Childhood's End Chapter 17 Summary

  • Karellen requests to send an inspector to Athens to check things out.
  • The inspector, one Thanthalteresco by name (honestly), arrives and has an insatiable appetite for metrics, statistics, and factoids, a.k.a. the finer things of an Overlord's life.
  • The next day they inspect the school, and the teachers express their philosophy of instilling a desire "to do something, however small it may be" (17.29) in the children.
  • Next on the to-do list is a symphony. George tries to talk with the Overlord but fails utterly.
  • Days later, after the inspector has left, Jeff tells his father he's certain the voice who told him to run belonged to Thanthalteresco or another Overlord at least.
  • George tells Jean about the Overlords' interest in Jeff, and secretly he wonders if it is only Jeff they are interested in.
  • Thanthalteresco gives his report to Karellen. The report states the colony is an interesting experiment, but it can in no way affect the future that's already been set in motion.
  • As for Jeff, he goes on to be a perfectly typical boy.