A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller Jr

Wow, this book left me wondering, sitting on my bed, in the dark, for a long while. I closed the book and thought about how our human intelligence seems unable to overcome our inherent stupidity. Individual and collective stupidity. It is strange to see how brilliant minds put together can excrete so many bad, destructive decisions. This novel explores this aspect of human nature. With a distinctly pessimistic tone, it illustrates how humanity repeatedly destroys what it creates, a pattern that has endured for millennia and is unlikely to change, I think. While there are small glimpses of hope and brilliance, with individuals striving to improve the world, those in power consistently prioritize their own interests over the greater good. I see the world now and cannot say it is different from Miller’s vision. I read Nuclear War. A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen in May 2024, which in hindsight looks like a prequel to A Canticle. Really scary, as Nuclear War is based on real plans and interviews with people involved in the nuclear sector. The scenario ends with a total annihilation of civilisation. 

The novel is well written. I didn’t find it dense or tiring. The story is engaging, especially in the first part, though the two later sections, set centuries after, are also compelling. I particularly enjoyed the contrast between scientific and religious ideas. Since the book follows Catholic monks, we see their dedication to recovering lost scientific knowledge and preserving their faith. However, without them realizing it, their crumbling belief system finds new footing in an unexpected way. St. Leibowitz rises to prominence through a process that mirrors how the story of Jesus spread 2,000 years ago: through tales, legends, sightings, and fragments of barely legible relics, which ultimately help lay the foundation for a new civilization. 

Canticle for Lebowitz raises interesting questions such as, do we need faith-based moral authority to regulate our impulses? Or worse, do we have to submit our free will to such authority to survive? 

It's definitely worth a read. So go get yourself a copy.