A Canticle for Leibowitz

Part 15 of 63

by

English · Science Fiction, Religious Fiction

Walter M. Miller Jr.’s A Canticle for Leibowitz is a post-apocalyptic novel about the preservation of knowledge after civilization has been devastated by nuclear war. Across centuries, members of a Catholic religious order in the American Southwest safeguard fragments of the old world’s learning, even as society slowly changes around them.

The story follows the monks of the Albertian Order of Leibowitz as they copy, study, and interpret documents whose meaning is often obscure. Their work connects episodes set in different eras, tracing the uneasy return of science and political power alongside the persistence of faith, ritual, and human ambition.

Its tone blends thoughtful science fiction with religious reflection, dry humor, and a sober awareness of history’s cycles. The result is a measured, idea-rich listening experience centered on memory, responsibility, and the fragile hope that knowledge can be preserved and used wisely.


This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.