Childhood's End

[arobie]

I just finished reading <i>Childhood's End</i> by Arthur C. Clarke for the first time, and I thought it was great. I was just curious how many here have read it, so if you have, leave a post.

 

[kelle]

I have read it. It's an awesome book, really dark and eerie, at least the last part of the book. It's a while since I read it though, I'm thinking of reading it again, but I have so many other books to read so it'll be a while until I reread a book <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[JonClarke]

What an extraordinary book. Brimming with original ideas. The end transcends both optimism and pessimism. It deserves to be much better known than it is.<br /><br />Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[rogers_buck]

I read it 35 years ago when I was in junior high school. Funny that I still remember parts of it. I'll pick it up again when I have time for a refresher.

 

[spacester]

Arobie, simply put it is my all-time favorite Science Fiction book. No close seconds, it is a masterpiece above all masterpieces IMO. I see hints of it and homages to it in lots of Science Fiction and even some Sci-Fi.<br /><br />You have good taste too! <img src="/images/icons/cool.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[arobie]

**Anyone who might be reading this thread, and has not read the book needs to stop reading this thread after the next sentence. Go out, get the book, and read it, then you may come back and finish reading this thread.**<br /><br />It is indeed awesome. I got caught up in it and could not put it down. I read over half of it in one sitting and the rest the next sitting. The only other book I have read as quickly was the book I read after finishing it, <i>2001 A Space Odyssey</i>. <br /><br />In <i>Childhood's End</i>, Clarke masterfully portreyed the then futuristic, now almost here human race. My favorite character is definitely Jan. After reading the first description of him, he became my favorite, even though then, I hadn't figured he would be a major character. I liked him for who he was and could sympathise with him because I would be devastated if the doors to my dreams were slammed in my face like his were...at first.<br /><br /><i>Childhood's End</i> did not turn out in any way like I had though it would. I had figured that the 'Overlords' would destroy the human race...oh yeah, they did...but not like I though they would. I had thought that the overlords intentions towards humans had been bad, but I was wrong. Maby a classic 50's "Aliens destroy Earth" type novel is what I envisioned from the beginning.<br /><br />I like the way it turned out much better than what I thought. Childhood's end was an awesome science fiction novel. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" />

 

[wmdragon]

one of the few - maybe the only - scifi story thats made me cry. read it many years ago but still remember quite a bit of it. would make an awesome, poignant movie, if handled with dignity (i.e. not turned into a action alien invasion film). <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#993366"><em>The only laws of matter are those which our minds must fabricate, and the only laws of mind are fabricated for it by matter.</em> <br /> --- James Clerk Maxwell</font></p> </div>

 

[JonClarke]

It would be hard to turn Childhood's end into a classic alien invasion. Aliens with truthly overwhelming technology invade earth for the good of humanity and the universe. In the process they set the stage for the end of humanity and the appearance of something greater. But never underestimate Hollywood's ability to butcher a good book.<br /><br />Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[wmdragon]

<i>But never underestimate Hollywood's ability to butcher a good book</i><br /><br />precisely <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#993366"><em>The only laws of matter are those which our minds must fabricate, and the only laws of mind are fabricated for it by matter.</em> <br /> --- James Clerk Maxwell</font></p> </div>

 

[larper]

<font color="yellow">I read it when I was a boy, 30 years ago. Good story, one of Clarke's best, but I recall feeling quite depressed over how it ended. If humanity had chosen such a fate, it would be one thing....but to have it forced upon us was upsetting. </font><br />Exactly my experience with the book. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong><font color="#ff0000">Vote </font><font color="#3366ff">Libertarian</font></strong></p> </div>

 

[wmdragon]

we will invade you for your own good ... doesnt that sound familiar <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#993366"><em>The only laws of matter are those which our minds must fabricate, and the only laws of mind are fabricated for it by matter.</em> <br /> --- James Clerk Maxwell</font></p> </div>

 

[JonClarke]

I think this would be an extraordinarily difficult film for Hollywood to get right, given the way that have stuffed up much less difficult movies. <br /><br />Earth is invaded - completely successfully, without casualties. Any weapons deployed against the overlords are neutralised and the attack ignored, even nuclear weapons. I can't see Hollywood liking that, as the staple approach is humans triumphing against the aliens, despite the alien's superior technology (ID anyone?)<br /><br />The Overlords do not interfer directly in human affairs, except to prohibit wars (and overtly racist government). Given Hollywood's love of the military and violent action as the solution to all problems (no challenge cannot be solved by the use of appropriate megatonnage) this might be difficult to swallow.<br /><br />The final chapters of the book, where the overlord's overal purpose becomes clear, to midwife the emergence of a transcendent entity from humanity and its merging with the Overmind, an evolving theosphere, are overwhelming. The great tragedy of the book is not the end of humanity as we know it and the earth itself, but the overlords. They are midwives, but they temselves will never share that transcendence. There are very few Hollywood SF directors who would be able to capture this subtlty and ambiguity in an adapatation.<br /><br />Jon<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[grooble]

It'd make sense, the devil was called the morning star, a title jesus christ was later given.

 

[redracer02]

Jesus was given the title after Satan fell from grace. Talks about it in the OT.

 

[a_lost_packet_]

Childhood's End is an outstanding classic in SF. I enjoyed it very much.<br /><br />Yes, there was talk of making it into a movie. I had an old issue of Starlog that had a great article, complete with artists drawings, of the effort being undertaken. However, it never came to fruition.<br /><br />I would like to see it made into a movie. However, Hollywood has a bad rep for butchering sci-fi books.<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="1">I put on my robe and wizard hat...</font> </div>