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Positive tags
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Synopsis
Highly unusual After the Holocaust novel. In the far future, 20th century texts are preserved in a monastery, as "sacred books". The monks preserve for centuries what little science there is, and have saved the science texts and blueprints from destruction many times, also making beautifully illuminated copies. As the story opens to a world run on a basically fuedal lines, science is again becoming fashionable, as a hobby of rich men, at perhaps 18th or early 19th century level of comprehesion. A local lord, interested in science, comes to the monastery. What happens after that is an exquisitely told tale, stunning and extremely moving, totally different from any other After the Holocaust story
Tags
Is A Canticle for Leibowitz appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 14 and up.
A thoughtful, literary post-apocalyptic novel spanning centuries, exploring themes of faith, science, and cyclical history. Contains moderate violence related to nuclear war aftermath and some disturbing themes about humanity's capacity for self-destruction.
What to know going in
This book has moderate violence, no sexual content, and mild language. Content notes include death, mass death, and war (see the full list above).
Publisher ages reflect reading level; our rating reflects content maturity — they can differ.
Who'll love this
Teens interested in philosophical sci-fi will appreciate this meditation on knowledge, faith, and whether humanity can learn from its mistakes.