Childhood's End

Einstein’s theory of relativity and the nature of time underscores Karellen’s explanation for the premonition of fear humans have in response to the Overlords. Discuss the treatment of time in the novel, especially considering the chronology of the novel and the places where the timeline is in question.

Childhood’s End was first published in 1953, just four years after the Soviet Union conducted its first successful nuclear bomb test. How does the novel respond to the apocalyptic fears of nuclear war that were so prevalent in its era?

The Overlords introduce technologies that greatly ease humanity’s burdens, bringing about a seemingly utopian world. How does the novel treat potential anxieties surrounding technology? What does it suggest about the dangers of excessive reliance on technology?