Childhood's End - Arthur C. Clarke > Reviews

Advantages: Highly effective large-scale plot
Disadvantages: Prose style is sometimes pedestrian

Anyone who seriously wants to read science fiction should probably take the time to read some of the classics, as an idea of sf's history can be invaluable in understanding where modern author's are coming from. "Childhood's End" would undoubtedly be one of those classics. The three novels Clarke had written before (including one children's book) were dull, plodding books about space exploration. With "Childhood's End" he turned to a more original ... Read review

Advantages: Accessible even to non science fiction fans
Disadvantages:

Although this book is quite slow and hard to get into once you are caught up in its web this book becomes almost impossible to put down right up till the end. At places the thoughts and emotions conveyed become almost spell binding and in one or to places heart stopping. This is a well thought out book and does convey not just the sci-fi element but also a very human and personal side to the characters involved. With a rather surprising but sad ... Read review

Advantages: Great SF
Disadvantages: None

Way back when (1950 to be precise), Arthur C Clarke wrote a lot of short stories; one of these was called 'Guardian Angel', and in my opinion is one of Clarke's best, because of the build up to a climax in the last line, revealing the identity of the 'Overlords' who became the guardian angels of the title. This short story (available in the collection 'The Sentinel') developed shortly afterwards into the novel 'Childhood's End' - indeed the first ... Read review