Apocalypse Now. The enduring significance of A Canticle for Leibowitz.

NRO ^ | October 10, 2006 6:02 AM | By Thomas Hibbs

[Proud_texan]

As Murder, Inc (reversed) points out it's Lucifer's Hammer but I did, after replying, realize where I got Vulcan's Hammer; it's a PK Dick book.

While some of his stuff is pretty much just to make a buck he's still one of my favorite speculative fiction writers including several interesting end of the world books ilike Dr. Bloodmoney and Deus Irae. The latter didn't do much for me, it seemed a little disjointed even for Dick but Dr. Bloodmoney is worth a read.

[Tokra]

My favorite sci-fi novel for 47 years.

I learned to read with Sci-fi (my dad was a big sci-fi fan and I learned to read with Astounding magazine).

I read Canticle as a youngster and have not read it since - but it's always been one of my favorites.

I'm going to get a copy and read it again. Soon.

[ARridgerunner]

Thank you:-)

[RedStateRocker]

True, true.
One chef I know uses the phrase "food porn" to refer to the impossibly perfect, heavily retouched glossy photos in certain magazines....

[RedStateRocker]

"The white Plague" by Herbert. a deranged biologist (who had his family wiped out by an IRA bomb) comes up with a plague that only kills the women.

[squarebarb]

The Amazon reviews are really negative! Doesn't sound very readble.

[squarebarb]

Yes, I figured out it had to be Lucifer's Hammer.

I am at present reading The Man In The High Castle, in my foray into post-apocalypse lit., although MITHC may not be properly post-apoc.

I had read it years ago, but find it very good. Can't blame him for wanting to make a buck what with four ex-wives, or five, and nobody really recognizing his gift. I know he won Hugos etc. but of course the lit. world never took him up.

Electric Sheep made on of the greatest films ever (Blade Runner).

However it is interesting how many post-apocalyptic novels see humanity as degenerating almost immediately.

[Proud_texan]

Thanks, glad you caught my error.

I recall reading recently that right behind S. King PKD had more stories converted to film than any other writer.

I'm a little shaky on rotoscope and don't know if I'll be able to hack Scanner Darkly. I thought that was one of his better books but the trailers I've seen haven't made me feel good about it.

[.cnI redruM]

...and you even forgot the Tabasco sauce! (Cue rim-shot)

[.cnI redruM]

Pretty much. I'm sure it seemed even more timely during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

[redgolum]

It is a fun, but light, read. A lot of the reviewers were probably mad that the main character was what is now considered a male chauvinist. It is not one of Heilman's better books, but a fun one.