A Canticle for Leibowitz

This book was many things. First and foremost it was a Post Apocalypse novel made up of three related novellas.

The first novella, "Fiat Homo" is about the time six hundred years after nuclear armageddon has blasted everything back to pre-industrial revolution times. It is the story of a monk, Brother Frances, who finds, with a bit of help from a pilgrim (who is the only recurring character in the novel as he is the mythical "Wandering Jew", the buried remains of a fallout shelter and the remains of a woman scientist which ultimately serves to prove the story of the Blessed Liebowitz. His discovery causes much pain and sorrow for our Brother Frances as he is not believed through most of the story. When finally he is believed it opens the door for the Blessed Liebowitz to be declared a Saint. Unfortunately, Brother Frances pays a high price for all his efforts.

"Fiat Lux" which takes place another six hundred years further on, finds humanity struggling to regain some of its past glory. The Abbey of the Saint Liebowitz has been the repository of the ancient words of wisdom. Scraps of books and papers from the pre-armageddon world. There is rumor of war again as nomads are gearing up to expand territories. This era finds them discovering the true value of the records that have been kept by the "bookleggers" of the Abbey. One of the brothers with a genius of engineering has successfully developed an arc light, much brighter than mere candle light, which amazes a scientific team sent there to evaluate the papers and books kept at the Abbey of Saint Liebowitz. But just as they are convinced of the true value, war breaks out once again.

"Fiat Voluntas Tua" the third book takes place yet another six hundred years further. Mankind has reached the stars, yet on Earth politics has not evolved along with the scientific advances. The world is in a perpetual Cold War type of scenario. The Abbey tries to hold its own in a world gone mad as the world outside the Abbey walls has not learned from their past, as most have forgotten. Once again nuclear bombs has been used, but only once per side and then a cease fire was called. However tension never cool down and by the end of the story it would appear that mankind is doomed to repeat yet again its own mutual destruction.

This novel was an intense read. It was chock full of religious references and it over used Latin phrases (I glanced over those). Yet at the same time there was enough outright humor to give it a human feel. I enjoyed the humorous touches and the seriousness of the message that humans are destined to repeat the fall of man from Eden throughout history was well written even though quite bleak. The ending left me with a WOW feeling as I closed the book.