The Bodhisattva

Title: A Canticle for Leibowitz
Pages: 368
Publisher: Weidenfeld & Nicholson/Contemporary Fiction (1961)
Series/Related Titles: Saint Leibowitz and the Wild Horse Woman (1997)

Walter M. Miller Jr’s A Canticle for Leibowitz was one of the first books I picked up when starting my personal quest to catch up and immerse myself in Science Fiction, as I had always known my Science Fiction knowledge was although perhaps more than adequate by most standards was severely lacking in my opinion compared to how much I had read in Fantasy. Anyway I’m going to be repeating my intro for my back 99 list that rounds at my former 101 list so let me go straight to the review. ‘A Canticle for Leibowitz’ is widely considered a classic (which admittedly means absolutely nothing in many instances), but more importantly came highly recommended by opinions I trust. I have found however through my reading, that the critique and practice of canonization in regards to Science Fiction novels seems much more aptly bestowed in comparison to Fantasy where it seems (and is) numerous titles are labeled with accolades that are at the very least questionable, and often times preposterous.

“How can a great and wise civilization have destroyed itself so completely? Perhaps by being materially great and materially wise and nothing
else.”

‘A Canticle for Leibowitz’ was written in 1959, and it should be noted that it’s original form was that of 3 novellas takes place in a post-apocalyptic Earth setting, predicated by a nuclear holocaust (referred to as the Flame Deluge) that Miller suggest occurs in the 60’s of the same century. The novel is told in 3 segments each taking place farther in the future than the prior, and the first ’Fiat Homo’ several hundred years in our future, however, from a technological sense it more parallels our Dark Ages. After the holocaust the majority of survivors blamed people possessed specialized knowledge, or any learned knowledge at all and in a momentous fervent movement fed by admittedly questionable common sense and a tremendous amount of spite and practiced in what is basically a reenactment of the Spanish Inquisition (with equal zeal if not the supposed spiritual cause), hunting down and executing scientists, engineers, etc that the luddite populace blamed for the fall of civilization and for their personal plights. This movement is called “The Great Simplification”. In all three segments the Church is the resident to monks; men of antiquary, who live monastic lives preserving memorized knowledge and duplicating them in a time that such actions are more tolerable to the population. I will briefly touch on the contents of the 3 segments then touch on the novel as a whole.

In ‘Fiat Homo’ (I always wondered when those Latin courses would serve a purpose; “Let there be man”) we meet one such man, Brother Francis Gerard, a faint hearted man, who as part of his vocation is in the desert (Utah) fasting for 40 days Lent. He will meet an old man that he knows not whether is an apparition, a rare traveling pilgrim, or perhaps Leibowitz himself? After practicing his aim in rock throwing at Francis, the old man help’s him unlock the hiding place of a former bomb shelter dating back to the pre-holocaust days that will contain manual and documents that belong to Leibowitz, a man for whom the abbey that Brother Francis is part of is dedicated to who is close (if not exactly impending) to being canonized as a Saint. The dated evidence Francis finds proves to be instrumental in ending some lingering doubts of Leibowitz’s nomination for Saint Hood. Leibowitz was man from the time of the Flame Deluge, and one of those executed in the aforementioned aftermath, and revered by abbey for his dedication to knowledge. This first section is lighter in tone to the subsequent segments, and offers some moments of ironic comedy, Francis visiting the Papal Seat of power New Rome, and the first appearance of the what is the only recurring character between any of the segments, the aforementioned old man, who because of his constant presence or not is the most intriguing character in the novel for me, and in SF for that matter (more on him later).

The second segment ‘Fiat Lux’ (“Let there be light”; which is related to the original novella title ‘And the Light is Risen’) picks up several hundred years after the end of ‘Fiat Homo’. Here we see the beginning of scientific curiosity some segments of society, we will see the first rudimentary lamp made. We see the first steps of science the pursuit of it becoming more important and take more precedence to some groups than other ideals. We meet a man who is noted as somewhat of prodigy as a thinker Thon Taddeo, in a time that a schism is caused by a Empire desiring expansion and autonomy from the Church, and a single superpowers is born Texarkana (damn Texans). I really like the dialog in this section between Taddeo and the presiding Abbot of the Monastery of the time, Dom Paulo, concerning society/religion/science. Again we see the old man dismissing perhaps the most enlightened man of the time (Taddeo) “it’s still not him” as he gives a lecture to the abbey, a telling statement. We also are introduced to a one eyed Poet whose an extremely thoughtful character, whose verbal confrontation of Taddeo offers some of the most thoughtful dialog in the novel; a novel rich in such passages.

The final segment entitled ‘Fiat Voluntas Tua’ (“Thy will be done”) takes place several hundred years after ‘Fiat Lux’, and civilization has now passed the levels of technology that surpasses the period before the Flame Deluge. Continuing the prevailing theme that history does repeat itself the world is a volatile place full of political tension and war seems imminent. This chapter touches on many subjects such as euthanasia, suicide and the value of life. The abbot of the time, Father Zerchi, prepares for the end of the world, and while doing so tries to save a single life, has a philosophical discussion with a member of a organization who “humanely kill” those that infected with radiation at mercy camps, the monks picket these camps with signs proclaiming a Dante inspired warning:

“Abandon Every Hope Ye Who Enter Here”

Zerchi takes steps to insure the Church’s survival and that of the documents found by Bacon in the first segment. We also see a very intriguing and rather brilliant instance at the end of the novel of the only female character in the novel (which was puzzling to me as I read the novel), and Zerchi’s and perhaps mankind’s final understanding and realization

My impression of ‘A Canticle for Leibowitz’ is one of profound admiration. A well-written, social commentary examining religion and knowledge the effects it has on mortality concerning both each individual and society as a whole. All 3 segments were separate yet extremely enjoyable when noticing the ways Miller connected them, while often making the well known fact that some knowledge is lost over time, and the myths that sometimes we take for religious canon are incomplete and skewed from the original versions. The novel is not dense and very accessible for readers who may avoid Sci-fi novels fearing dense passages and overly exhaustive uses of description regarding technological issues; yet at the same time the statements and symbolism in the dialog are profound, especially if your gifted with a small amount knowledge regarding Latin, and have some knowledge of passages from literature (The Bible mostly). The choice of even the name of Leibowitz, as being the Saint is a nice stroke. The old man I was referring to, obviously a reference to the Wandering Jew, who in Christian mythology is told by Jesus “go on forever till I return”. The character is absolutely a stroke of genius. The novel probably is the best mix of accesibility on the surface and incredible peripheral symbolic meaning, often characterized by a couple of words in Latin, or choice biblical scripture.

Reading up on Miller I found that he is man who has always struggled with his own faith, and in 1997 he commited suicide. I knew this before I read the novel and that’s why a line ending a chapter in ‘Fiat Lux’ struck me:

“Those who stayed behind had the easier part. Theirs was but to waitfor the end and pray that it would not come”

A Canticle for Leibowitz’ is an incredible legacy, and well deserving of the the words commonly associated with like “classic” and “timeless”. It is a rare novel that it seems almost impossible not to enjoy and lives up to its reputation as a masterpiece of speculative fiction, and recommended to all that have taste that any value can be attributed to. It’s a true classic not of science fiction, but of speculative fiction, and can in my opinion be appreciated by astute fans of any subgenre.

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