I've always wanted to read Arther C. Clarkes novel CHILDHOOD'S END. Has anyone else? Well now it's a definate as I've picked up the above edition in a local charity shop. I am immediately struck by the similarity of the cover art to the opening scenes of the US movie INDEPENDENCE DAY, below, with huge spaceships hanging over the world's cities. In fact, reading the book's WIKIPEADIA entry another similar opening is from the series V, but I don't remember it. The summary of the book is amazing and has fired my intent to read it soon even more with its decription of the devil-like Overlords! I can't help thinking that it's the sort of story Arther C. Clarke would have written for Project SWORD! It's amazing that no-one has actually made the story into a film in its own right. Or?
7 comments:
I read it some years ago. I like its solution to the errant politician (if I've remembered that correctly - please let me know when you come to it).
I think there was a radio version of Childhood's End.
Wilco PT. I'm currently reading DUNE by Frank Herbert but I;ll be honest, I'm struggling! There's so much of Herbert's special language and loads of names!
I struggled with Dune too, and gave up in the end. Loved the idea of the Bene Gesserit (strong women are so cool), and the Fear mantra (very useful), but ultimately the books struck me as boring and overrated.
CHILDHOOD'S END is one of my favorite novels. I re-read it occasionally.
I keep hearing about attempts to make it into a movie, but they keep falling through.
There was a BBC radio adaptation, starring Steven Pacey (Tarrant, in 'Blake's 7') which I have on tape somewhere. It may even have been released as a BBC Audiobook.
It would be great to hear on the radio and an audiobook would be fab since I still have my trusty tape player in my Nissan Micra!
I seem to remember either in Starlog or its sister magazine Future an attempt to film it. There were some nice production designs shown. If I remember correctly they were very worried about realistically showing the huge ships over cities. This was late '70's early 80's timeframe.
Regards,
Barry
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