A Canticle for Leibowitz - Walter Miller Jr. Book Review

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Review Summary

Miller's 1959 classic examines the distant future at three distinct points: maybe half a dozen centuries after a nuclear war destroyed much of civilization (in the 1960s), and life has returned to fairly the sparse and primitive; in 3174 AD when kingdoms have gathered considerable power and are warring conventionally; and in 3781 AD when robots, atomic bombs, and rocket power have returned. The unifying factor (and location) of the story is a small desert monastery of the Order of St. Leibowitz, dedicated to preserving and enhancing pieces of human scientific knowledge, although most of it is unintelligible to the monks. In each era, the abbot and his priests and novices have to deal with warring political factions, encroachments on their faith and "database," and their own doubts. By the climax, when nuclear war once again threatens humankind's very existence, the monks know what to do. With wry humor and penetrating thoughtfulness, Miller creates an entire cycle of humanity and its challenges within 340 pages.
David Loftus, Resident Scholar

Detailed literary breakdown of A Canticle for Leibowitz

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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 10%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 20%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 30%

Tone of book - cynical or dry-wit
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story
Explore/1st contact/ enviro story Yes
Plotlets: - surviving a post environmental/nuclear disaster
Political power play Yes
Political plotlets - preventing/managing clash/war between govts/kingdoms
Tech./$$$/Info hunt Yes
Stealing/recovering/destroying - power source
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Religious overtones? Yes

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - religious figure
Age: - 60's-90's
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - healthy but a geeky weakling

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status: - politician/elected ruler
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Setting
Terrain - Desert - Mountains
Earth setting: - distant future
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths
scientific jargon? (SF only) - some scientific explanation
How much dialogue? - significantly more dialog than descript

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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).

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