Reviews

A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller Jr.

zila's review against another edition

challenging mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.0

ptrevs's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

I really enjoyed this book, but it wasn’t perfect and definitely isn’t for everyone. It’s not really a plot driven novel, more a reflection about humanity, and the relationship between materialism and religion.  

fastasashark's review against another edition

dark reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

pointlessape's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

aelumen's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

chandlabing1987's review against another edition

challenging reflective slow-paced

3.75

trsclee's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

taberiusrex's review against another edition

5.0

I wish I could explain what about this book was so meaningful to me. It's like a checklist of everything that turns me off to a story: religious, post-apocalyptic, nary a woman or person of color in sight. It's a 1950s science fiction screed, through and through.

But damned if it hasn't stuck with me. I read it for the first time years ago, and the messages of perseverance, optimism (yes it does, shut up), and keeping a light alive through difficult times continue to resonate. The scene of Rachel and Abbot Zerchi at the end still makes me tear up. Rereading it has been a pleasure, and after everything currently on my plate felt like a chore, this energized me again.

It really does have problems, as I alluded to. It's also very Catholic, and pre-Vatican II Catholic at that, which is *very* Catholic indeed. (That said, I definitely appreciated some parts more after spending four years at uni studying Latin.) But at its worst the story is just charming, while at its best it can be quite profound.

I'd recommend it to any science fiction fans who somehow haven't read it yet, as well as anyone looking to get into science fiction (especially that 1950s "future history" subgenre that was all the rage) who happens to click with post-apocalyptic or religious fiction.

fedsmoker's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

3.5

allegedly_miri's review against another edition

5.0

This book offers in equal parts an incredible bleakness, and a resilient hope. It is pretty difficult to read, especially toward the end when the bleakest parts of humanity are the central theme. I really enjoyed it though, and feel winded after reading it as though I’ve got plenty to think about over the next week.