English language
Published April 25, 2013 by Gollancz.
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
Excellent book. Seeing that it's more than 50 years since this book came out (during the height of the cold war), and we still haven't annihilated ourselves, maybe there's hope for us yet!
The first two thirds are interesting; the final, unfortunate. Starts strong but ends stumbling, preachy and unfocused. Very much written in 1961, before Vatican II.
The best nuclear apocalypse book - no reservations recommendation. Best in its genre, and a great book regardless.
Dark and depressing, but oh, so good.
"Men must fumble awhile with error to separate it from truth..." – assuming they ever find the truth. And when they do, does it matter? Truth is only as good as the man who discovers it....
I really loved this book. I would have given it 5 stars but I was a little disappointed with the end. Without giving anything away, I felt like it strayed from its narrative. However I would still recommend this book to anyone. I especially liked the preface included in the copy I received.
Monks preserving scientific knowledge after a nuclear holocaust. Feels a bit dated now, like most SF from the 50's and 60's, especially the idea that humanity is doomed to a repeating cycle of nuclear near-annihilation. I'm skeptical that several thousand years after a nuclear war there would still be a recognizable Catholic Church that appears to have changed less than the actual Church has over the last couple thousand years. Nitpicks aside, it's an interesting read, though it's definitely on the soft side of the SF scale. The last of the three chapters is my favorite (semi-spoilery). With the destruction of civilization by nuclear war again imminent, Miller focuses the story on a bitter dispute between the Abbot and a doctor working with relief crews over the assisted suicide of victims of the first strike. he does a good job drawing the reader into the conflict, even though it doesn't …
Monks preserving scientific knowledge after a nuclear holocaust. Feels a bit dated now, like most SF from the 50's and 60's, especially the idea that humanity is doomed to a repeating cycle of nuclear near-annihilation. I'm skeptical that several thousand years after a nuclear war there would still be a recognizable Catholic Church that appears to have changed less than the actual Church has over the last couple thousand years. Nitpicks aside, it's an interesting read, though it's definitely on the soft side of the SF scale. The last of the three chapters is my favorite (semi-spoilery). With the destruction of civilization by nuclear war again imminent, Miller focuses the story on a bitter dispute between the Abbot and a doctor working with relief crews over the assisted suicide of victims of the first strike. he does a good job drawing the reader into the conflict, even though it doesn't matter in the least, since everyone will be dead in a few days.
Another book I was reading back during my high school teaching days. At times I wonder now, given the heavy workload I faced, how I managed to read for fun.
Back then, it was my first time reading this book. Here is what I wrote back then:
>>The Church (Catholic) is one of the few surviving institutions, and they assume the task of preserving knowledge. I believe that the parallels to the monastic movement after the fall of the Roman Empire and the Dark Ages are apparent and intentional. Overall, the novel is a very interesting piece of writing.<<
When I actually finished it, I remarked on the tight ending, which I won't spoil for others. But there is a question the book asks, I thought at the time, which is:
>>whether we as a human race can overcome nature or tendency, to destroy ourselves. Maybe some of us out …
Another book I was reading back during my high school teaching days. At times I wonder now, given the heavy workload I faced, how I managed to read for fun.
Back then, it was my first time reading this book. Here is what I wrote back then:
>>The Church (Catholic) is one of the few surviving institutions, and they assume the task of preserving knowledge. I believe that the parallels to the monastic movement after the fall of the Roman Empire and the Dark Ages are apparent and intentional. Overall, the novel is a very interesting piece of writing.<<
When I actually finished it, I remarked on the tight ending, which I won't spoil for others. But there is a question the book asks, I thought at the time, which is:
>>whether we as a human race can overcome nature or tendency, to destroy ourselves. Maybe some of us out in the stars would be able to as long as no new tyrants rose to life. Who knows?I would like to think that we can solve our problems. The real problem is a sincere desire to solve everything else.<<
I have had the chance to reread it since then, and I have grown to appreciate it more. However, I am now a bit more cynical as well. Definitely a classic.
