Skip to Main Content (Press Enter)
Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke
Add Childhood's End to bookshelf
Add to Bookshelf

Look Inside | Teacher’s Guide

Childhood's End

A Novel

A Novel

A Novel

By Arthur C. Clarke

By Arthur C. Clarke

By Arthur C. Clarke

By Arthur C. Clarke

By Arthur C. Clarke

By Arthur C. Clarke

Best Seller

Category: Space Opera

Category: Space Opera

Category: Space Opera

Paperback $17.00

Jul 03, 2001 | ISBN 9780345444059

Mass Market Paperback $8.99

Oct 27, 2015 | ISBN 9781101967034

Mass Market Paperback $7.99

May 12, 1987 | ISBN 9780345347954

All Formats
+
    Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke
    Mass Market Paperback $7.99
    May 12, 1987 | ISBN 9780345347954

    Buy from Other Retailers:

    • $17.00

      Jul 03, 2001 | ISBN 9780345444059

      Buy from Other Retailers:

    • $8.99

      Oct 27, 2015 | ISBN 9781101967034

      Buy from Other Retailers:

    • $7.99

      May 12, 1987 | ISBN 9780345347954

      Buy from Other Retailers:

    Buy the Mass Market Paperback:

    About Childhood’s End

    The inspiration for the Syfy miniseries.
     
    Childhood’s End is one of the defining legacies of Arthur C. Clarke, the author of 2001: A Space Odyssey and many other groundbreaking works. Since its publication in 1953, this prescient novel about first contact gone wrong has come to be regarded not only as a science fiction classic but as a literary thriller of the highest order.
     
    Spaceships have suddenly appeared in the skies above every city on the planet. Inside is an intellectually, technologically, and militarily superior alien race known as the Overlords. At first, their demands seem benevolent: unify Earth, eliminate poverty, end war. But at what cost? To those who resist, it’s clear that the Overlords have an agenda of their own. Has their arrival marked the end of humankind . . . or the beginning?
     
    Praise for Childhood’s End
     
    “A first-rate tour de force.”—The New York Times
     
    “Frighteningly logical, believable, and grimly prophetic . . . Clarke is a master.”—Los Angeles Times
     
    “There has been nothing like it for years; partly for the actual invention, but partly because here we meet a modern author who understands that there may be things that have a higher claim on humanity than its own ‘survival.’ ”—C. S. Lewis
     
    “As a science fiction writer, Clarke has all the essentials.”—Jeremy Bernstein, The New Yorker

    About Childhood’s End

    The inspiration for the Syfy miniseries.
     
    Childhood’s End is one of the defining legacies of Arthur C. Clarke, the author of 2001: A Space Odyssey and many other groundbreaking works. Since its publication in 1953, this prescient novel about first contact gone wrong has come to be regarded not only as a science fiction classic but as a literary thriller of the highest order.
     
    Spaceships have suddenly appeared in the skies above every city on the planet. Inside is an intellectually, technologically, and militarily superior alien race known as the Overlords. At first, their demands seem benevolent: unify Earth, eliminate poverty, end war. But at what cost? To those who resist, it’s clear that the Overlords have an agenda of their own. Has their arrival marked the end of humankind . . . or the beginning?
     
    Praise for Childhood’s End
     
    “A first-rate tour de force.”—The New York Times
     
    “Frighteningly logical, believable, and grimly prophetic . . . Clarke is a master.”—Los Angeles Times
     
    “There has been nothing like it for years; partly for the actual invention, but partly because here we meet a modern author who understands that there may be things that have a higher claim on humanity than its own ‘survival.’ ”—C. S. Lewis
     
    “As a science fiction writer, Clarke has all the essentials.”—Jeremy Bernstein, The New Yorker

    About Childhood’s End

    Without warning, giant silver ships from deep space appear in the skies above every major city on Earth. Manned by the Overlords, in fifty years, they eliminate ignorance, disease, and poverty. Then this golden age ends–and then the age of Mankind begins….

    Read An Excerpt

    Teacher’s Guide

    Read An Excerpt

    Teacher’s Guide

    Read An Excerpt

    Teacher’s Guide

    Also by Arthur C. Clarke

    2001: A Space Odyssey
    The Last Theorem
    Firstborn
    Sunstorm
    Time's Eye
    See all books by Arthur C. Clarke

    Also by Arthur C. Clarke

    2001: A Space Odyssey
    The Last Theorem
    Firstborn
    Sunstorm
    Time's Eye
    See all books by Arthur C. Clarke

    Also by Arthur C. Clarke

    2001: A Space Odyssey
    The Last Theorem
    Firstborn
    Sunstorm
    Time's Eye
    See all books by Arthur C. Clarke

    About Arthur C. Clarke

    Arthur C. Clarke has long been considered the greatest science fiction writer of all time and was an international treasure in many other ways, including the fact that an article by him in 1945 led to the invention of satellite technology…. More about Arthur C. Clarke

    About Arthur C. Clarke

    Arthur C. Clarke has long been considered the greatest science fiction writer of all time and was an international treasure in many other ways, including the fact that an article by him in 1945 led to the invention of satellite technology…. More about Arthur C. Clarke

    About Arthur C. Clarke

    Arthur C. Clarke has long been considered the greatest science fiction writer of all time and was an international treasure in many other ways, including the fact that an article by him in 1945 led to the invention of satellite technology…. More about Arthur C. Clarke

    Product Details

    Category: Space Opera

    Paperback | $17.00
    Published by Del Rey
    Jul 03, 2001 | 256 Pages | 5-1/2 x 8-1/4 | ISBN 9780345444059

    Category: Space Opera

    Mass Market Paperback | $8.99
    Published by Del Rey
    Oct 27, 2015 | 224 Pages | 4-3/16 x 6-7/8 | ISBN 9781101967034

    Category: Space Opera

    Mass Market Paperback | $7.99
    Published by Del Rey
    May 12, 1987 | 224 Pages | 4-3/16 x 6-7/8 | ISBN 9780345347954

    YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

    Praise

    “A first-rate tour de force.”—The New York Times
     
    “Frighteningly logical, believable, and grimly prophetic . . . [Arthur C.] Clarke is a master.”—Los Angeles Times
     
    “There has been nothing like it for years; partly for the actual invention, but partly because here we meet a modern author who understands that there may be things that have a higher claim on humanity than its own ‘survival.’ ”—C. S. Lewis
     
    “As a science fiction writer, Clarke has all the essentials.”—Jeremy Bernstein, The New Yorker

    Looking for More Great Reads?
    21 Books You’ve Been Meaning to Read
    Back to Top

    Visit other sites in the Penguin Random House Network

    Raise kids who love to read

    Brightly

    Raise kids who love to read

    Today's Top Books

    Today's Top Books

    Want to know what people are actually reading right now?

         An online magazine for today’s home cook

    TASTE

    An online magazine for today’s home cook