Childhood's End

Summary

"Childhood's End" is a science fiction novel by Arthur C. Clarke, which narrates the arrival of an extraterrestrial civilization, the Overlords, on Earth to guide its evolution. The Overlords establish peace and prosperity, solving many of humanity's social and economic problems. However, their reluctance to reveal themselves and the mystery of their true nature and intentions lead to distrust among some humans. Over time, the Overlords assist humanity in its evolutionary development, ultimately leading to a psycho-evolutionary leap that elevates humanity to a higher level of existence, acquiring new forms of being. Thus, as suggested by the title, the book symbolically represents the "end of childhood" for humanity, implying the beginning of a new era of development within the cosmic community.