A Canticle for Leibowitz

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Summary: The Fall and Rise and Fall of Civilization
Review: Nuclear war is a topic that countless writers have depicted in science fiction. The severity and grimness varies widely when they imagine the consequences that follow. Either the war is so destructive all life is wiped out, or mankind is plunged into the depths of savagery, or the destruction is only light and life goes on.

As far as I know, Walter M. Miller is the only writer to imagine a nuclear holocaust happening twice. Covering a period of eighteen centuries, "A Canticle For Leibowitz" shows how we fail to learn from the past and how we make the same mistakes over and over again.

Miller imagines the nuclear holocaust (The Flame Deluge) destroying civilization and putting the survivors into an age of ignorance, brought about by The Simplification. This phase lasts 600 years. In that time monks in a monastery have devoted their lives to preserving scraps of the old scientific knowledge, which survived the murderous rampage of the mobs in the early years after the holocaust.

As more centuries pass, the inventions of the past are gradually rediscovered until, by the final third of the book, nuclear technology has reappeared, threatening to destroy civilization once again.

While "A Canticle For Leibowitz" is bleak, it also has a humorous side. This is one of the best-known books of the genre, and, just like events repeating themselves in Miller's story, the premise has been imitated many times by other writers.

Like the interpretations of how Atlantis sank, every writer has their own idea of how the nuclear holocaust will turn out, and how destructive its effects will be. If nuclear war is something we're doomed to repeat, perhaps every author of the topic is right with their description. Naturally, there's only one way to find out. But we don't really want to know which authors got it right, do we?

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Summary: A Canticle for Leibowitz
Review: I thought the book raised some good points. One, that humans are sinful creatures. Miller points out that man sees his mistakes from history but tends to repeat them. Towards the end of the book, man starts another nuclear war despite knowledge of the effects of the first one. Another interesting point was to see how the Catholic Church preserved itself throughout the hundreds of years that the book takes place. The church even sent clergy to space. I would recommend the book if you like SF. It is unique in that it involves the church in the future.

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Summary: Those who Will Not remember The Past...
Review: Walter M.Miller Jr. offers us a look into the years of a post-apocolypic world run by gangs and highwaymen. The work begins in an almost medevial time, with the clergy protecting the pre- deluge spoils of Rome with a fervor. The day to day machinations of these poor acolytes with their dedications is to look into the past instead of the future. The appearance of the strange "Benjamin" heralds a journey into that future that none knows or would care to see. Walter M. Miller Jr. handles this tale with such aplomb that we are led through hundreds of years of time and changing circumstance with a smooth, unveiled cadence that lulls the reader into a calm look into a history that never was-until the last chapters where we realize that technology has been reborn in its most monsterous form-and that it's all about to happen again. Hence the title for my humble take on a CANTICLE FOR LEIBOWITZ.

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Summary: If only I'd been looking for commentary and not story!
Review: An excellent book, to be sure, and a distant future that leaves one somewhat discouraged and terrified, and an interesting glimpse into the workings of a church in isolation, if not exile. But nevertheless a disappointment. It was recommended to me very highly, and it just never got to that high point. Nothing really happened. There didn't seem to be any message, any purpose, any great design. But I do love this, from page 265: "When the world was in darkness and wretchedness, it could believe in perfection and yearn for it. But when the world became bright with reason and riches, it began to sense the narrowness of the needle's eye, and that rankled for a world no longer willing to believe or yearn." I suppose that's enough of a comment on religion for any one novel to hope to accomplish.

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Summary: Among the greatest of all works of literature
Review: I first read CANTICLE as a college freshman and have re-read it several times. I also got myself a first edition hardcover so I can pass it along to my children and grandchildren. This is truly one of the great works of 20th century literature, and as major a figure as Walker Percy thinks so too! It's curious that this book keeps getting classified as SciFi. Yes, yes, it is that, inasmuch as it concerns the aftermath of a nuclear war and the re-establishment of a technological society. But it is incalculably more than that!

There are so many marvels in this book it's hard to enumerate them. It is first of all literate - beautifully written. Second, it's a wonderful story that can be read on many levels: as terrific SciFi, as a comedy, as a tragedy, or as both. There is a Greek tale of hubris, a Hebrew tale of the Wandering Jew; there is wit, good humor, hope. There are riches that can only be tapped in re-reading, which you will find it a pleasure to do. Get this book!

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Summary: A masterpiece
Review: I do not wish to add more substantial comments to the already long list of reviewers: this a classic, powerful, masterpiece of literature. It is about the interplay of political and religious power, and of science and ethics, posed in a very intense manner, particularly in the last chapter. I almost cried and some scenes haunted my sleep for some days, like the abbot's tomcat, refusing to die. I wish only to post a word of warning for readers whose first language is not english, like myself: it is not easy reading, both in terms of the vocabulary and the usage of the language. However, it is absolutely worth the effort as the novel is guaranteed to stir up your system of beliefs in the subject.

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Summary: Good.
Review: This book is well worth reading. Set in the future, after a nuclear holocaust on Earth, the ideas presented are compelling, and there is a slightly dark humor throughout all of the events. The development of religion and technology in the novel is interesting. I would highly recommend this book.

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Summary: Miller's Classic Science Fiction Tale
Review: 'A Canticle for Leibowitz' is the story of a Catholic Monastary in the Utah desert after a Nuclear Holocaust. The story spans one thousand years and deals with the monks' attempts to preserve human knowledge against the barbarous dark age that had decended upon the Earth. This is one of those rare novels that combines biting satire with a wonderful story and rich characters. There are a few times when the story tends to get bogged down, but these lulls are more than made up for by genuine thrilling moments and a very satisfying ending. Religion, philosiphy, and humor illustrate this wonderful novel of mankind searching for collective redemption and wondering at just what cost salvation will come.

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Summary: I just don't see it
Review: I am still wondering what is considered so good about this book. I feel fairly well versed in SF and this one ranks as low as the last few books in the Dune series. There were interesting flashes in the book. The idea of technology being held by the church was fairly interesting, but never panned out for me. Thon Taddeo's visit had my interest, but lost it because nothing that interesting transpired. One thing I will concede, the literary level was high for SF (no, I am not just saying that because the book contains Latin). I hope that you are enjoying, enjoyed or will enjoy it more than I did.

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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...