reviews

"In Eric Summerer's capable hands, the plot of Childhood's End is smoothly presented and fully credible. He highlights the patient nature of the Overlords, which has caused humans to become ever more complacent. Summerer excels at delivering the aliens' quiet and intensely engaging dialogue with people. His nuanced performance creates a growing feeling of uneasiness in the listener as the Overlords' insatiable curiosity and watchfulness begin to suggest something less than benign at work." ( AudioFile)

Featured Article: Our Editors Reveal—The Listens that Got Us Hooked


Our editors have quite the impressive libraries, but where did it all begin? They've thought back to their own very first listens or the audiobook that took them from audio amateur to totally Audicted, all the while recommending accessible favorites for new listeners to find a starting point for themselves. From time travel to true crime to tech exposés, these are the listens that got us hooked—and a few of the very best audiobooks for first time listeners.

Featured Article Our Editors Reveal The Listens that Got Us Hooked
Thought-provoking Premise • Profound Philosophical Depth • Excellent Narration • Visionary Concept • Emotional Impact
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It is amazing that in his time, Clarke could imagine such awesome events. While hard to follow the details at times, they are important to the story, and fill in the blanks as you go along. Eric and Robert keep you drenched in the story, and wanting more.

The end is unexpected, but nicely tied up!

WOW

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We all have our tastes-- I prefer strong character development and compelling action that carries me through a story to its surprising ending. This one, like all of Clarke's work, is merely a high-level simulation of what it might be like. Intriguing, definitely, but without characters that I care about, I just can't get into it. He's sort of like a Tom Clancy of sci fi. Still, I know I'll read even more of his stuff, but only when it's cheap.

Clarke writes simulations

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What did you love best about Childhood's End?

What's fun about Childhood's End is what Arthur Clarke gets wrong about the future. What's thought provoking is what he gets right.

Any additional comments?

I'm not much of a fan of "god out of the machine" stories. But most things are not in our control. No getting around that. It's what the humans make of their situation that's the story.

a blast from the past into the future

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Any additional comments?

I wasn't all that interested in this book at the beginning but I followed it through to the end. It was worth it. As I was listening to the end all I could think was "WOW"!

WOW!

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Even though this book was written in the 50's I believe it is still very believable and relevant. The narrator did a good job and I was able to be fully absorbed in the story. Good listen and nice story. I'd recommend it.

A classic I actually enjoyed

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I read this book years ago and the audio version was just as fulfilling. It's a brilliantly written book by a master!

Great!

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The way in which the story was told - over several generations - was very interesting. Glad I read it.

Great book

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An amazing trip through the history of mankind from a truly thought provoking author. it is one I will re read again and again

wow amazing thought provoking

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I have had some bad luck with science fiction lately with stories where the writer cannot even imagine a future without war let alone a positive distant future. I was about to give up on the genre altogether until I listened to this.
I really recommend it. it's hard to believe it was written so long ago, besides some racial observations the book is timeless.

Its Awesome.

Great sci fi

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What did you love best about Childhood's End?

The overall story. I was fascinating from beginning to end. I was a tragic story, but in a good way.

Which scene was your favorite?

The first view of the Overlords.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

My most extreme reaction was amazement and horror. The authors portrayal and understand of the human race made to story even more interesting.

Any additional comments?

Good Read.

Full of the unexpected!!!

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