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Cover of Childhood's End by Arthur C. ClarkeChildhood's End
Classic · Fiction, Science Fiction

Childhood's End

by Arthur C. Clarke
1953 · 277 pages · Fiction
66.1Must-Read
Score Classic
Lifetime bestseller
≈ 7 hours to read · about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day

What it's about

The Overlords appear suddenly over every city, far superior to humankind. Benevolent, they ask only that Earth unify, end poverty and stop war, and a golden age begins. But with peace, human creativity fades, and those who resist realize the Overlords have an agenda of their own.

Why it's worth reading

It's one of the most influential science fiction novels ever written, a classic of first contact.

You'll love it if you liked

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Good to know

It's short and ends far from where it begins.

By the numbers

66.1Must-Read Score
  • Readers58 out of 100 · counts 42%
  • Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
  • Bestseller32 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
  • Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%

Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.

Where it ranks

Reads as

Adventurous

How we rank

Already read it? Upload your Goodreads or StoryGraph history and get the 50 best books you haven't read, tuned to your taste.Get my 50

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Explore the best-of lists

All 36 best-of lists →
Science fiction booksTop 25 · 313 rankedClassic booksTop 25 · 762 rankedBooks of the 1950sTop 25 · 75 rankedFantasy booksTop 25 · 459 rankedMysteries and thrillersTop 25 · 555 rankedLiterary novelsTop 25 · 309 rankedMemoirs and biographiesTop 25 · 290 rankedRomancesTop 25 · 233 ranked

Quick answers

Is Childhood's End worth reading?

Yes. It's one of the most influential science fiction novels ever written, a classic of first contact. It ranks #1,751 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 66.1 (the best book we found scores 99).

What is Childhood's End about?

The Overlords appear suddenly over every city, far superior to humankind. Benevolent, they ask only that Earth unify, end poverty and stop war, and a golden age begins. But with peace, human creativity fades, and those who resist realize the Overlords have an agenda of their own.

How long does it take to read Childhood's End?

About 7 hours (277 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.

What should I read after Childhood's End?

If you liked it, try The Fountains of Paradise by Arthur C. Clarke, Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke or The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu.