A Canticle for Leibowitz [Mass Market Paperback]

This novel from the 1950's is a deserved classic among the sci-fi intelligentsia. Maybe its laborious title has kept it from being noticed by the popular masses, but this book is a hidden gem for those looking to broaden their horizons. This is probably one of the earliest stories to speculate on a post-nuclear apocalypse, and here Walter Miller created one of the most imaginative and far-reaching examples of that motif. Later nuclear winter stories would get predictable and formulaic, but not this originator. In this masterpiece of storytelling, three ages of human development pass by over the course of 1800 years, but in the end we see that those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it. While it's a bit dated in places, this brilliant and disturbing novel will keep you thinking for a long time after you're done reading it.

In addition to its unique take on historical processes, this book is essentially about the pros and cons of organized religion. In Part 1, humanity is stuck in the middle of several centuries of dark ages after a nuclear war, and once again the Catholic Church (or what's left of it) holds sway over a fearful and unenlightened society. Among the few records of the pre-war world that have survived are some inconsequential notes and blueprints by a minor scientist called Leibowitz. The church has made Leibowitz a saint, and here Miller appears to be commenting on the reverence of organized religion toward matters of doubtful authenticity and importance. Is religious belief built upon weak foundations? In Part 2 humanity is entering a new renaissance of knowledge, with religion being unable to adjust to the new enlightenment. In Part 3, humanity has reached a new technical age, but society is again oppressed by nuclear paranoia and mutually assured destruction. Humanity is about to destroy itself once again in this 1800-year cycle. Miller then takes us on an examination of the strength and relevance of faith in the face of such suffering and destruction. However, for the entire 1800 years and more, the disciples of Leibowitz have kept faith and hope alive. So is organized religion the curse or savior of humanity? Walter Miller contemplates these issues with great lucidity in this lost classic. [~doomsdayer520~]

This novel is timeless! Whether we are examining the supposed eras of recovery from nuclear holocaust, the reformation of oppressive armed combatants, the redeployment of nuclear destruction or our present lives in modern society, the author has a single clear message; The Church hierarchy continues to play its fiddles while Rome is in flames around them. Novella #1 shows the monks saving totally useless 'holy writings' and spending centuries recopying documents that they are totally ignorant of. Novella #2 shows the Church, at all costs, aligning itself with the most powerful political and warring tribe that they can link themselves with. This is in spite of the lack of a common morality. And Novella #3 shows the naivety of them rocketing these 'holy writings' into outer space in order to 'save' the structure and basis for the Church proper for future other-worldly populations.

The author cleverly took three different future eras of mankind and examined them through the eyes of Church and its administration. He showed the useless continuation of church rituals that were based of Liebowitz mythology, displayed that the prayers of even the highest church official went unanswered, showed the utter fear that engrossed church officials had when their imminent death was faced and revealed the fractured church hierarchy that was built fully on power and control and lacked any public significance. The most telling actions of the Church, however, were revealed in not what they did, but in what they didn't do! All around them during these three eras was a society that seemed to be moving in a direction that would lead to the eventual re-destruction of the world. And what did the Church do in the interim? Did they make any attempt to educate or warn the public of where their actions may lead? Did they lead protests or sit-ins against the errant political systems? No! All they did was to constantly repeat their useless and mundane religious rituals and concern themselves with only their own organization and continued pious identity. They had little or no concern for the lay public with whom they were 'led' to serve. While some readers will complain of the mundaneness of the religious activities that appear throughout this novel, it is done in a purposeful manner. Boring, inane, and repetitive activity IS the function of the Church as they define themselves to be. The author clearly needs to show this.

This novel clearly shows the universality of these dynamics in today's conservative and fundamentalistic driven world. While society is making vain attempts to evolve from where we are, immovable mythological anchors are holding us back. Religious exclusivity, homophobia, the undermining of women's rights and the ignoration of the most helpless among us are the banners under which present religions (both East and West) are walking under.

I clearly advise any one who is interested in reading an author who created a universal dystopic novel many decades ago that remains fresh and appropriate to read this excellent presentation.

I read this one for the first time a few years ago. I've read it a couple times since. It's thought provoking and original. The book really stuck in my mind and manages to absorb my attention, even though I have read it before. I don't usually like collections of stories, even longer ones, like those in this book, but this is definitely an exception.