This classic by Walter M. Miller is wonderful. Who knew the nuclear apocalypse could be so funny?
It was published in 1959 and won the Hugo award.
Brent: 4 stars. A smart and funny imagining of a post-apocalyptic world that is underpinned by its compelling message against the dangers of nuclear proliferation.
Cody: 4 stars. Canticle is a singular novel that explores the back-treading of humanity through another Dark and Middle-Ages to hilarious and potent effect.
Here's the setup:
A Canticle for Leibowitz is set in the aftermath of a cataclysmic nuclear war.
The survivors blamed science, and killed intellectuals and burned all the books they could get their hands on. A monastery in the desert of the western US is one of the few places on earth to preserve any books of knowledge from the pre-apocalypse. The novel takes place in three parts, each separated by about five hundred years, as generation after generation of monks hand the surviving books and collected knowledge of humanity down.
Hugonauts' Thoughts:
Canticle is packed with interesting ideas that stick with you, but even at face value, the monks we follow through the ages are witty, wry, and funny as hell, and they make the book into an incredibly fun read.
It's an amazing exploration of the relationship between knowledge and religion and the cyclical role of religion in nurturing and then halting scientific progress. It also delves deeply into the difference between knowledge for knowledge’s sake (epistemology) and knowledge for practical use.
Canticle is also an incredible window in the late 1950s and early 60s, when nuclear weapons felt very real and we had to begin to come to terms with the horrible weapons we'd invented. Reading it feels like a way to relive the concerns of that era, and remind ourselves that the existential threat of nuclear weapons is still as relevant in modernity. That's two for the price of one folks - spend some time in a very believable nuclear wasteland Middle-Ages, and spend some time in 1959 too.
The third and final section of the novel goes a little bit off the rails, but is still enjoyable if you shelf your credulity. This aside, the first two sections alone make A Canticle for Leibowitz a must read for all.
Related Books
If you loved this one, you might also like:
The Name of the Rose - Umberto Eco
A murder mystery set in an Italian monastery in the Middle Ages with a wry, witty main character who combines ideas from fiction, the bible, history, and philosophy to solve the murders.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
This is one of the top three most popular sci-fi books of all time, and for good reason - it is relentlessly funny and philosophical at the same time! Don't forget to bring a towel (or 42).
Double Star - Robert A. Heinlein
A hilarious, lighthearted read with an unforgettable main character. If you're looking for an entry point into Heinlein's work, want a classic from the golden age of sci-fi that stands the test of time, or are hoping for a book that doesn't take itself too seriously - this one's for you!
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