Childhood's End

Five years have passed since the arrival of the Overlords—a seemingly benevolent alien race. Secretary-General of the United Nations Rikki Stormgren meets with the leader of the Freedom League, Alexander Wainwright, to discuss Wainwright’s opposition to the Overlords’ proposed World Federation. Wainwright argues that if such a federation were to be formed, it should be the decision of the humans on Earth, rather than the directive of the Overlords. Stormgren insists that the Overlords have brought peace and prosperity to humankind, and therefore, Karellen, the Overlord Supervisor, is trustworthy. This debate introduces the theme of Individual Achievement Versus Collective Advancement, as Wainwright argues for the freedom of humanity, while Stormgren, as the representative of the Overlords, defends the security and comfort they have gained while losing some freedom of choice. Wainwright and Stormgren’s argument also introduces The Cost of Utopia, which initially appears to be a significant loss of individuality and freedom.

Stormgren reflects on the five-year history of the Overlords’ presence on Earth. The Overlords’ arrival was punctuated by Karellen addressing the population of the Earth in such a knowledgeable way as to exert complete control over most of Earth’s governments immediately. One unnamed hold-out attacked the ship with a nuclear bomb, and South Africa refused to follow directives related to human rights. The bomb disappeared, causing no damage, demonstrating the power of the Overlords’ technology. In South Africa, the Overlords showed they could block the energy and heat from the sun for 30 minutes, resulting in South Africa’s compliance with the Overlords’ directive. Although the Overlords have occupied the space above Earth for five years, no one has ever seen an Overlord.

Stormgren speaks with Karellen about the unrest surrounding the Overlords secrecy. Their discussion focuses on the conflicts between science and faith, which introduces the theme of The Relationship Between Science and Mysticism. Wainwright is a clerical leader and represents humanity’s reliance on  faith and religion, while the Overlords embrace science as a fundamental path to truth. Stormgren points out that the secrecy of the Overlords’ identity increases human suspicion. Karellen agrees but insists that higher policy is out of his hands.

Van Ryberg and Stormgren discuss Karellen. Van Ryberg theorizes that Karellen is alone and there are no other Overlords, which Stormgren refutes with evidence that Karellen knows more than any one man can know and seems to have studied mankind for centuries. It only makes sense, Stormgren argues, that Karellen is working with others like him, and since he is clearly working within a highly advanced technological society, he can’t be entirely alone.

Stormgren, though curious about the Overlords’ identity, is convinced that they are beneficial for Earth. The existence, power, and secrecy of the Overlords has created a lasting peace on earth. Nations are united in their knowledge that the potential threat from nonhuman species is higher than any international human-to-human threat. Since the arrival of the Overlords, humanity has seen a consistently rising quality of life.

Unable to sleep, Stormgren reflects on the nature of Karellen. Like most of humanity, Stormgren wants desperately to know what Karellen looks like. The next morning, Stormgren has disappeared, leaving Van Ryberg as Acting Secretary-General. Stormgren’s disappearance frightens many of Karellen’s critics into silence, though not the Freedom League, which denies responsibility for the disappearance.

Despite this denial, Stormgren has in fact been kidnapped by an extremist arm of the Freedom League. He is being held in an underground safehouse—likely an abandoned mine—by three men led by a Polish man who uses the name Joe. This group has discovered that Karellen and the Overlords likely can’t penetrate the Earth’s surface for surveillance. Stormgren is relieved to have the responsibility of leadership lifted from him while maintaining his general resistance to this extremist element.

Van Ryberg attempts to contact Karellen for help locating Stormgren but is told the situation is entirely in his hands. Stormgren is interrogated by the leaders of the extremist group, headed by a blind Welshman. Stormgren describes precisely what happens when he meets with Karellen, useless information that gives the appearance of cooperation without endangering his relationship with Karellen.

Karellen’s ship leaves New York City and travels south, sending a literal shockwave through the city. The departure leaves Van Ryberg and other witnesses stunned. The blind Welshman attempts to convince Stormgren to gather information to expose Karellen. Stormgren vehemently refuses and defends the Overlords as consistently benevolent. He uses the Overlords’ opposition to the cruelty of bull fighting as an example. This example is the first suggestion that the Overlords are willing to use violence as a means of control. Karellen, in the guise of a group of small, spherical robots, rescues Stormgren while leaving the leadership of the extremist group unharmed but temporarily paralyzed.

Stormgren discovers that Karellen knew precisely where he was being held but waited to rescue him until the extremist leadership had assembled. This revelation prompts Stormgren to consider more seriously the Welshman’s suggestion to expose Karellen.

Stormgren visits physicist Pierre Duval to discuss potential methods of discovering the nature and appearance of Karellen. Duval hides a radar device in Stormgren’s briefcase, which he activates at their next meeting. At the same meeting, Karellen tells him the Overlords will reveal their appearance in 50 years, when mankind is more ready to accept the appearance of the Overlords.

Stormgren reports the Overlords’ decision to Wainwright, who reacts with dismay and frustration. With the concealed radar device, Duval discovers that Karellen is behind one-way glass when he meets Stormgren. Duval gives Stormgren a powerful flashlight designed to defeat the one-way glass so Stormgren can see Karellen. At their final meeting, Karellen suggests that the Overlords have a long-term plan for humanity that begins with the World Federation. He informs Stormgren that further communications will be with the office of the UN Secretary-General rather than individuals. At the end of the meeting, Stormgren uses the flashlight to try to see Karellen.

The narrative jumps forward 30 years. Stormgren is interviewed by a reporter inquiring about what he saw that day in his last meeting with Karellen. Stormgren tells the reporter what he told Duval 30 years prior: that he had seen nothing. However, it is revealed that he did see Karellen for a moment and recognized his form:

‘We have had our failures.’ Yes, Karellen, that was true: and were you the one who failed before the dawn of history? It must have been a failure indeed, thought Stormgren, for its echoes to roll down all the ages, to haunt the childhood of every race of man (64).