Canticle for Leibowitz

by Walter Miller

school & library binding, 338 pages

English language

Published Oct. 16, 1999 by Tandem Library.

ISBN:: 978-0-8085-2093-1

(6 reviews)

Highly unusual After the Holocaust novel. In the far future, 20th century texts are preserved in a monastery, as "sacred books". The monks preserve for centuries what little science there is, and have saved the science texts and blueprints from destruction many times, also making beautifully illuminated copies. As the story opens to a world run on a basically fuedal lines, science is again becoming fashionable, as a hobby of rich men, at perhaps 18th or early 19th century level of comprehesion. A local lord, interested in science, comes to the monastery. What happens after that is an exquisitely told tale, stunning and extremely moving, totally different from any other After the Holocaust story

21 editions

Another Hopeful Fool reviewed Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter Miller

Very religious

3 stars

As if you couldn't tell from the title, this book really leans on 1) Latin, 2) Catholic lore. If you're a Sunday School alum or comparative religion nerd, you might get a kick out of it from those alone.

I have no history with the church, so it felt alien and sci-fi to me, but I recognize that the faith in the book is based on one in our real world. So if you're not down for some Abrahamic philosophy fanfic, then you might find large tracts of this book dull.

For my part, while the author might appear to editorialize for some morals that I find wrong, I get a real sense of humility from the writing. A kind open curiosity and questioning of deeply held beliefs, that is refreshing. There are some great conversations in this book, and the Christians are not always put on the "right side" …

Also: 100% this was a precursor for certain post-apocalyptic aesthetics, like in the Wasteland and Fallout video games. One hundred percent.

NowWeAreAllTom reviewed L'héritage de saint Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller Jr.

Review of "L'héritage de saint Leibowitz" on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Half a century later this book's particular brand of nuclear anxiety seems a little cliche and silly--especially with regard to human deformity. Since it takes place mostly in an abbey it's not terribly surprising how few women there are in it, but I'm not crazy about the treatment of the two (three?) notable female characters in the book's third part. But despite its fault I thought the book was well worth reading, for the thoughtful, dry, darkly humorous tone throughout.

jkb reviewed L'héritage de saint Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller Jr.

Review of "L'héritage de saint Leibowitz" on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

it's an okay story. It didn't really grab me all that much and I think that had to do with there seemed to be no clear path from the beginning to the story to the end. Humanity will survive but not on Earth? Or that humans on Earth will be transformed into creatures that thrive on radiation? I don't know. I'm just glad I can cross this off the 100 books that should be read.

Thankfully, the performer on the Audible version was really good! Which is why I gave this three stars instead of two.