It has been nearly forty years since Walter M. Miller, Jr., shocked and dazzled readers with his provocative bestseller and enduring classic, [b...
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Dec 16, 2009
Jon
rated it: 
The sequel to A Canticle for Liebowitz was thirty years in the making, but unfortunately, Miller seems to have forgotten how to write a novel in those decades. Many of the moral and ethical arguments that made Canticle so brilliant are still present, as is the occasional bit of dry humor, but these are overshadowed by long and drug-out passages, poor plotting, and a conclusion that seems to have been hastily written the night before the book went to press (the "Wild Horse Woman" from t
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Sep 13, 2011
Erik
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I'd read Miller's A Canticle for Liebowitz as a kid. Post-holocaust novels were quite popular then when the threat of global thermonuclear war was much discussed. Unlike most other such books, Canticle was touching, wryly amusing, even hopeful. Civilization had not quite collapsed and the Church, as in the Dark Ages, maintained fragments of culture and learning.
This book was intended as a sequel, being set many years after its predecessor. Unfortunately, Miller did not live to s More...
This book was intended as a sequel, being set many years after its predecessor. Unfortunately, Miller did not live to s More...
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Jun 05, 2011
Perry
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What the hell happened to Walter M Miller? In the late 1950s he produced one of the kite-marks of "literary" post-apocolyptic science fiction, A Canticle for Leibowitz, after being a fairly consistent writer of short-stories since the start of that decade; and then precisely nothing until this follow-up novel 40 years later - and this was only published after he blew his own brains out with a gun and an editor whittled down a sprawling 600 page manuscript by a third.
I had pre More...
I had pre More...
Apr 08, 2010
Veronika
rated it: 
Story of two men, simply monk and noble (charismatic) arcibishop, later pope, from future middle-age-like (plus in some aspects renaissance-like and 19. century-like)world about finding way to God, love and hapiness.
I thought for first time about dogmatica and spiritual confussion in middle age. It must be terrible! I feel so sorry for the poor people...
But, all this is so interesting! Very good book.
And there are some gay stories, too :o), some nice, some cruel ones: poor swe More...
I thought for first time about dogmatica and spiritual confussion in middle age. It must be terrible! I feel so sorry for the poor people...
But, all this is so interesting! Very good book.
And there are some gay stories, too :o), some nice, some cruel ones: poor swe More...
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Feb 04, 2012
Phil
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This book is nowhere as bad as some have made it out to be, and, indeed, had the original Canticle for Leibowitz not been written, this book standing alone might have established Miller's reputation.
Miller's "problem" was that he hit a grand-slam home-run in Canticle, and he spent the remainder of what must have been a sad and frustrating life trying to get out from under Canticle's shadow. For a long time the prevailing view was that he had given up writing altogether. But More...
Miller's "problem" was that he hit a grand-slam home-run in Canticle, and he spent the remainder of what must have been a sad and frustrating life trying to get out from under Canticle's shadow. For a long time the prevailing view was that he had given up writing altogether. But More...
Mar 26, 2011
Jason
rated it: 
Walter M. Miller committed suicide before completing his sequel to his only other novel, A CANTICLE FOR LEIBOWITZ. Terry Bisson was hired to edit and finish the book from Miller's outline. That hybrid became SAINT LEIBOWITZ AND THE WILD HORSE WOMAN.
This novel is more of a 'midquel', rather than sequel, because its events take place 80 years after CANTICLE's part two, called "Fiat Lux" (c. 3254 AD, and 600 years before CANTICLE's part three.
SAINT LEIBOWITZ reminded me very mu More...
This novel is more of a 'midquel', rather than sequel, because its events take place 80 years after CANTICLE's part two, called "Fiat Lux" (c. 3254 AD, and 600 years before CANTICLE's part three.
SAINT LEIBOWITZ reminded me very mu More...
Aug 11, 2011
It started out well but became too much of a chore to finish.When the story is initially told from the viewpoint of Blacktooth St George it's great ,but once the political intrigues become too deep the story gets too confusing and just doesn't hold interest anymore.Definitely not as good as a Canticle for Leibowitz.If you like the highly detailed,non technological world presented here,you might enjoy Keith Robert's Pavane,set in a backward 20th century molded by the assassination of Queen Elizab
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Sep 07, 2008
Isil
rated it:
Le terme « arborescence » utilisé sur la quatrième de couverture est juste puisque l’histoire du roman se déroule soixante-dix ans après le séjour de Thor Thaddeo, le savant de Hannegan City, à l’abbaye de Leibowitz dans « Un cantique pour Leibowitz ».
« L’héritage de Saint Leibowitz » est d’une structure plus classique que le précédent. Ici on suit un personnage tout au long du roman. Je trouve que le titre anglais (Saint Leibowitz and the Wild Horse Woman) est plus parlant lorsqu’on lit More...
« L’héritage de Saint Leibowitz » est d’une structure plus classique que le précédent. Ici on suit un personnage tout au long du roman. Je trouve que le titre anglais (Saint Leibowitz and the Wild Horse Woman) est plus parlant lorsqu’on lit More...
Jan 28, 2010
Mike
rated it:
Miller's first (and only other) novel, A Canticle for Liebowitz, is rightly regarded as classic. This posthumously published sequel is, in my opinion, just as good as the first (a minority view, I think). The story takes place around the same time as the second part of Canticle, and is an engrossing story with vivid characters. The symbolism and themes are often similar to Canticle's, with similar pessimism & dark humor, but Miller meanders into eastern mysticism too, and we even see heroism
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Nov 12, 2010
Pete
rated it: 
I couldn't believe I found this book for $1 at Half-Price Books. Miller's "A Canticle for Leibowitz" is a classic so when I saw this book as his final work at the end of his life I grabbed it and read it right away. I was not disappointed. Great read.
Jul 07, 2008
Doreen
rated it:
Oddly enough, I seem to be one of the few people here who enjoyed the sequel much more than its predecessor. I found A Canticle... devoid of much of the human suffering that pervades this book, which questions the conflict between faith and tradition, desire and happiness, and what it means to be a good human being. SLatWHW tackles some heavy moral issues of how best to synthesize your emotions with your scruples in order to lead a godly life, and admits that self-sacrifice, though good for your
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Jul 09, 2011
Brianosaurus
rated it:
an interesting mid to his only other novel, 'a canticle for leibowitz'. very funny at times and incredibly creative. i could tell he was losing interest near the end though.
Nov 12, 2010
Luna
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was a decent book.. was glad that it had a clear finish to it.. tho i do wonder what become of the twon that where born
Jun 09, 2010
Dave
rated it:
I thought that it was long and slow. I was disappointed as it wasn't up the quality of the first book.
Oct 12, 2008
Michael
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I am ashamed to admit that this book was so bad that I stopped reading it half way through. This is very out of character for me.
I don't know if Miller's interests changed over the intervening 30 years or if the substantial differences between Canticle and Wild Horse Woman reflect the thoughts and interests of Terry Bisson, who completed the book after Miller's suicide. Either way, I do know that this book ought not to have been written.
I don't know if Miller's interests changed over the intervening 30 years or if the substantial differences between Canticle and Wild Horse Woman reflect the thoughts and interests of Terry Bisson, who completed the book after Miller's suicide. Either way, I do know that this book ought not to have been written.
Oct 28, 2007
Nicole
rated it:
I adored the 'Canticle for Leibowitz' many years ago - have the radio tape. And, 40 years later, this is the sequal. I'm glad I wasn't holding my breath. 'Canticle....' was full of wonder and awe and imagination as people try to make sense of life after what seems to be nuclear war. This book takes us farther into the future, 3,000 AD+, and is bureaucratic personified. And dull as dirt to read.
May 25, 2008
Matt
rated it:
As convoluted and confusing as the first half of the first book was, this is taking it to extremes. While the original was a masterstroke of original thought, this 40-years-too-late sequel served naught but poor intrigue, confusion and well-worn cliches of ancient warfare. Boo, I say. Booooooooo.
May 24, 2011
Published posthumously, I can't help but wonder if Miller ever meant this book to come out.
OK, I may come back and finish this at some time, but for right now it's pissing me off that it's still sitting there in my "currently-reading" list. I haven't picked this up in months.
OK, I may come back and finish this at some time, but for right now it's pissing me off that it's still sitting there in my "currently-reading" list. I haven't picked this up in months.
Feb 20, 2011
Steve
rated it:
An excellent read, perhaps finer as a prequel than one could have expected.
An intense intertwining tales of many peoples, many religions and many ideas, where that of a young nearly monk carries through.
An intense intertwining tales of many peoples, many religions and many ideas, where that of a young nearly monk carries through.
Jul 29, 2009
Chuck
rated it:
A big disappointment compared to "A Canticle for Leibowitz". By itself, it could be considered a decent story, but partnered with Canticle, it just doesn't measure up. Canticle had a message; Wild Horse Woman seemed to be a campfire story in comparison.
Dec 17, 2007
Rabbit
rated it:
Not as good as the first book, but it still has some interesting concepts that unfortunately get bogged down in the description of politics.
May 20, 2008
Ruth
rated it:
Don't bother. It's hours of my life I'll never get back. Some sequels shouldn't be written, this was one of them.
Feb 11, 2012
