Book Review: A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M Miller Jr.

Author Walter M. Miller Jr. had quite the journey to being able to write this book. Born in 1923, Miller served as a bomber in World War II and participated in the destruction of a 6th century monastery founded by St. Benedict. He went on to become a Hugo award winning science fiction author in the 1950’s but was also so shaken by his experience in the war that he converted to Catholicism and wrote the short stories that would eventually become A Canticle for Leibowitz over the course of a decade.

From the description I thought this book would be right up my alley. It is the story of a post-apocalyptic American society that has descended back into barbarism after a global nuclear war. One of the only institutions still functioning is the Catholic church, and the story is told from the perspective of surviving monks. They are the only organized group still literate and able to preserve humankind’s history and scientific knowledge. Being Catholic myself I thought it seemed like a really neat setup. Then I read it and was disappointed. The first of the book’s three sections is really slow and ends on an anticlimax.

I put the book down and was not motivated to continue. Then I picked it back up and was surprised by how good part 2 was. The story jumps ahead several centuries more than once and delves into the cyclical nature of history. It explores the enduring role of the church, the moral controversies it must face, and ultimately ends with a most spectacular conclusion. Part 3 was excellent. The ending was at once depressing, hopeful, and unforgettable. I strongly recommend this book. It will give you a lot to ponder and many of its insights inspire me to this day. Power through the first section. You won’t regret it.

Grade: B+