A Canticle for Leibowitz

She leaned close to whisper behind her hand. “I need be giving shriv’ness to Him, as well.”
The priest recoiled slightly. “To whom? I don’t understand.”
“Shriv’ness-to Him who made me as I am,” she whimpered. But then a slow smile spread her mouth. “I-I never forgave Him for it.”
“Forgive God? How can you-? He is just. He is Justice, He is Love. How can you say-?”
Her eyes pleaded with him. “Mayn’t an old tumater woman forgive Him just a little for His Justice? Afor I be asking His shriv’ness on me?”

A book about hope, death, suffering, endings, nostalgia, heritage, preservation, change, what actually matters, whether a small group of people has the power to change the world, tradition, and other stuff that show more I'm bad at articulating. Pretty depressing too. It gives an amazing sense of time passing, of how things change, how people forget and remember. The society presented feels real.

I came away with a feeling of just how important nuclear disarmament is, how important peace is, how disgusting justifications for war are. I feel like there's more to say but it's hard to articulate, there's a lot to think about that feels like it needs an essay to put into words.

The ending is a little weird and it's really depressing sometimes and the Latin can be a bit confusing with no translation (BUT whenever it's key to the story it's translated) but otherwise it's great.

Also, I will say that although they get only minimal mention in the book: I have strong sympathy for the "Simpletons" (very minor early spoiler) who burned the books. show less

Formada por tres novelas cortas que empezaron a publicarse en 1955, dando lugar a su publicación como libro en 1959, 'Cántico por Leibowitz' es una absoluta y rotunda obra maestra, una de las mejores novelas de ciencia ficción de la Historia.

Se trata de una novela post-apocalíptica, pero realizar un resumen de su contenido es un tarea complicada que de ninguna manera puede hacerle justicia a la obra. La novela está dividida en tres relatos. En el primero, 'Fiat homo' ('Hágase el hombre'), han pasado 600 años desde la Tercera Guerra Mundial. El mundo se encuentra en una nueva Edad Media en la que la iglesia ejerce de guardiana de la cultura; de la poca que queda, ya que tras la hecatombe, los supervivientes quemaron todos los show more libros que encontraron, al igual que mataron a todas aquellas personas sospechosas por su inteligencia. A ésto se le llamó Simplificación. En este relato, el hermano Francis, durante su ayuno cuaresmal en el desierto, descubre ciertos manuscritos pertenecientes al fundador de su orden, Leibowitz.

En el segundo relato, 'Fiat lux' ('Hágase la luz'), han vuelto a pasar otros 600 años. Parece que se acerca un nuevo resurgir de la ciencia, donde la Orden de San Leibowitz tiene un papel relevante.

En el tercer relato, 'Fiat voluntas tua' ('Hágase tu voluntad'), de nuevo han pasado 600 años y la humanidad vuelve a encontrarse donde empezó todo. Se avecina un nuevo conflicto nuclear...

Esta mezcla de ciencia ficción y religión resulta fascinante. Existen continuas referencias teológicas, y la visión que se tiene del siglo XX a través de los documentos supervivientes es muy divertido. Es una novela imprescindible, no sólo para el aficionado a la ciencia ficción, sino para cualquier lector. show less

Parts I and II weren't doing much for me, which was worrying - am I broken inside? I know it's good, why am I not feeling it? Have I really become that distrustful of Catholicism that I can't view it objectively anymore? Because that was so not the point of coming out as an atheist.
But Part III was when the magic happened. It got me engaged and it got me thinking. Most of all it got me conflicted - I was sympathizing with the monks even though I didn't agree with them at all, which should have been weird because I knew that wasn't the author's view of the conflict. But the story was so beautifully developed I never felt like I was supposed to see it like that myself. It's a lovely piece of seamless, understated and very elegant show more storytelling. A very different kind of post-apocalyptic novel, but a great job nonetheless. show less

This is an exceptional book: insightful, contemplative, humorous, tragic - it manages in just over 320 pages to characterize the futility and indomitability of humankind.

The story takes place in the (roughly) two thousand years following the "deluge of fire" that was the nuclear war that all but wiped out civilization somewhere in the near future. Books have been destroyed, except for those that were hidden by "bookleggers" and memorizers who did what they could to salvage as much knowledge as possible. One such booklegger was E.A. Leibowitz, a scientist who was caught while hiding books and hung and burned by an angry mob.

The Canticle is told in three parts. In the first, Francis (a monk belonging to a Christian sect that reveres show more Leibowitz) finds relics related to Leibowitz that ultimately gain the canonization of their "founder." The second involves the emergence of new human society that is beginning to realize that much knowledge had been lost - and is eager to regain that knowledge. The third tells the tale of the recurrent nightmare of humanity.

Throughout, Miller maintains a light, amused perspective that occasionally gives over to a more serious mood. The characters are effectively drawn, and reflections about the destiny of mankind are presented without making them seem like lectures or formal pronouncements. The book is understated - beautifully so - and far more compelling a read than one would expect. show less

4.5/5

A fix up novel of three parts that describe the history of a monastery in desert, dedicated to the patron saint Leibowitz. Leibowitz was an engineer by trade, at least before a nuclear apocalypse, who dedicated himself to the saving and storage of scientific and mathematical volumes, which were intended to be carried through the coming age of darkness. The monks have tasked themselves with the safe-keeping of these documents, and with their distribution to the right people once humanity has found its footing again. Throughout the course of the book, human return to their previous level of technological prowess, and the meaning of the monastery is tested.

An incredibly intelligent and thought-provoking novel, that is different than show more any other SF novel that I've read this year, both in terms of perspective and content. Miller Jr was a devoted catholic, a fact that could not be more clear from simply reading the book. Catholic ideology, morals, practices, and history are the backbone of the book, and if that doesn't sound like a good time to you, then it probably won't be. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it myself, even coming from a secular background. I think this book needs to be read carefully, line by line, to get the most from it. It can be a challenging read at the best of times. Even then, with the amount of Latin used, it can sometimes be hard to infer the full meaning, and looking things up on google every few paragraphs can take you out of the flow.

A Canticle for Leibowitz is often slow, but never ploddingly so. The titular characters of each section are well-drawn and human. I don't think this is light beach-read by any means, but it's far more readable than I anticipated. Miller clearly put a lot of effort into writing the book, and the prose reflects that work. There's even passages written in almost biblical style, which were often beautiful.

The three separate parts speak a little differently, but they all work in their own ways, just not to the same degree. The book begins with more humor than I was expecting, as Miller Jr pokes fun at some Catholic sayings and practices, but slowly becomes more somber and dark as the novel progresses. My only major point of contention is that the final third of the book starts to feel overly preachy, that Catholic ideals are simply better than those of the secular world. The prior two sections were more of a conversation about how religion and science need each other, how they both play a role in humanities 'ideal' society. Miller Jr treads a very fine line gracefully, but slips up towards the end.

Miller Jr's main argument is that because of the human condition, without religion, the tools that science provides mean that we are bound into a cycle of destruction and regrowth, never to escape. The morals and values that the Catholic faith provides us deserve a rightful place of priority over technological advancement. The values that the book upholds feel as though they are coming from an educated and genuine place, and while I don't know that I agree with ever one of Miller Jr's points, I don't feel I need to.

It's really quite hard to capture all of the depth of meaning, symbolism, and theming at play here. I do think it's a seminal and masterful work that is a standout in the genre. show less

"A Canticle for Leibowitz" is a book that defies standard categorization. I suppose it has enough future-world, post-apocalyptic concepts that it falls in the science fiction realm, but it's not your basic laser beam and alien fare. This story goes much deeper.

"Canticle" is made up of three stories that span thousands of years. Each story focuses on a distinct time period, looking progressively further into a post-apocalyptic future. The setting is the same abby in the American West, founded to protect and preserve the learnings of the pre-apocalyptic society. Specifically, they've developed a myth around a martyered scientist named Leibowitz.

The first story revolves around Brother Francis who accidentally discovers certain original show more papers created by Leibowitz, including the blue prints for a technological device. The second story centers on a new technological awakening where future theorists come in contact with ancient (modern) technology. The sequence comes full circle in the third story as our future world is faced again with mutual mass destruction.

Miller wrote "Canticle" in the late '50s when World War II and the atomic bomb were still visible in the world's rearview mirror and the cold war threat was very much a reality. Much of Millers discourse is on the cyclical nature of cultures and societies, the interconnectivities between religion and science, as well as death and politics. It's clear that much of the evocative emotion stems from Miller's time in the military and a youth grown up during a World War.

The story is at times light and humourous but threaded with a very heavy and serious undertone throughout.

The root story I found very interesting - how this future-world's archaeology is our modern world's past. I felt that the first two segments of the book were strongest and was only saddened that each couldn't have more ink themselves. In reflecting upon the discoveries of their past, and their promises of hope for the future, Millers writes, "For Man was a culture-bearer as well as a soul-bearer, but his cultures were not immortal and they could die with a race or an age, and then human reflections of meaning and human portrayals of truth receded...Truth could be crucified, but soon, perhaps a resurrection."

The development of religion, while always founded in christianity, morphs over the course of the story and we see a mythology grow over time. This book is successful on many levels...as simply an intriguing story with attractive characters, and as literature built upon a foundation of religion and war. It's solid story telling at its best, with heart, emotion and intelligence layered on top of the tale from start to finish. show less

First sentence: Brother Francis Gerard of Utah might never have discovered the blessed documents, had it not been for the pilgrim with girded loins who appeared during that young novice's Lenten fast in the desert.

Premise/plot: Canticle for Leibowitz is divided into three parts: "Fiat Homo," "Fiat Lux" and "Fiat Voluntas Tua." Centuries pass between each part, I believe. Essentially what you need to know is that it's post-apocalyptic. The novel opens several centuries (at the very least) after nuclear disaster has wiped out society--at least as we know it. Knowledge is feared and simplicity embraced. A group of monks in the desert cling to what remains of book-knowledge. They memorize. They copy. They wait. They wait knowing that show more humanity may never be ready for their wisdom. Readers get to know a few monks in each part. The book is not bleak from cover to cover, however, by the end the message is that humanity is incapable of learning from their past mistakes and no matter how many centuries pass, humanity is always its own biggest threat.

My thoughts: This is the first time I ever-ever wished I'd paid more attention in Latin class. Just as Jane Eyre is sprinkled with French, this one is sprinkled with Latin. My general thoughts are that once is not enough to really get everything there is to get. I was reading for big-picture ideas, and not really savoring the details and looking for all possible meanings. My first impression is that it's good, but, depressing. Also thought-provoking.

Favorite quotes:

"How can a great and wise civilization have destroyed itself so completely?" "Perhaps," said Apollo, "by being materially great and materially wise, and nothing else." (119)
If you try to save wisdom until the world is wise, Father, the world will never have it. (208)
It never was any better, it never will be any better. It will only be richer or poorer, sadder but not wiser, until the very last day. (216)
The freedom to speculate is essential...(216)
Men must fumble awhile with error to separate it from truth, I think--as long as they don't seize the error hungrily because it has a pleasanter taste. (218)
If we're born mad, where's the hope of Heaven?" (240)
When mass murder's been answered with mass murder, rape with rape, hate with hate, there's no longer much meaning in asking whose ax is the bloodier. Evil, on evil, piled on evil.(259)
Too much hope for Earth had led men to try to make it Eden, and of that they might well despair until the time toward the consumption of the world.(264)
It is the soul's endurance in faith and hope and love in spite of bodily afflictions that pleases Heaven. (292)
The trouble with the world is me. (305) show less