Childhood's End

Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke. Hardcover edition. ISBN: 9781624901645.

"The human race was no longer alone." When the alien ships filled the skies over every city on Earth, this conclusion was unavoidable. Intellectually, technologically, militarily-how could a humankind cleaved in two by a Cold War ever hope to combat such visitors? But the Overlords who issued their instructions from their glittering, floating vessels revealed themselves to be benevolent dictators. In short order, they oversaw an end to war, poverty, and conflict between the nations. Rebellion was scattered and short-lived. A new golden age was at hand. But at what cost? As the Overlords reign lingered on, humanity stops trying to better itself. "The stars are not for man," the Overlords intone, snuffing out mankinds hunger for exploration and self-improvement. Is their agenda what it appears to be? Can a resistance offer an alternative superior to peace and harmony at all costs? Is humanity headed toward its final days-or a new dawn? Undisputed master of science fiction Arthur C. Clarke unleashed Childhoods End in 1953-the same year that the Science Fiction Book Club was born. Together they celebrate six decades of provocative, wondrous ideas in this exclusive 60th Anniversary Edition.