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phoebe_phorreal's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Still not quite sure how to sum up my feelings on this book, though I really enjoy how the different novellas play off each other, especially regarding the essential goodness of humanity, even at its most vile and annihilatory, and Christianity (here, specifically, the Catholic Church's) testimony to that inherent goodness in dark times. There are several discourses and ideas that Miller's future church puts down that reach a big payoff mere pages from the end- all centered around the common humanity we know by faith we share even if eugenicist philosophies would have us believe othherwise.
Some characters can seem a bit one-note and sometimes there are things set up that don't feel like they fully pay off or are consistent in-universe across novellas. There's also a notable lack of many women characters like a lot of fiction from this era. Overall, however, this is an achingly beautiful, poignant, and even at turns witty story of knowledge, humanity, faith and how the three shape each other, intermingle, fall apart, run together, bring disaster, and bring hope. A solid read, with more Latin than you can shake a stick at, that will lead you to both despair in humanity while also restoring your faith in the beauty of our common dignity
Some characters can seem a bit one-note and sometimes there are things set up that don't feel like they fully pay off or are consistent in-universe across novellas. There's also a notable lack of many women characters like a lot of fiction from this era. Overall, however, this is an achingly beautiful, poignant, and even at turns witty story of knowledge, humanity, faith and how the three shape each other, intermingle, fall apart, run together, bring disaster, and bring hope. A solid read, with more Latin than you can shake a stick at, that will lead you to both despair in humanity while also restoring your faith in the beauty of our common dignity
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma
Moderate: Genocide and War
moscat's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
3.5
The first part: phenomenal, five stars, wickedly sharp. Does a great job of showing how history, faith and tradition can be created through ignorance, fear and greed.
As it went on it lost me slightly, I had to wonder if it's a fix up novel (it is). The second part was still good, there were fun characters and moments. I disliked the reappearance of one character, I like him, but would have preferred it not to be the same person. By the third section I was kinda disengaged. It's still an interesting take and still very sharp but lacked what I enjoyed from the first section and aside from a couple of moments felt the most distant narratively (even with the cyclical element).
I'm glad I read it but I enjoyed the first story so much the other two really struggled to hold up for me.
As it went on it lost me slightly, I had to wonder if it's a fix up novel (it is). The second part was still good, there were fun characters and moments. I disliked the reappearance of one character, I like him, but would have preferred it not to be the same person. By the third section I was kinda disengaged. It's still an interesting take and still very sharp but lacked what I enjoyed from the first section and aside from a couple of moments felt the most distant narratively (even with the cyclical element).
I'm glad I read it but I enjoyed the first story so much the other two really struggled to hold up for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Terminal illness, and War
Minor: Murder
soulofaqua's review against another edition
dark
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Terminal illness and War
theangrystackrat's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This is a sweeping post-apocalyptic history of human nature. Starting in the dark ages a monastery in the desert finds a sealed bunker from the last tech age. The writing of a military scientist by the name of Leibowitz is found and Leibowitz is made a saint. From there the story follows human history as it developes and destroys itself again. This was very old school sci Fi. Not my favorite but an interesting thought experiment on the nature of humanity.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and War
kmnickley's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
seanml's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
A very funny, albeit tragic, look into all humanities and our future. Miller perfectly fuses the mysticism of religion, the stalwart progress of science, and the sadness of human memory. 9/10.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and War
Moderate: Child death, Death, Genocide, and Murder
Minor: Blood, Medical content, and Cannibalism
librarianmage's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and War
Moderate: Animal death and Genocide
sunn_bleach's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Come for the goofy Fallout-esque premise, stay for the catholic intrigue. Then prepare yourself for seriously considering the parallels of the Fall, mankind’s self-destruction as a cycle, and whether there’s dramatic irony in a church rediscovering conservatism or being a keystone in the world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and War
Minor: Animal death, Child death, and Vomit
carrionkid's review
5.0
Oh my god. Absolutely fantastic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail
aerolich's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Suicide, Terminal illness, Medical content, Gaslighting, and War