Childhood’s End: Chapter 20 Summary & Analysis

Karellen’s voice broadcasts from every radio and he announces that he has nearly completed his purpose on Earth, which he has kept hidden until now. Having seen many worlds similar to Earth develop technology and then destroy themselves with it, the Overlords had to step in when they did to preserve humanity.

Karellen explains that as the scientists were correct about physics, many mystics have also been correct about the powers of the mind. No understanding of the universe is complete without accounting for both. And since humanity was playing with both, it was a threat not only to itself but also to the rest of the galaxy. The Overlords were sent to disrupt human development and stall any research into the paranormal, even though it also meant disrupting the development of the arts.

Karellen continues by revealing that all of the psychic powers he alludes to are beyond the grasp of the Overlords—they have evolved in a different direction than humanity, and thus cut themselves off from ever developing such abilities. The Overlords are only the guardians of humanity, and they do this work in service another entity that Karellen calls the Overmind, a non-physical consciousness that he believes is continuing to grow and absorb other races into itself.

Humanity is changing and developing, though this will mean the end of Homo Sapiens as they exist now. In the coming years, the Overmind will draw all children into itself, and humanity will become two different races. The humans and their civilizations will be doomed to die. Because of this, Karellen must remove the children who will ascend from the rest of humanity, for their own protection. The rest of humanity he will leave to do as it wishes, with the knowledge that, although humanity has lost its children, they have left those children to a better future. Humanity’s lost children will transcend the physical world live on for millennia, far outliving even the Overlords.