The Canticle seems to be at the top of many sci-fi reading lists and I can understand why. The story is great, if somewhat dated. I chuckled when Francis discovers the relics out of the past consisting of vacuum tubes. I asked my 15 year old son if he had ever seen or heard of vacuum tubes, or transistor radios - blank looks all around. When the Abbe at the end of the book was troubleshooting his computer, the statement that "there is no mouse" was rather comical even if it was not the intention of the author.

After reading some of the other reviews here, I was afraid that this book might contain some sort of blasphemy as several people seemed to have lost faith after reading it. I suppose if I were an atheist, maybe I would have lost faith too. There is nothing here that would suggest to me that God has somehow failed his people, but a confirmation that man has failed God. If you are a Christian, don't be afraid to read this book. The evolutionists and eugenicists are the ones who come across as barbarians and thugs, which they are.