Arthur C. Clarke: Childhood's End - book review

A realistic (as much as sci-fi can be realistic) depiction of an alien “invasion”. In contrast with most sci-fi movies or books, aliens aren’t evil and they don’t want to kill us. Rather, “The Overlords” — as they are called — are observing, pacifying and studying people, or maybe that’s what they want us to believe? *wink* *wink*

At times the book surpasses some more traditional literature in its poetic value, some scenery is awe-inducing, but most of the time it reads as a regular sci-fi book. The plot is not too muddy with unnecessary details and the action is enticing. In fact, at times it felt like a thriller, as the constant dread of the unknown permeated the overall atmosphere of the book. What Clarke excels in, beside world building, is describing humanity’s adaptation to an alien species on Earth from different points of view: psychological, religious, ideological. Don’t want to spoil anything but all I can say is that it has one of the saddest finales in sci-fi.

Rating: 4/5