Sci Fi Audiobooks: Ongoing column reviewing classics of sci fi and fantasy as well as current works available in audio format.
Book Summary:
This classic tale by Arthur C. Clarke takes place during the late 20th century (though still firmly in the Cold War era from the book’s perspective), when the United States and the Soviet Union are competing to be the first nation to launch a ship into space. But before either succeeds, large alien spaceships appear in the skies over most of the world’s major cities. The aliens, known as the Overlords, contact the people of Earth but do not reveal their appearance. They take control of international affairs and abolish war across the planet, while also working to set up a world government. Eventually, a near-utopia emerges on Earth—but it comes with consequences. The elimination of strife also stifles creativity throughout the population, and the people of Earth still want to know why the Overlords will not appear to those they watch over. That moment does eventually come, however, and it sets in motion events that will change the direction of the human race.
Book Rating: 4 ½ out of 5 Stars
Audiobook Rating: 4 ½ out of 5 Stars
Bottom Line:
Childhood’s End delivers an epic and masterful science fiction tale, though there are times when Clarke could have fleshed out his ideas more fully. The audiobook version delivers a good, clean reading that makes for an enjoyable listen.
Historical Context:
Childhood’s End began as the short story “Guardian Angel,” which Clarke originally wrote in 1946 but was not published until 1950. This was early in his career, and the story was influenced by John W. Campbell’s The Mightiest Machine, which depicted an alien species similar in appearance to the one Clarke used. That story later became the first part of Childhood’s End, written at a time when the world was grappling with the aftermath of World War II, the dawn of the nuclear age, and the looming threat of global annihilation. These fears are apparent in the book’s opening premise, as humanity is abruptly “saved” from itself by a superior alien intelligence just as it stands on the brink of self-destruction. The Overlords’ enforced peace reflects contemporary debates about whether humanity could survive its own technological progress without external restraint, themes also explored in the 1951 film The Day the Earth Stood Still. Childhood’s End would be Clarke’s fifth novel, coming out at a time when science fiction was transitioning from pulp adventure to more philosophical, idea-driven literature, and it went on to become one of his most influential works.
A Closer Look:
While the synopsis provided above is rather vague and mostly covers only the first half of the book, I wanted it to remain as spoiler-free as possible for those who have not read it yet. Even though the novel is relatively short by today’s standards (a little over two hundred pages), it has plenty of revelations to unfold, and be aware that this review does contain some minor spoilers.
Clarke, of course, is well known in the science fiction community and widely regarded as one of the genre’s best authors, having penned such masterpieces as 2001: A Space Odyssey (both the novel and the screenplay, the latter with help from Stanley Kubrick) and Rendezvous with Rama. But Childhood’s End is the book many consider to be his best, and it was also one of the author’s personal favorites. I consider the other two slightly superior (just by a notch or two), but I still hold this novel in high regard. Clarke’s writing style is dry and rather talky, but that was common with some of the more serious science fiction authors of that time. It does not detract from the book, but may require an adjustment for modern readers.
As mentioned, Childhood’s End is relatively short in length, and I usually appreciate that. Too often these days—usually at the prodding of publishers—authors pad out their stories to increase page count, which can turn a book into a rather plodding affair. As an example, Dan Simmons’ Hyperion, which has a very interesting story at its core, could easily have been whittled down by a third or even a half, making it a much better read.
Childhood’s End, on the other hand, is one of the few instances where I believe the author could have expanded the story without padding it. Quite a number of world-shattering (literally) events occur in the novel, but Clarke never fully delves into all of their repercussions. Of course, his aim is to tell the larger story of humanity’s next step in its cosmic evolution, so he is less concerned with exploring the finer details of every subplot. Still, there is more than one occasion where I would have liked more rather than less.
For example, humanity seems to accept the rule of the Overlords a bit too easily, as I believe the people of Earth would have put up more resistance. Likewise, the Overlords’ rule feels somewhat idealized and utopian. And when humanity finally sees what the Overlords look like, I believe the impact would have been far more far-reaching, especially among the world’s religions, which also seem to succumb too easily following the aliens’ arrival. There are several instances like this where Clarke leaves the reader to fill in the blanks, likely because these elements were not his main focus, and it seems like they could have been expanded upon better.
However, the progression of the human race from a petty, bickering people to a oneness with the cosmos is the central theme of the novel. And the book’s finale—as one man gives a play-by-play description of the end of the Earth—brings everything together and helps make this a very powerful tale and a must-read for all science fiction fans. My nitpicks aside, this certainly counts as a classic of the genre.
Comments on the Audiobook:
The audiobook version of Childhood’s End is narrated by Eric Michael Summerer who has a fair number of other genre audio books to his name as well. His narration is quite excellent and he does a great job with accents and distinguishing one character from the next. The audiobook has little else in the way of enhancements like music or sound effects, but with Summerer’s first-rate vocal work, that’s not really needed. He delivers a great reading for a great book that should be on the radar of all sci fi fans. It is available from Audible.com, and you can also get it in eBook and print format.
