Reviews with content warning for Racial slurs - Childhood's End

Decent story and foundational for a number of ideas in science fiction. A bit slow in a few parts and could have been edited down. It's about as racist as one would expect from a 1950s English science fiction author. And also sexist.

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dafrogmaster's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was written during the Cold War and boy, it shows. It spans many years and you are the lucky observer who gets to put together the true judgement of the main characters - the Overlords. I really enjoyed how they shifted in tone as you learn about them, and every revelation was gripping. There is a lull in the middle that shows the mundane passage of time, and as much as I needed to power through that section I felt it was necessary for the way the final few chapters play out.
The descriptions of alien locations are awesome, the many reveals are bombastic. I would be happy to reread this in the future.

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a_wren_that_reads's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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lukerik's review against another edition

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inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Beware googling before reading this book. There’s a fantastic reveal about a third of the way through that might be given away. I’ll not, but just to say that when you get to it your mind will toll as you realise that this is a book about the conflict and the brotherhood between science and religion. Here evolution and prophecy are identical. It’s so rich in allusion, so subtle in its detail, and so sweeping in its music. It was the first adult book I ever took down from my father’s bookshelf, and the one I’ve come back to more than any other over the years. It’s hard to really talk about it because it was the first book that really gave me freedom of thought and has probably made a part of me to some extent.

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genizah's review against another edition

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adventurous reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

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