Rating: 
Summary: A Canticle for Leibowitz
Review: I was only fourteen years old when I stumbled onto Walter Miller's forgotten masterpiece. Since, I've read it with some degree of regularity and consistancy. At my first reading, I fully appreciated the stonework that Miller layed in the concrete plot, but didn't grasp the rich symbolism which makes it a terrifying yet truthful
insight on human nature. Miller has written a novel that unravels the horror of mankind's fate in a way that gives me the sense that our destiny, not only is one that
cannot be changed, but it is a destiny that should not be changed
Rating:
Summary: An Amazing Work
Review: A Canticle for Leibowitz is not a novel. Rather, it is 3 linked novellas concerning the Order of Saint Leibowitz. Each of these novellas have different focuses and at first glance, would seem to have little to do with the other novellas. However, when you get down to thinking about it, they are actually pieces of a united work.The first novella, Fiat Homo, is squarely about the Abbey of Saint Leibowitz and begins with the discovery of the Sacred Shopping List. It is the story of how the brothers seek to have Leibowitz officially recognized as a saint. The second novella, Fiat Lux, is an espionage thriller dealing with the diabolical plans of the Emperor of Texarkana for continental domination. The third novella, Fiat Voluntas Tua, deals with the Second Nuclear Age as the nations that arose from the ashes of the First Nuclear Age and the nuclear war that ended that age, grapple with both nuclear weapons and the knowledge that a previous civilization died from those weapons. As you can see, the 3 novellas deal with diverse subjects, but it is the way that Miller weaves his stories that the 3 become one. A Canticle For Leibowitz is a most intriguing and well executed book and should be required reading in classrooms today.
Rating:
Summary: A possible post-apocalyptic scenario--highly recommended
Review: "A Canticle for Leibowitz" chronicles the rebuilding of "civilization" after nuclear holocaust. It has three distinct sections, each separated by hundreds of years, centering around life at a desert monastary named in honor of a very unusual "saint". Since each section tells its own story, and could be read separately, I'm going to rate each one separately. PART ONE: FIAT HOMO (5 stars) Tipped off by a mysterious old man (could it be Saint Leibowitz himself?), a nervous novice monk discovers an underground chamber that contains some highly significant relics, for which he suffers abuse from a fearful and sadistic abbot. Eventually, he is sent on a dangerous journey to New Rome, under constant threat from primitive nomads. The ending of this section is rather chilling and ironic, much like a Flannery O'Connor short story. PART TWO: FIAT LUX (3 stars) This is the only section among the three that really is not able to stand alone as a self-contained story with a definitive ending. I suppose this could be considered the "Empire Strikes Back" of the "trilogy". The basis of this part is the mistrust that exists between religion and science, when a scholar visits the monastary to study the ancient Leibowitz documents and finds, to his astonishment, one of the monks has invented (or re-invented) the electric light. The old man reappears (remember, this is hundreds of years after the first story) as a rather significant player in this section, but, ultimately, this story is merely transitional. PART THREE: FIAT VOLUNTUAS TUA (5 stars) I wanted to give this part 6 or 7 stars, but that would be cheating. This last section is absolutely brilliant. Many hundreds of years later, the inevitable happens, proving that mankind apparently never learns from its mistakes. The very wise abbot (it is interesting how each abbot in these stories is wiser than the last) sees the handwriting on the wall and commissions a group of monastics, accompanied by the relics of Saint Leibowitz, to escape by rocket ship to a distant planet to guarantee the perpetuity of the order and, indeed, of the faith itself. Meanwhile, the abbot and a medical doctor grapple over the appropriateness of euthanasia for suffering victims of the fallout. (Any groups or classes that might be discussing the subject of mercy killing would benefit greatly by reading this section since it lays out the opposing arguments very clearly and forcefully). Although the ultimate disaster takes place, hope is still found in the most unlikely person: a mutant, two-headed woman. And so we begin again. This book takes a very positive, optimistic view of religion, while it is pessimistic about mankind in general. The stories included here work on many levels, and the book as a whole makes for an enlightening reading experience.
Rating:
Summary: Modern Myth: cosmic FAITH in combat with cosmic FOLLY...
Review: Walter M. Miller's A CANTICLE FOR LEIBOWITZ remains reputed as a "science fiction classic" that has transcended the genre into the realm of profound, tragic and enraging literature. Published 40 years ago, its focal theme...conflict between faith-in-humility, and arrant will to self-apotheosis in the Knowledge of Good & Evil...is again timely and powerful. "THE BOOK OF LIFE is open!" is an oriflamme ascribed by acolytes of the media to the recent DNA mapping breakthrough. LUCIFER IS FALLEN! is anti-hymn chanted by Mankind as it annihilates itself in nuclear conflagration. And...as the novel closes, after eons of rediscovery and rebuidling...repeats in a final irredeemable act of RACIAL SUICIDE. The story of the monks of The Albertian Order of St. Leibowitz is, indeed, as exciting, funny and disturbing as when written. But now that...in the eyes of some...a Culture of Death (race wars; executions; mass abortion; child violence grips the planet, the novel blares a clarion that cannot be easiy dismissed as "science fiction and fantasy". A CANTICLE FOR LEIBOWITZ is a modern myth. Like St. Augustine, Miller poses the battle between the CITY of GOD and the CITY OF MAN. The former affirms humanity and Faith; the latter defies limits with pride in imagined independence which is actually self-homage. A CANTICLE FOR LEIBOWITZ is unique. It is modern myth...transcending culture and author...to re-present the universal story of humanity in battle for survival with itself...
Rating:
Summary: One of my top 5 favorite books
Review: I just again finished reading "A Canticle", having read it a number of times over the last couple of decades. It's truely a magnificent book: entertaining, well written, concise, inspiring, and extremely though provoking. I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: This is not for leasurly reading.
Review: Don't get me wrong, this does have its exciting moments that rival that of any thriller but the bulk is philosophical and political ponderings. Be prepared for religious intrigue and questions of character motives. If that is the type of book that you like then this is for you and you will not find it done any better.
Rating: 
Summary: Worth a Read... but Just One
Review: While I don't regret picking up the book, I just didn't find it the page turner that some do. It seemed disjointed to me and when I finished the book I felt unfilled. While I can appreciate Miller's struggle with reconciling science and religion, the final product didn't deliver as I had hoped.
Rating: 
Summary: Intellectual Post-Apocalypse Story
Review: Miller's A Canticle For Leibowitz is broken down into three separate but mildly interrelated stories. The first story takes place some centuries after the nuclear annihilation of our civilization, the second story some centuries after the first, and the third some centuries after that. All three of the stories are connected via a common thread...The Abbey of the Order of Leibowitz...whose task it is to collect and store the remaining knowledge of a more advanced civilization (ours') and preserve it for the day when humanity will be able to use it again.
Miller's story is an interesting, if dated one. Written in the 1950's Miller's view of the world clearly isn't the modern one. But there are certainly similarities. Miller's story reflects possible nuclear annihilation of both the US and the Soviet Union. Today, the threat of terrorism, is at a minimum, hovering on the back-burners of all our minds. Throughout the entire book there is the constant theme of cyclicality. That everything in the human world (including our spirituality) goes through cycles. From just the smallest tradition (in terms of the overall story) of the yearly Lentin fast, to the underlying mantra of the book that, like Santayana said, if we don't learn from our past mistakes we are doomed to repeat them.
This story is heavy on the symbolism. In this way, A Canticle For Leibowitz would make a great reading assignment for high school or college English classes. Unfortunately, this reader is only intelligent enough to pick up only the most blatant of metaphor and not intelligent enough to catch the more subtle.
The two major downsides of this book are that it can be awfully slow and drag at times, making it difficult to get through. Also, there is quite a bit of Latin liberally dispersed throughout the story. Seeing that most of the book is set in and around an abbey, it makes sense that the Latin is in there...it just would have been nice if Miller had given us more translations of his Latin verses.
Overall, this book is worth reading if you're interested in the way religion effects our lives (and may in the future); are interested in a well-written (if dated) piece of post-apocalypse scifi; or are just plain interested in reading an intelligently drawn story.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Book That Won't Let You Put it Down
Review: This book is one of my favorites. It's a tale of hardship, loyalty, danger, and humor. It's also a tale of monks of the order of Leibowitz.
This book is one of the best made and won't let you down.
Rating:
Summary: Disproportionately Good
Review: Well it won Hugo so what else should I say?
It is a awesome book which in way reflects the state of some sciences today such as
Archeology
Anthropology
Physics
I should say the church too but i have seen the church specially catholic talking about UFOs and hence i think they are following the maxim "If you cant bit them join them" see you cant burn people on today... so if some one says "Hey i saw a UFO" the priest just winks an eye..
and so and so..
We are currently experiencing a DARK AGE though many think this is an age of Elightment... couldnt be more wrong...
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