User Profile

A good book that explores the adventures of a man who finds himself on a trip to another planet, and discovers the wonders of Space and life—beyond Earth and humanity.

This is a work of fiction that doesn’t quite fit into what many consider Science Fiction to be today. I was intrigued by this, and after the first few pages, even more so. There’s no real explanations of how much of the science works, there’s no fancy gadgets or takes on what the future would look like for mankind. That’s perfectly fine! And there is a bunch of science in here, it just gets outshined by other elements when compared to other works in the genre.

The story has a rather simple protagonist, who finds himself taken by, basically, a mad scientist and his partner in some sort of spaceship, and they all end up flying through space to an unknown planet, full of life and strange creatures.

The beginning is rather strange, but it hooked me nonetheless, I was never quite sure of what was next. There really wasn’t a clear route to take other than to try and survive once they land on the planet’s surface.

C. S. Lewis, more commonly known for his work in The Chronicles of Narnia, writes about the intricacies and differences of this planet’s biomes and creatures, and the way they all interact with each other.

From this, we get to know some of the way of life and the worldview of the planet’s inhabitants, as well as the differences with Humanity’s behaviour. The clash between science and logic, with a more spiritual and inter-connected one, where there’s no being worth more than the other, no need to fight, or to be afraid of each other.

It was a glad surprise that only took me longer to read because of the amount of work that I’ve had lately. I really need to get back into reading before bed, but for that I may have to start collecting physical book or get an e-ink reader because my phone is too distracting at home.

Anyway, this book was great, and quite an interesting continuation after the ideas Childhood’s End showed about alien life and humanity itself.

Childhood’s End, by Arthur C. Clarke, is a book about the fate of humanity after they make contact with a benevolent alien race, that helps them reach a Golden Age of progress and peace. So, what if aliens invaded the planet, but they actually helped us build a utopia? And why?

Compared to the previous two books I read, that also deal with Humanity making contact with alien life. Childhood’s End takes place in Earth itself, in a time where humans are barely getting started in the space race, and right when they’re about to take their first steps, they realize they already lost—they are not alone.

These aliens, known as the Overlords, do not come to cause havoc, but they seem to want to help us. They end war, they end animal cruelty, they end racism, divisions and countries. They intend to help humanity achieve a united planet, a World State, a seemingly perfect society, a Utopia.

How this is done, and the events that develop in the novel, are something that I think you should simply read, it flies by, really quickly. The ideas displayed here are really, really interesting. For a book published in 1953, maybe the most aged thing—that is quite charming still—is how TV and radio are the main way information is delivered to people.

The commentary on humanity, consummerism, religion, racism, art, transportation, education, work, politics, and many other topics regarding Earth and how it lives its life under the guidance of the Overlords, is simply super interesting. I had never read a novel by Clarke, but I can see why he remains relevant to this day.

The ideas on display, about humanity, about alien life, about space—and beyond. They are just incredible. The novel was full of moments where I could not believe what I was reading, every time I turned my page there was something happening that only raised the mystery behind the Overlord’s true form, their true motives, the consequences of humanity living in a constant state of peace. The novel is not the longest I’ve read by any means, but its content is really thought-provoking and it just makes you question the things we take for granted even today.

I would dare say it is the most quotable book I’ve read in ages, the statements, the events, those last few chapters. I wasn’t worried about the stakes at hand, I could not even comprehend, I could not even grasp what happened, I could not even get mad. I could only read.

I am so glad I went into this blind. Simply a great book.

It is a bitter thought, but you must face it. The planets you may one day possess. But the stars are not for Man.

—Arthur C. Clarke, Childhood’s End.