Childhood's End: A Novel by Arthur C. Clarke (English) Paperback Book

Description: Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke Giant silver ships appear above every major city in the world. The Overlords have arrived. They eliminate ignorance, disease, poverty, and fear. After fifty years they also start eliminating humans. FORMAT Paperback LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description Without warning, giant silver ships from deep space appear in the skies above every major city on Earth. Manned by the Overlords, in fifty years, they eliminate ignorance, disease, and poverty. Then this golden age ends--and then the age of Mankind begins.... Back Cover The Overlords appeared suddenly over every city-intellectually, technologically, and militarily superior to humankind. Benevolent, they made few demands: unify earth, eliminate poverty, and end war. With little rebellion, mankind agreed, and a golden age began. But at what cost? With the advent of peace, man ceased to strive for creative greatness, and a malaise settled over the human race. To those who resisted, it became evident that the Overlords had an agenda of their own. As civilization approached the crossroads, would the Overlords spell the end for mankind...or the beginning? Author Biography Arthur C. Clarke has long been considered the greatest science fiction writer of all time and was an international treasure in many other ways, including the fact that an article by him in 1945 led to the invention of satellite technology. Books by Mr. Clarke—both fiction and nonfiction—have more than one hundred million copies in print worldwide. He died in 2008. Review "A first-rate tour de force."—The New York Times "Frighteningly logical, believable, and grimly prophetic . . . [Arthur C.] Clarke is a master."—Los Angeles Times "There has been nothing like it for years; partly for the actual invention, but partly because here we meet a modern author who understands that there may be things that have a higher claim on humanity than its own survival. "—C. S. Lewis "As a science fiction writer, Clarke has all the essentials."—Jeremy Bernstein, The New Yorker Review Quote "A FIRST-RATE TOUR DE FORCE." --The New York Times "A FRIGHTENINGLY LOGICAL, BELIEVABLE, AND GRIMLY PROPHETIC TALE . . . CLARKE IS A MASTER." --Los Angeles Times From the Trade Paperback edition. Excerpt from Book The volcano that had reared Tratua up from the Pacific depths had been sleeping now for half a million years. Yet in a little while, thought Reinhold, the island would be bathed with fires fiercer than any that had attended its birth. He glanced towards the launching site, and his gaze climbed the pyramid of scaffolding that still surrounded the "Columbus." Two hundred feet above the ground, the ships prow was catching the last rays of the descending sun. This was one of the last nights it would ever know: soon it would be floating in the eternal sunshine of space. It was quiet here beneath the palms, high up on the rocky spine of the island. The only sound from the Project was the occasional yammering of an air compressor or the faint shout of a workman. Reinhold had grown fond of these clustered palms; almost every evening he had come here to survey his little empire. It saddened him to think that they would be blasted to atoms when the "Columbus" rose in flame and fury to the stars. A mile beyond the reef, the "James Forrestal" had switched on her searchlights and was sweeping the dark waters. The sun had now vanished completely, and the swift tropical night was racing in from the east. Reinhold wondered, a little sardonically, if the carrier expected to find Russian submarines so close to shore. The thought of Russia turned his mind, as it always did, to Konrad and that morning in the cataclysmic spring of 1945. More than thirty years had passed, but the memory of those last days when the Reich was crumbling beneath the waves from the East and from the West had never faded. He could see Konrads tired blue eyes, and the golden stubble on his chin, as they shook hands and parted in that ruined Prussian village, while the refugees streamed endlessly past. It was a parting that symbolized everything that had since happened to the world--the cleavage between East and West. For Konrad chose the road to Moscow. Reinhold had thought him a fool, but now he was not so sure. For thirty years he had assumed that Konrad was dead. It was only a week ago that Colonel Sandmeyer, of Technical Intelligence, had given him the news. He didnt like Sandmeyer, and he was sure the feeling was mutual. But neither let that interfere with business. "Mr. Hoffman," the Colonel had begun, in his best official manner, "Ive just had some alarming information from Washington. Its top secret, of course, but weve decided to break it to the engineering staff so that theyll realize the necessity for speed." He paused for effect, but the gesture was wasted on Reinhold. Somehow, he already knew what was coming. "The Russians are nearly level with us. Theyve got some kind of atomic drive--it may even be more efficient than ours, and theyre building a ship on the shores of Lake Baikal. We dont know how far theyve got, but Intelligence believes it may be launched this year. You know what that means." Yes, thought Reinhold, I know. The race is on--and we may not win it. "Do you know whos running their team?" he had asked, not really expecting an answer. To his surprise, Colonel Sandmeyer had pushed across a typewritten sheet and there at its head was the name: Konrad Schneider. "You knew a lot of these men at Peenem Details ISBN0345347951 Short Title CHILDHOODS END Pages 224 Language English ISBN-10 0345347951 ISBN-13 9780345347954 Media Book DEWEY FIC Year 1987 Imprint Ballantine Books Inc. Place of Publication New York Country of Publication United States Alternative 9780394299945 Audience Age 14-18 Residence Sri Lanka, US Birth 1917 Death 2008 DOI 10.1604/9780345347954 Subtitle A Novel AU Release Date 1987-05-12 NZ Release Date 1987-05-12 US Release Date 1987-05-12 UK Release Date 1987-05-12 Author Arthur C. Clarke Publisher Random House USA Inc Format Paperback Publication Date 1987-05-12 Replaces 9780345227508 Audience General We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! TheNile_Item_ID:2611432;

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