Canticle is also one of my all-time favorites. There's just something about the way that it's written. What most people don't realize how deeply Catholic the really isnovel, especially in the way it deals with the meaning of suffering. May Miller's soul rest in peace. Enjoyed the video.
A Canticle for Leibowitz is also one of my favorite books. I first read it in 1969. There were a couple of things that struck me the first time. First, the Vatican II conference had taken place between the time the book was written and the time I read it. Hence, Latin had been replaced by colloquial language so the heavy sprinkling of Latin throughout the story wouldn't have happened. Second, I was a draftsman at the time and I did a lot of blueprints. However, a new blueprint technology had come in since the book was written; now the black lines in the drawing were developed in blue on a dusky background instead of white on a blue background so the blueprint in the bunker wouldn't have happened. And it didn't detract from the story at all. The book immediately went to the top of my list. Over the last 50 years, it has moved up and down the list but it has never dropped below five. I reread it every decade or so. I last read it 4 months ago and it still wrapped its hands around my heart and squeezed.
First read this not long after it was published, one of my top ten. I had a friend with large literary pretensions who categorically rejected all SF. When I persuaded him to try Canticle for Liebowitz, he loved it, stating “That’s not science fiction.” He later said the same thing after I talked him into Stranger in a Strange Land.
That is also my experience, a lot of people just ignore sci-fi as junk food not realising they are missing out on some of the most gourmet literature there is. Nice one, keep evangelising this wonderful genre :-)
A great novel. I agree with what you said about Miller’s writing style; it really draws you in. If you like religious themes in your SF, may I recommend “The Listeners “ by James Gunn. Astronomers searching for alien radio signals make a discovery that challenges the world’s assumptions and you get differing interpretations of the signal, including a religious one.
When reading a book about the aftermath of nuclear war, the last thing I expected was to find myself, 2 or 3 times, laughing out loud. This was written pre-Vatican II, so Miller expected his readers to have a bit more familiarity with the occasional Latin phrase. But the use of Latin today, makes the story seem more mysterious and odd. It makes you think, along with other touches, like the random appearance of a mutant or 2, "Yes, after a nuclear war, this could happen".
@a.b.gibson6521 of course, what was I thinking lol. For some reason, I thought I was replying to James Blish A Case of Conscience. No, i haven't read the sequel to Saint Leibowitz, I should get to it one day.
Thanks Nev, I'ev wanted to read the short stories but I haven't been able to find them down under. I did read an article some time back (i'm pretty sure it was a paid article - i'll see if i can find it) that did a side by side comparison of the book and the novellas. The latin was one of the key take aways I can remember from it. Would be nice to read and follow up on this video one day with my fresh take on those.
Canticle is also one of my all-time favorites. There's just something about the way that it's written. What most people don't realize how deeply Catholic the really isnovel, especially in the way it deals with the meaning of suffering. May Miller's soul rest in peace. Enjoyed the video.
Thank you kindly, it's a great novel that deals with difficult subjects beautifully.
A Canticle for Leibowitz is also one of my favorite books. I first read it in 1969. There were a couple of things that struck me the first time. First, the Vatican II conference had taken place between the time the book was written and the time I read it. Hence, Latin had been replaced by colloquial language so the heavy sprinkling of Latin throughout the story wouldn't have happened. Second, I was a draftsman at the time and I did a lot of blueprints. However, a new blueprint technology had come in since the book was written; now the black lines in the drawing were developed in blue on a dusky background instead of white on a blue background so the blueprint in the bunker wouldn't have happened. And it didn't detract from the story at all. The book immediately went to the top of my list. Over the last 50 years, it has moved up and down the list but it has never dropped below five. I reread it every decade or so. I last read it 4 months ago and it still wrapped its hands around my heart and squeezed.
"still wrapped its hands around my heart and squeezed" exactly how I feel, thank you Pau.
@@paulcooper3611 POTEST ETIAM ESSE PRO ATMOSPHAERA ET EFFECTU, ETIAM SI LONGAM A LATINIS CONJECTAM UMBRAM NEGLIGIMUS.
@@mencken8 SIC VERA, HOMINE, TAM VERA.
Re-read it last year. I got a lot more out of it, mostly because I first read it 30 years ago.
Nice one Chris, would you have ranked it as highly?
@@thesci-fished Definitely
First read this not long after it was published, one of my top ten. I had a friend with large literary pretensions who categorically rejected all SF. When I persuaded him to try Canticle for Liebowitz, he loved it, stating “That’s not science fiction.” He later said the same thing after I talked him into Stranger in a Strange Land.
That is also my experience, a lot of people just ignore sci-fi as junk food not realising they are missing out on some of the most gourmet literature there is. Nice one, keep evangelising this wonderful genre :-)
War, war never changes.
Unfortunately, that seems to be the case.
Great to see your top 5 getting shuffled around after so many reads! I definitely need to get to this one.
Hope you enjoy it!
A great novel. I agree with what you said about Miller’s writing style; it really draws you in. If you like religious themes in your SF, may I recommend “The Listeners “ by James Gunn. Astronomers searching for alien radio signals make a discovery that challenges the world’s assumptions and you get differing interpretations of the signal, including a religious one.
@@camo_for_cocktails Thank you kindly 😊 I don't think I've read that one, I'll add it to the list. Thank you 😊
Definitely on my TBR.
When reading a book about the aftermath of nuclear war, the last thing I expected was to find myself, 2 or 3 times, laughing out loud.
This was written pre-Vatican II, so Miller expected his readers to have a bit more familiarity with the occasional Latin phrase. But the use of Latin today, makes the story seem more mysterious and odd. It makes you think, along with other touches, like the random appearance of a mutant or 2, "Yes, after a nuclear war, this could happen".
@a.b.gibson6521 it's a great novel, almost feel like rereading it again.
Did you read the following novel? It was too hard to find, for me, in the 1990s.
@a.b.gibson6521 are you referring to Dr Mirabilis? I've got it in my collection, but I have yet to read it.
@@thesci-fished Saint Leibowitz and the Wild Horse Woman?
@a.b.gibson6521 of course, what was I thinking lol. For some reason, I thought I was replying to James Blish A Case of Conscience. No, i haven't read the sequel to Saint Leibowitz, I should get to it one day.
Yep, loved it! It’s a fantastic idea well executed. I didn’t know it was the outcome of 3 short stories. Have you read those?
Thanks Nev, I'ev wanted to read the short stories but I haven't been able to find them down under. I did read an article some time back (i'm pretty sure it was a paid article - i'll see if i can find it) that did a side by side comparison of the book and the novellas. The latin was one of the key take aways I can remember from it. Would be nice to read and follow up on this video one day with my fresh take on those.
Damn book is not available as an ebook in the States! Damn it!
@@haldellinger2921 that's a bummer