Childhood's End

The Overlords

The Overlords are an alien race. They come to Earth in the late twentieth century and take control of the planet. They eliminate disease, war and hatred, and create a world government that broadens into a utopia. This peaceful mission is overseen by Karellen. Physically, the average Overlord is much taller and more built than a human, with large wings, horns on its head, and a barbed tail.

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Karellen

Karellen is one of the Overlords, an alien race that comes to Earth in the late twentieth century and takes control of the planet. Karellen is known by most humans as the "Supervisor." Like all Overlords, he is much taller and more built than a human, with large wings, horns on his head, and a barbed tail.

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Stormgren

Stormgren is the Secretary-General of the United Nations when the Overlords arrive on Earth. Stormgren is the only human to have any personal contact with the Overlords during the first few years of the Overlords' reign on Earth. He reports directly to Karellen once every few weeks.

Wainwright

Wainwright is the leader of the Freedom League, a religiously based group that opposes Earth's domination by the Overlords, despite the Overlords' clearly friendly and beneficial attitude.

Peter Van Ryberg

Stormgren's assistant and the deputy-general of the United Nations.

Reinhold

An American working on building an interstellar spaceship.

Konrad Schneider

A scientist working on constructing an interstellar spaceship for the Soviet Union.

Rupert Boyce

Rupert Boyce is a "supervet," a veteranarian assigned to assist animals over thousands of acres of jungle. He is a friend of George Greggson. Boyce owns the world's largest library of paranormal research, something of great interest to the Overlords.

George Greggson

George Greggson is a television production designer. He marries Jean Morrel, and their children are Jeffrey and Jennifer.

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Jean Morrel

A woman with an interest in the paranormal, who may have some psychic powers herself. She marries George Greggson and has two children, Jeffrey and Jennifer.

Jan Rodricks

A young, brilliant man with a strong interest in astronomy and space exploration. He is bitter that the Overlords have never allowed mankind to explore space.

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Professor Sullivan

An oceanographic scientist. Sullivan's lab is deep under the ocean. The Overlords often ask Sullivan to perform such tasks as stuffing entire whales for exhibition in the Overlords' museums on their homeworld.

Rashaverak

An Overlord. Rashaverak's speciality is psychological research, and he takes special interest in Rupert Boyce's library of paranormal research. Like all Overlords, he is much taller and more built than a human, with large wings, horns on his head, and a barbed tail.

Jeffrey Greggson

The son of George Greggson and Jean Morrel. Early in his childhood, Jeffrey has strange dreams and begins to exhibit amazing mental abilities.

Jennifer Greggson

The daughter and youngest child of George Greggson and Jean Morrel. As a baby, Jennifer soon begins to exhibit the strange behavior of her brother Jeffrey.

Vindarten

An Overlord who befriends Jan Rodricks on the Overlords' homeworld. Like all Overlords, he is much taller and more built than a human, with large wings, horns on his head, and a barbed tail.

Thanthalteresco

Also known as "the Inspector," Thanthalteresco is an Overlord that visits and examines the commune of New Athens. Like all Overlords, he is much taller and more built than a human, with large wings, horns on his head, and a barbed tail.

Joe

"Joe" is a radical member of Wainwright's Freedom League. He abducts Stormgren in an attempt to learn more information about the Overlords.

The Overmind

The alien being that the Overlords serve. The Overmind is not a creature of matter; it is not solid. It is a kind of "collective conscious," a massive entity of thought and energy that crosses the galaxy, and perhaps the universe, trying to "increase its awareness of the universe." It incorporates entire races into itself, eliminating their individuality while greatly enhancing their power.

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