Childhood's End is a science fiction novel told in an omniscient third-person narrative. It records the arrival of transcendent aliens called Overlords who work over the course of decades to prepare humanity for entry into the Overmind, a cosmic intelligence free of physical constraints. Humans, experiencing a golden age of peace and prosperity but concerned that the Overlords have pressed them into stagnation and afraid of sacrificing individuality, experience intense anxiety at this prospect before finally succumbing.