Editing Childhood's End

{{Short description|1953 novel by Arthur C. Clarke}}
{{About|a novel}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2025}}
{{Use Oxford spelling|date=October 2012}}
{{Infobox book 
| name = Childhood's End
| title_orig =
| translator =
| image = ChildhoodsEnd(1stEd).jpg
| caption = Cover of first edition hardcover
| author = [[Arthur C. Clarke]]
| illustrator =
| cover_artist = [[Richard M. Powers]]
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| series =
| genre = [[Science fiction]]
| publisher = [[Ballantine Books]]
| release_date = 1953
| english_release_date =
| media_type = Print ([[hardcover]] and [[paperback]])
| pages = 214 
| isbn = 0-345-34795-1
| oclc= 36566890
| preceded_by =
| followed_by =
}}

'''''Childhood's End''''' is a 1953 [[science fiction]] novel by the British author [[Arthur C. Clarke|Arthur&nbsp;C. Clarke]]. The story follows the peaceful [[alien invasion]]{{sfn|Booker|Thomas|2009|pp=31–32}} of Earth by the mysterious Overlords, whose arrival begins decades of apparent [[utopia]] under [[Indirect rule|indirect]] alien rule, at the cost of human identity and culture.

Clarke's idea for the book began with his short story "Guardian Angel" (published in ''[[New Worlds (magazine)|New Worlds]]'' #8, winter 1950), which he expanded into a novel in 1952, incorporating it as the first part of the book, "Earth and the Overlords". Completed and published in 1953, ''Childhood's End'' sold out its first printing, received good reviews and became Clarke's first successful novel. The book is often regarded by both readers and critics as Clarke's best novel<ref name="McAleer88">{{harvnb|McAleer|1992|p=88}}.</ref> and is described as "a classic of alien literature".{{sfn|Dick|2001|pp=127–129}} Along with ''[[The Songs of Distant Earth]]'' (1986), Clarke considered ''Childhood's End'' to be one of his favourites of his own novels.{{sfn|Cordeiro|2008|pp=47–50}} The novel was nominated for the [[Retro Hugo Award for Best Novel]] in 2004.

Several attempts to adapt the novel into a film or miniseries have been made with varying levels of success. Director [[Stanley Kubrick]] expressed interest in the 1960s, but collaborated with Clarke on ''[[2001: A Space Odyssey (film)|2001: A Space Odyssey]]'' (1968) instead. The novel's theme of transcendent evolution also appears in Clarke's [[Space Odyssey|''Space Odyssey'' series]]. In 1997, the [[BBC]] produced a two-hour radio dramatization of ''Childhood's End'' that was adapted by Tony Mulholland. The [[Syfy|Syfy Channel]] produced [[Childhood's End (miniseries)|a three-part, four-hour television miniseries]] of ''Childhood's End'', which was broadcast on 14–16 December 2015.

==Plot summary==
In the late 20th century, the [[United States]] and the [[Soviet Union]] are competing to launch the first spacecraft into orbit when alien spaceships suddenly position themselves above Earth's principal cities. After one week, the aliens announce they are assuming supervision of international affairs, to prevent humanity's extinction. They become known as the Overlords. In general, they let humans go on conducting their affairs in their own way, although some humans are suspicious of the Overlords' benign intent, as they never allow themselves to be seen.

The Overlord Karellen, the "Supervisor for Earth", periodically meets with Rikki Stormgren, the [[Secretary-General of the United Nations]]. Karellen tells Stormgren that the Overlords will reveal themselves in 50 years, when humanity will have become used to their presence. When the Overlords finally reveal their appearance, they resemble the traditional Christian folk images of [[demon]]s, with cloven hooves, leathery wings, horns, and barbed tails. Humankind enters a [[golden age of prosperity]] at the expense of creativity. 

The Overlords are interested in [[parapsychology|psychic research]], which humans suppose is part of their anthropological study. Rupert Boyce, a prolific book collector on the subject, allows one Overlord, Rashaverak, to study these books at his home. To impress his friends with Rashaverak's presence, Boyce holds a party, during which he makes use of a [[Ouija board]]. Jan Rodricks, an [[Astrophysics|astrophysicist]] and Rupert's brother-in-law, asks the identity of the Overlords' home star. The Ouija board reveals a number which Jan recognizes as a star-catalogue number and learns that it is consistent with the direction in which Overlord supply ships appear and disappear. Jan stows away on an Overlord supply ship and travels 40 [[light year]]s to their home planet.

Well over a century after the Overlords' arrival, human children, beginning with the Greggsons', begin to display [[clairvoyance]] and [[telekenesis|telekinetic powers]]. Karellen reveals the Overlords' purpose: they serve the Overmind, a vast cosmic intelligence, as a kind of "bridge species", fostering other races' eventual union with it.

As Rashaverak explains, the time of humanity as a race composed of single individuals with a concrete identity is coming to an end. The children's minds reach into each other and merge into a single vast group consciousness. For the transformed children's safety, they are segregated on a continent of their own. No more human children are born and many parents die or commit suicide. When Jan Rodricks returns to Earth, he finds an unexpectedly altered planet. Humanity has effectively become extinct and he is now the last man alive.

Some Overlords remain on Earth to study the children from a safe distance. When the evolved children mentally alter the Moon's rotation and make other planetary manipulations, it becomes too dangerous to remain. The departing Overlords offer to take Rodricks with them, but he chooses to stay to witness Earth's end and transmit a report of what he sees.

==Publication history==

=== Development ===
[[File:Barrage balloons over London during World War II.jpg|thumb|300px|right|[[Barrage balloon]]s over London during World War&nbsp;II. Clarke observed balloons like these floating over the city in 1941.  He recalls that his earliest idea for the story may have originated with this scene, with the giant balloons becoming alien ships in the novel.{{sfn|''Childhood's End''|pp=vii–viii}}]]

The novel first took shape in July 1946, when Clarke wrote "Guardian Angel", a short story that would eventually become Part&nbsp;I of ''Childhood's End''. Clarke's portrayal of the Overlords as devils was influenced by [[John W. Campbell]]'s depiction of the devilish Teff-Hellani species in ''[[The Mightiest Machine]]'',<ref name="McAleer88" /> first serialized in ''[[Analog Science Fiction and Fact|Astounding Stories]]'' in 1934. After finishing "Guardian Angel", Clarke enrolled at [[King's College London]] and served as the chairman of the [[British Interplanetary Society]] from 1946 to 1947 and from 1951 to 1953. He earned a first-class degree in mathematics and physics from King's in 1948, after which he worked as an assistant editor for ''[[Science Abstracts]]''. "Guardian Angel" was submitted for publication but was rejected by several editors, including Campbell. At the request of Clarke's agent and unbeknown to Clarke, the story was edited by [[James Blish]], who rewrote the ending. Blish's version of the story was accepted for publication in April 1950 by ''[[Famous Fantastic Mysteries]]'' magazine.<ref>{{harvnb|Clarke|2000|p=203}}. See also: [http://lakdiva.org/clarke/pulp/1950_april_FFM.html ACC Photographic reproduction] of the first pages of the original tale, {{cite magazine |title=Guardian Angel |magazine=Fantastic Mysteries |date=April 1950 |volume=11 |number=4 |pages=98–112, 127–129}}</ref> Clarke's original version of "Guardian Angel" was later published in the Winter 1950 issue of ''[[New Worlds (magazine)|New Worlds]]'' magazine.{{sfn|Samuelson|1973}}

After Clarke's nonfiction science book ''[[The Exploration of Space]]'' (1951) was successfully received, he began to focus on his writing career. In February 1952, Clarke started working on the novelization of "Guardian Angel"; he completed a first draft of the novel ''Childhood's End'' in December, and a final revision in January 1953.<ref name="Clarkev">{{harvnb|''Childhood's End''|p=v}}.</ref> Clarke travelled to New York in April 1953 with the novel and several of his other works. Literary agent [[Bernard Shir-Cliff]] convinced [[Ballantine Books]] to buy everything Clarke had, including ''Childhood's End'', "[[Encounter in the Dawn]]" (1953), (which Ballantine retitled ''[[Expedition to Earth]]''), and ''[[Prelude to Space]]'' (1951). However, Clarke had composed two different endings for the novel, and the last chapter of ''Childhood's End'' was still not finished.{{sfn|McAleer|1992|pp=89-91}} Clarke proceeded to [[Tampa Bay]], Florida,  to go scuba diving with George Grisinger, and on his way there visited his friend [[Frederick C. Durant]] – President of the [[International Astronautical Federation]] from 1953 to 1956 – and his family in the Washington Metropolitan Area, whilst he continued working on the last chapter. He next traveled to [[Atlanta, Georgia]], where he visited Ian Macauley, a friend who was active in the [[civil rights movement]]. Clarke finished the final chapter in Atlanta while Clarke and Macauley discussed racial issues; these conversations may have influenced the development of the last chapter, particularly Clarke's choice to make the character of Jan Rodricks – the last surviving member of the human species – a black man.{{sfn|McAleer|1992|pp=91–92}}

Clarke arrived in Florida at the end of April. The short story, "The Man Who Ploughed the Sea", included in the ''[[Tales from the White Hart]]'' (1957) collection, was influenced by his time in Florida. While in [[Key Largo]] in late May, Clarke met Marilyn Mayfield, and after a romance lasting less than three weeks, they travelled to Manhattan and married at [[New York City Hall]]. The couple spent their honeymoon in the [[Pocono Mountains]] in Pennsylvania, where Clarke proofread ''Childhood's End''. In July, Clarke returned to England with Mayfield, but it quickly became clear that the marriage would not last as Clarke spent most of his time reading and writing, and talking about his work. Further, Clarke wanted to be a father, and Marilyn, who had a son from a previous marriage, informed Clarke after their marriage that she could no longer have children. When ''Childhood's End'' was published the following month, it appeared with a dedication: "To Marilyn, For letting me read the proofs on our honeymoon." The couple separated after a few months together, but remained married for the next decade.{{sfn|McAleer|1992|pp=92–100}}

===Publication===
Ballantine wanted to publish ''Childhood's End'' before ''Expedition to Earth'' and ''Prelude to Space'', but Clarke wanted to wait. He felt that it was a difficult book to release. He had written two different endings for the novel and was unsure of which to use. According to biographer Neil McAleer, Clarke's uncertainty may have been because of its thematic focus on the paranormal and transcendence with the alien Overmind. While the theme was used effectively by Clarke in the novel, McAleer wrote that "it was not science fiction based on science, which he came to advocate and represent". When he wrote ''Childhood's End'', Clarke was interested in the paranormal, and did not become a sceptic until much later in his life.<ref name="McAleer9091">{{harvnb|McAleer|1992|pp=90–91}}.</ref> Ballantine convinced Clarke to let them publish ''Childhood's End'' first, and it was published in August 1953, with a cover designed by American science fiction illustrator [[Richard M. Powers]].<ref>{{cite web|date=2009-03-20|url=http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/pl.cgi?CHLDHDSNDL1953|title=Publication Listing|website=isfdb.org|publisher=[[Internet Speculative Fiction Database]]}}</ref> ''Childhood's End'' first appeared in paperback and hardcover editions, with the paperback as the primary edition, an unusual approach for the 1950s. For the first time in his career, Clarke became known as a novelist.<ref name="McAleer9091" />

Decades later, Clarke was preparing a new edition of ''Childhood's End'' after the story had become dated. The initial chapter of the 1953 novel correctly foresees a race between the US and Soviet Union to first land men on the Moon (and the prominence of German rocket scientists in both space programs), but sets it later than it would actually happen (post-1975; the exact year is not given in the text, but 1945 is said to be more than thirty years ago). After the book was first published, the [[Apollo missions]] landed humans on the Moon in 1969, and in 1989 US President [[George H. W. Bush]] announced the [[Space Exploration Initiative]] (SEI), calling for astronauts to eventually explore Mars. In 1990, Clarke added a new foreword and rewrote the first chapter, placing it in the early 21st century, changing the goal from the Moon to Mars, and implying a joint effort rather than a race.<ref name="Clarkev" /> Editions since have appeared with the original opening or have included both versions. "Guardian Angel" has also appeared in two short story collections: ''[[The Sentinel (anthology)|The Sentinel]]'' (1983), and ''[[The Collected Stories of Arthur C. Clarke]]'' (2001).

On October 28, 2008, [[Audible (service)|Audible]] released a 7-hour 47 minute unabridged [[audiobook]] version of ''Childhood's End'', narrated by Eric Michael Summerer, under its Audible Frontiers imprint. An ''[[AudioFile (magazine)|AudioFile]]'' review commended Summerer's narration as "smoothly presented and fully credible".{{sfn|McCarty|2009}} An audio introduction and commentary is provided by Canadian science fiction author [[Robert J. Sawyer]].<ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_2?asin=B002V8L5FS&qid=1293685659&sr=1-2|title=Childhood's End|publisher=[[Audible (service)|Audible]] }}</ref>

==Reception==
The novel was well received by most readers and critics.{{sfnm|1a1=Howes|1y=1977|2a1=McAleer|2y=1992|pp=98–99}} Two months after publication, all 210,000 copies of the first printing had been sold.{{sfn|McAleer|1992|p=99}} ''[[The New York Times]]'' published two positive reviews of the book: [[Basil Davenport]] compared Clarke to [[Olaf Stapledon]], [[C. S. Lewis]], and [[H. G. Wells]], a "very small group of writers who have used science fiction as the vehicle of philosophic ideas".{{sfn|Davenport|1953|p=BR19}} [[William DuBois (writer)|William DuBois]] called the book "a first rate tour de force that is well worth the attention of every thoughtful citizen in this age of anxiety".{{sfn|Du Bois|1953}} Don Guzman of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' admired the novel for its suspense, wisdom, and beauty. He compared Clarke's role as a writer to that of an artist, "a master of sonorous language, a painter of pictures in futuristic colors, a [[Chesley Bonestell]] with words".{{sfn|Guzman|1953|p=D5}} ''[[Galaxy Science Fiction|Galaxy]]'' reviewer [[Groff Conklin]] called the novel "a formidably impressive job&nbsp;...&nbsp;a continuous kaleidoscope of the unexpected".<ref>"Galaxy's 5 Star Shelf", ''[[Galaxy Science Fiction]]'', January 1954, p.129</ref>
While acknowledging "inexpressible unpleasant and uncomfortable feelings after reading it", Japanese author [[Yukio Mishima]] declared, "I'm not afraid to call it a masterpiece."{{cn|date=January 2025}}

[[Anthony Boucher]] and [[J. Francis McComas]] were more skeptical, and faulted the novel's "curious imbalance between its large-scale history and a number of episodic small-scale stories". While praising Clarke's work as "[[Olaf Stapledon|Stapledonian]] [for] its historic concepts and also for the quality of its prose and thinking", they concluded that ''Childhood's End'' was "an awkward and imperfect book".<ref>"Recommended Reading", ''[[The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction|F&SF]]'', October 1953, p. 72.</ref> [[P. Schuyler Miller]] said the novel was "all imagination and poetry", but concluded it was "not up to some of Clarke's other writing" due to weakness in its "episodic structure".<ref>"The Reference Library", ''[[Astounding Science Fiction]]'', February 1954, pp.151</ref>

[[Brian W. Aldiss]] and [[David Wingrove]] wrote that ''Childhood's End'' rested on "a rather banal philosophical idea...expressed in simple but aspiring language that vaguely recalls the [[Psalms]] combined with a dramatized sense of loss [for] undeniable effect".<ref>Brian W. Aldiss and David Wingrove, ''[[Trillion Year Spree]]'', [[Victor Gollancz]], 1986, p.308</ref>

In 2004 ''Childhood's End'' was nominated for a [[Hugo Award for Best Novel#Retro Hugos|retrospective Hugo Award for Best Novel]] for 1954.<ref>[http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/1954-retro-hugo-awards/ "1954 Retro-Hugo Awards"]. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110507164840/http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/1954-retro-hugo-awards/ |date=2011-05-07 }} The Hugo Awards. Retrieved 24 April 2016.</ref> In 2021, the novel was one of six classic science fiction novels by British authors selected by [[Royal Mail]] to feature on a [[Great Britain commemorative stamps 2020–2029#2021|series of UK postage stamps]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/national/19220163.stamps-feature-original-artworks-celebrating-classic-science-fiction-novels/|title=Stamps to feature original artworks celebrating classic science fiction novels|location=York, England |work=The Press |date=9 April 2021|accessdate=20 September 2022}}</ref>

==Adaptations==
In the 1960s, director Stanley Kubrick was interested in making a film adaptation of the novel, but [[Hollywood blacklist|blacklisted]] director [[Abraham Polonsky]] had already optioned it. Instead, Kubrick collaborated with Clarke on adapting the short story "[[The Sentinel (short story)|The Sentinel]]" into what eventually became ''2001: A Space Odyssey'' (1968).<ref>{{harvnb|Baxter|1997|pp=199–230}}. See also: {{harvnb|Buhle|Wagner|2002}}.</ref>  Months before his performance at Woodstock in 1969, folk singer and guitarist [[Richie Havens]] told ''[[Ebony (magazine)|Ebony]]'' magazine about his appreciation of Clarke's story and expressed his interest in working on a future film adaptation of ''Childhood's End''.{{sfn|Bogle|1969|pp=107-108}} Screenplays by Polonsky and [[Howard Koch (screenwriter)|Howard Koch]] were never made into films.<ref>For a brief discussion as to why novels like ''Childhood's End'' have not been adapted into films, and the challenges involved in production, see {{cite news|last=Beale|first=Lewis|date=2001-07-08|title=A Genre of the Intellect With Little Use for Ideas|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|page=12|issn=0362-4331|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/08/movies/film-a-genre-of-the-intellect-with-little-use-for-ideas.html}}</ref>

David Elgood first proposed a radio adaptation of the novel in 1974, but nothing came of it in that decade.{{cn|date=January 2025}}

Philip DeGuere, whose credits include the TV series ''[[Alias Smith and Jones]]'', developed a script in the late 1970s for Universal, who planned to film it initially as a six-hour mini-series for CBS Television, and later as a two- or three-hour [[telemovie]] for ABC. However, Universal discovered that its contracts with Arthur C. Clarke – some of which dated back to 1957 – were out of date. These contractual difficulties were resolved in 1979 and DeGuere worked with legendary comic book artist [[Neal Adams]] on preproduction drawings and other material. The project had Clarke's approval. However Universal decided that the budget required would be nearly $40 million and they were only prepared to spend $10 million, so the movie was not made.<ref>"A Difficult Childhood: The Unmanifested Destiny of Arthur C. Clarke's "Childhood's End{{'"}}, in David Hughes, ''The Greatest Sci-Fi Movies Never Made''. Chicago, Illinois: A Capella Books, 2001, pp. 18–23.</ref>

Director Brian Lighthill revisited the radio adaptation proposal and obtained the rights in 1995. After Lighthill received a go-ahead from [[BBC Radio]] in 1996, he commissioned a script from Tony Mulholland, resulting in a new, two-part adaptation. The BBC produced the two-hour radio dramatization of the novel, and broadcast it on [[BBC Radio 4]] in November 1997. The recording was released on cassette by BBC Audiobooks in 1998 and on CD in 2007.{{sfn|Pixley|2007}}

{{As of|2002}}, film rights to the novel were held by [[Universal Pictures]], with director [[Kimberly Peirce]] attached to a project.{{sfn|Elder|Hart|2008|p=9}}

On April 10, 2013, the [[Syfy Channel]] announced its plans to develop [[Childhood's End (miniseries)|a ''Childhood's End'' TV miniseries]].<ref>[https://archive.today/20140922170955/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/tvnews.php?id=102726 "Syfy to Adapt Childhood's End, Ringworld, The Lotus Caves and More!"]</ref>{{fcn|date=November 2024}} The three-episode, four-hour production premiered December 14, 2015. [[Charles Dance]] portrays the Supervisor Karellen.

An illustration of an Overlord as depicted by artist [[Wayne Barlowe]] was published in ''[[Barlowe's Guide to Extraterrestrials]]''.{{sfn|Barlowe|1987}}

== Legacy ==
''Childhood's End'' has inspired the work of many contemporary musicians and artists. These include [[Pink Floyd]] (''[[Childhood's End (Pink Floyd song)|Childhood's End]]''),<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-19 |title=Childhood's End — Pink Floyd |url=https://www.last.fm/music/Pink+Floyd/_/Childhood's+End |access-date=2024-11-17 |website=Last.fm |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Ewingpublished |first=Jerry |date=2019-07-20 |title=Eleven great prog tracks about space |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/eleven-great-prog-songs-about-space |access-date=2024-11-17 |website=louder |language=en}}</ref> [[Van der Graaf Generator]] (''Childlike Faith in Childhood's End''),<ref>{{Cite web |last=Boaz |first=Joachim |date=2011-05-23 |title=Science Fiction Inspired Song: Van der Graaf Generator's 'Childlike Faith in Childhood's End' (1976) |url=https://sciencefictionruminations.com/2011/05/23/science-fiction-inspired-song-van-der-graaf-generators-childlike-faith-in-childhoods-end-1976/ |access-date=2024-11-17 |website=Science Fiction and Other Suspect Ruminations |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> [[David Bowie]] (''[[Oh! You Pretty Things]]''),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Childhood's End |url=https://bowiesongs.wordpress.com/tag/childhoods-end/ |access-date=2024-11-17 |website=Pushing Ahead of the Dame |language=en}}</ref> and [[Genesis (band)|Genesis]] (''[[Watcher of the Skies]]'').<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brick |first=Musical |date=2015-06-04 |title=Alien Themed Genesis Songs - Musical Brick |url=https://musicalbrick.com/alien-themed-genesis-songs/ |access-date=2024-11-17 |website=musicalbrick.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":0" />The novel also inspired the [[Hipgnosis]] cover art for [[Led Zeppelin]]'s ''[[Houses of the Holy]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Music |first=This Day In |date=2022-01-31 |title=Houses Of The Holy |url=https://www.thisdayinmusic.com/classic-albums/houses-of-the-holy/ |access-date=2024-11-17 |website=This Day In Music |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sweeting |first=Adam |date=2013-04-18 |title=Storm Thorgerson obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2013/apr/18/storm-thorgerson-dies-69-designer-of-album-covers-for-pink-floyd |access-date=2024-11-17 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

The sixth episode of the 2023 [[Netflix]] series ''[[Gamera Rebirth]]'' was titled "Childhood’s end" as an homage to [[Arthur C. Clarke]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gamera Rebirth Production Committee |title=GAMERA REBIRTH 公式設定資料集 |date=January 29, 2024 |publisher=Kadokawa Shoten |isbn=9784041138410 |pages=110–111 |language=Japanese |trans-title=GAMERA Rebirth: Official Setting Materials}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|1950s|Novels|Speculative fiction}}
* [[1953 in science fiction]]
* ''[[Earth: Final Conflict]]''
* [[First contact (science fiction)]]
* [[Golden Age of Science Fiction]]
* ''[[The Cosmic Rape]]''
* [[Zoo hypothesis]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==References==
{{Refbegin|30em}}
* {{cite book|last=Barlowe|first=Wayne Douglas|year=1987|title=Barlowe's Guide to Extraterrestrials|publisher=[[Workman Publishing Company]]|isbn=0-89480-500-2|title-link=Barlowe's Guide to Extraterrestrials}}
* {{cite book|last=Baxter|first=John|year=1997|title=Stanley Kubrick: A Biography|chapter=Kubrick Beyond the Infinite|publisher=Basic Books|isbn=0-7867-0485-3|pages=[https://archive.org/details/stanleykubrickbi00baxt/page/199 199–230]|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/stanleykubrickbi00baxt/page/199}}
*{{cite journal|last=Bogle|first=Donald E.|date=May 1969|title=Richie Havens|journal=Ebony|volume=24|issue=7|pages=101–108}}
* {{cite book|last1=Booker|first1=M. Keith|first2=Anne-Marie|last2=Thomas|year=2009|chapter=The Alien Invasion Narrative|title=The Science Fiction Handbook|publisher=[[John Wiley & Sons]]|isbn=978-1-4051-6205-0}}
* {{cite book|last1=Buhle|first1=Paul|first2=Dave|last2=Wagner|year=2002|title=A Very Dangerous Citizen: Abraham Lincoln Polonsky and the Hollywood Left|url=https://archive.org/details/verydangerouscit00buhl|url-access=registration|publisher=[[University of California Press]]|isbn=0-520-23672-6}}
* {{cite book|last=Clarke|first=Arthur C.|orig-year=1953|year=1990|title=Childhood's End|publisher=[[Del Rey Books]]|isbn=0-345-34795-1|url=https://archive.org/details/childhoodsend00clar_0 |ref={{sfnref|''Childhood's End''}}}}
* {{cite book|last=Clarke|first=Arthur C.|year=2000|chapter=Guardian Angel|title=The Collected Stories of Arthur C. Clarke|publisher=[[Tor Books]]|isbn=0-312-87821-4|pages=[https://archive.org/details/collectedstories00clar/page/203 203–224]|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/collectedstories00clar/page/203}}
* {{cite journal|last=Cordeiro|first=José Luis|date=July–August 2008|title=Tribute to Sir Arthur C. Clarke|journal=[[The Futurist (magazine)|The Futurist]]|publisher=[[World Future Society]]|volume=42|issue=4|issn=0016-3317}}
* {{cite news|last=Davenport|first=Basil|date=1953-08-23|title=The End, and the Beginning, of Man|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|page=BR19}}
* {{cite book|last=Dick|first=Steven J.|author-link=Steven J. Dick|year=2001|title=Life on Other Worlds: The 20th-Century Extraterrestrial Life Debate|chapter=The Alien Comes of Age: Clarke to E.T. and Beyond|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]|isbn=0-521-79912-0}}
* {{cite news|last=Du Bois|first=William|date=1953-08-27|url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/97/03/09/reviews/clarke-childhood.html|title=Childhood's End|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=2011-01-02}}
* {{cite news|last1=Elder|first1=Robert K. |first2=Maureen M. |last2=Hart|date=2008-03-28|title=Director put soldiers 1st in her film|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|page=9}}
* {{cite news|last=Guzman|first=Don|date=1953-08-30|title='Childhood's End' Brings Beauty to Science Fiction|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|page=D5}}
* {{cite book|last=Howes|first=Alan B.|editor=Martin Harry Greenberg |editor2=Joseph D. Olander|year=1977|chapter=Expectation and Surprise in Childhood's End|title=Arthur C. Clarke|publisher=Taplinger Publishing Company|isbn=0-8008-0402-3|pages=[https://archive.org/details/arthurcclarke0000unse/page/149 149–171]|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/arthurcclarke0000unse/page/149}}
* {{cite book|last=McAleer|first=Neil|year=1992|title=Arthur C. Clarke: The Authorized Biography|url=https://archive.org/details/arthurcclarkeaut00mcal|url-access=registration|publisher=Contemporary Books|location=Chicago|isbn=0-8092-3720-2}}
* {{cite web|last=McCarty|first=Joyce E.|date=Feb 2009|url=http://www.audiofilemagazine.com/dbsearch/showreview.cfm?Num=41075|title=Childhood's End|publisher=[[AudioFile (magazine)|AudioFile]]}}
* {{cite book|last=Pixley|first=Andrew|orig-year=1997|year=2007|title=BBC Classic Radio Sci-Fi: Childhood's End|publisher=BBC Audiobooks|isbn=978-1-4056-7786-8}}
* {{Cite journal|last=Samuelson|first=David N.|date=Spring 1973|title=Childhood's End: A Median Stage of Adolescence?|journal=Science Fiction Studies|publisher=DePauw University|volume= 1, Part 1|url=http://www.depauw.edu/sfs/backissues/1/samuelson1art.htm}}
{{Refend}}

==Further reading==
{{Refbegin|30em}}
* {{cite journal|last=Beatie|first=Bruce A.|date=Spring 1989|title=Arthur C. Clarke and the Alien Encounter|journal=Extrapolation|volume=30|issue=1|pages=53–69|doi=10.3828/extr.1989.30.1.53}}
* {{cite journal|last=Candelaria|first=Matthew|date=Jan 2002|url=http://ariel.synergiesprairies.ca/ariel/index.php/ariel/article/view/3917/3852|title=The Overlord's Burden: The Source of Sorrow in Childhood's End|journal=Ariel|publisher=[[University of Calgary]]|volume=33|issue=1|pages=37–58|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706205440/http://ariel.synergiesprairies.ca/ariel/index.php/ariel/article/view/3917/3852|archive-date=2011-07-06}}
* {{cite book|last=Clarke|first=Bruce|year=2008|title=Posthuman Metamorphosis: Narrative and Systems|publisher=[[Fordham University Press]]|isbn=978-0-8232-2851-5}}
* {{cite book|last=Clark|first=Stephen R. L.|title=How to Live Forever: Science Fiction and Philosophy|publisher=Routledge|year=1995|pages=154–156|chapter=Childhood end|isbn=0-415-12626-6|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VH2EB3FSupAC&q=childhoods+end+clarke&pg=PA153}}
* {{cite book|last=Clareson|first=Thomas D.|year=1976|chapter=The Cosmic Loneliness of Arthur C. Clarke|title=Voices for the Future: Essays on Major Science Fiction Writers|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/voicesforfuturee00clar|chapter-url-access=registration|publisher=Popular Press|pages=[https://archive.org/details/voicesforfuturee00clar/page/216 216–237]|isbn=0-87972-120-0}}
* {{cite magazine|last=Feenberg|first=Andrew|date=March 1977|title=An End to History: Science Fiction in the Nuclear Age|magazine=Johns Hopkins Magazine|pages=12–22}}
* {{cite journal|last=Gordon|first=Andrew|date=1980-09-01|title=Close Encounters|journal=Literature/Film Quarterly|volume=8|issue=3|publisher=[[Salisbury University]]|pages=156–164|issn=0090-4260}}
* {{cite book|last=Goswami|first=Amit|year=1985|title=The Cosmic Dancers: Exploring the Physics of Science Fiction|publisher=Mcgraw-Hill|isbn=0-07-023867-7}}
* {{cite book|last=Hillegas|first=Mark R.|title=The Future as Nightmare: H.G. Wells and the Anti-Utopians |publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1967|pages=153–154 17|isbn=0-8093-0676-X|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HnBbAAAAMAAJ&q=Hillegas,+The+Future+as+Nightmare}}
* {{cite book|last=Hollow|first=John|orig-year=1983|year=1987|title=Against the Night, the Stars: The Science Fiction of Arthur C. Clarke|publisher=Harcourt Brace Jovanovich|isbn=0-15-103966-6|url=https://archive.org/details/againstnightst00holl}}
* {{cite book|last=Hughes|first=David|year=2008|title=The Greatest Sci-fi Movies Never Made|chapter=A Difficult Childhood|pages=18–23|publisher=Titan Books|edition=2|isbn=978-1-84576-755-6}}
* {{cite book|last=Hull|first=Elizabeth Anne|editor=Milton T. Wolf|year=1997|chapter=On His Shoulders: Shaw's Influence On Clarke's Childhood's End|title=Shaw and Science Fiction|publisher=[[Pennsylvania State University Press]]|isbn=978-0-271-01681-8|pages=107–132}}
* {{cite journal|last=Huntington|first=John|date=Spring 1974|url=http://www.depauw.edu/sfs/backissues/3/huntington3art.htm|title=The Unity of "Childhood's End"|journal=[[Science Fiction Studies]]|publisher=[[DePauw University]]|volume=1|issue=3|pages=154–164}}
* {{cite book|last1=James|first1=Edward|author-link=Edward James (historian) |last2=Mendlesohn|first2=Farah |author-link2=Farah Mendlesohn |title=The Cambridge Companion to Science Fiction|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]|year=2003|isbn=0-511-07518-9}}
* {{cite book|last=Lewis|first=Dave|year=1994|title=The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin|publisher=Omnibus Press|isbn=0-7119-3528-9}}
* {{cite book|last=Olander|first=Joseph D|author2=Martin Harry Greenberg|title=Arthur C. Clarke |publisher=P. Harris|year=1977|isbn=0-904505-41-3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DHlaAAAAMAAJ&q=childhoods+end+clarke+review}}
* {{cite news|date=1997-04-12|title=Out of Space|newspaper=The Economist|volume=343|issue=8012|pages=85–86|issn=0013-0613}}
* {{cite book|last=Rabkin|first=Eric S.|year=1980|edition=2|title=Arthur C. Clarke|publisher=[[Wildside Press]]|isbn=0-916732-21-5}}
* {{cite book|last=Rickels|first=Laurence|author-link=Laurence A. Rickels|year=2008|title=The Devil Notebooks|publisher=University of Minnesota Press|isbn=978-0-8166-5052-1}}
* {{cite book|last=Schwam|first=Stephanie|year=2000|title=The Making of 2001, A Space Odyssey|publisher=Random House, Inc|isbn=0-375-75528-4}}
* {{cite book|last=Westfahl|first=Gary|year=2005|title=The Greenwood Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and Fantasy: Themes, Works, and Wonders|volume=3|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=0-313-32950-8}}
* {{cite book|last=Westfahl|first=Gary|author2=George Edgar Slusser|title=Nursery Realms |publisher=University of Georgia Press|year=1999|pages=15–17|isbn=0-8203-2144-3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lrdhYWzpSDkC&q=childhoods+end+clarke&pg=PA16}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{isfdb title|id=2248|title=Childhood's End}}
*[http://www.tor.com/blogs/2012/07/wow-wait-what-wow-arthur-c-clarkes-childhoods-end ''Childhood's End'', retrospective review] by [[Jo Walton]], 2012
* {{isfdb title|id=91784|title=Guardian Angel}}
* [https://archive.org/stream/New_Worlds_008v03_1950-Winter/#page/n1/mode/2up "Guardian Angel"] (short story) on the [[Internet Archive]]

{{Arthur C. Clarke}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1953 British novels]]
[[Category:1953 science fiction novels]]
[[Category:Novels about alien invasions]]
[[Category:Ballantine Books books]]
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[[Category:Fiction about Earth]]
[[Category:Hive minds in fiction]]
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[[Category:Novels about telepathy]]
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[[Category:Novels by Arthur C. Clarke]]
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