Hardcover, 189 pages
German language
Published May 30, 1970 by Tosa Verlag.
Die letzte Generation (engl. Childhood’s End) ist ein Science-Fiction-Roman von Arthur C. Clarke aus dem Jahr 1953. Er thematisiert das Auftreten einer außerirdischen Rasse.
(Quelle: Wikipedia)
Well done, Mr. Clarke! I loved how the more I read, the more he subverted my expectations. Clearly written, beautifully structured and presented. I'm eager to read more Transhumanist sci-fi to see how well it meshes with modern interpretations of man's eventual ascension.
Arthur C. Clarke is one of The Big Three of classic Science Fiction (the others being Robert A. Heinlein and Isaac Asimov), and this is one of his best. Indeed, it is a classic in the field of science fiction. The recent dramatization was not awful, but nothing compared to the book. In this book his interest in the evolution of the human race (also noted in 2001: A Space Odyssey) is set in the context of a mysterious group of aliens, the Overlords, who arrive in their ships above all of the major cities of Earth. They announce that they are taking over, and they put an end to war. A Golden Age follows, but there is a final twist.
An interesting first encounter novel which unexpectedly transitions into a human evolution story. Clarke's novel also blends sf tropes with paranormal motifs in an unusual way -- suggesting that the future can leak into human racial memory. I had a hard time adjusting to Clarke's prose and felt that the first half of the novel was mostly spinning its wheels. The final third, however, was astonishing and surprising.
I've read this book twice and never associated it with Clarke. Probably because I usually don't like his books, but I liked this one. Good story, good pacing.
Il s'agit certainement de l'un des meilleurs romans de science-fiction que j'ai lus jusqu'à aujourd'hui. Une histoire de Premier Contact entre l'humanité et des extra-terrestres bienveillants mais dont les objectifs semblent obscurs aux habitants de la planète Terre. Bien pensé, intelligent, prenant du début à la fin.
One my top all time favorite books. Also easily read in one sitting.
