Cradle, like 2061: Odyssey Three (1987), and many other Clarke novels, contains many brief chapters. However, the time frame for the human characters is little more than a long weekend: sections are titled Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and short chapters within the sections detail the thoughts and actions of the humans.

The human story is framed by short chapters telling of the life-planting ship and of the council decisions which set and revised the aliens' policies for directing the nurture of life forms in one section of the universe.

With the humans' plot occupying only a few days to resolve and to connect clearly with the alien ship plot, Cradle takes more opportunity for character development and exposition (if not extensive resolution) of the emotional conflicts of the major characters.

Carol Dawson occasionally thinks about what she feels and why. Nick Williams reflects on his past affair and on...