A Canticle for Leibowitz

By: Walter M. Miller Jr.

Narrated by: Tom Weiner

Length: 10 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

Hugo Award Winner, Best Novel, 1961

Winner of the 1961 Hugo Award for Best Novel and widely considered one of the most accomplished, powerful, and enduring classics of modern speculative fiction, Walter M. Miller’s A Canticle for Leibowitz is a true landmark of 20th-century literature - a chilling and still-provocative look at a post-apocalyptic future.

In a nightmarish, ruined world, slowly awakening to the light after sleeping in darkness, the infantile rediscoveries of science are secretly nourished by cloistered monks dedicated to the study and preservation of the relics and writings of the blessed Saint Isaac Leibowitz. From there, the story spans centuries of ignorance, violence, and barbarism, viewing through a sharp, satirical eye the relentless progression of a human race damned by its inherent humanness to recelebrate its grand foibles and repeat its grievous mistakes.

Seriously funny, stunning, tragic, eternally fresh, imaginative, and altogether remarkable, A Canticle for Leibowitz retains its ability to enthrall and amaze. It is now, as it always has been, a masterpiece.

©1959 Walter M. Miller, Jr. (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Chillingly effective.” (Time)

Catholic science fiction

I was not expecting a post apocalyptic story from a Catholic perspective. People might not be able to follow this book if they were not raised Catholic or know a lot about monks.

Classic and very literary for sci-fi, somewhat odd voice.

The book is a classic, and will serve well on anyone’s “must read” list of sci-fi novels. It is a brilliant work of fiction.

The narration is not terrible, but it is rather odd. Some characters are inexplicably made to sound like Colonel Sanders. A few characters’ voice acting is evocative of something from a minstrel show, and a bit cringeworthy.

The worst was the Latin, however. Pronounced—or should I say intoned—in a strange falsetto, with nearly incomprehensible pronunciation. It was a little off-putting.

You can tell its age but still enjoyable

There are many sci-fi books from the 50s to the 70s that if you read them again clearly didn't age well. There are exceptions, such as Zelazny's Lord of Light or Niven/Pournelle's Mote in God's Eye, that are still great. This one is somewhere in between. I enjoyed listening to it, in particular the first half or so that reads almost like a parody at times (I hope intended!). In the second half it shifts more and more to themes that reflect the times the book was written in, specifically the Cold War and the fear of nuclear annihilation. With the benefit of hindsight, this all now feels weirdly out of place and nostalgic. Never heard of the narrator before but he did a nice job.

History Repeats and More

This book was on my list for some time. Glad I got to it finally.
This is a book about history repeating its tragedies over and over. About mankind’s need for preservation, and the fact that in some ways it may be misguided, leading in the end to death and destruction. It’s wonderfully written, drawn from Miller’s experiences of the horror of war, and the questions he undoubtedly pondered while in the throws of PTSD.
I especially liked the character of Benjamin and the symbolism he carries.
Wiener does an excellent job with the reading.
Recommend for sure.

I thought I remembered the story.

I first read this book about 40 years ago and it left an impression on me. I thought I remembered it accurately, I didn't. listening to the story was just as powerful as when I first read it, filling in the gaps/details in my memory. I don't know why this book is not considered a classic, I have been reading science fiction for over 50 years and this is one of a handful that, as I first stated, has left a lasting impression on me.

Fantastic and Interesting

I am shocked to see a lot of people put that this book is slow and therefore "dull", or therefore "bad", or therefore "boring". This book is set in a post apocalyptic desert, so I suppose maybe some would expect zombies or road warrior, but action doesn't equal good. You can read the premise in the description but the author took a very interesting premise and totally delivered. How humanity relates to their past, and seeks meaning from what came before is explored in three different time periods, and each third of the book is interesting in its own right.
With the praise out of the way, I will say that the author writes as though the reader has at least a very basic understanding of catholicism (and I do mean VERY basic). Some people have suggested there is too much latin but you can get what's going on through context. Overall, I would highly recommend for anyone looking for a thought provoking piece of science fiction, so long as that doesn't mean explosions and guns.

Classic in the genre

If you wish to read/listen to the seminal works of post-apocalyptic sci-fi, then this must be your next listen

Well-written, but not engaging

I'm always interested in apocalyptic literature, and this is considered a classic. The narration is excellent, and the writing is excellent, but I did not find the book engaging. Neither the story nor the characters pulled me in and made me care what happened to them. I certainly agree with the author's point about saving the world from ignorance, and I think a lot of his lessons are as true now as they were in 1959, but I do have to wonder why this book is so highly regarded.

Transcends Theology and describes Humanity

I was really impressed with this book. I didn’t know what I was walking into, but was impressed and enamored very quickly into the book. The theology is a central motif, but the book really describes humanity itself. I’m going to need to think about this one for a while.

Wow.

Very illustrative wording. This book seems to be a searing indictment on humanity. I strongly suggest looking into the backstory of the author.