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)

Very original story. No Mad Max, though.

I've never read another story quite like this one before. That truly earns it five stars.

Because it's a post-apocalyptic story, though, I imagined it might involve more adventure and drama than it did. The fact it did not disappointed me somewhat, but the unique nature of the story helped me finish it and still be satisfied.

Borderline Catholic Propaganda

Given the high praise for the novel I was surprised how oriented the book was towards a Catholic vision of the world. While it provides valid insights, the different periods of the story do not allow the listener to have a coherent experience. It is mildly entertaining, and has its moments of intrigue. Overall it is nothing special and certainly not a classical listen or read unless you are one that can really get caught up in the undertones of darkness that could only be saved through redemption by God.

History repeating...

This famous science fiction story deserves its praise as far as I am concerned. It imagines a post-atomic war future that recapitulates the presevation of agent learning in Christian monasteries. In this case the Albertian order of Leibowitz preserves science texts without necessarily fully understanding them. The story takes place in three time periods and settings one six hundred years after the war as a young monk uncovers some material relating to the order's founder, then jumping forward six hundred years to a new Renaissance where a scientist visits and begins reviving some of the texts that have been carefully preserved often uncomprehending by the monks, another six centuries pass and the world is once again on the brink of atomic war and the monks must prepare. It is an engaging book that plays enjoyable with concepts from history and science.

I am not sure whether the treatment of Catholicism is supposed to be sympathetic or unsympathetic, but it is probably enough of both to be unappealing to different people for one or the other reason. The occasional mystical element weaves into the story with some ambiguity and unorthodoxy.

The performance is well done with the narrator managing to do different voices for speakers that more or less suit them.

Stands the test of time

I first read this book in the 1980's and never forgot it. Re-reading it now confirmed my long-ago memories of it as a remarkable work that stands the test of time. The narrator did an excellent job differentiating the many characters.

Good but not for everyone

I enjoyed the themes and many of the characters in this book, but I found it easy to get distracted from what was happening by the drawn-out prose(maybe it just shows it's age a bit). Also, the Latin could be a bit much sometimes.

It helps knowing that the book was originally written as three novellas.

Really good but depressing.

Great story, but depressing since the author touches on issues that we are still dealing with today. Also, there's quite a bit of Latin without translation.

Great Boom

The book is a great story, portraying well the timelessness of the Catholic Faith and the struggles of man without God. The performance is done exceptionally well, with the various voices enhancing the story.

An unusual post-apocalypse story

I have mixed feelings about this story. It is definitely unique in the genre. In this case the title should be taken literally, as most of the story revolves around religion's role in the post-apocalyptic world. The story is a bit slow at times, but it is a good read and easily deserves its Hugo award. There is also ample sprinkling of humor throughout, most of it of the tongue-in-cheek variety. It helps if you know some Latin, as many of the phrases go by pretty quick and you can miss some subtle humor based on the religious interpretation of events!

pretty good...for the 60s

an interesting thought experiment with only 2 women, and only one of them is named!

Amazing.

A must read. The best audiobook I have ever heard, Tom Weiner makes the story even more incredible immerisve.