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)

I had forgotten how great this book is ....

Would you consider the audio edition of A Canticle for Leibowitz to be better than the print version?

No, they are both great and worth reading/listening to. This is a different and highly pleasurable experience, particularly since the narration is fantastic.

What other book might you compare A Canticle for Leibowitz to and why?

Any number of Heinlein's books would do, or the original Frank Herbert Dune books (not the trash spewed by his son). I love science fiction; it is my favorite genre, but let's face it, there is so much trash, which can often be fun and entertaining, but is not great literature. This IS great literature and the proof is in the pudding. This book was written in the early 60's. I read it probably over 40 years ago. It is as good today as when I first read it, and I suspect someone reading it a 100 years from now will feel the same way about it.

What about Tom Weiner’s performance did you like?

I have come to the conclusion that audio books depend heavily on the narrator to bring out the heart of the book. Not all narrators can do this and not all are compatible with the book they are reading/performing. Mr. Weiner is a perfect fit for this book. He brings it to life and I so much enjoyed listening to him do so.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It took me back in time in my own life. If there are any drawbacks to young readers listening to this audio book, it is that they do not have a feel for the atmosphere and background of the era when the book was written. Not that I believe this will detract from their enjoyment of it, but it will be a different experience for them, which is how it should be.

Looses something in audio

One of my favorite sf books 35 years ago. I found the story came across somewhat disjointed as an audiobook. Perhaps my tastes have changed but I did find transitions in the audiobook to be disorienting.

Could’ve been a great novella

The premise is compelling, & the narrator tries to hold it together, but there is so much meandering fluff that it becomes a chore to finish, & it doesn’t really flourish there…. More than half the book could be cut & it wouldn’t be made worse. Again, the premise was canonical, but otherwise it was pretty tepid in the final rendition.

Very Catholic and a bit dull

Interesting world and a few interesting scenes, all blighted by endless ruminations about the Catholic experience. I think you really need to be Catholic to enjoy it. The characters are also a bit superficial and either abrasive or dull.

A refreshing take on the post apocalyptic genre

Refreshing slow pace. fascinating worldbuilding and characterization. even if it isn't critical enough of main characters

Book Is just good... narrator is superb

This book popped up off the list of long-ago choices, and poked me between the eyes. I had labored on it for ohhh, sooo many eons! I was in, I think, about my junior year in high school , and had begun my saga of “spacey,” books with “ Alas Babylon. How I ended up with this tale, I have no clue. Alas Babylon is much, much better, and it came out shortly before thin did.
All in all, I am delighted that my Latin was refreshed and that I renewed many of the rituals of the Church. As a face-to-face comparison, “Relax Babylon,” was/is much better than this later take. Part of the difference may be that that the newer story, as read now, uses our more up-to-date knowledgt.
Read both and see what you think.

as rivetingly timely as the day it was written

this vivid tale The Rebirth of civilization after a nuclear apocalypse conceals an incisive meditation on history, knowledge, and the nature of man both light and dark. Absolutely worth listening to, the Lively story is enhanced by an impeccable performance by the narrator.

Yawn....

There were a TON of really great reviews for this story. I was really looking forward to the listen. I listened to the first 7 hours of it and gave up. The characters were boring. There were no action scenes (at least for the first 7 hours). I understand the irony of the churches worshipping idols from a previous age that were completely irrelevant. It just wasn't that exciting.

Mid-Century Dystopian Epic; Brilliant Performance

If you don't know the inner workings of a post-apocalyptic Franciscan abbey, you'll have to work your way through the first half of the book; but, that's part of the fun.

Loved the story, could use more closure.

The story is in 3 "acts" almost and they will thrown you for a loop! I wish more of the storylines had closure but the mystery is great.