A Canticle for Leibowitz
by Walter M. Miller Jr.
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Book Reviews of A Canticle for Leibowitz
Book Review: Sci-fi that isn't
Summary: 5 Stars
Do you know many science-fiction books that quote Latin? Where the heroes are monks and abbots? Where the protagonists argue over illuminated manuscripts? A Canticle for Leibowitz has an appeal well beyond science-fiction fans.
Too much of it shouldn't be given away, but the story takes place after a nuclear war and concerns the fight to preserve what is left of human literacy and knowledge. Of course, this is about the need for spirituality and wisdom to balance progress in scientific pyrotechnics. But A Canticle for Leibowitz is first and foremost an utterly convincing political fable, interwoven with a host of private adventures and tribulations. And while nuclear holocaust may sound less likely today than in the 1950s, what is astonishing is that this book hasn't aged a bit, that it has none of the technological and contextual faux pas that makes so much of science fiction dated.
Walter Miller wrote with authority, conviction and humour. His dialogue between churchmen is jaw-dropping in its veracity; I couldn't believe afterwards that he was never a priest or a novice. The novel's politics are as credible as they are subtle. Miller creates a reality in which you will find yourself completely immersed without wanting to leave it, however harsh it may be. My only quibble, in fact a major disappointment is that, incredibly, Walter Miller never wrote anything else.
Book Review: A Saga, Takes a Lifetime to Read
Summary: 2 Stars
Some books, you want to stretch out the experience so you don't finish the enjoyment too soon. A Canticle For Leibowitz is not one of them. It took me over eleven years to read, not because I couldn't part with a great read, but because every time I committed some time to Leibowitz, the book begged to be put down. I don't know how many times I tried to get into the book, only to think of better ways to spend my time. It wasn't that A Canticle For Leibowitz was just dull - it seemed more as if the author could think of enough ways to disengage the reader. Imagine a story of post-apocalyptic monks copying electronic schematics without the first clue as to their meaning or utility. Characters come, their slow-paced lives are described in tedious detail, then they're killed off or drift into the past, as if they meant nothing to the narrative, after all. Throw in dead rituals in Latin, a constantly shifting cast of chartacters you couldn't care less about, reinvention of long-disappeared technologies, and a church-sponsored starship to seed distant worlds with born-again Adam and Eve. A capsule review would be foolish to try to summarize the movement of centuries described in a book, but this one moves in seeming-real time, plodding so slowly, you might wonder if you have to stay around long enough to see it fail to cover much ground in eternities of doledrums.
Book Review: let's not take it so seriously, ok?
Summary: 5 Stars
Most reviews for this book are way too serious. Science vs. religion in light of a nuclear apocalypse. Did anyone read this book for pleasure and humor? After all, the synopsis of the books reads:
"By the time of the 32rd century, the atomic Flame Deluge was over. The earth was dead. All knowledge was gone. In a hellish, barren desert, a humble monk unearths a fragile link to 20th century civilizations. A handwritten document from the Blessed Saint Leibowitz that reads: pound pastrami, can kraut, six bagels-bring home for Emma."
I read this book for humor and for silly perspectives. The monks, while literate, copy every scrap of paper they find and keep it in their vault. Almost everything is worthless, like the shopping list, yet they pointlessly carry on copying. It's ridiculous, it's funny. At the same time, they idolize a man named Leibowitz for reasons which are unclear. We only know we designed circuitry, for which they have a schematic for, and that he "performed" a few miracles. Seems ridiculous, again, and fun to read. The silly perspectives from the monks greatly contrasts the darky, more sinister death and disease.
All in all, a wholly satisfying book with refreshing twist of simple minds, petty goals and a sinister contrast.
Book Review: It's been a long time since I've enjoyed a book as much as "Canticle..."
Summary: 5 Stars
The parallels of the events of this book and the events that transpired following the fall of the Roman Empire are obvious, but that doesn't make it stupid. For whatever reason, I've gotten into a "post-apocolypse" reading frenzy. Prior to this book I read "Damnition Alley" which was a fun read, but a light read. Like the forward here says, "A Canticle for Leibowitz" is definitley Literature, with a capital "L."
Some people might get frusterated with the bits of Latin that appear throughout the book, especially in the first section. However, you can get the idea from reading around the Latin. My one year of high school Latin certaintly didn't help me much as I read this book.
Aside from the Latin, and even less Hebrew, this book is a deceptivley easy read. Agian, don't let that fool you because there's a lot to pick up in this book. What's more, as I was reading the second part (with Mad Bear and the Thon) I couldn't help but wander if the path mankind takes in this book is not rather... accurate? I'd suggest that there's nothing fantastic about the human situation in the story... though I do think the Benjamin character didn't aid the realness in any way.
Undoubtably, I will read this book again.
Book Review: SF classic, stands tall years later
Summary: 5 Stars
This book was required reading for a Lit class at UNC Chapel Hill, and for good reason. It brought together many of the themes we discussed over the course of the semester in a morbidly comic way that focused my attention like none of the other SF classics we read (Childhood's End, Starship Troopers, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Akira, etc.). I found the arguments around suicide near the end less than compelling, but the third act taken as a whole is powerful. Completing a second (final?) circle, the story will (should) leave you asking questions about history and humanity.
Readers will find SF and religious themes and tropes warped in ways that are pleasantly challenging. From the disfigured Mrs. Grales who challenges conventional notions of the virgin birth to the low-tech treadmill generator of the 32nd century, Miller brings to life a future that is chillingly familiar and... hilarious. Miller even manages to make the Wandering Jew a powerful character.
Worth the read. Keep google handy if you're not familiar with Catholicism or Christianity. If you like a harder edge, go instead for a book that tackles fewer themes: Neuromancer by William Gibson. It's another SF classic that will leave you wanting more.