A review by dafrogmaster
Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke

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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