A Canticle For Leibowitz

A Canticle For Leibowitz by Walter Miller Jr.

copyright = 1959
pages = 338
source = purchase
date completed = 04/03/09
challenges: It's the End of the World II; TBR

The story starts out after a nuclear destruction with Brother Francis of the Albertian Order of Leibowitz in the Utah desert. He is performing his Lenten vigil in order to become a full monk of the order. During this time a wandering traveler “inadvertently” finds an entrance to some ruins that Brother Francis ends up investigating. The Order’s main purpose is to preserve pre-nuclear (called the Flame Deluge in the book) writings for future generations. Brother Francis finds what is reportedly some of Leibowitz’s original writings and takes them back to the order. Much controversy ensues since Leibowitz is currently a candidate for canonization and the validity of the documents is in question. Part one follows Brother Francis through the years as the documents are evaluated.

Part two is several hundred years later, following Dom Paulo, abbot of the abbey. Man has regained an appreciation for literacy and the old documents are to be studied again. They have also started replicating ideas (electric light, for example). But the political landscape is unsettled and in the years of Dom Paulo’s leadership issues break out between warring tribes.

Part three again is several hundred years later, this time following Dom Zerchi. Man has advanced—spaceships, cars—but they are living with the effects of past blunders. Genetic defects and radiation sickness still occur and euthanasia camps are set up for those too sick to be expected to live. It is in this part that Man repeats his mistakes.

There isn’t much I can say about this book that hasn’t already been written/analyzed. There is a wiki on it of course. I found the book compelling, eager to find out what would happen, even knowing Man would probably fail again anyway. I know that I need to read it again because it seems I didn’t quite grasp it all. I definitely recommend it.