A Canticle for Liebowitz

Growing up, I had a passion for science fiction. I powered through everything Ray Bradbury had written, devoured the "Dune" novels, and touched through Robert Heinlein, Issac Asimov, Philip K. Dick and Orson Scott Card. All in all, there wasn't much science fiction out there that I hadn't read, much less heard of. So, when I heard about a supposably classic sci-fi book that I hadn't heard of - "A Canticle for Liebowitz."

The book, divided into three major sections, takes place across several centuries after a nuclear war that has wiped out most of humanity. After the war, there was a cultural backlash against all intellectualism, leading to the destruction of almost all human knowledge. Only the monks of the Order of Liebowitz attempted to preserve the knowledge of humanity's past, through both the hiding and memorization of whatever remaining books they can find.

The first section takes place in the early rebuilding of civilization and tells the story of Brother Francis, who, after encountering a nomad while on his Lenten fast in the desert, discovers a fallout shelter containing potential relics of Liebowitz - the founder of his order. Over the next few decades, Brother Francis participates in the canonization process of Liebowitz, with his relics helping the cause. Eventually, he is invited to New Rome, but is killed on the way back, only to be buried by the same nomad who had led him to the relics in the first place.

The second section takes place several centuries later, at the beginning of a technological renaissance. This story focuses on the tension between Abbott Dom Paulo (of the Liebowitz abbey) and Thon Thaddeo, who argue whether or not the monks or secular academics should be in charge of the preservation and development of human knowledge. Abbott Dom Paulo refuses to allow the historical documents the monks have preserved to ever be removed from the abbey, even though it is clear that they abbey has been pegged as a potential military base for a developing war. There is also a subplot about hermit who lives near the abbey who may be the last Jew on earth and carries the history of his entire religion within himself.

The last section takes place many centuries later, with nuclear weapons having been re-developed, and the colonization of space possible. As tensions rise between two major nations, it becomes clear to Abbott Zerchi that nuclear war is very likely, so he sends one of his monks to New Rome to be a part of a plan to continue the Church on another planet. The abbey becomes a refugee camp for victims of a nuclear strike, leading to a discussion on the nature of euthanasia. Eventually, all-out nuclear war arrives and Abbott Zerchi is killed by the collapsing abbey - but not before he is given his last eucharist by a mutant who he had earlier refused to baptize.

The biggest flaw in this novel is that it was actually written as three separate novellas, which were then re-written and woven together. At times, the connections and symbols between the three parts felt stretched and strained and rather forced - such as the vultures who pop up at the end of every section to pick the bones of humanity's mistakes. I would have been much more satisfied without some of these added details, considering the strong thematic connections that tie the book together.

My biggest concern going into this book was its central use of the Catholic faith. Typically, science-fiction prides itself on being rationally based and religion (in general) and Catholicism (to be specific) are often discussed contemptuously and with distain. In this case, though, I felt that the Catholic Church and its traditions were treated with respect. The church is actually presented in the role that it once held - the preservers of knowledge. Abbott Zerchi's strict stance against euthanasia is completely in-line with the Church's stance on the issue.

Overall, it's a strong novel with some deep thematic and philosophical elements. The relationship between the religious and secular groups was clearly and influence on later novels - especially "Dune." The novel is especially powerful in balancing both the hopefulness and hopelessness of humanity. People are simultaneously doomed to repeat their mistakes while also destined to rebuild themselves and to become better.