Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by birdlawyered
Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke
4.0
So... I may have read this in one day... and now my brain is swimming in a nebula somewhere.
This was an excellent example of classic scifi. The crossroads of imagination and invention - where so much technology is yet to be discovered, but it doesnt stop the author from dreaming bigger and farther.
The philosophy behind the book is based around the simple question: What does existing mean, if it serves no higher purpose than that of simply.. existing? The implications are interesting, to say the least. And the ending was... kinda despondent kinda beautiful?
My favourite part of the novel was perhaps the moment when the Overlords' true appearance is revealed. I also really enjoyed the descriptions of all the alien tech.
Perhaps the biggest criticism is that it is a victim to its time period. Written in the 50s, many of the stereotypical gender roles are still apparent, even in this future 'utopia'. There are no female main characters, and women are mentioned as mostly objects of desire or frustration. A colony of individual humans regresses to men working and women cooking... and ofc there is the awkward references to black skinned individuals...
In saying that, I say the book is a victim of its time because it's clear the author's intentions were innocent. Forgiving these few transgressions proves to make this a great look into the past looking in to the future !
This was an excellent example of classic scifi. The crossroads of imagination and invention - where so much technology is yet to be discovered, but it doesnt stop the author from dreaming bigger and farther.
The philosophy behind the book is based around the simple question: What does existing mean, if it serves no higher purpose than that of simply.. existing? The implications are interesting, to say the least. And the ending was... kinda despondent kinda beautiful?
My favourite part of the novel was perhaps the moment when the Overlords' true appearance is revealed. I also really enjoyed the descriptions of all the alien tech.
Perhaps the biggest criticism is that it is a victim to its time period. Written in the 50s, many of the stereotypical gender roles are still apparent, even in this future 'utopia'. There are no female main characters, and women are mentioned as mostly objects of desire or frustration. A colony of individual humans regresses to men working and women cooking... and ofc there is the awkward references to black skinned individuals...
In saying that, I say the book is a victim of its time because it's clear the author's intentions were innocent. Forgiving these few transgressions proves to make this a great look into the past looking in to the future !