Childhood's End

Peenemünde veteran working for Americans in early space race; witnesses the alien fleet's arrival, feeling history rupture from the past.

Serves as sole human contact with Karellen; kidnapped by extremists, used as bait, rescued; attempts to glimpse Karellen at final meeting; retires to lakeside home.

Alien supervisor who broadcasts to humanity, orchestrates the kidnapping trap, reveals his demonic appearance publicly, and outlines the Overlords' long-term but cryptic plans.

Manages the UN during Stormgren's kidnapping, contacts Karellen via teleprinter, and proposes theories about the Overlords.

A 'big Pole' who guards Stormgren during captivity, explains the kidnapping scheme with gusto, and plays poker with the captive.

Meets with Stormgren to hear Karellen's fifty-year promise; disapproves of the kidnapping violence; his organization's extremist wing discredited.

Hosts the séance with detached scientific interest; brother-in-law to Jan; connects Jan to Sullivan's whale sculpture commission.

George's wife, mother of Jeff and Jennifer Anne; feels vague hostility toward Overlords; witnesses the evacuation of the children.

Skeptic at the séance who undergoes an emotional awakening when Jean faints, deciding to commit to her permanently; later moves his family to New Athens.

Overlord assigned to observe paranormal phenomena; secretly monitors Jeff's dreams and explains the children's transcendence to George.

Returns from the Overlord home world to find Earth depopulated; the last surviving human, broadcasts a final eyewitness account of Earth's dissolution.

Participant in the séance; addressee of Jan's farewell letter.

Benny's companion; acts as séance recorder with notebook; her final page of notes vanishes after the séance.

Sculptor creating a whale-squid tableau for an Overlord cargo ship; assists Jan in designing and concealing his stowaway cell inside the whale sculpture.

Doyen of the Press Club; leads questioning of Karellen at the press conference.

Philosopher and current chairman of the New Athens council, ironic and cheerful, determined to assert human initiative before the visiting Overlord.

An Overlord conducting a statistical survey of New Athens, engaging with academics about art, science, and human culture.

George's son whose dreams reveal distant alien worlds; the first nucleus of humanity's transcendence, increasingly disconnected from waking reality.

The Overlord who befriended Jan on the voyage; prevents him from photographing the alien phenomenon, prompting Jan's realization that the Overlords have masters.

Dean of the University of New Athens; challenges the Inspector on human initiative and the art-science dichotomy.