Childhood´s End
written by Arthur C. Clarke
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”Childhood´s End” is a sci-fi novel published in 1953 by the British author Arthur C. Clarke. It received much acclaim and sold out immediately when it was first published and remains a sci-fi classic to this day. The idea of the novel first took shape from one of Arthur´s short stories called ”Guardian Angel”. The novel was edited by the legendary sci-fi fantasy author James Blish and he also rewrote the ending. The novel was accepted for publication after James Blish´s contribution and the rest is history. The story incorporates many themes like the alien invasion, humankind´s fate and our place in the universe. A well done mini-series was made in 2015 and put out by the Syfy channel. This adaptation was fairly close to the book with a talented cast and excellent special effects and costumes and make up. ”Childhood´s End” is a sci-fi masterpiece.

The story begins with a seemingly peaceful alien invasion. The aliens have dazzling technology, of course and humanity seems powerless, of course. But the story takes an extreme departure from most other alien invasion stories when the aliens genuinely offer to solve our problems for us. They seem benevolent and their offer seems sincere. The alien supervisor of Earth is named Karellen and is very kind. He hides his appearance for the first 50 years though because he looks like the western cultural character of the devil. A golden age is ushered in, thanks to overlord intervention at the expense of creativity and the sciences.

The biggest changes in society can eventually be seen in the children who develop enhanced abilities. I hate to give away spoilers but this shouldn´t stop you from reading the book. The story is about the end of the human race, the transcension of the human race, alien contact with an advanced civilization and what a ”golden age” might look like. It is also about humanity´s place in the universe and the possibility that our transcension might be swift but not be so good for most of us.

As it turns out, the mystery that is Karellen and the Overlords is quite simple. The Overlords work for a vast intelligence called the Overmind, whom they have never met and can never trascend into like humanity can. The Overmind travels the universe and harvests different races to be assimilated into itself. What that assimilation entails is not completely known. The Overlords themselves don´t know what it´s like to have a close relationship with the Overmind and they envy the races like humanity that can. Humanity, in some ways, is like a crop being harvested. Now it is assumed that that harvest is a good thing but we aren´t really sure. Either way, the Overlords may be technologically advanced but they are stuck in the position of never being able to transcend their existence. They have reached the end of any kind of transcension or evolution and for this reason they are sad.

If you ponder the fate of humanity and don´t believe that we will die out from a lack of resources or commit suicide through warfare then ”Childhood´s End” is another cogent possibility of what lies ahead for us in the far distant future. This literally is a story about the end of humanity´s childhood and the next step on a path we can loosely call transcendence. A collective transcendence by a segment of humanity where those left behind and not wanted by the Overmind are exterminated in an extinction level event.

This was a really fun and interesting read and I highly recommend making ”Childhood´s End” a part of either your paper or digital library. This is a classic.

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