Guardian Angel

by Arthur C. Clarke

Guardian Angel was first published in the April 1950 issue of Famous Fantastic Mysteries. It was later expanded to become the first part of the classic novel, Childhood's End.

Narrated by: Ralph Lister

Sir Arthur C. Clarke (1917-2008) is regarded as one of the most-influential science fiction writers of all time. He was named a Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and was inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame.

©2000 Arthur C. Clarke (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

Genres: Science Fiction, Short Stories

Audible Audio

Published August 16, 2016

About the author

Stories, works of noted British writer, scientist, and underwater explorer Sir Arthur Charles Clarke, include 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968).

This most important and influential figure in 20th century fiction spent the first half of his life in England and served in World War II as a radar operator before migrating to Ceylon in 1956. He co-created his best known novel and movie with the assistance of Stanley Kubrick.

Clarke, a graduate of King's College, London, obtained first class honours in physics and mathematics. He served as past chairman of the interplanetary society and as a member of the academy of astronautics, the royal astronomical society, and many other organizations.

He authored more than fifty books and won his numerous awards: the Kalinga prize of 1961, the American association for the advancement Westinghouse prize, the Bradford Washburn award, and the John W. Campbell award for his novel Rendezvous with Rama. Clarke also won the nebula award of the fiction of America in 1972, 1974 and 1979, the Hugo award of the world fiction convention in 1974 and 1980. In 1986, he stood as grand master of the fiction of America. The queen knighted him as the commander of the British Empire in 1989.

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

When intellectually and technologically superior beings appear in massive ships above the major cities of Earth, humanity's response is divided. Most, like Rikki Stormgren, the Secretary-General, see the benefit of the aliens' plan to create a World Order, while a small faction, naming themselves the Freedom League, clamors for independence. Stormgren sympathizes with some their arguments - how can humanity expect to trust and understand beings who refuse to reveal physical assistance? The aliens, represented by Supervisor Karellen, make a compromise to show themselves in due time. Stormgren makes a fatal error in attempting to see them too soon.

[Álvaro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as thought-provoking as I was expecting. Arthur's intense technophilia/trans-humanism really shows, and it makes whatever meaningful exploration of the situation presented in the book non-existent.

I guess the Childhood's End novel must expand on this theme and actually present some kind of depth.

Not bad for a short story, though.

[Darren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought-provoking and influential early sci-fi short story. Packs a lot of big ideas into its 28 magazine pages (how would humanity really react if alien "Overlords" arrived and started telling us what to do? could we trust them?). Necessarily leaves a lot of loose-ends/question-begging, but works nicely on its own terms and even manages to finish with a smart "twist in the tail". Apparently a pre-cursor to Clarke's later novel "Childhood's End" which I will re-read soon...

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guardian Angel was a concise but fascinating read with an interesting twist in the ending. The characters were memorable and the plot was thought-provoking. I would recommend it to anyone looking for an interesting sci-fi short story.

[Frans Kempe · Rating 4 out of 5]

The short story that became Childhoods End. Thoughtful and sharp. What would happen if aliens became overlords of the Earth?

[Mike Lisanke · Rating 4 out of 5]

So does Clarke write in one line a mystery of dinosaurs remaining our overlords? A long barbed tail is all I got.

[Gary Mcfarlane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have a digital version on this short story.