Rating: 
Summary: An Overlooked Masterpiece
Review: I can't add much to what previous reviewers have already stated. A Canticle for Leibowitz deserves to be mentioned along with the greats - Foundation, Hyperion, Ender, Dune and Stranger In A Strange Land. What many authors were able to accomplish across multiple volumes, Miller accomplishes in one intricate novel. And while its 'science fiction,' Miller's story is based on emotions, faith, belief...things that are of value not only in the world he creates but in ours as well.
Rating:
Summary: A Book For The Ages
Review: Given that this novel tells a story spanning almost 2000 years, it's maybe not surprising that this is still a great SF book almost 50 years after it was first published.The central theme in this book is the self destructiveness of secular society, with the catholic church as an eternal counterforce trying to preserve wisdom through the ages. From today's perspective, it appears that Miller may have overestimated both the self destructiveness of society and the eternalness of the church: Less than 10 years after this book was published, the church mostly dropped the use of Latin, so the book's frequent use of Latin must come across as rather quaint even to fervent catholics. It's not clear to me to what extent this novel was intended to be an apologia for Catholicism. The church is portrayed as having a far more positive attitude to science than it had historically in the actual dark ages. Also, towards the end, the novel has a lengthy discussion of the church's position on voluntary euthanasia, which did not really seem all that relevant to the story (and which did not convert me to the Catholic viewpoint). None of this should destract from the fact that this is a brilliant science fiction novel which I highly recommend.
Rating: 
Summary: Loses some of its impact after so many years
Review: William M. Miller's A Canticle for Leibowitz sits on shelves with the masterworks of 20th Century science-fiction, like Dune, Stranger in a Strange Land, and Alas, Babylon. Perhaps the first book (aside from pulp novels) that dreamed of a far-future, post-nuclear scenario, Canticle set new standards not only for science fiction, but it more or less spawned the genre engaged in serious examinations of the long-term effects of the breakdown of civilization. Where Alas, Babylon and Earth Abides talk about the immediate effects of apocalypse, Canticle starts thousands of years in the future, and centers around a monastery somewhere in Utah, where the Order of Leibowitz keeps watch on ancient books from before some nameless war - endlessly copying them, but unable to comprehend what they mean. One day, a young acolyte stumbles into an old Fallout shelter (he wasn't sure what a Fallout was, but he didn't want to meet one!) and discovers the remains of what appear to be Leibowitz himself (or one of his family members) - along with some holy artifacts. This pressures the church to name Leibowitz a real saint, and gives the abbey a much-needed boost in funding. Cut to a few hundred years in the future. The abbey prepares to host a young nobleman who has discovered an ancient secret - electricity. He uses the abbey's books to make a contraption work that generates light from a tiny glass bulb. Cut another thousand years in the future. Where has all this new progress led? It's not difficult to guess. Miller has a knack for prose, creating and developing likable characters and taking the reader on a personal tour through his labyrinth of personalities. He keeps the reader grounded in the big picture by forcing him or her to care about a character, and then ripping that character out of the story in a disconcerting fashion. It's a technique that works, and works well, as the ultimate moral of the story is humankind's eternal drive to destroy itself. And there is the rub: it's a cynical message told for the first time by a special author. That colleges still teach Canticle is a testament to its value as literature, but Canticle's message has been done so many times by now, in books, film, comics, and every other pop culture outlet, that it has lost its impact amidst a sea of imitators. It's like trying to tell someone "I got the concert t-shirt first!" - they just don't care, because they have one, too. And it's an unfortunate fate for such a fine novel. But it serves another purpose as well: with the dismantling of the two main nuclear superpowers, there's a degree of hope in modern life that Canticle never could have had. While we still run the risk of wiping ourselves out, it's something that has taken less precedence over smaller, more concentrated acts of violence. Those are things we can deal with; the annihilation of our entire civilization is something much larger. Even if Canticle stands as a mile-marker in human progress, it's an important one, and one to recommend to all sci-fi fans.
Rating:
Summary: A classic
Review: A splendid story of human disaster, survival, recovery, further disaster, and ultimate hope, well written and well told, unlike most religious-themed writings. Even devout agnostics like myself can read "Canticle" without feeling annoyance or spouting derision. It stands alone in that regard. Regerdless of what or who you believe in, do read it.
Rating:
Summary: Supreme Post-Apoc Sci-Fi, nothing else can even stand close.
Review: I had never heard of Miller before (I guess he was too old for me), but when this book got into my hands, it held me for a very long time.
The story is so familiar to the modern generation, but was the first of its kind, father of the fathers. Sci-fi of the origin!
It all starts with a thing we all wait for, a nuclear war between the nations which innitiated and destroyed biggest part of the Earth. Few that were left had to look for refuge from the radiation... and so it goes.
What's interesting is the approach author took to write the book. Book itself consists of three parts: part 1- Fiat Homo (no, that's not an obsenity of Italian car), Latin for Let there be man, see Bible, 2- Fiat Lux- Let there be Light and 3-Fiat Voluntas Tua - Let there be will (or Thy Will Be Done). While CREATING the universe, God said the same, but in opposite order. So if pronounced backwards, it would equal to the same as DESTROYING the universe. That's basic idea of the book. Starts with a man coming back to his minds after the great war.
Continues with man getting back all the inventions and creating artificial light.
Ends with....well guess. A reader who likes to see details will also understand that author is mocking our current civilization by showing how silly it looks when a Religious civilization tries to understand what scientific civilization was doing (in our case we are trying to understand what religious guys did, e.g. Sumerians). But if all that might seem not enough for a Sci-Fi fan, book is also field with a great humor, something that kept me laughing for days. Conclusion: Excellent Sci-fi book! Must read for anyone, not just Science Fiction freaks. Especially recommended to the kind of people who think science does not explain everything.
Two Thumbs and a Toe Up!
Rating:
Summary: An epic of post-apocalyptic fiction
Review: This is one of the best post-apocalyptic novels I have ever read. Even though the novel spans over a thousand years, there are constants: a monastery, Latin and the Roman Catholic Church. The premise of the novel is that at some point in the 20th century, there was a nuclear war that almost destroyed humanity. Those who survived turned their fury on the scientists they thought were responsible for unleashing nuclear weapons on the world. Soon, the mob began to attack the educated, the literate, all those thought to be associated with the scientists. The collective knowledge of all humanity would have perished except for the efforts of Leibowitz, a man who tried to preserve fragments of knowledge amidst an almost overwhelming climate of fanatic anti-intellectualism. Centuries later, a monastic order, which legend says was founded by Leibowitz, holds the world's knowledge, by copying books and memorizing texts until the world was ready for it. At one point, a monk discovers a 20th century nuclear fall out bunker and attempts to understand its contents. It is interesting to note that he finds "pre-Deluge" English difficult and he thinks that "Fallout" is a beast or monster, instead of a side effect from nuclear weaponry. The next section takes place several centuries after the first. There is something of a recovery under way, some primitive electrical devices are created and there is a drive to revive learning outside the Church. Also, the warring factions of the former United States are slowly being conquered to form a single whole. As the secular centers of learning gain strength, the old rivalry between the educated clergy and the educated secular man resumes again. The last part takes place around 3750 A.D., almost two thousand years from the present. At this point, the world has been united into a few factions (Asia and North America-Europe), nuclear weapons have been developed and advanced space travel is available. The monastery continues to exist, although some new buildings have been added and now the monks are engaged in science. Then, there is a mysterious explosion somewhere in the Pacific. It triggers a second global war, but this time the Church was prepared. Over a generation before this, the Church prepared a contingency plan. In the event of nuclear war, the Church would send enough priests, bishops etc.. to reestablish the Church elsewhere, even though Earth perishes. Now you know something about the book, you might ask, "Why did you like it?" As am I something of a history buff, I found it fascinating that the Roman Catholic Church preserved knowledge single-handedly in the novel somewhat similarly to the fall of the Roman Empire (in reality, the Arabs and the Byzantines played a major part in preserving the heritage of Greco-Roman civilization). The novel took religion seriously; indeed monks are the stars of this novel, yet the novel never becomes preachy. There were great scenes in the book too; an Abbot (the ruler of a monastery) mediates on whether humanity is doomed to destroy Earth using nuclear weapons, rebuild and do it all over again, a secular scholar and an Abbot argue in a matter reminiscent of the current evolution-creation debate. The epic scale of the book which spans almost two thousand years is executed remarkably well, although it is jarring to end section and begin the next knowing all the characters you got to know have long since died. The only drawback to the novel, for me, was that the monks often use Latin, in their chants, letters etc... and well, I just don't know Latin. Sometimes, it is translated but more often than not, it is simply left. The effect is to remind the reader that the Church is as a nearly eternal organization; century in, century out, everything is the same. Yet, not all is the same. I thoroughly enjoyed the novel; a very satisfying read overall.
Rating: 
Summary: Dated
Review: This book holds some interesting points and ideas on religion and society, but mostly it shows how easily it is to write a book that can become very dated. The ideas may have been provocative and inspiring when the book was released, but these day it read kind of stale and boring. When the idea in an idea book, gets outdated, there's not much left.
Rating:
Summary: Great idea, though disappointing overall
Review: I really liked the idea of this book--of an inescapable destiny for mankind. However, I found the development of theme and plot too drawn out. The entire story should have ended with the launch of the starship. The entire point of euthanasia the monk picket line was unnecessary and had nothing to do with the overall plot. I was incredibly disappointed with the lack of explanation of the millenia old man. Who or what was he trying to find? It was worth reading to get a feel of Miller's proposed cycle of humanity. Just do not expect everything to be wrapped up in a nice little package.
Rating:
Summary: A Universal Masterpiece
Review: I always think that Miller's "Canticle for Leibowitz" should be required reading for students. This is a masterpiece that reflects in a brillant way on many aspects of our human nature. The writing is artful and efficient, the story flows naturally and well paced, and the characters are simply unforgettable... full of tenderness, fear, courage, failures...yes...so human. I will hardly forget Brother Francis of Utah, Dom Paulo de Pecos, Dom Jetrah Zerchi, Lazarus... In this intellectual and moral novel, every page glows with important topics for all humanity. Read it, and you will be touched, and hopefully moved. I am convinced that if the men governing our world read books like this, things will be much better. In sum, "Canticle for Leibowitz" is a Universal Masterpiece. (The Latin on the novel has seemingly been a problem for some readers: Well, no problem, there are at least 2 excellent study guides available in the www with all the translations).
Rating: 
Summary: You had to be there¿.
Review: I would love to have read this when it came out first. I truly would. I think it is the only way I would have caught the spirit which seems to imbue every other review here.
But to pick it up in 2001 as I did ..... well, the closest parallel I could make is watching one of those creaky old black and white episodes of "The Outer Limits". In other words, one and a half minutes into it you're saying "saw this before, thank you very much".
I had to abandon it before I managed a hundred pages. My lingering memory of the experience is that is was like the Key Stone Cops in graphic novel format, small characterless figures stretched across an empty landscape, plodding through set pieces at pre stand-up pace.
I adore good SF, but Canticle is unbearably dated.
Let it rest in peace with "Duck and Cover".
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