NINETOES VS. A CANTICLE FOR LEIBOWITZ

Ninetoes revisits a science fiction, post-apocalyptic classic, Walter M. Miller’s venerable A Canticle for Leibowitz, but does it stand up to the test of time?

TITLE: A Canticle for Leibowitz

AUTHOR: Walter M. Miller Jr.

GENRE: Science Fiction/ Post Apocalyptic.

PAGES: 433

FORMAT: Ebook

PRICE: $.99

Hey there, book lovers! It’s your old pal, Ninetoes, coming to you from Ninetoes Loves Books Headquarters. Today, I am looking at Walter M. Miller Jr’s A Canticle for Leibowitz. I have coffee in my system and my thinking cap on, so let’s get to it!

In the spirit of transparency, this is my second read of this book. I first read it when I found it at a flea market in 1980. The man I bought it from sang its praises, so I plunked down fifty cents and buckled up for the weekend. I thought I was prepared for this book. I was not…and that is a good thing!

The first thing to note about this book is that it is a Post-Apocalyptic novel. It is set around a Catholic monastery in the desert southwest and spans thousands of years. The monastery is the Albertinian Order of Leibowitz, and they are tasked with preserving the knowledge of past scientific knowledge until mankind is ready to use it again.

It is comprised of three previously published short stories in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. The stories are: Fiat Homo (Let There Be Man), Fiat Lux (Let There Be Light), and Fiat Voluntas Tua (Thy Will Be Done). It won the 1961 Hugo Award for best science fiction novel.

Now, I have to be honest, this book is a bit of a slog to get through. Some moments felt smooth, and others felt like I was moving through molasses. If you are looking for a book that gives the feel of the FALLOUT gaming franchise, this is not the book for you. Yes, there are roving bands of thieves and ne’er-do-wells, but as far as action, action, action is concerned, it lacks. Let’s face it, the book is set in a monastery. You will get a lot of religion, words in Latin, and church politics. For me, that was all well and good and did not really take away from the overall enjoyment of the book, but for others, it might be considered a drag. What I really enjoyed was that it brought me back to the fifteen-year-old kid who read it for the first time.

This was one of the first post-apocalyptic books I have read. Back then, it held a magical trance over me. A lot of the reason is because of the church politics in an age where the world has to be rebuilt. An engineer with the last name of Leibowitz is on the threshold of being named a saint by New Rome, and a member of the order finds some of the saints’ documents, including a blueprint, in a basement. This is where everything starts, and if nothing else, it expanded my imagination. That was then. Now, it was good for a refresh of the memory, but it did not hold the punch it had back then.

This one is perfect for fans of post-apocalypse stories, church politics, tales of wasteland life, and good writing.

I give this one 4 bookmarks out of 5.

Until the next time, I bid you happy reading.

Darren “Ninetoes” Perdue is a book and media reviewer. When he is not reading, he is watching true crime shows, cooking for his family, or working on a plan for universal domination. If you see him on his porch, say hi. He does not bite…much.

PLEASE NOTE: The views and opinions of the staff of Memento Mori Ink do not necessarily represent those of Memento Mori Ink or Crystal Lake Publishing. Thank you for understanding.